Do people think there is a need for male orientated playshemes/after school clubs?(with boys playing with trained male play workers doing boys things)

[kidsneedmoreplay]

I feel there is a big need for this with ever growing boys without dads or male role models, I think this would be a good way to restore the balance a little, what do you think?

[filthymindedvixen]

my sons go to a primary school where there is only one male teacher, and he is new. So many children have no ''positive male role model'' in their lives and no opportunity to learn through play, once they have left nursery.

[nooka]

There we are. ds would love a play scheme orientated towards running through woods climbing trees and lighting fires with a few smoking test tubes on the side! I think I'd enjoy that too

[merryberry]

slightly skew to the topic can i say i had a minor sulk t'other week when dh took ds1 to a dads' saturday morning stay and play for toddlers. sure start group. they had hot pots of fresh coffee, bacon butties, sausages, fruit juice, all sorts of brunch goodies apparently, as presumably a decent place to play with your offspring is not enough of a draw...and i thought hard and long and i have never been to anything similar for mums. someplaces you can make a cup of your own instant for 30p or whatnot. long as you stay in the stinky kitchen and gulp it there of course.

, moi? hell yeah

[Mercy]

I think it's a great idea, we really need schemes like that in London too. Good luck

(and lol merryberry, I'd be too)

[southeastastra]

i work on a/s clubs/playschemes etc, we have lots of boys currently working for us, it's nice to see lots going for the jobs now.

[southeastastra]

oooh know of the playlink south gloucs things, you have playrangers don't you

[conkertree]

yup i agree it would be great to have these things too. dh is a youthworker, and he is doing a great job in a difficult area to be a role model for the young males ( he's not deliberately out there to be a role model - that is just my view of it) who have very little influence from men.

and he takes ds to playgroup and within 5 mins is surrounded by kids wanting to play with him (boys and girls) - partly because he has good ideas for fun things to do, and partly cause a lot of the women enjoy going along to see their friends and chat as well as playing with the kids, (not saying thats a bad thing at all - just he doesnt do so much chatting).

sorry long post to say not very much - but i agree that the idea of having more male role models for children, not necessarlily in a structured activity, is a good one.

[WilfSell]

I think it would be a great idea since the playschemes/afterschool my eldest used to go to were shite for him. The girls were sitting quietly making things with craft materials and the boys were either fighting about whose turn it was to do virtual killing on the computer or trying to do actual killing of each other in the corner while being ignored by staff.

I think something like Beavers or Scouts but at other times would be great. They need to be a bit more imaginative in childcare settings TBH - the girls would benefit from a bit more challenge to.

But the staff also need to be directive and get the kids more involved also...

[policywonk]

There is a scheme like this round my way - run by Surrey County Council I think. Don't know how popular it is (DP not attracted by the idea at all for some reason).

[unknownrebelbang]

Ah, conversely we have lots of spaces at our cub group in particular.

[filthymindedvixen]

I've been waiting for 3 years for a place for ds1....I keep ringing, they say ''no vacancies, they'll let me know...and nada. ''

[nkf]

Cubs and beaves and all that are not suitable for all children. I like the sound of them but there is no way on earth I could persuade my son to wear the uniform. He'd love to do woodwork though.

[Doodle2U]

That's a huge shame about no places for Cubs and Beavers. Round here, we are crying out for boys and girls to join.

Maybe not suitable for all but the programme (in most groups) is so varied, the children cannot help but find something?s that they love doing. Unlike a specific sports club, such as football, in Scouting, the array of activities keeps them interested.

My son benefits so much from his Scouting. He's not sporty and the playground football emperor tells him every day "he's not allowed to play football because he's so rubbish", my poor DS was lost. Now he has Scouting and discovered his talents in other areas....it's 'saved' him in so many ways.

Also, because the children come from different schools, he's had the opportunity to make other friends with more 'common' ground with him.