12 Nursery Worker Skills: Definition and Examples
By ResumeCat Editorial Team
Updated June 7, 2023
Working in a nursery can be a very rewarding experience. There are many different skills that you will need to learn in order to be a successful nursery worker. These skills include: -Patience: This is perhaps the most important skill that you will need to learn. Working with children can be very challenging at times and you will need to be able to remain calm in order to effectively deal with them. -Creativity: You will need to be able to come up with new and interesting activities to keep the children in your care engaged. -Flexibility: The hours that you work will likely be irregular and you will need to be able to adjust your schedule accordingly. -Physical Stamina: Working with children can be physically demanding. You will need to be able to keep up with them as they run around and play.

Nursery Worker Skills
- Patience
- Creativity
- Active listening
- Good communication
- Good organizational skills
- Good people skills
- Good physical stamina
- Ability to work well under pressure
- Ability to multi-task
- Flexibility
- Dependability
- A love for children
Patience
Patience is the ability to remain calm and focused in a challenging or difficult situation. It is an important skill for nursery workers because they often have to deal with children who are crying, tantruming, or otherwise acting out. Patience allows them to remain calm and focused so that they can continue to care for the children in their charge.
Creativity
Creativity is the ability to come up with new ideas and solutions. It is important for nursery workers because they need to be able to come up with new activities and ways to engage children.
Active listening
Active listening is a skill that is important for nursery workers to have because it allows them to really understand what children are trying to communicate. It also helps to build trust and rapport with children.
Good communication
Good communication is important for a nursery worker because they need to be able to communicate effectively with both children and adults. They need to be able to understand what the children are saying and be able to explain things clearly to them. They also need to be able to build good relationships with the parents and carers of the children in their care.
Good organizational skills
Organizational skills are important for nursery workers because they need to be able to keep track of the children in their care, as well as all the supplies and equipment. They need to be able to create a schedule and stick to it, in order to ensure that everything runs smoothly.
Good people skills
Good people skills are important for a nursery worker because they need to be able to communicate effectively with both children and adults. They need to be able to build relationships with the families of the children in their care, as well as being able to understand and respond to the needs of the children themselves.
Good physical stamina
Good physical stamina is important for a nursery worker because they need to be able to keep up with the demands of the job. This can include lifting heavy objects, being on your feet for long periods of time, and dealing with the occasional tantrum.
Ability to work well under pressure
The ability to work well under pressure is a necessary skill for any nursery worker. This is because they are often required to care for multiple children at once, and sometimes unexpected things can happen. If they are able to stay calm and handle the situation, it will help the children feel more comfortable and secure.
Ability to multi-task
The ability to multi-task is important for a nursery worker because they often have to take care of multiple children at the same time. This means that they need to be able to do things like feed one child while supervising another child who is playing.
Flexibility
The ability to be flexible is an important skill for nursery workers, as they need to be able to adapt to the needs of the children in their care. This might include being able to change activities if the children are not interested, or dealing with unexpected situations.
Dependability
Dependability is the quality of being reliable, responsible, and trustworthy. As a nursery worker, you need to be dependable in order to be trusted with the care of children.
A love for children
A love for children is essential for a nursery worker as they will be spending a lot of time with them. This includes caring for them, playing with them and teaching them.
How to improve nursery worker skills
It is essential that nursery workers have excellent skills in order to provide high quality care for children. There are a number of ways in which nursery workers can improve their skills. Firstly, they can attend training courses which will give them the opportunity to learn new techniques and develop their existing knowledge. Secondly, they can read books and articles about childcare, which will help them to keep up-to-date with best practice. Finally, they can speak to other experienced childcare professionals to get advice and tips. By improving their skills, nursery workers will be able to provide better care for children, which will ultimately lead to better outcomes for them.
How to highlight nursery worker skills
As a Nursery Worker, you will be responsible for providing care and supervision for young children. You will need to be able to work well with children of all ages and have a genuine interest in their development and welfare. To be successful in this role, you will need to be patient, reliable and have excellent communication skills.
On a resume
As a Nursery Worker, you will be responsible for providing care and supervision for children aged 0-5 years old. To highlight your skills as a Nursery Worker on a resume, include your experience working with young children, as well as any relevant qualifications or training. If you have any relevant First Aid or Childcare qualifications, be sure to include these as well.
In a cover letter
In your cover letter, be sure to highlight your skills as a Nursery Worker. Include your experience working with children, as well as any relevant education or certification you may have. Be sure to detail how you would be an asset to the team and what you can bring to the table.
During an interview
When you are interviewed for a nursery worker position, be prepared to discuss your skills in working with young children. Be sure to highlight your experience in caring for infants and toddlers, as well as your ability to create a safe and nurturing environment. Be sure to also discuss your skills in communicating with parents and other members of the childcare team.