Young Nursery Nurses ; any thoughts?

[cookielove]

I work in a Nursery that has staff ranging from 20-50, most falling in early and late twenties, i have read a number of times in these topics how young members of staff are unwanted or less able to do there jobs, or those staff who don't have children don't understand the needs of children.

I'm sure there are lots of older nursery nurses out there that are also less capable then others in there setting.

What does age have to do with ablity and i know your going to say its all about experience, and yes its true some people take this job as they think all we do is play all day, but we are all qualified staff and in our training we recieve a lot of hands on training.

I have been working in childcare for over 6 years, that gives me alot more experience than some of my parents who have only been parenting for 3-5 years.

I know that some staff are useless, but we are not all bad and some of us are very dedicated to our jobs and love our kiddlywinks

any thoughts?

Well I am an NNEB and have been working with children since I was 18,as a newly qualified nursery nurse I was (as my references would prove) a very good nursery nurse indeed some 17 years later I am still sent xmas cards and flowers and stuff by children I have cared for,as I have gotten older with experience you cant learn in a college classroom and having aquired more 'real life' skills I think Id be a better nursery nurse in that environment if I were to return today.

However I have a friend who is now training to be a nursery nurse and she thinks that her age 'buys' her experience but I disagree and say only time buys you experience.

There is a very strong difference between caring for children professionally and having a child 24/7 (I speak from experience) so parenting and nursery nursing are 2 entirely different things.

Im not belittling your experience and your employment in any way but being a 'good'parent is far more intense than any period of work.

There will always be debate such as this because returning to work for some mums can be a very traumatic time and we as nursery nurses are almost viewed as 'professional mums' that isnt the case we care and nurture for our charges but we cannot replace the parent working alongside the parent we can do the absolute best for the babyt/toddler/child.

I will say what I always say a good nursery nurse is worth her weight in gold and nurseries will 'hold on' to good staff Im not currently working but I know I could return to the nursery I was at at almost anytime and be paid above average.

I think nursery nursing is a very under respected job we provide a valuable service and should be appreciated as such not just in our pay packet but with more recognition in the public eye.

the majority of DS's carers at nursery are very young and they are all fab

caring, loving and committed to the children

i think they do a great job and make sure they know this

One of the best nursery nurses I know started on the day after her 18th birthday and is now approaching her 21st having progressed from nursery nurse to room leader (2 years in this post) looking after the under 2's

She is fab full of energy ideas, and a fab nursery nurse - on contrast some of the older ones and I'm talking mid/late 20's do nothing but sit about all day.