As of: February 13, 2024, 12:26 p.m
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Men are rarely found in daycare centers.
They only make up 7.9 percent of the industry's workforce.
Julian Dürr is one of them.
He works in the Weyarner Kinderland after-school care center.
© Thomas Plettenberg
Since 2012, the number of male professionals in daycare centers has almost tripled.
However, they are still exotic in the industry.
One of them is Julian Dürr – who graduated with top grades.
Weyarn
– Julian Dürr, huge and strong, sits down on one of the cute kindergarten chairs in the library of the Weyarn Kinderland.
“Not exactly comfortable for someone like me,” he says.
But that's about it when you ask him about the dark side of the teaching profession.
Of course, the volume is sometimes immense, and of course, children can also be stubborn.
“But I really like seeing their progress and accompanying them in their development,” says the 26-year-old.
Dürr works in the Kinderland after-school care center, which also includes a crèche and kindergarten.
Here he is responsible for the education, upbringing and care of primary school students.
“Especially in this age group, there are also bullies who can really act up, so male support doesn’t hurt,” he says and laughs.
Dürr consciously decided to go to the after-school care center - changing diapers is not his thing.
Male educators
In Kinderland, seven of the approximately 30 teaching staff are men.
That's above average: According to statistics from the German Youth Institute, men make up less than eight percent of employees in daycare centers nationwide.
Although the number has almost tripled since 2012, educators are calling for a further increase, not least because studies show that male caregivers have a positive effect on attachment and aggression behavior as well as on the educational opportunities of boys in particular.
Accordingly, they also expand the range of career choices and freedom of action for men as well as the play and relationship offerings for children in day care centers.
Distribution of roles
“It always sounds so strange when people say: women are like that and men are like that.
But the fact is: I am responsible for playing football.
The female specialists just don't do that." But Dürr thinks it's important that there is a male part: "I think it's good if the children can run around a little wilder sometimes." Educators wouldn't play the role Parents take it, but many children spend a large part of their time in daycare these days.
“I therefore see it as my job to be there for the children.” You get to know them well over time and develop a feel for them: “I notice when they really need something and when they are just whining for attention,” he says.
At the same time, you always have to question why the child reacts the way it does.
As a man in a female-dominated industry, he doesn't feel like an outsider: “Here in Kinderland we work like gears that mesh together.” The team complements each other.
“I, for example, am not as fond of crafts as some female colleagues.” But Dürr cooks with the children.
Spicy filled pancake rolls, for example, or pizza rolls.
For the amateur chef, who has already appeared in the ZDF kitchen battle with Johann Lafer, this is one of the advantages of being a teacher.
“You can integrate your interests into your everyday working life.”
Even before he graduated from FOS Holzkirchen, it was clear to Dürr that he would pursue a career in education.
For 13 years he was a workshop leader at the Weyarner children's and youth circus Velowe, and he was involved in the district youth ring and the Weyarner AK Jugend.
So after his voluntary social year at the Weyarn primary school, he trained as a childcare worker and then as an educator.
He graduated from the Miesbach Vocational School Center with a grade of 1.3, which is why the community of Weyarn honored him at their New Year's reception.
Salary
The fact that educators in training don't earn anything didn't deter him.
You can apply for Master BAföG, which is paid regardless of your parents' income.
And after successfully completing the year of recognition, you can expect a salary that beats many other industries.
The city of Munich attracts young professionals with a starting salary of 4,126 euros gross per month including allowances.
Anyone who runs a facility can earn more than 6,000 euros per month.
For Dürr, however, money was not the deciding factor: “I just really enjoy working with children.”
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