men in child care

men in child care

by: mazzamom - 23-02-04 14:20

I think this comes down to the gender roles which our society is so fond of. We have little boxes for men and women which make it difficult for either gender to progress or be accepted in professions traditionally thought of as specifically male or female. We see women as nurturing, sympathetic to a childs needs, understanding etc. When the reality is men are just as capable of these qualities, just as women are capable of hard nosed, professionalism. The sad thing is that most people are still raising their children in these gender stereo typed ways and so these boxes for gender will continue to exist.

men in child care - 24-02-04 09:43

by: nightnanny34

I know what it's like. I've been working with children & parents for over 14 years. It's a struggle to find work, though some nursery's are very keen once they've got to know you. I therefore find that doing Nursery Temp work can be a good way of getting to know nursery managers in my area, increasing the chances of getting a job with them.

Saying that though, I'm still working mostly as a nanny and maternity nurse - why? Well, because it pays better! I get the vast majority of the work myself through qwell targeted advertising, and once parents have got over the shock of finding out that I am male, all goes really well. There are of course some parents who won't employ a man but that has reduced a lot over the past few years.

There is a positive article in the March 2004 (page 115) issue of BBC Parenting about male nannies - according to a MORI survery, 8 out of 10 british adults are in favour of male childcare. Pity they didn't just ask parents, as that figure would have been better to know!

Nick - Nighttime-Nanny.com

men in child care - 27-02-04 10:20

by: tiespuddin

mY FATHER OWNS A PRIVATE NURSERY SCHOOL IN pORTSMOUTH AND HAS HAD MALE STUDENTS AT HIS SETTING WITHOUT ANY CONCERNS. hE TAKES PEOPLE ON BOARD ON MERIT OF THEIR QUALS, CRB CK AND THEIR INTERACTION WITH THE CHILDREN IN HIS CARE. SO PLEASE KEEP LOOKING I AM SURE YOU WILL FIND AN EQUAL OP EMPLOYER WHO DOES NOT GO ON GENDER ALONE. BEST OF LUCK!

men in child care - 05-03-04 21:30

by: da iawn

as a qualified early years teacher i've got to be honest and say i have found a lot of women staff (esp senior) don't want men working in nurseries, etc.

i get the idea they think we're playing or have a point to prove (true) and that will get in the way of doing the best for the children

men in child care - 21-04-04 11:34

by: pandaman

I am a malle nursery nurse, currently working as a manager.I am proactive in employing males but men want higher wages than nurseries can give them.You cant get rich as a nursery nurse!

men in child care - 05-05-04 21:17

by: Tim

Hi,
I'm a male in the early years sector and find these posts quite surprising. I am an NVQ Assessor in Early Years, but prior to this I was an early years practitioner at various levels. I have actually never attended an interview in a setting without being offered the job and always assumed that being male gave me an advantage. I have always been welcomed into settings both as a practitioner and an assessor. I also assess several male candidates who seem to be recieving similar treatment.

men in child care - 26-06-04 14:16

by: theodore24

We had a man working as a nursery nurse, but some of the parents were wary of him. He was one of the best carers i have ever come across, the children loved him and he was good at his job.
He's now left, but we have male students a lot.

men in child care - 20-08-04 17:31

by: penni

Come over to Australia we need male workers in child care, there are so many childcare jobs here. with males in the childcare work force wages will go up and no male would put up with the pay

I would like to ask if any one has come across a site about programes (long daycare)

men in child care - 27-03-05 17:13

by: kimmie

it seems unfair why can't men and women work in childcare, in the nursery that i work at we've had men working at our nursery as well as men! at the end of the day it should be abt equal opps! men and women! not one or the other! kimmie xx

men in child care - 28-03-05 18:48

by: Funky Monky

Hi, I'm 30, Male and have been working in nursery for over a year now, and i love it! All my friends think it's great, and women! At collage we were talking about this and we (me and 18 women) said there arnt enogh men because of the low wages at entry level.
The kids do love it, i have been asked to babysit, invited to birthday parties, but it's not all great. 2 parents have said "I don't want a MAN to change my daughters nappies" I don't care how many nappies i DON'T do. But that makes me feel awful..
Anyone any comments

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