Article Link: http://exchangepress.com/article/older-child-care-staff-asset-or-liability/5004917/
Many administrators are unsure whether or not it is in their program's best interest to hire older workers: those employees who are nearing or have passed retirement. Is the goal of providing supportive treatment of older employees worth the effort required?The answer to this and other questions about the value of older employees in child care programs depends on our understanding of the strengths, weaknesses, and unique needs of older workers; on our own perceptions and stereotypes about the capabilities and appropriate roles of older employees; about recent legal trends applicable to older employees; and about recent trends regarding older adults in child care programs.
Employment of older adults in child care programs can provide a number of benefits to the children and families they serve. The number of extended family households has decreased sharply during the past generation. Increased mobility, particularly among the more affluent middle and upper classes, has resulted in fewer opportunities for interaction between grandchildren and their grandparents. Employment of older workers in child care programs provides young children an opportunity to encounter the values and attitudes of another generation.
When cared for by older adults, young children have many opportunities for frequent contact with older adults ...