Can you work in early years when you get older.

Can you work in early years when you get older.

by: Tallulah - 18-08-10 13:46

I was reading a government publication (Irish) that said that most of the workforce in early chilhood is under the age of 35 and only 7% are aged over 50. Does anyone know the reasons for this, is it that the work is too physically demanding for older people or is it just a matter of pay? Maybe it's because women leave when they have their own children.

I am curious to know because I have been offered a place on a BA in early years and I am 35 at my next birthday so that puts me out of the game according to statistics! I know a lot of the older people in the workforce go into management but is a long term non-management career in early years doable?

I think this is a relevant topic as governments everywhere are talking about raising the retirement age and I'm wondering how childcare workers will fare in the future.

(My dad is 60 and can't go down on his knees anymore, and my mum is sixty next year and can't stand for very long so obviously for these examples if they were working in childcare working to the new retirement age would be impossible)

by: Lolo

Of course you can!  Even in your example, adjustments could be made so that someone who couldn't go down on their knees would have appropriate furniture to sit and play with children.

by: kaz (the first one!)

I'm 42 and all of my staff are over 40. This is very common in most of the pre-schools in my county, although day nurseries tend to employ younger people as they get paid less. I think that as older people we have a lot more experience with children, especially when we have had children of our own and a parent wants to grumble about their child not sleeping or eating properly - we can often relate to that.

I also have concerns about doing this job in my sixties so I've joined the gym to help keep me active and supple! My dad is 80 and was working under his car this weekend, just as he has done for the last 65 years!

by: red sun

I agree with lolo, and on top of that I'm 50 in October and have just graduated with a BA(Hons) in Early Years Management, got a 2:1!!

by: Jax

50 and still going including studying in HE. Age is a state of mind and while I respect the energy of the younger members of staff I know my experience helps me lead my team and work with the parents at a deeper level. Don't forget, the retirement date is moving back because the average 50 yr old today is as capable as the 30 year old of times past. Forget your chronological age...act the age you feel now.

by: bagpuss

so long as you act professionally and embrace new research based initiatives age is no problem i started a nursery at 36 with a business partner of 46 and 64!  only now at 67 is one of my business partners considering slowing down.

by: Liz

Here's an interesting article about employing older staff that we ran a few years ago.

Liz

by: Tiggy

I used to work with a lady aged 70. She only worked the first 2 hours of the day(Very useful), and there were no problems at all. If all the staff were old there might be difficulties, but it's great to have a good mix of staff.

by: Jacqueline Feasey

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Jackief course you can older people are so important in the lives of children , especially as the extended family of years ago is now a thing of the past. Often children do not live close to their grandparents. Older people have so much to offer. I have worked with children as a nursery nurse and a childminder for 37 years and I am now 54.  I believe working with children keeps you young. You are as young as you feel!

by: Tallulah

Your replies are all very encouraging - working in childcare for 37 years wow! I wonder if working conditions are much better in the UK - we have one staff member to every ten preschool children in Ireland - one adult with every six two year olds - one adult with every five one to two year olds and one adult to three babies - but in the private sector they don't always respect the ratios - and the inspections of the private sector are all notified so they have time to hide the crime.

I was thinking of going to the gym or doing yoga to increse my career longevity too.