To those aiming to work as a childcare worker through self-study

I am now working as a childcare worker after passing the childcare worker examination through self-study and obtaining my qualification, but I had many anxieties while job hunting and before obtaining the qualification.

Anxiety #1: Will not having graduated from a childcare training school be a disadvantage in some way?

Before working in this industry, I had the assumption that I had to be experienced in practical skills (piano, storytelling, paper theater, etc.) from training school or hobbies...!
Of course, I feel that those with such experience find it easier to build relationships with children.
However, since some kindergartens do not place that much importance on these practical skills, I think it is a good idea for those who are anxious about practical skills to make this a point of focus when choosing a kindergarten.

I myself have a sense of being poor at practical skills, but I am increasing my repertoire by watching the practices of other teachers while working.
Also, another way to learn is to look up and incorporate things that might be useful for creating opportunities for children to become interested, according to the childcare content, using various social media and the internet.

Anxiety #2: I am worried about what the teachers around me think...

This might be a Japanese trait, but I cannot help but worry about the eyes of those around me.

Before I started working, a negative image was spreading that I might be labeled as someone who 'did not graduate from a childcare training school'.
When I actually entered the field, the topic of where I graduated from almost never came up, and I got the impression that everyone is standing on the same starting line.

When trainees came, the topic would sometimes come up, such as 'How was it when you were a trainee?', but when I told them that I had actually obtained the qualification on my own because I had not gone through training, they would reply casually, 'Oh, I see,' or 'Really!? That's amazing,' and the conversation would expand from there, so it seems that the negative reactions I had anticipated did not become reality.

I learned that by not taking the fact that I obtained my qualification in a minority way too negatively, and by performing my daily duties carefully and showing my willingness to learn through my actions, I can build trust and relationships with other teachers.

I also feel that it is important to cover for my lack of childcare experience by actively performing miscellaneous administrative tasks other than childcare and actions that allow us to work comfortably with each other to eliminate this anxiety factor (for better or worse, teachers in the field really watch people closely!).

Anxiety #3: Can I gain the trust of parents?

Regarding this, I honestly feel that there are no major harmful effects.
In the first place, there is no opportunity to disclose my background to parents, and above all, I think that gaining the trust of children and deepening relationships with them leads directly to the trust of parents.

I believe it is important to make them feel that I am watching the children closely through small daily communications.

I hope this will be an opportunity for those who have the same worries and anxieties to relax a little.