Pros and cons of being a childminder...

LittleTinker

Just a quick question.....but why go to all the trouble of becoming a childminder when you only lose out by £35 per week?

Surely it would be much easier for you to earn £35 a week through ebay or carboot sales.....or even a job one evening a week.

Mollymop5

I've read all the postings and there are some great bits of information.I'm a qualified Nursery Nurse who decided to childmind so I could spend more time at home with my children.I went to the briefings.Attended the necessary course and was really looking forward to spending my day with children and earning more.Once registered I advertised and was lucky to get replies quickly.I really enjoyed it.
My children though HATED it! my DD was3 at the time and had always ben a lovely little girl who would share anything. She became clinging and had major tantrums over sharing toys.This wasn't just her toys as I made sure we had boxes of toys that belonged to me so that I could share my toys with everyone.Her special toys were hers and not to be touched.
I tried everything with her, making sure when we were alone she had alot of attention ect but it just didn't work.
My DS was 11 and didn't like having other children in the house and took to spending all the time in his bedroom.He knew I needed to earn money so didn't like to complain but I could tell he was really unhappy.
I gave it 9 months then decided it wasn't for us.
I may look into it again when the children are older.
My point being is that you may have to try it first to see how it fits in with your family as no matter how well you plan things it may never work out as you imagine.
I wish you well with whatever you decide

jet77

I know some of this thread is really old but I just wanted to say thank you to all the posters as I've just booked on my pre registration briefing session, first aid course and level 1 of the Diploma in Home Based Childcare - hoping to be registered by the end of July.

poppyolivia

skylight wrote: »

When I was looking at childminders, many years ago, I expected to view the minders entire house. I know that my child was only going to be downstairs, but as I was entrusting this person to my littles ones life, I wanted to know all about her (not to the extent as what was under her bed, but do you see what I mean!?)

One particular childminder went mental when I asked to see her whole house - obviously my daughter did not go there at all, but you do need to expect that some parents wont give a damn and others will be inquisitive and that may feel intrusive.

I'm sorry but thats weird!lol I've done my paper work,got the certificate just need the commisioner to see me (but I'm delaying it) my upstairs would be closed off as in the kids just don't get up there......so there is no reason the parents should want up there, thats just snooping!:rotfl: What are you scared of finding that makes you want to look? I have a bathroom down the stairs too so there is no way anyone has to be up the stairs.

Thing is before you get registered someone comes round and checks your house out.....they don't go upstairs (unless thats part of the childminding area).....so sorry if you came and wanted to deek in my bedrooms I wouldn't want your business!:D And its only the down stairs I would have insured not the upstairs (for child minding)

Right thought I'd phone a childminder I know and I asked her if it was me thats weird......sorry but she has never heard of any one wanting to look at the whole house and she agreed that it was snooping!....lol

and just realised this is an old thread that someone else brought up so maybe you think differently now??????

claireluvsshoes

Tom_Saunders wrote: »

My wife is a childminder, we have two kids 7 & 4. I am a postie home by 1 most days, there is NO biase what so ever with our kids and if anything it goes the other way. This may be a fear of yours and perhaps some people are like that but I can guarantee you 100% we are nothing like that.

He is right, if anything your own children get it in the neck if there is bad behaviour.

Also, if there are young children in the house, you can be sure the food served, toys used etc etc is of the standard the childminder would want for her own.

claireluvsshoes

skylight wrote: »

When I was looking at childminders, many years ago, I expected to view the minders entire house. I know that my child was only going to be downstairs, but as I was entrusting this person to my littles ones life, I wanted to know all about her (not to the extent as what was under her bed, but do you see what I mean!?)

One particular childminder went mental when I asked to see her whole house - obviously my daughter did not go there at all, but you do need to expect that some parents wont give a damn and others will be inquisitive and that may feel intrusive.

I think this is a total disrespect for the childminder and her family. Why should the other children in the house have some random stranger snooping in their bedrooms? And in your own bedroom that is your personal space with your husband? I wouldn't imagine you would want to see the living quarters of the owner of a day nursery.

If you get people like this, DON'T TAKE THEM ON! They think they own you, will treat you like the hired help and you will do no right. If OFSTED don't feel the need to look upstairs, why should she. Outrageous.

Mojisola

hatsepsovet wrote: »

I earn £280 p/w and £245 of this goes to the childminder, so even if I was to earn only £100 p/w I would feel quids in

While I think you've been given good advice that shows it could be a good choice for you, could I put another option? If you're only earning £35 for a week's work, then you may be able to trim your spending to save that much. Even a part-time job would bring in the difference and you would have all that time at home with your children. Good luck with whatever you choose.

Fly_Baby

loveandlight wrote: »

Since being a childminder, I also now have tremendous respect for childminders and think the good ones are grossly underpaid given the high level of responsibility they carry and the good work they do. I may be using one myself soon for a couple of one off occaisions and have already decided to pay her an hourly rate twice what she charges as recognition of how important she is to me in looking after my son.

While I admire your generous intention, I honestly hope that other parents won't follow your suit!

Where I live, childminders now charge £5.50 p.h. and for a regular 8 hr day it's £44. £44x5x4= circa £900 per month. It is way too much for most parents and with childminders, you cannot use Nursery Education Grant. So after the age of 3, nurseries become just more affordable.

I agree that it is a hard job but for parents, it is often not a good value. Your child is not getting exclusive attention and is not in their own home (like with a nanny), doesn't have a big space and lots of versatile equipment (lik in a nursery), you often have to provide meals (extra costs and extra bother to think what to cook for the baby/toddler - it is not healthy to feed him/her sandwiches all the time) and you don't have any control over what your child is doing - i.e. you cannot say to a childminder that you would like him to go swimming today etc.

So overall, from a parent's point of view, there are too many limitations in childminder's care and the cost is not that much lower than nursery. So even though we had a good childminder, with my son, once he became eligible for NEG, I moved him to the nursery.

fannyannie_2

Can you childmind in a flat? Just curious

skylight

poppyolivia wrote: »

and just realised this is an old thread that someone else brought up so maybe you think differently now??????

I know its an old thread, but no. I still think that way.

Not that I use a childminder, I am a stay at home Mum now and quite happy with that. And I am also well aware that its weird! Few other mums I speak to have never thought about asking.

Funnily enough, this actually cropped up at playgroup a few weeks ago and several of them there are childminders. They are very well established minders and don't take any nonsense from parents (so certainly are not the type of people whom parents might try to "own") - all but one said they would allow a full house visit but that they had never been asked anyway.

I just feel strongly about my kids being with someone whom I can trust entirely. It has nothing to do with snooping, or trying to "own" a minder, or even being a parent from hell over their little darling. What I don't want is a "stranger" looking after my kids. And if some people don't want a "stranger" asking to take a quick peek around all their house then we are well suited to remain that way for a long time! Trust is a two way thing.

And as mentioned, at playgroup there are several minders and there is no way I would allow my kids to go to half of them anyway (and thats nothing to do with being allowed to look at their house or not!).

Its just the way I feel about it.

Anyway - need to look through the thread again. Did the OP ever become a childminder???