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‘The Help’ – Nannies in the Movies – Watch Online or DVD / BlueRay
The Huffington Post reported back in August that ‘The Help’ movie has thrusted nannies into the centre of American conversation. Today (12 March 2012) ‘The Help’ came out in the UK on DVD as well as via online streaming movie rental services such as Blinkbox and Film4oD, so will it be the topic of conversation in the UK or did the interest in nannies and housekeepers peak when the movie had it’s cinema release?
I read the book by Kathryn Stockett and really enjoyed that, so I am looking forward to watching The Help movie. I hope it sticks quite closely to the book, though books don’t always transfer to the movies that well, with luck The Help will be an exception. Certainly Octavia Spencer did win the Oscar for best supporting actress, so that should mean it’s definitely worth watching the movie.
Watch ‘The Help’ Online in the UK via BlinkBox – Rent for £3.49 (price last checked: 13-Apr-2012)
Watch ‘The Help’ Online in the UK via Film4oD – Rent for £3.49 (price last checked 13-Apr-2012)
Daddy Daycare – Channel 4
Tonight on Channel 4 (UK) is the beginning of a new documentary series about dads and dads-to-be being involved in caring for children. They are being given a crash course in childcare by being placed in a nursery and being asked to care for the children in that nursery.
Some men may think that childcare is women’s work, others may feel they just don’t have the time to be involved in caring for their own children. Maybe men lack the caring instinct that women seem to have or is it just hidden? What really happens if men are pushed into caring for children… is it a disaster or does it work out allright in the end?
As a male nanny I’ve worked in pre-school and nurseries in the past as well as working in families homes. I am a bloke and genetically I am just like other men I would guess. However I seem more in touch with my childcare ability than some other men. Maybe it is due to being given the chance to be involved in caring for children and then finding that I actually enjoyed that role.
The Daddy Daycare documentary on Channel 4 tonight isn’t about nannying or men working in a nursery but it might be an interesting watch for anyone interested to see how men interact with young children and to see how over time some men are able to care for young children just as well as women are able to do so.
I will be interested to see how the men get on and what response they get from the nursery workers and parents of children at the nursery. Is having a man in the nursery seen as being a positive thing? I will also be interested to see what happens at the end, will those men go on to spend more time with their own children, or even take up a job in childcare.
Daddy Daycare, Channel 4, starts 8pm Wednesday 15th February 2012
This is available on catchup 4OD
Update:
Looking at how people have been finding this blog post about the Daddy Daycare programme on Channel 4, some people have searched for more information about the nursery featured in Episode 1. That nursery to my knowledge was Magic Roundabout at Stockwell. Map Their Ofsted report can be viewed here on the Ofsted website. There is a virtual tour of the nursery available on the Magic Roundabout website.
Episode 2 was at Carlton Hill Community Nursery, NW8. Ofsted report. Map. Nursery Website.
Episode 3 was at Tadpoles Nursery, SW10. Ofsted Report Nursery Website
What did you think of the programme? Do you feel it will encourage fathers to spend more time with their children? Do please add your comments.
Popular Recent Search Queries About Nannies
Looking at the log on this blog I can see some of the questions entered into search engines which lead someone to find my blog.
Some of those search queries I have listed below, with a brief answer to the question:
How many children can a nanny look after?
The number of children a nanny can care for in the UK is limited by the nannies insurance and also by childcare legislation. Insurance can limit it to 6 children (ask your nanny about their public liability insurance). Childcare legislation limits it to caring for children from no more than two families at a time.
How much lunch does a nanny get?
Giving a quantity is very hard as every individual will have a different amount of food they need to keep their body healthy. I feel a nanny should be eating with the children in their care and setting an example to them. Therefore the nanny should where possible be eating the same as the children. The 1 year old I care for will often have exactly the same lunch as I have, or am I having the same lunch as she has? Whichever way around it is, we are both having the same, it’s just that mine isn’t cut up into small pieces.
What are nannies?
Nannies are adults who come to a families home to care for the children at that home whilst the children’s parent(s) go out to work. A nanny cares for the children and help to look after the home, so will often do some tasks around the home such as children’s laundry and preparing children’s meals. The precise duties of a nanny will vary from job to job and should be agreed between the employer (parents) and employee (nanny) in advance.
Kids going to toilet with nannies
When you work as a nanny children coming with you to the toilet is part of the job. When you are out and about with children, you can’t leave them unattended so you have to go with them – regardless of their gender. I nanny for children who are quite young, so I look for “baby changing” rooms which include a toilet. That way I can change baby, whilst pre-school child can use the loo. At the children’s home, you won’t get privacy when using the toilet.
