Childcare career

[CareerTime]

AIBU to ask that if you have a career in childcare are you satisfied with it? Do you enjoy going to work? I want to retrain in childcare but a lot of comments on here are so negative. I read all the time on here about childcare being a shit job, shit pay yet without childcare professionals many mothers wouldn't be the CEOs or whatever they are claiming to be.

If you work in childcare and are proud can you tell me why it isn't the shit job everyone makes it out to be please? Tell me why it is a good career, a satisfying or rewarding vocation and your experience please. I would like to hear from the many childcare professionals out there. TIA.

In my opinion (and I don’t work in childcare), it’s an important job, if great value, but you will not have much financial freedom if you do it.

I work in a committee-run preschool. I love it, but it does not pay well and if I was single I would really struggle financially. All our hours have been reduced due to finances so I couldn't work full time at my (amazing) setting if I wanted to. It is incredibly rewarding, every day is different. You really need to have good management or it can be hellish.

I love watching the children learn and grow, I get to be outside in nature as much as I want, school holidays off (not necessary but nice), my colleagues are great and though I can gripe about management they're also really good. I've been at my setting for four years now and it's great, but I've worked in childcare for 11 years and this is the first one I've really felt was excellent.

Not everyone in the childcare industry is underpaid (I make 6 figures) BUT it’s a tough job, the love of the kids is everything but it’s really something you do for the love of the job and nothing else as most of the time it can feel a bit exploitative and as if you are often under appreciated/overworked.

if you love kids and feel you would enjoy it, I would do it!

I am so grateful I did it as my heart beats for all of the kids I have looked after but at the same time it is tough and you do burn out quickly (I feel I have 5 years left in me, tops! And I am not even 30 yet.)

ultimately why not give it a shot? Childcare is a wide spectrum both in term of environment (teacher don’t have the same life as daycare workers and daycare workers aren’t the same as childminder who are different from nannies) so you can definitely find your niche and the combo that work for you (regarding the environment/schedule and pay!)

I read all the time on here about childcare being a shit job, shit pay yet without childcare professionals many mothers wouldn't be the CEOs or whatever they are claiming to be.

Indeed, but the pay is still rubbish! People seem to want to pay as little as they possibly can for childcare.

And if the Tories get their way it'll be an even shittier job soon.
Looking after 8 lively 3 year olds is hard work.

www.nurseryworld.co.uk/news/article/pm-s-plans-to-reduce-staff-to-child-ratios-in-nurseries-to-cut-childcare-costs-slammed-as-ludicrous

It is shockingly badly paid considering the responsibility. Individual nursery staff are expected to be the key contact for about 6 small children. Maybe more in the toddler room, dealing with everything all children can throw at you all day long. Very rewarding in many ways but often only paid the same as doing check out at Tesco. A lot to ask. If you wa NN tcto work on n a child care setting but need money to pay bills, mortgage/rent ext like everybody else, I would consider carefully the working environments you choose

I am a nanny and I love it. I work 4 days a week 11-6 for 30k

There are parts that are lovely but there are also external pressures that can overshadow the nice bits. Money pressures are tough. We keep hoping for a pay rise but get a 'thank you for all your hard work' card and M&S voucher instead. Also consider the ethos of your setting as they vary a lot. It can be hard wanting to teach in one way but people expect something different. There are a lot of questionable/outdated practices. Also look for somewhere that invests in their staff and CPD.