Inspired childcare comes from the heart. Yes, understanding childhood development, behavior modification, and nutrition, and being observant and proactive are all important parts of the skill set of an inspired child caregiver, but the most important part is simply caring about the children.
The distinction between caring for and caring about is subtle, but it defines the difference between a competent childcare worker and an inspired childcare worker. Caring for children means making sure that their basic physical are met and keeping them intellectually and physically active…caring about children means doing everything possible to keep them healthy and happy, including making sure that their emotional needs are met.
Inspired childcare workers recognize that children are small human beings with personalities, and likes and dislikes and moods and good days and bad days, just on a smaller and less-developed scale than us big people.