When Did You Start Doing Daycare?

[Brooksie]

A long time ago when my kids were in daycare I would've loved to have a male provider. I was a single mom and they could've used a male firgure to look up to. I hope you do well! !

So true!

[Blackcat31]

A long time ago when my kids were in daycare I would've loved to have a male provider. I was a single mom and they could've used a male firgure to look up to. I hope you do well! !

When my own children were young, I had several male sitters. They were the best. In all honesty, they never chatted on the phone with their friends, had their boyfriends over or made a mess like any of the teen girls I hired.

The male sitters always played with my kids and were much more hands on than any of the girls.

A few years ago, our high school had a course for high schoolers who were looking to get into the child care or early childhood field and were assigned to work in area child cares for x amount of hours. There were a few males students in that class and none of the providers in town would allow them to come in to their care environments and let them do their hours.

I always volunteered to let them come to my place as they were similar to my male sitters and always hands on with the kids and for some reason all the kids really clicked with them so it was win-win for everyone.

My DH comes in and helps me everyday over lunch time and nap time and any other time where I need an assistant. ALL my DCF's are A-ok with it.

I too, feel we as a society need to lose the stereotypes and pre-conceived notions about men in early childhood.

With the make up of today's family dynamics, any adult male presence can make a huge difference.

[MarinaVanessa]

When my own children were young, I had several male sitters. They were the best. In all honesty, they never chatted on the phone with their friends, had their boyfriends over or made a mess like any of the teen girls I hired.

The male sitters always played with my kids and were much more hands on than any of the girls.

A few years ago, our high school had a course for high schoolers who were looking to get into the child care or early childhood field and were assigned to work in area child cares for x amount of hours. There were a few males students in that class and none of the providers in town would allow them to come in to their care environments and let them do their hours.

I always volunteered to let them come to my place as they were similar to my male sitters and always hands on with the kids and for some reason all the kids really clicked with them so it was win-win for everyone.

My DH comes in and helps me everyday over lunch time and nap time and any other time where I need an assistant. ALL my DCF's are A-ok with it.

I too, feel we as a society need to lose the stereotypes and pre-conceived notions about men in early childhood.

With the make up of today's family dynamics, any adult male presence can make a huge difference.

I think that it's awesome of you to provide that for the males that weren't allowed to do their hours anywhere else. My DH is like yours and he subs for me. He's also home by 4pm and the kids LOVE the last 2 hours that he's here. Most of my clients are couples that are married or are at least together but I have some that are single parents (single moms) and they like that my DH is here and that their kids get to benefit from a male role model.

Men just play differently with kids than we women do, it's awesome to watch. While I "mother" them, my DH is their "buddy" ... I think we both are just wired that way ::. I too think that there is too much negativity surrounding males in child care. I would LOVE to have an assistant someday that was male. I think that the kids would benefit from it so much.

[melilley]

I was a nanny at 17 and at 18 I started working at a daycare center and went to school and have a degree in Child Development. I just opened my home daycare this past Jan. and I am 34.

[Brooksie]

I think that it's awesome of you to provide that for the males that weren't allowed to do their hours anywhere else. My DH is like yours and he subs for me. He's also home by 4pm and the kids LOVE the last 2 hours that he's here. Most of my clients are couples that are married or are at least together but I have some that are single parents (single moms) and they like that my DH is here and that their kids get to benefit from a male role model.

Men just play differently with kids than we women do, it's awesome to watch. While I "mother" them, my DH is their "buddy" ... I think we both are just wired that way ::. I too think that there is too much negativity surrounding males in child care. I would LOVE to have an assistant someday that was male. I think that the kids would benefit from it so much.

This too! My boyfriend who is moving in in August is approved as a resident and is also one of my subs and he's here in the mornings and the kids absolutely LOVE when he's here. Him and one of my dcbs (12mo) have their own "language" and he even coaxed him to take his FIRST STEPS this morning! (shhh don't tell mommy!) And he helped me take all the kids to the park this morning because we haven't been able too with the stroller and also pushing the wheel chair (dcg with CP) and we trucked all the kids down and I tell you what, I was chopped liver! Everyone wanted to show HIM everything and have HIM push on the swings of assist them with things. Its such a shame that people knock men as CCP's. Luckily all my families are accepting of my boyfriend and see how great he is with the kids (despite being covered in tattoos)

[melilley]

I think that it's awesome of you to provide that for the males that weren't allowed to do their hours anywhere else. My DH is like yours and he subs for me. He's also home by 4pm and the kids LOVE the last 2 hours that he's here. Most of my clients are couples that are married or are at least together but I have some that are single parents (single moms) and they like that my DH is here and that their kids get to benefit from a male role model.

Men just play differently with kids than we women do, it's awesome to watch. While I "mother" them, my DH is their "buddy" ... I think we both are just wired that way ::. I too think that there is too much negativity surrounding males in child care. I would LOVE to have an assistant someday that was male. I think that the kids would benefit from it so much.

It is awesome to watch! When I worked at a center my daughter went there with me. Her teacher was male and when I would go get her at the end of the day, I would sometimes look out the window (or in) and see my daughter playing with Mr. M. She loved him and it made me so happy to see that she liked going to daycare-I had to take her so I could work.
Now I have my home daycare and am married. The kids love my husband! One of my dck's mom said that he talks about my husband at home all the time and "talks" to him on the play phone and "rides" in his Jeep.....

[mamac]

Yep... This was one of the first things I brought up to my family and friends when I was thinking about opening a daycare. "What if one of the kids goes home and tells their parents that I touched them in their special place"? The best answer I have gotten so far is to make sure I have real good insurance for my business. To this end I am planning on buying a completely different policy for my business and keeping it seperate from my homeowners policy. I want something that specializes in daycare insurance and has experience in defending against such accusations.

Have you considered getting security cameras for your business? Although I am a female provider I will still be getting some for my dc, both inside and outside. I won't be allowing any live access to parents but it will serve as protection in the event of any false accusations. I will also be getting a separate dc insurance but there's no guarantee that they will side with me if the allegation is questionable without having proof of my innocence. I hate the idea of having cameras in my home, but I'm not about to risk losing my source of income or reputation over a false accusation. Something to think about anyway.

[Mister Sir Husband]

That's great! We need more men in this business! My husband and son run our group daycare with me.

You will always find the odd people who will automatically assume you are a pedophile on a quest. We have seen it several times over the past 28 years of business. It's THEIR problem. Sad...but it is what it is.

Our clients LOVE the fact that there are men here. Many of our daycare kids don't have good male role models in their lives and their mother's are very grateful to have "my guys" in their kids lives.

I hope your daycare is very successful! Good vibes coming your way!

Have you considered getting security cameras for your business? Although I am a female provider I will still be getting some for my dc, both inside and outside. I won't be allowing any live access to parents but it will serve as protection in the event of any false accusations. I will also be getting a separate dc insurance but there's no guarantee that they will side with me if the allegation is questionable without having proof of my innocence. I hate the idea of having cameras in my home, but I'm not about to risk losing my source of income or reputation over a false accusation. Something to think about anyway.

I thought about the camera thing, but it would involve a lot of them to get full coverage and even with this, there would still be places that I could not legally put them (bathrooms for example). So with this in mind I could still be accused and have areas not covered by cameras.

[Blackcat31]

I thought about the camera thing, but it would involve a lot of them to get full coverage and even with this, there would still be places that I could not legally put them (bathrooms for example). So with this in mind I could still be accused and have areas not covered by cameras.

I agree about the cameras...they can only do so much and since you can't place them everywhere....I can see where the issues lie.

Personally, I think there simply HAS to be a certain level of trust between a parent and a caregiver (BOTH male and female) or the relationship will just not work.

No matter how many cameras and/or assistants you have or don't have, trust is ABSOLUTELY necessary.

[itlw8]

I was 27 I had just had our 2nd child... I think it can also go the other way. People think you are too old. Before I had total knee replacements I did not get around too well and I lost some clients. While I may not run with the kids I think I come across full of energy now. and updating my program and keeping current make people think I am younger now.

[Kim]

I left teaching and opened my daycare when I was 29. I'm 34 now.

[Sunshine74]

I don't have my own daycare, but I started working at daycare when I was 16. The only time I didn't was during the semester when I was at college, but I worked during vacations and breaks- and the occasional fill in if they needed me when I didn't have classes. I am 29 now.

My biggest obstacle was (and still is) that we have a very low staff turn over, so some of my co-workers knew me when I was a kid. And they still see me that way even though I am 29, and have a degree.

[allsmiles]

i just started last year.. im 34.. i have had MANY ppl ask my age or the age of my teachers.. but it really hasnt been a deterrant..