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Nurseries

Find nursery advice from other Mumsnetters on our Nursery forum. For more guidance on early years development, sign up for Mumsnet Ages & Stages emails.

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Original poster

Thoughts and feelings towards male nursery nurses?

35 replies

samithy · 09/10/2011 12:18

Hi
I am currently on my final year of my foundation Degree in Early Years and am looking for some help with my dissertation. I am researching parent and female nursery workers perceptions of male practitioners within a nursery setting. Any comments would be greatly appreciated, Thanks

sam

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jade80 · 09/10/2011 12:29

I think it's a shame there aren't more good male role models working in childcare. I think it would go some way towards addressing equality of opportunities in the early years. Men usually bring a fresh perspective and enthusiasm to a setting. they are popular with girls and boys alike and I think some men can interact with children in a way that some women find less 'natural'. Not all, obviously, it depends on the individual. I think it's a pity that some children attend setting from 8-6 and only interact with women all day.

There is currently a bias towards women in childcare. Maybe partly to do with the dreadful wages available. Sad to say, but that's how things are.

HoneyPablo · 09/10/2011 12:37

There is a thread in chat about this very subject.

fluffygal · 09/10/2011 12:37

We had a student male nursery nurse at my children's nursery for a while. He was great with the children (preschool age) and he loved it there. He wanted a job but they said their weren't any going. I sung his praises to the nursery manager and she was looking all doubtful saying 'oh, I don't think parents would want a male here, does it not bother you?' and basically making it clear it is his sex that is the reason he wouldn't get a job there.

I was really disappointed, and lo and behold about a month later a couple of new girls started working there, so obviously there was jobs going!

I have used a male childminder before too (husband and wife team) and do not have any issue with males in childcare.

mousymouse · 09/10/2011 12:41

it id a shame that there aren't more.
in my dc nursery are 3 male staff, cleaner, administrator and nurse. all of them are very involved with the children and I think it is lovely!
not that the female staff are not lovely, but it gives another dimension.

bigfatgypsy · 10/10/2011 12:24

I think it is an enormous shame that there aren't more. Kids LOVE having a male carer as to them it's unusual and can be compared to playing with dad all day.

For those who don't have a male role model around at home it is also extremely beneficial as it gives them both a female and a male perspective on things that they might not otherwise have.

However there is STILL a stigma amongst some ignorant parents that men should not be working with children as they all have the potential to be pedophiles so unfortunately this puts off a) men applying for the roles and b) nurseries actively trying to look for them. That along with the fact that nursery nurses are traditionally females means that sadly there just aren't many male NNs. But the ones that are do tend to be very good (IME)

TiggyD · 10/10/2011 18:47

Male nursery nurses should get paid £40,000 minimum to encourage more of them.

...

OK, I admit it. I'm a male nursery nurse.

notcitrus · 10/10/2011 19:00

Heh Tiggy!

Ds's nursery was going to be on a TV show about men going into childcare, getting a free chap doing training to join the staff for a couple months, but didn't get selected in the final choice. Shame - would have been nice not to have an all-female staff.

Certainly at ds's nursery the staff are never alone with children for more than a quick bottom-wipe and there's windows from each room to all the others so I would expect even the most paranoid parent to be OK with male staff there - but people often don't meet my expectations. I suspect men generally think they can find better jobs if they want to earn £15k once qualified in London!

PandaG · 10/10/2011 19:01

I work in a pre-school. All the staff are female, but we do sometimes have Dads in to help.and have had several male work experience students. The children generally love having a bloke in the setting, amd I wish we had men working permanently with us, as the children benefit from the role models.

Maisiethemorningsidecat · 10/10/2011 19:06

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

SardineQueen · 10/10/2011 19:17

The preschool we use (they take children from 2) has a male member of staff and he is great.

I think it is good to have a diverse mix of people.

MrsDobalina · 10/10/2011 19:27

One of the reasons I chose our nursery was because it employed a mix of genders and abilities. One of the male workers is hero worshipped by my DS (and every other boy there!) and rightly so, he's amazing. Cons hadn't even crossed my mind but maybe that's cos my DH was a nanny in his former life

mousesma · 10/10/2011 19:37

I think more male workers in childcare can only be a good thing. It's good to address the misconception that child care is "womens work".

Firsttimer7259 · 11/10/2011 15:20

we have one male nursery worker at my daughters nursery whcih is lovely and I think good for the children (gender balance). they are hoping to get one more when someone leaves and I really hope they do.

TiggyD · 12/10/2011 21:09

Samithy, could you PM me please. I'm involved with a group looking to promote men in nurseries and would like to hear about what you are doing.

minxofmancunia · 12/10/2011 21:20

The one downside of the nursery we use is there are no male staff apart from the chef!

It would be fabulous to have more and great if you could attract more in tiggy!

Groovee · 13/10/2011 20:07

I've worked with some fab male nursery nurses. I've worked with 2 who were lazy bums and probably loved the job at first but were now bored. I've been working with a male nursery teacher who is fab. Really like him and he's fab with the children. One of the children settling recently shouted at me "where's that man? He'll text mummy!"

The parents don't seem bothered either as he's so good with them and wins them over quickly. I also worked with a male Nursery Officer who was fab, dad to 4 kids as well so well used to being with children and the parents loved him too. Sometimes dad's find it easier to speak to a man.

Fifis25StottieCakes · 13/10/2011 20:13

Weve got a male fab chef who works at ours, i thought it was one of the kids when dd kept talking about him saying he was going to eat her dinner if she didnt then i found out it was the chef.

barleycorn · 13/10/2011 20:15

My ds's key worker is male and he absolutely adores him, in fact I don't think he would've settled so well unless he was there. The worker looks out for him when ds goes in ( often a tad reluctantly) and they go off looking for creepy crawleys together. It's very sweet.

posey · 13/10/2011 20:17

Just marking my place as I need to nip out but have a lot to say (all good!) about male nursey/ early years staff both as a parent and a co-worker! Will be back shortly...

nailak · 13/10/2011 20:26

I think there should be more of them

thisisyesterday · 13/10/2011 20:33

i would love more male nursery workers, i think children should have the opportunity to be cared for by men and women and see both sexes in caring roles. plus for boys particularly, good male role models are fabulous.
this would go for male teachers at primary level too... we need more of them.

sadly i think male nursery workers have been stigmatised news stories (people seem to forget the women involved in abuse cases very easily!) and thus I can imagine it must be hard for them and they may meet with a lot of prejudice :(

monkeyhandbag · 16/10/2011 20:32

Hi,
I am a lecturer in early years and child care.
I teach an all male cohort on a level 2 childcare students and have taught previous all male cohorts.
Without exception they have been fab.
The gender imbalance is about all the things already mentioned, pay, stigma, not being selected without good reason for employment(discrimination or fear).
It will not change until young lads leaving school take the pathway into childcare along with their female peers. When they do it will even the gender imbalance. At the moment male practitioners are still unusual so parents do not get to experience them on a regular basis. When they do from my experience, they tend to be highly complimentary as the posts demonstrate.
Let's start the revolution here, mums, dads, practitioners and children- WE WANT MORE MEN IN CHILD CARE

Original poster

samithy · 09/11/2011 19:44

Thanks for all the messages they are a great help. I agree that there should be more males within the childcare sector. But how is this going to happen? what can be done to do this?................................... Do we really think that things will change?

OP posts:

Original poster

samithy · 09/11/2011 19:49

Hi TiggyD im currently doing a research study for my foundation degree looking into the feelings towards male nursery workers. this helps loads!!!!!! :)
I want to see what the overall view is and see if there is ways to increase the number of males choosing childcare as their career. What is it your doing to promote men into nurseries?

OP posts:

Midge25 · 09/11/2011 19:56

Would agree with all the previous posts. My dd's nursery has 1 male member if staff who is a qualified nursery nurse. The kids all seem to respond positively to him and would support the view that more male staff would give kids positive role models and mitigate against the stigma

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