Considering childminding

[mumof1]

Hi, i've just found the site and am hoping for some advice. I have a two year old daughter and currently work in a special school part time. I would love to be a full time mum but we need the extra income. I'm considering giving up work to work as a childminder so i can be at home with my daughter. I'm a bit reluctant in some ways as i get the obvious school hours and holidays and only work 2 and 1/2 days per week. However when i was studying i worked as a nanny and loved the freedom of doing my own planning and taking the children out etc. i'm also a bit worried about the income regarding holidays etc and how this works with parents. Do you decide when to take holidays and then give them notice and do you charge for yours and their holidays? Also could anyone give me an example of a typical day ib the life of a childminder (difficult i know as everyday is different when you work with children)!! Also where do you start in setting up your home for chilminding, like where do the babies/ young children sleep during the day etc. My house isnt exactly huge so i'm a bit worried about where all the toys would go etc.
Any advice would be really appreciated, sorry for so many questions!

[susan]

Welcome to the forum

One of the reasons i decided to do childminding was so I could be at home with my children also.

It is quite a lengthy process so be prepared for that

Everyone is self employed and work to suit them, so if you only wanted to work 2/3 days a week thats up to you, if you dont want to offere school holiday care again thats up to you, you can charge what you want ( within reason of course or you will do yourself out of work ) you are your own boss and you set the rules if you see what i mean

I charge parents for their holidays but not for mine as they may have to pay for alternative childcare and it would mean them paying twice

You register the areas of your home you wish to use for minding so it depends really on which bits of your house you will be using as to where the children are to sleep etc

Hope this helps a little

Susan xxx

[susi513]

with holidays, you can choose when & how often to have holidays. Its helpful for parents to have lots of notice,some cms give a list of dates every January so they can make alternative arrangements in good time. Most cms either charge full fees for parents holidays and £no charge for their own or 1/2 fees for all holidays (but bear in mind some parents will take much more holidays than others, some take hardly any holidays continuing to send their child when they are off work).

You will need to decide where to sleep the children, I have younger ones in travel cots which are usually in the lounge while those that don't need a sleep stay in playroom. Some children sleep on sofa if they are too big for travel cot but need a rest.

Storage is a problem for most of us as we need to hang on to so much stuff for different agegroups. When not being used I keep buggies, highchairs, travel cots and large toys in a shed and boxes of toys/books are kept in loft and rotated as needed. When shopping, I look for compact folding equipment and toys that pop up or foldaway into small boxes, cases etc. I've got foldaway tables & chairs which stack behind other furniture when not in use. You might be able to make use of toy libraries, story sack schemes etc to minimise what you actually have to keep at home all the time.

[tasha]

I have to admit childminding is a wonderful balance....(well sort off..I work more hours, but am also around)! But it seems you already have that & don't have the uncertainty that can go with being self employed with regards to pay? I would think very carefully about your decision...don't get me wrong it' the best decision I ever made, but you already seem to be able to be around for your family quite a bit & still have stability. Please don't think I'm trying to put you off...I'm not..I just think it will be quite a tough decision & in the end will boil down to financials...do you know if there is a demand in your area?
Tasha

[susi513]

A day in life of a Childminder:-
8 am mindees arrive (I'm in a flap telling ds for 6th time to get out of bed, hastily removing odd peas & things that missed the hoover/clean up day before, finishing packed lunches etc)
don't have any breakfasts to do currently so its free play, colouring & non-messy activities until school run
8:15-8:30 - check if anyone wants drinks, ensure younger ones visit wc/check nappies before school run
8:40 - 9: 15 school run, drop big mindees off at school, sometimes collect little ones in playground
9:15 pm - drinks & light snack
9:30 craft activity or walk/outdoor play
free play
at some point in the morning I usually have at least 1 mindee needing nap - they go in lounge while others play in playroom

11:30 lunch OR collect from preschool

12:45 drop off at preschool OR finish lunch

1 pm story time (sometimes someone is napping at this point)

1:30 pm table activity (threading, construction, messy play, jigsaws etc)

2:30 pm tidy up time followed by sit down circle with songs & instruments or dancing to music or outdoor play

3 - 3:30 pm school run
3:30 snack time

4 pm homework help/reading followed by craft or board games/cards or group games (eg charades) or park/football etc
5 20 dinner for those booked (one or both of my own children eat with mindees depending on which day, I eat later with hubby)

6:00 pm by now everyone should be collected and I am sat on sofa with cup of tea wishing the ironing/cleaning fairy would have a quick whip round while I watch Eggheads.

[sarahnev707]

Gosh Susi!

I'm exhausted just reading that - do we really do all those things every day!! Good we don't write them down all the time - or we'd all give up LOL

Sarahx

[tasha]

I'm glad I'm not the only one running round in a flap in the am!
Tasha ;D

[mumof1]

Hi, thanks so much everyone for taking the time to reply, really helped!

[susan]

Good luck with whatever you decide xxx

[deeb66]

The other ladies have answered your questions so have nothing more to add really just to say good luck

Dee