Leanne McArthur Leanne McArthur enjoys the variety in her work as an Early Childhood Educator at Today's Family.

Leanne McArthur can't quite believe it's been almost twenty years since she earned her credentials at Mohawk College as an Early Childhood Educator (doing so at night school while working days at a Dundas child care centre).

Later that same centre joined the Today's Family Early Learning and Child Care network. Leanne is still at the same location but it's not the "same old job". These days, a wide range of programs is offered for children from 18 months to 12 years old. Some of these programs involve parents, too. This gives Leanne lots of variety in her work.

She works in classrooms, takes on administrative and supervisory tasks, and gets out and about in the community, too. Recently, she's provided child care at Ronald McDonald House in Hamilton (a service for parents visiting another child who is at McMaster Children's Hospital for an extended period).

Working with toddlers is a favourite focus for Leanne. "Taking them on outings can be pretty special," she says. "Around Halloween, they like to visit a pumpkin patch. And every year we visit a retirement home with the children in costume. They call the seniors 'Grandma' and 'Grandpa', which they love, of course. We sing a few songs with everyone joining in. The children like to pass around the hugs, so it's a pretty nice feeling all 'round."

"I like to put smiles on people's faces," says Leanne.

"One other thing - I'm a Jill of all trades. For example, whenever the cook is sick, I have no problem slipping the apron on."

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