To not want to be on film every day?

[Hardymonica]

I work at a nursery that are staying open at the moment and we are down to five children whose parents are keyworkers. We are a small team and our manager is very passionate about staying in touch with the children that are at home (even though they're not paying for our services!). I do genuinely admire her positive, proactive approach but it involves us recording lots of sessions for the children to watch and also doing live interactive sessions - this all involves singing, dancing, reading and phonics.

The trouble is that I am feeling very uncomfortable with it all. I was obviously happy doing these things in the normal scenario of just being us and the children but for me, now I'm being recorded and seeing myself on screen it's all becoming really difficult. I am not a natural performer, I freeze as soon as they start recording and I can see myself on the screen during the interactive sessions which is really distracting as I look horrible, truly horrible. I don't mean to sound self centred, I know it's not about me and that logically the children and parents probably won't care what I look like but I'm still struggling with it. I dread going into work and I come home and cry about my weight and ugly face. We do these things several times a day and it's torture. I can't talk to my manager about how I feel - all the others are doing it willingly and I know she would take it as letting the side down. I just need to know if I'm being unreasonable or not to feel like this? Should I just find a way to get used to it?

Yanbu. It's nothing like your normal job, and I'd be amazed if the parents are keen to use it. Without doubting your abilities, the BBC will provide more educational screentime, and either they will be struggling to cope and therefore not bothering, or have loads of time and not want to give the kids more screentime.

Of course that means you can relax in the knowledge that very few people will look at it...

I don't blame you. This isn't in my job description and I wouldn't want to do it

Is there anyone who likes how they look on video? Could you cover the part of the screen which shows you?

ive been asked to video myself reading a story for our nursery kids, ive ignored it and unless forced will not do it, theres others that will but I aint one

It's not that the BBC will do it better, or about educating the children, as a pp said, it's about keeping in touch.
When the children return they need to be able to recognise you and remember you.
They need to feel in touch with the familiar faces and rooms of nursery. They need to know the whole world hasn't stopped, and you will still be there.

They need not to feel isolated.
So yes, everyday is too much, but you do need to bite the bullet and do it occasionally.
Perhaps suggest a rota so you only have to do it once a week?

I don't blame you. Some teachers are doing live lessons and I won't - don't mind adding my voice but the thought of being recorded and becoming a meme is horrible.

Oh god I used to work in nurseries and I would absolutely hate this! I'm now a nanny and to be honest with you I'm finding all the online classes absolute shite and if it were my own child there's no way I'd be doing them so hopfully not many parents will be watching! I'd be honest with your manager and just say you'd rather not be filmed! She can always film herself if none of the staff want to!!

Agreed!

To be fair I doubt the parents want to be bombarded with videos either. It’s just extra pressure especially if the children aren’t interested!

Can you talk to your co-workers about maybe suggesting these recorded sessions are cut down to maybe one a day at most? As people say, frankly the chances that parents are actually watching several sessions a day are minimal - in fact I'd be quite surprised if they're watching any at all; if it was me I might watch a few sessions immediately before going back to familiarise my baby with the nursery again, but that would be it.