male childcare workers - employment barriers?

[Pandora]

I guess I'm wanting to guage people perceptions of male childcare workers, and to get any opinions from people who are in the industry..

DH is thinking seriously about doing early childhood studies and becoming a qualified childcare worker.

However he is worried that parents would be "funny" about a male childcare worker in his late 30s.

What do you think?

[MantaRay]

Rayray, I know that some people do have a suspicion of male cc workers. However this is not universal, and thankfully seems to be improving. I have come across some male workers since my boys' have been in cc and I have been impressed by all of them.

At our current centre one of the full time carers is a male and he is brilliant. I wish there were more of him LOL! The kids respond so well to him and I think they benefit from having a male role model there. He was actually a carer in Jack's room until recently and I was so sad when I heard he was moving rooms - until I realised it was Tom's room he was moving to! The boys both love him and the other carers also love working with him. I know they would hire another male carer (as long as he was appropriate) in a flash.

My advice would be strongly encourage your DH down this path. I think more males are desperatly needed in the industry and if it's what he wants to do he would no doubt really enjoy it. If he does strike some resistance in some places, he will find the opposite in others I'm sure. Also, the ex-director from the boys' centre has moved to Melb and is now director of a centre not far from you (although I found out today she will be going on maternity leave soon!!). If your DH is ever looking for work, let me know, and I can email his details to her and I am sure she would do everything she could to help him find work.

[~breeze~]

While living in Townsville in 2006 with DD she attended a CC centre. There were 2 different male CC workers there & they were fantastic! The kids loved them, they looked just as confident as the girls & its a nice change for the parents too I think seeing males as well as females.

I also think its important for kids to see men are able to look after them as well as females are.

I would encourage him to go for it! I think its wonderful he's so interested in it

[The[cookie]Doctor]

My mum has a CC training business and owns a CC centre and I think she'd be the first to say for the most part, male CC workers would be a guaranteed job. The parents don't have to know that he is 'credible' - they just have to have trust in the centre. And I would think that male CC workers would be highly encouraged so kids have more interaction with men in their day to day lives. Go for it rayray's DH!!

Ps love the new av

[sanemale]

hi guys my name is shane. i am trying to enter the childcare industry. Studying my certificate 3 by distance ed. have recieved distinctions for the first module. so totally wrapped but as of yesterday i was told to leave for no aparent reason except a complaint was filed against me. now i have never done anything wrong and i treat the kids as my own and love the time i do as work experience but with society today its very hard.
iam an older male not married was in plain clothes but possess my blue card student id and working towards for senior first aid.
now i know you were saying that males would be guareented a job but i dont see it if someone like me cant finish their certification without any predejucie.

what are your thoughts on this subject??

[Salsa]

I would love it if your DH becomes a childcare worker!!!! I`m very aware of the big shortage of men in childcare and education, especially for the under 10`s. I would even give preference to sending my children somewhere that had male staff over somewhere that didnt because i believe its so important for children to see men in this role, not just woman - its skewifs their perception of gender roles etc (imo) - men add a difference balance than an all female work enviroment, as well as what they offer a child. I also think is so important for all those boys and girls who do not have a male (or a good one) roll model/figure in their life - which is the unfortunate case for many little ones, and they really do need it in as many areas as they can get it, if they dont have that at home ( and even if they do such as my DS has, I still would prefere him to have some other good male models out of the home, in situations that are not just family or celebrities).

But, yes, there will be some hessitation towards men doing this kind of work still, but I hope and think that with the increase of dads involvment with their kiddies, society is becoming more open and accepting of men being in roles such as the one your DH is considering.

It could be a challenging choice but good on him!!!

[Alyssas_Mum]

My DD attended a centre that had a male CC worker. He was great and the kids loved him, my DP was a little funny about it but my DD loved it, males seem to have more energy and are more fun than female workers.
Only thing he couldnt do was change kids nappies (not sure why??? never asked)

[indie24]

I just wanted to second what Mantaray said. I used to work in child care and saw how children benefitted from having a male role model in the room. I say go for it.

[melham74]

We have a male at our CC and he is gr8t. the Kids love him and the parents have relly welcomed him.

[ajm mum]

We have rob at our kindy. he is a huge hit with all the kids (4 year olds) fantastic with the parents i find him really easy to approach. My dd always notices if he isnt there and wants to know why!! Having her dad working in the mines and away 4 days every week its great for her to have another male role model many dads work long hours and i think its good to have males involved in there lives.

[Phteven]

I would love to see more men become teachers and childcare workers. There is an accute shortage of men in the industries and children benefit from interacting with both genders.
Three cheers for RayRay's DH!!!!!

[~breeze~]

Three cheers for RayRay's DH!!!!!

HIP HIP HOORAY
HIP HIP HOORAY
HIP HIP HOORAY!

[Floweryfields]

I am a director, we have a sister centre in another town. That centre has a male group leader - I know there was some stupid talk about him being gay - which was stopped. He is lovely and has a really great rapport with the kids.
I do think some people have crazy misconceptions and fears about men working with young children, even one of my staff members said something about it which I was shocked about.