hi all, especially lolabelle.
just thought i would add my 2 penneth!
I am a deputy manager in a nursery for 3mth -5 yr olds...last summer we had a vacancy arise for a NN. We had 5 applicants, 1 newly qualified FEMALE, 1 newly qualified MALE ( both 18 ) and 3 30 plus women, who although qualified, it was a while ago. Each one was interviewed, given a 2 hour stint in the nursery to enable us to make a decision. On top of this they were all CRB checked, all had references etc. The 2 that got the jobs were the 18 yrs olds!! The older women didnt get it because their training was not up to date, and anyone knows who works in childcare, even being a mum doesnt always mean that you know how to do everything, (looking after your own kids compared to someone elses is completely different) the young man who joined is has fallen into being one of the team easier than a lot of past girls, he works in an after school facility too and refused to give this up as he as a duty to the children he minds, he works with all the ages in the nursery, and has been welcomed 100% by every child and parent, without exception. When with the babies, he is one of the most gentle and caring NN i have ever worked with, with the 2 - 3's he gets on the floor with them, always at their level, they bandage him and and do his hair if that the activities that they are playing! with the pre-school he is a fantastic role model and teaches through play and experience. When he was at school he was bullied and teased for his job choice, then at college he was the ONLY male doing the course but throughout everything he stuck at it. A qoute from him ' the early years are such an important learning time and i feel privileged that i can be somehow involved in this and help children have fun and be happy' BUT that doesnt make hom any different than any other childcare worker. If you go back to the nursery, forget that there are he's and she's, think more about relevent qualifications and experience (you can ask for this) look at how the children are settled within the nursery, if it is a happy, bright place with contented children and happy relaxed carers there really should be no porblem. On the point about separation anxiety..from parents this is perfectly normal, the child will probably scream and cling to you at first then when you leave they are fine, happy, joining in...then when you pick up they scream and sob and you think they have been doing it all the time when actually, they are making you feel really guilty! And it works, if i could have a quid for every time a parent has picked up their child (who has reacted exactly as above) and they have said Ahh, shall we go to the shop? Just remember, people who go into childcare do it because its a deep seated feeling..we all know how hard it is looking after kids..i should know, i have 3 and my BF has 6, do you think someone would really do that voluntarily if they didnt truly want to?!!!*
Hop our 2nd visit goes well