Daycare With Male Educators
Men currently make up only a small fraction, around 3%, of staff roles in the early childhood sector. This figure is gradually growing thanks to changing attitudes and projects such as that from the University of South Australia, which encourage and mentor male educators in early childhood services. We believe that as parents and caregivers start to see the benefits of mixed gender educators for their children, the numbers will increase further. Until recently, childcare was seen as a role for female educators only.
How Everyone Benefits from Diversity
If a childcare centre has male and female educators, it will be a more inclusive learning environment. Just as we know the children in our care have unique insights and personalities, so do the staff. Including men in the workplace brings in new ideas and teaching styles. This helps all children as it ensures the team can adapt to different learning styles and ensure all children are thriving. Fresh ideas and energy help the staff as they have a wider bank of knowledge to check in with and help each other.
By having a variety of educators included in their early years’ education, children are more likely to be able to find one who matches their personality and they can build a respectful relationship with. If children have a good bond with an educator, they are more likely to respond to their direction and learn from them. It also gives them a secure connection, so they feel safe to explore and play, helping build their emotional resilience.
The Importance of Role Models for Children
Children begin to learn proper social play and form bonds outside their family from birth. As childcare centres like ours take children up to six years old, that’s many years where they’re beginning to look at the world and form opinions. If they only see female educators, they’ll build the assumption that caring roles are for women only, not men. Opinions created in early life can be hard to unpick when you’re older.
Children’s gender identities are also starting to form around this age. The more role models they have, the broader their sense of identity will become. Seeing a daycare with male and female workers in the same role helps them realise they can be anything when they grow up. The old model of unemotional men is long gone, and we now accept that men should express their emotions fully. Seeing male figures in caring roles helps further enforce this message for the next generation. They will see for themselves that men can be caring and nurturing in the same way women are. For boys, this helps them learn to accept their own caring side and validates their emotions, Positive masculinity encompasses all aspects of being human. Girls also benefit from breaking gender stereotypes, learning that all roles are available for men or women.
It’s also important for parents and carers to have a male educators (and our amazing chef!) as a part of the team, because often, it’s easier to talk to a man for some. It’s like having someone who speaks your hone language.
At Cressy Road Early Learning, we’re proud to be a daycare with male educators. We’re putting our words into action and leading the change needed to make the early childhood sector become more balanced.