Male role models for children

Claire Burgess
@Belles28 

Early Years Consultancy Manager 

With Fathers' Day fast approaching it is an ideal time to look at the important role men play in children’s lives.  

Anne Fausto Sterling, a professor at Brown University, USA, claims that gender identification starts from birth; as young as 3 months old babies can distinguish between male and female voices and faces and by 18 months, toddlers understand stereotypical symbols: fire hats = boys, dolls = girls. Children look for role models in the world around them and by having positive male and female role models children are able to develop their skills, gain understanding and see the world from different perspectives.   For example, men can be more active when playing with children, incorporating more outdoor and rough and tumble play, giving a different ‘experience' and offering huge benefits for this area of children’s learning and development.

With the changes we have seen in family dynamics, more children are growing up in single parent families, often without a constant male figure around them or sometimes with dad alone. The role of ‘Dad’ can often now be filled by a step father, grandfather, uncle, partner etc.

One of the frequent topics raised when I’m training is whether a man alone is less likely to cope with children in comparison with a woman?  This can get some very interesting conversations going!  Some people respond immediately with negative comments to say that “men are not ‘designed’ in the same way as women to cope with children" that "it all comes back to ‘mothers intuition’”. 

So, can men cope as well as women with the challenges children bring? 

I believe so, and here is why...

I class myself very lucky to have worked alongside a single dad of triplets. During a very difficult time in this family’s life, following the bereavement of the triplets' mum eight days after giving birth, I was able to see the instant bond that the 3 babies had with their father.  There were a great deal of people supporting in those early months, yet the babies knew and responded to their father over and above all the other adults.  I feel privileged to have been able to continue to follow this family’s journey and see how Dad has works tirelessly to ensure that his children’s every need is met. They are developing wonderfully and it has been great to see the ‘daddy can do’ attitude with this family! (Read more about this family’s story here.) 

I have had the great fortune to work with and witness some amazing Dads over the years who have demonstrated effortlessly the importance of the male role in children’s lives.  From the way they talk with their little ones to the life skills they teach them.  The interaction between a dad (in every sense of the word) and their child/ren can be incredibly special to watch.  

In addition to the important role dads play in children's lives, Norland would be delighted to see more men in early years. The value of having both male and female role models for children, in all areas of their lives, is so important and never more so than now with society seeing changes to the traditional family structure, for example single parent or same sex families. An increase of men in the Early Years profession would give children more opportunities to learn from positive male role models that they perhaps don’t always have at home.  

Wishing all dads, and all male role models, a very happy Father’s Day!

The week of 61 fruit cakes!

This week in the Norland Diploma Food and Nutrition unit, Set 37 have been taking part in the Norland Bake Off. Each of the 61 students were tasked with making and decorating a fruit cake, from scratch, to be judged as part of the Bake Off style competition.

 

Paul and Mary were replaced by Norland’s Food and Nutrition lecturer, Sofie Aldiss, and a different guest judge for each of the 4 sessions. Guest judges were Principal, Liz Hunt; Vice Principal, Mandy Donaldson; Lecturer, Elizabeth Kerry and Placement Officer Sarah Dray.

The cakes were decorated in a variety of spring and Easter styles and were judged on their taste, texture and standard of decoration.

Winners were picked from each of the sessions giving 4 finalists. The overall winner, given the proud accolade of being this week’s star baker was Beth. Well done Beth!  

The 3 finalists, Gabriella, Tamzin and Poppy: 

* Star baker - Beth *

These essential nanny skills in cake baking will be used by the students when working with children to make celebration cakes, or when just have some fun baking and decorating bakes with their charges.  

To find out more about the training at Norland have a look here on our website.

Australian Training Week

Last week Norland hosted a group of students from Miss Pepper Australian Nanny School. The aim of the training was to give the students an introduction to Early Years training, care and education in the UK.

Before starting their training, the Australian students spent 2 evenings at College meeting Norland students including getting involved in the Norland Choir’s rehearsal, learning how Norland students make up carriage prams and meeting our reality babies.

Monday

Introduction day - On Monday morning the training began with a session about the Norland history, all 123 years of it, together with information about Norland’s approach and what training looks like today.  The afternoon covered an introduction to the Early Years curriculum (Early Years Foundation Stage) and a review of the placements the Norland students have experienced.

Tuesday

Today the students looked at the role of Early Years Practitioners - what are they are responsible for? What qualities would you expect them to have? In the afternoon they got to meet two of our qualified Norland Nannies, Chloe and Kate, and their charges. It was fantastic to have some little visitors and for the students to hear first-hand what it is like to work as a Norland Nanny in the UK.  

Wednesday

Today the students started the day with a visit to the Bristol Scrap Store. Andy, the manager, met the group and gave us a tour and a chat about how the Scrap Store works and its ethos. He talked through, and we got a backstage look at, how PlayPods work and the research around the benefits to children. The students were given time to explore and take some items back to the college for use later in the week.

The afternoon session  was taken by Norland Practical Skills Lecturer, and Norland graduate, Elizabeth Kerry (@PracticalSkills). The students explored making music without instruments and how this can link to different areas of children’s development such as mathematical development and confidence. Then it was time for some science experiments! We had exploding volcanos, chocolate painting, corn flour play and magic raisins. All giving a wealth of opportunities for children’s development and learning whilst being heaps of fun!  

Thursday

Forest School Day!  Despite the good old English weather we trundled off into the Hidden Woods forest school where the first task of the day was to get a roaring fire going. Our Forest School leader took us through the process of fire building whilst covering what the Forest School ethos is and how children benefit from spending time in the woods. We talked about risks and how to manage these with children whilst still giving them the opportunity to get involved and learn from their experiences.

When we got back (and warmed up!) we used some of the resources we had collected from the ScrapStore to explore Open Ended play. The students got the opportunity to see what they could make to give them first-hand experience of what it is like when you are not restricted by pre-defined outcomes and you can really let your creativity flow. We had some great creative results!   

Friday 

Final day - Today was the final day of the training which brought together all that the students had seen and learnt throughout the week. The students had some lectures on the UK key person approach and attachment theory, reflecting on what they thought an Early Years Practitioner responsibilities and skills were from earlier in the week.

The afternoon was a baby care workshop – including using a baby bump and reality babies to gain some understanding of what it is like for expectant and new parents. Treasure baskets and their use and content were also explored to sum up the week.

It was a fantastic week and thoroughly enjoyed by all. We look forward to welcoming the next group of students soon. 

This training was designed specifically for the students from Miss Pepper Nanny School by Norland’s Early Years Consultants Claire Burgess (@Belles28) and Elspeth Pitman (@ElspethPitman). To find out more about the bespoke training and consultancy that Norland can offer have a look here.