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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

I can't stand nursery workers.

77 replies

northernlight1974 · 25/04/2010 16:15

Nearly every day I see childcare workers taking children on "outings" or collecting children from school to after school clubs.Literally everyday these "carers"(in the loosest possible sense of the word)are approx 18yrs old,talking to their friends on their phones/talking about who they "got off" with last night/how much they drank last night or where they were going tonight and totally ignoring the children who are in their care, apart from the occassional"Jack get here!"THEY SHOW NO AFFECTION FOR THESE KIDS! Who would pay a fortune for these people to look after their children????

OP posts:
bibbitybobbityhat · 25/04/2010 18:40

I do think that babies and toddlers being cared for by very young childless people is not ideal (lack of understanding, patience, and empathy combined with the innate selfishness of the average teen being my main concerns - and I am aware that there are huge sweeping generalisations going on here) but until nursery workers are paid more then I can't see this situation changing, tbh.

majafa · 25/04/2010 18:40

Hmm no answer yet then??

bibbitybobbityhat · 25/04/2010 18:40

Whoops, sorry, I forgot about the op here. Apols.

padraig · 25/04/2010 18:44

Weird.

When I was at school I volunteered at the local nursery. I would play with the kids, watch videos with them, help them with their artwork. I would never in a million years have ever talked on/played with my phone instead of watching over them.

I think YABU to assume that all nursery workers are the same.

MrsGravy · 25/04/2010 18:48

Nursery worker DO do school pick up here. And this doesn't sound like any of the ones I've seen! They chat to the children and usually greet them with a cuddle.

southeastastra · 25/04/2010 18:49

tbh if they're that bad you should talk to the provider

KERALA1 · 25/04/2010 18:55

Some are bad though. There were a few childminders at the drop in I used to go to who were rubbish the children were quite neglected. Have also seen nursery children not interacted with at all by their carers having an unhappy time at the park. There were a few dodgy nannies around too. Have seen other childcare workers of all types who were fab though. I would have thought like every profession most will be good some not.

skihorse · 25/04/2010 18:56

Just because you're paying the best part of a grand a month for your little precious to attend nursery - does not mean these 18 year olds you claim to see are getting anything near the minimum wage.

Tbh, why should they give a flying fuck when they're being treated like dirt at the owner is probably swanning around in a nice new 4x4 and these girls know they'll never have a pot to piss in.

skihorse · 25/04/2010 18:56

"Pay peants, get monkeys."

hocuspontas · 25/04/2010 18:58

To be fair to the nursery workers on the school run it is probably NOT what they signed up for and it can be a bit stressful! Imagine one minute you are happily playing with babies and the next you are assigned the after-school room for boisterous 7 year olds! Our local nursery pick up from my school, drop them off, then an hour later on my way home I see they have collected from another two schools and looking somewhat frazzled. Because I know them and know they are lovely I don't pick up on the fact that they are maybe not communicating with the children. They are sometimes on the phone as well - to the nursery! Confirming pick ups and who hadn't let them know that their child was ill etc!

Snapshots don't give a clear picture.

DarrellRivers · 25/04/2010 18:58

'peants'

princessparty · 25/04/2010 18:59

Many nurseries here do after school care and send out staff to schools to collect children.But they don't send them out in 2s??

JustMyTwoPenceWorth · 25/04/2010 19:00

what, all nursery workers? Everyone in the world who is a nursery worker?

Or particular people who have displayed behaviours that you feel is not in the best interests of the children?

I saw a bloke spitting in the street the other day.

I do not now hate all men and think they're dirty bastards.

Just him.

Foxy800 · 25/04/2010 19:07

Sorry but I am a nursery worker and feel I work hard at my job and care for the children in my care.
The workers you talk about are few and far between. And I do not think it is fair to judge us all with the same attitude.(angry)

violethill · 25/04/2010 19:11

I think the OP has morphed into another poster!! One who can't spell!

bonkerz · 25/04/2010 19:12

OMG you are so right........................(splutter cough choke!)
i am a nursery officer. I am over 30 with over 14 years experience. i have level 3 qualification which in 2 months will be level 4. i am studying for a degree in early years. I have worked in nurseries, been a nanny and a childminder as well as having 2 children myself. I get paid £5.85 per hour. I love my job. I work with some fab girls who are only 18 and who are fantstic with the kids. Can i suggest what you have seen is a small snap shot and not general for the childcare proffession! please take your judgey pants off and stop classing us all in same group.

foureleven · 25/04/2010 19:16

why would you not have said 'AIBU to have been annoyed by these particular nursery workers...?'

It slike saying I hate anyone who works in a supermarket because the woman in tesco was rude to me the other day..

LynetteScavo · 25/04/2010 19:18

I have seen nursery workers on outings looking bored out of their skulls, not interacting with the chidlren, but lets get real here...they are not being paid a fortune.

Who would pay a fortune of for these people to look after their children? No one pays a fortune.....people do pay what maybe a large proportion of their own wage for other people to look after their children so they can afford to survive.

I know nurserys who collect children from school and take them to the after school club. Indeed my own reception child was collected in such away, and was shown no affection. I had 3 children at three different settings, and it was the only way I could do the pick ups. I was well aware of the type of care my child was recieving, which is one reason why I chose not to work longer hours.

LynetteScavo · 25/04/2010 19:21

I feel I must add, that while DS was in that after shcool club, DD was in a nursery where she was smothered in affection, as were all the children. But they rarely went on outings, so no one would have seen the amazing time she was having.

ruddynorah · 25/04/2010 19:27

i don't think dd's nursery worker does any of the stuff the OP is ranting on about. but then she is approaching 60, a grandmother, full of energy and enthusiasm, and the queen of potty training round here. wouldn't be without her

now i could tell you about the childminders i see at play gyms/parks near us...but i won't

Rockbird · 25/04/2010 19:28

I saw the most lovely thing in Sainsburys a while back. About 10 children and 3 staff or thereabouts, with a couple of baskets of little things. The children were working out what it would cost, counting out their money, handing it to person on checkout etc. The staff were asking them all questions, getting every child involved and they were all having a great time. It was no big deal as outings go, cheap and easy but it was so nice to see. They literally all skipped off happy as Larry.

Northernlurker · 25/04/2010 19:28

Can I just be very clear that the numpty op is not ME. Our names are vaguely similar and I just want to be very, very clear on that point.

SugarMousePink · 25/04/2010 19:49

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

TiggyR · 25/04/2010 19:55

Well I've seen plenty of girls about 18 behaving exactly as you've said with children, but I think they were their mothers.

TiggyR · 25/04/2010 19:58

Opps, forgot to add a