![\"Banner](\"https:\/\/www.sfc.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/Upload\/New_SFC_Banners_News.jpg\")
<\/p>\nChris Palmer \u2013 Dumfries and Galloway College graduate and current student at the University of Glasgow writes about what it\u2019s really like to be a male working in childcare.<\/p>\n
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![\"Christopher](\"https:\/\/www.sfc.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/Upload\/blog-early-learning-childcare-1.jpg\")
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When I first entered the world of Early Learning and Childcare (ELC) sector, I was full of excitement of what my career would hold. However, I did have some reservations: I was 19 and it was my first time working away from my home town and I was a male, working in childcare? Is this right? Allowed?<\/p>\n
It all seemed pretty scary. But 11 years on, I am still in the ELC sector and I can honestly say that it was one of the best decisions of my life.<\/p>\n
However, it seems that the ELC sector are still somewhat struggling to attract males to fulfil roles such as nursery nurses, learning assistants and teachers (amongst others). Why is this the case? Why do men still hold reservations about working in ELC?<\/p>\n
I feel men should be encouraged to work in child development roles and should have no fear if they are thinking of joining the ELC sector. The easiest and clearest way of explaining how is by detailing the positives and negatives of men working in childcare and thereby showing that in my experience, it\u2019s a case of perception vs reality (P vs R).<\/p>\n
Perception:<\/strong> \u201cParents do not want men working with their young children.\u201d<\/p>\n Reality:<\/strong> In my experience; parents not only support the idea of men looking after their children, they prefer it! When working as a play worker, parents would arrive at the nursery and ask if I could be assigned as their child\u2019s key worker. This happened fairly regularly.<\/p>\n Putting my ability of being a play worker to one side, the main reason was that a section of the children who were in the care of the nursery had \u201cno real\u201d male role model within their family dynamic.<\/p>\n Having men working in ELC settings provides this option. Males can fulfil a potential void in a child\u2019s life. From an early age, it is important that children have people they look up to and aspire to be and men working in ELC roles can be the positive male role model that the child may not have at home.<\/p>\n Perception:<\/strong> \u201cELC staff do not want men working within their setting.\u201d<\/p>\n Reality:<\/strong> Again, in my experience, this is simply not the case.<\/p>\n I have worked in various settings around the UK and Europe and I can say that the overriding thought of ELC staff it that more men working in ELC settings is a good thing. Female staff have expressed that \u201cmore men working in ELC would ensure a more complete and well-rounded delivery of childcare.\u201d And \u201cChildren who play rough and tumble play and football (and other activities) at home with their Dad love to see a male in the setting as that experience can be experienced at nursery too. This positive experience can be used as a learning tool (e.g. using footballs as planets when teaching science).<\/p>\n Perception:<\/strong> \u201cWorking in Early Years and Childcare settings is a job for females.\u201d<\/p>\n Reality:<\/strong> In my opinion, this is the obstacle that we as a society must overcome. I feel that being an effective and stimulating ELC staff member requires a certain skill set and personal characteristics. It has nothing to do with gender.<\/p>\n Enthusiasm, caring, patience, imagination, organisation and the drive to be a positive influence on a child\u2019s life is not a matter of gender, but a mindset.<\/p>\n This list is not exhaustive. People of all genders are able to fulfil these roles.<\/p>\n Finally,<\/p>\n Why should males specifically work in ELC settings?<\/p>\n My answer is three-pronged.<\/p>\n In 2007, my ELC career started. I was unsure if as a male, I would be valued and welcomed within the ELC community. I can say without question that this has been the case.<\/p>\n Working in the ELC sector is one of the most rewarding jobs you can do. Being a part of a child\u2019s young life and watching them grow and learn is an experience I urge all men to join the ELC community and experience it.<\/p>\n You won\u2019t regret it.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Other perspectives:<\/strong><\/p>\n That\u2019s when I first thought of working in Early Years, so I went to study HNC Early Years at the Ayr campus.<\/p>\n After finishing college, I worked at a private nursery in Prestwick, and left there to work as a supply Early Years Practitioner for various different schools, before I came to Dundonald Nursery four years ago.<\/p>\n There\u2019s no average day working in Early Years, every day is different!\u00a0 We try to allow things to be child-led, letting them choose what they\u2019d like to do. We have our outdoor policy, where the door is always open. I\u2019d say more than half of the children want to be outside at any one time. We are out in all weathers and the children really enjoy it.<\/p>\n As far as jobs go, it\u2019s a lot of fun. Spending time with the children is brilliant. One of the more rewarding aspects of the job, is getting to see the progression that they are making. The fact that the staff in the nursery are helping them to get there, I don\u2019t think there\u2019s many jobs like it. It\u2019s also good to see the children progress on to primary school, and it\u2019s nice being able to keep up with how they are doing at the school too.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n I\u00a0 love\u00a0 my\u00a0 job. It\u00a0 is\u00a0 physically\u00a0 and\u00a0 intellectually\u00a0 demanding,\u00a0 but\u00a0 I\u00a0 go\u00a0 to\u00a0 work\u00a0 each\u00a0 day\u00a0 with\u00a0 a\u00a0 spring\u00a0 in\u00a0 my\u00a0 step. As\u00a0 an\u00a0 early years\u00a0 professional,\u00a0 you\u00a0 will\u00a0 be\u00a0 helping\u00a0 very\u00a0 young\u00a0 children\u00a0 to\u00a0 become\u00a0 confident\u00a0 people,\u00a0 eager\u00a0 to\u00a0 learn\u00a0 and\u00a0 to\u00a0 contribute\u00a0 to\u00a0 their\u00a0 society\u00a0\u00a0 while\u00a0 they\u00a0 pursue\u00a0 their\u00a0 share\u00a0 of\u00a0 happiness,\u00a0 and\u00a0 overcome\u00a0 life\u2019s\u00a0 obstacles.<\/p>\n If\u00a0 this\u00a0 sounds\u00a0 like\u00a0 a\u00a0 big\u00a0 task,\u00a0 it\u00a0 is. But\u00a0 it\u00a0 is\u00a0 achieved\u00a0 by\u00a0 havinga\u00a0 lot\u00a0 of\u00a0 fun\u00a0 with\u00a0 the\u00a0 children\u00a0 along\u00a0 the\u00a0 way. As\u00a0 well\u00a0 as\u00a0 my\u00a0 interesting\u00a0 diet,\u00a0 I\u00a0 have\u00a0 been glued\u00a0 to\u00a0 a\u00a0 chair,\u00a0 become\u00a0 a\u00a0 Zombie\u00a0 and\u00a0 a\u00a0 robot,\u00a0 discussed\u00a0 global\u00a0 warming\u00a0\u00a0 with\u00a0 a\u00a0 four\u00a0 year\u00a0\u00a0 old\u00a0 child,\u00a0 and\u00a0 been\u00a0 shown\u00a0 the\u00a0 best\u00a0 way\u00a0 to\u00a0 negotiate\u00a0 a\u00a0 \u2018laser\u00a0 beam\u2019\u00a0 obstacle\u00a0 course\u00a0 (slow\u00a0 and\u00a0 steady,\u00a0 it\u00a0 seems).<\/p>\n Then\u00a0 what\u00a0 is\u00a0 it\u00a0 that\u00a0 is\u00a0 holding\u00a0 men\u00a0 back?\u00a0 It\u00a0 isn\u2019t\u00a0 female\u00a0 colleagues. They\u00a0 couldn\u2019t\u00a0 be\u00a0 more welcoming. It\u00a0 certainly isn\u2019t the children. Their only concern is that they can have fun with you. It isn\u2019t the parents and relatives, although there is still some resistance to men working with the\u00a0 under-twos. It is men themselves that are the problem, as a recent survey in Nursery World\u00a0 showed. Too many of us are keeping outdated stereotypes going. Men do make\u00a0 good carers. Not\u00a0 all\u00a0 of\u00a0 us, of\u00a0 course. But then, many women are better physicists or firefighters than I could ever\u00a0 hope to be.<\/p>\n So come on, lads. Whether you are leaving school or, as I did, are considering a career change, think about early years work,\u00a0 because it is a rewarding and fulfilling career, and around 50% of the population is missing out.<\/p>\n A new \u00a350,000 challenge fund aimed at increasing the number of men working in early learning and childcare (ELC) has been announced by Maree Todd, Minister for Children and Young People.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Chris Palmer \u2013 Dumfries and Galloway College graduate and current student at the University of Glasgow writes about what it\u2019s really like to be a male working in childcare.<\/p>","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_relevanssi_hide_post":"","_relevanssi_hide_content":"","_relevanssi_pin_for_all":"","_relevanssi_pin_keywords":"","_relevanssi_unpin_keywords":"","_relevanssi_related_keywords":"","_relevanssi_related_include_ids":"","_relevanssi_related_exclude_ids":"","_relevanssi_related_no_append":"","_relevanssi_related_not_related":"","_relevanssi_related_posts":"","_relevanssi_noindex_reason":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-41356","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorised"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n\n
\n![\"David](\"https:\/\/www.sfc.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/Upload\/blog-early-learning-childcare-2.jpg\")
<\/p>\nDavid Harvie, Ayrshire College graduate<\/h3>\n
\n<\/strong>\u201cI was managing a Virgin MegaStore, when my first son was born. The chance to change career came along when Virgin were closing down, and I saw this as an opportunity to go and get the career that I wanted.<\/p>\n
\n![\"Charlie](\"https:\/\/www.sfc.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/Upload\/blog-early-learning-childcare-3.jpg\")
<\/p>\nCharlie Friel, West College Scotland graduate<\/h3>\n