Kathrin Bock-Famulla

How does the staffing situation in daycare centers affect educational actions, and what consequences arise from this for the children and the educational staff? A central narrative among educational actors regarding the staffing situation is that they perceive their actions as a balancing act between their own professional demands and the available resources (personnel, time, and space). The levels of stress are heterogeneous – daycare centers experience varying degrees and forms of staff shortages. It becomes clear that the tense staffing situation jeopardizes or undermines professionalism in all daycare centers, with some facilities falling into a negative spiral. Organizational development processes are also restricted by limited resources, making it more difficult to address the balancing act and mobilize supportive resources such as emotional energy. There is discussion about whether, against this backdrop, one can speak of precarious professionalism.