Nursery workers looked miserable

[Namechan98459857]

I was on a day out with my DS yesterday and the local nursery next to where we were taking some of their children on what must have been a little outing round the park. There were two girls with them and I have to say they looked utterly miserable to be there the whole time. No smiles, just telling them what to do, ushering them round etc.

Maybe I just saw one moment of the day, but I have looked at several nurseries for my DS and I have seen quite a bit of this, not all of them but a good few. I know being a nursery nurse is a difficult and not very well paid job, but it really breaks my heart that that is the vibe those little children will be around for a lot of the day.

Why not shout "Cheer up love" "Or give us a smile sweetheart" at them? That always brightens my day.

Hey look another nursery bashing post! I thought they'd have finished with it being a new month and we'd move on to the next flavour of the month to bash

I would be put off using that particular nursery, yes. My dc's nursery staff were usually much more smiley than me!

It was an observation, nothing "nursery bashing" in the post.

Yes unfortunately I can tell you similar stories and worse from working part time and seeing various nurseries on day trips whilst out with my own children. Similar with childminders.

There’s a crèche on my road and they all look so drained and sad, and I don’t blame them one bit. I don’t know how they do it, and it’s not like you get paid well to soldier on and at least have something to look forward to at end of month.

😂

I used to work with pre schoolers and I was too busy counting heads and making sure we "held hands" when we were out I probably forgot to smile for the public.

It's a bloody stressful job for shit pay, no wonder they aren't exactly full of the joys of spring.

They were probably just concentrating on the children not being "jolly "doesn't mean they are miserable at work.

It’s shit pay plus working 7am until 6pm takes its toll

Ok, another post inviting a pile on on nursery workers

I expect they were focussing on making sure the children were safe and that health and safety policies were being followed. You really have to have eyes in the back of your head when taking a group of nursery kids to the park.

Oh come on! The post isnt necessarily a criticism of the nursery workers. If workers look miserable and downtrodden sometimes it’s because of bad management , toxic culture or overwork and that’s not something the poster is blaming the employee for.

I chose a nursery after walking past the garden and seeing one young women laughing and dancing with three little girls while a more mature lady spoke to a baby in a pram while simultaneously patting a toddler attached to her leg. On a visit it was noticeable - unlike other nursery visits - that the staff seemed competent, pleasant and took pleasure in their work. I wasn’t rushed through rooms by a manager who did all the talking/ sales pitch.

Maybe if customers commented on or complained that their employees appear miserable more employers would do something about that!

This is why I chose to send mine to a nursery with older experience and educated staff. I don’t want them being looked after by 18-year-old girls who couldn’t care less.

Teachers are all depressed, overworked and hate their jobs too!

They get paid minimum wage to look after other people’s kids all day. That must be hard work and exhausting!

To be fair being out with a group of kids is super stressful you might not be seeing them at their chirpiest. Having said that the pay is dismal and the hours are long so anyone who can do all that and stay cheery is doing well.

YANBU. I’ve worked in many a nursery and school on supply. Like all workplaces, some have a very negative culture which is usually because of the management. And some don’t. Working in a nursery can be a difficult and thankless job and it’s mostly poorly paid.

Day trips were excruciating when I worked in a nursery.

I see mum's complaining all the time on here about managing a day out with a baby and a toddler... Imagine 25 toddlers that aren't your own, the pressures of everyone watching and judging, educational elements to hit and dietary things to ensure.

I would rather get my wisdom teeth removed again than do nursery day trips.

But I really loved my job, the kids loved me and the parents were all really happy. I had several of the mums cry when I left my last job.

Just because those workers looked stressed or weren't smiling, it doesn't mean that is always the vibe of the nursery.

The job really is extremely stressful and the expectations put upon staff vs pay should be a crime.

We don't value the people who care for our children and the fact that anyone goes into the profession when you can earn almost as much working at ASDA is a wonder.

I worked in nurseries for 3 years as supply staff and I’ve worked in a fair few. Your description is spot on, OP. Most of the staff are miserable all of the time while the rest are miserable some of the time. You can’t blame them actually, because they are paid a pittance for a soul destroyingly boring job.

I work in a nursery that isn't like this at all. Keep looking.

Well, no they're not. But even those who are should be doing their utmost to not let the children in their care know this. while crying on the inside!!

My kids are in a nursery that I didn't care for much at first (we didn't choose it... long story). One of the things that changed my mind is seeing the staff chatting to each other, joking around in a lighthearted way, generally getting on well. It's so important in any workplace. Meanwhile the much shinier better equipped nursery down the road has staff who look on the edge of tears.

You were seeing them out in public OP, so probably on their best behaviour!

I think this is very unfair, everyone has to start somewhere and those older experienced staff where young people starting out once! My children’s nursery has a mix and a few of my very favourite staff (and my 4 year old daughter!) are young girls about 18/19/20. They spend time giving her princess hairstyles, playing dress up, playing youthful games and dancing. Yes experience is important for education and safety in looking after young kids, but young staff have things to offer as well.