My friend was about to employ a MALE nanny, but then she was told that

[QuintessentialShadow]

nobody would let their daughters go on playdates with her sons (6 and 14) while in care of the nanny. So now she is uncertain what to do. In her opinion he is the best candidate she has seen. But, she is also reliant on being able to arrange mutually convenient playdates with neighbours and classmates, etc.

Are prejudices like this prevalent?

The nanny in question has all the clearances and police checks, as he is a special needs teacher who wanted to supplement his income while he goes back to uni.

You should get nannynick on here, he'd tell you if there are much prejudices like this. I'm not sure if he's a permanent nanny with 1 family, or works for loads of families
I wouldn't have a problem with it though

You need to put a shout out for NannyNick.

Now I know why I didn't have female friends when I was growing up - my Dad brought me up!

My DD has friends over when I'm at work and DH is in charge, if that helps -

Go the "staff room" on the CM topic, he can sometimes be found in there!

How sad

Having read threads on here, I can believe it. I think it's sad and misguided, but I can see it happening.

'nobody'?

this is bollocks, plenty of people would

Well yes, not nobody of course...

So would the same people not let their kids go on playdates with children who are being brought up by their fathers then? . People are weird.

Funnily enough,when I ran a nanny agency many moons ago,I could never place my male nannies.
Guess why.................

Husbands!

People are wierd.

Somebody once made a jokey comment to me about my brother being a paedophile because he's a primary school teacher. Why they thought I might find it amusing (my brother, a paedophile) is utterly beyond me.

Sometimes I get the impression other mothers are a bit iffy about letting their dc come and play here when DP (male) is in charge rather than me. (DP likes to think it's because they worry they won't be able to restrain their wild sexual impulses in his presence )

I would have no problem with letting my dds be looked after by a male nanny.

MrsRecycle, cant see why your dad wouldnt be a blast to be around!
The entertainment value must be enormous.

Franny et al, I would not personally stop my dcs from playdates with a male nanny in charge, I love the idea of the male input. But it is a small close-knit Catholic school community, and I think many may be a little concerned due to some unfortunate event within the Catholic church in general over the last decade or so. I think this reflects more on the parents' than on male nannies in general.

But I shall put out a call for Nannynick.

that maybe came out wrong, I mean we can't work out whether the mothers are hesitating because they don't want to be alone with a man or don't want to leave their children with one.

Totally ridiculous!

Of course, every man is a child molester just waiting to get their hands on your children!

Sheesh!

This has overtones of another thread here recently. I was amazed to hear that some people won't leave their dcs alone with any male person at all and it upset me a lot at the time.

I wouldn't have a problem with it personally and if she feels he is the right nanny for the job then she should employ anyway.

TFM (wiz ze big boobies ) that's a foul comment to have heard; how can it be described as 'jokey'

One of my friends were sacked from the nursery he worked for on the suspicion of paedophilia. It broke him. He was cleared in court, but that in the end meant nothing, he would not want to go back to work there, and just the fact he had been suspected meant he could not work with kids again. I think it is a very sad state of affair that people are so suspicious.

it's crazy but i don't come across any prejudices where i work (playschemes). we have tons of male workers now. it's great, the children (especially boys) hero worship them. makes me quite jealous .

Well, that's how they explained themselves when I made my thoughts on the matter clear

But I didn't give them that much of a chance to get a word in...

it is really narrow minded if nothing else because women abuse children too, often goes unnoticed prejudice works both ways.

surely it is a good thing for children to see both men and women in nurturing roles

That is so so sad

I suppose prejudices don't get broken until somone challenges them and proves them to be wrong. It all depends how much your friend rates the nanny and whether she thinks the other people will come to realise he's a good find.

well I'm sorry but I find fathers to be far more difficult on accompanied playdates

they don't pitch in as much
different things to talk about
different approaches to sorting out children

I also don't want to spend my time with nannies and childcarers either ... sorry but I don't

I wouldn't stop my DD (or DS) going on a playdate with a male parent or carer, but in the main on first playdate I would far prefer the mother to be there

flame away...

need to explain

on a first playdate IF I'M ACCOMPANYING .. I would prefer the mother to be there