Q Like many nurseries we are an all-female staff. Recently we have been pleased to have a male teenager on placement from the local secondary school. The children, especially the boys, were enthusiastic about his visits. We had hoped that he would help motivate the more energetic boys towards interest in books and activities that would help them to concentrate better. But he has been more comfortable in boisterous play with the children, and we have had to set some boundaries for safety.
Perhaps we were hoping for too much from a fortnight's placement, but it is so hard to get a male role model for them.
A It sounds as if your team has used the placement to do some useful reflection. The early years is such a female environment, that it can be tempting to hope that a father who becomes a regular helper, or in this case a young man on school placement, can be all things to all children.
The fact that the children really enjoyed the teenager's visits highlights that there is a gap in their experience. I think you were right to discuss boundaries, while noticing that the children liked the livelier play. You could have a useful team discussion about ways to continue the more physical activities that the children enjoyed with him. We are aware of children's need for positive male role models. But the girls benefit from seeing adult females who obviously enjoy active games.
It helps some boys to experience that reading and writing is of real interest for adult males. You could explore whether some fathers or other male family members would be happy to do some regular story times. Or they might take part in local trips with the children where the idea is to spot writing all around us - Cathy Nutbrown's idea of 'environmental print'.
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