Passion, dedication and patience is what steers Cindy’s teaching ship

POLOKWANE – Pre-School teacher, Cindy Cronje, from Angels Play Preschool, says being a preschool teacher requires passion, dedication, flexibility and patience.

Cindy made Polokwane her home when she moved here in search of greener pastures. This happened some years ago when she enrolled for a qualification as a teacher at Eduexperts.

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“I’ve always had a love and passion for teaching, and enjoy having children around. Seeing them grow and learn to do simple things such as writing their names or even feeding themselves, gives me ultimate joy.

“Teachers are mothers in nature, as they teach children how to be independent and that is what I enjoy the most,” she explained.

Cindy told BONUS she loved playing teacher when she was growing up. She would play teacher with her friends and dolls, in a bid to teach them something. This is how the passion started brewing within her. She says that being a teacher is a challenging job, even though it looks simple.

“Being a teacher is very challenging, as easy as it may look. One needs to posses certain qualities and skills in order to make it as a teacher. Children are different and as a result they learn differently and at a different pace, which is why patience and flexibility are some of the qualities a teacher must have. In order for the learners to be free and comfortable around you as a teacher, you need to be willing to bring yourself down to them, literally. This way they can see that you are there to help and comfort them whenever needed, because they need that assurance of being safe as well,” she added.

She has been at Angels Play Preschool since 2012 and says she has grown so fond of the children at her school, she feels like a parent to all of them.

reporter29@nmgroup.co.za