MY children have had a male childminder, and my daughter will when she goes to full-time daycare. I was sexually abused (by a relative). Chances of your child getting abused at home or with a relative is MUCH higher than a stranger. Teach your children proper names for their genitals, and make sure they feel comfortable talking to you. You can't bubble wrap kids and keep them from all possible males...that could be camping trips with family, sleepovers with friends, overnight trips for school and sports...there is walking to and from school, teachers....there is tonnes of "possibilites"...where does it end???? I am not going to worry about a male preschool teacher, that doesn't work alone, who has a criminal record check, and who genuinely enjoys children. Perhaps because I work with males alot...through the police, but before that, as a lifeguard/swim instructor, and see men holding children, playing with them. I see men in a caring, nurturing enviornment, and my own husband is the most caring, nurturing SAHD (who used to teach children swimming). My own sexual abuse was a close family relative...as MOST cases of abuse are (obviously not all). But, you have to ask yourself, where does this fear end, where does it take over your life, and where do you pass your, possibly irrational fears, onto your children??? Anyways, that is just MY opinion.
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