Just wondering if any one childminds older kids? 11 yrs plus

I "look after" teens that I have minded since they were 4 yrs old.

They don't particularly "do" anything they just "hang out"

They are allowed out and about if they have a mobile and strict rules (and permission from parents of course). They play on the x-box with my own children of the same age. They love helping with the younger children and some like to help cook the evening meal. One or two will do homework.

I leave it up to them really. I am simply a safe place for them to be. Even when their parents say they dont have to come here anymore they prefer to - the oldest is now 15 and still prefers to be here than home alone.

Hi Mum2Bless, I have been reading this thread with interest and hope it is going ok with your older child. I agree that maybe you have been putting a little too much pressure on yourself. As far as homework is concerned I don't ever make them sit and do it but they can have a quiet space if they want to. I don't see that it is my place to 'make' them. I think it is up to the parents to discuss this with the child if they would prefer that it is done at the CM's.

With regard to electronic devices, We have a wii and plenty of family friendly games which are suitable for ALL ages and the CM kids can use this. We also have an XBox 360 but this is purely for our family use.

My own children have DS's and although these are not CM 'toys' I let my children decide if they wish to share them with the other children.

I have a small issue recently with all my school age children wanting to watch a TV show on CBBC called Wolfblood, however after watching it my DS started getting scared at bedtime so I have to explain to some of the older children that we can no longer watch it. They are all fine with this.

All tv, games etc are monitored with regards to content suitable for age and time spent on them too.

good luck

I think if I was working full-time I would want my ds with a childminder, don't fancy him coming back to an empty house really when he starts high school next year.

At the moment I work as a school dinner lady and childminder but having had no children or enquiries for months I am considering giving up and going out to work. I am a bit scared though, not worked for anyone except myself for quite a while in a nursery setting so I need some confidence to sell myself.

To care for children from babyhood to teen years requires good skills especially the one treating children with 'equal concern'.....that would avoid any 11 year old feeling she is treated like a baby as mentioned above

I was visited by two past mindees this week now at college...both said they would like to come back to me during the holidays...I take that as a compliment that I did a good job?

my sis uses a CM for her 14 yo

DN makes her own way to CM and reports in, and then is allowed out to a friends etc until the CM meal time of 5pm
she helps with the younger ones at the meal and then gets on with her homework -she is the only 1 there after 6pm and generally is there until 7pm
DSis likes to still use childcare as she doesn't want DN bringing friends back to an empty house every evening

I use a CM for my 11yo -she hates is
she is treated the same as all the 'babies' as she calls them
the TV is on 4.30-5.30 but is on for the younger ones and she isn't allowed to watch age appropriate programs
she's still to use plastic cups/plates etc and gets very frustrated

I don't want her coming home by herself but when she goes to HS I will have no choice as CM won't have HS pupils and I can't find a childminder who will take on a new older child

there is a real issue in this country with childcare for 9-14 yo and it makes me :(

Hi
Not sure about parental permission but am guessing so? Other cms might know better. Also card games, dominoes, charades, "guess who I am " (stick a piece of paper on your head with name of a famous person and have to guess who you are), also putting on a play: put older ones 'in charge' and then practise a play to show parents or a puppet show with hand made puppets like a "MUM2BLESS" has X factor type thingy, a joke-telling competition, making bread for them to take home, swimming, umm will try to think of more

Just finished over 10 hours with 4 under 5s and 3 over 8s....great couple of days, children so busy and really relaxed, very noisy but lots of fun but I am so tired now I can hardly stay awake ....and another day to come!

Hi again
Would it be a possibility to get one console (second hand) that all the children could use and have a mix of age appropriate games that they can play but say only at certain times or for a certain length of time? Might not be practical but just an idea. I would only let them play age appropriate games regardless of what they play at home and so in that sense it would be easier if the games were yours if you see what I mean. Also there are some good games that all can join in such as Wii fit and singstar; even littlies can do this. Other ideas for activities would be : using a (cheap) digital camera make a film or songs? Also some games to play with older/younger children such as wrap the mummy (get a roll of loo paper and each older child has 3 minutes to wrap the young child with loo roll as best as they can to make the 'best' mummy), twister etc. How many children do you have in total?

I would rather they were doing homework first then they could perhaps play for an hour on the XBox or Wii. My ds is 10 and at the moment he plays out after school for an hour (he has football training on Thursdays) and must be in before dark or he is grounded.

I do offer care for 11+ but not many would want a cm except maybe in the holidays.

I will take children to activities such as local soccer schools put on free by Manchester City if they like that sort of thing or swimming if old enough and able enough.

Also being out on his bike (may be hard with little ones), doing science 'experiments', going fishing (with a cheap net in local stream).

I am not too sure how you are expecting me to respond? I made no mention of my ds being left 'home alone' , I simply said he wouldn't be happy being looked after by a cm: he does do after school activities and sports camps. I think the point I was trying to get across (and perhaps I didn't do so very well) is that a childcare setting for an 11 year old is very different from the one required for a younger one. Obviously I appreciate it still has to be stimulating and have educational value but at 11 they are already learning alot at school plus doing home-work so I felt at a cm they would want to wind down and relax more than do activities. I do understand it is different from being at home and that you have a difficult balance as parents expectations differ. Having thought it through as well as laying football, ps3 etc my ds would (and does) also enjoy cooking (especially making pizzas), playing table top football, some board games (monopoly and trivial pursuit in particular) and also making stuff out of wood.

IT comes under Knowledge of the World...as long as it is supervised and for a limited time what harm can it do?
I have it in my policy that computer time is limited so no parent should get upset....mind you if the kids are busy they will not worry about gadgets..they spend a lot of time at school and home in front of screens so 20 mins is not the end of the world...my view entirely!

I would definitely include getting outdoors & if I ever have older ones we often go for a tramp in the woods - playing in the steam in summer and getting muddy in the winter or go on a bike ride (I have a bike seat if I have a little one), craft activities, cooking goes down a storm and then I don't mind a bit of tv but definitely no gadgets before lunch. I generally don't allow games unless they bring a DS or similar (& then I check usage with mum) as my own DC are only allowed to play on a Saturday so it's not fair to let others when they can't.

My kids want to 'chillax', they plan their play...all included even baby, very involved and noisy.
They do lots and lots of arts and crafts, we go out in the morning then after lunch they are allowed a video...maybe the odd game on computer under supervision, they read, dance and sing....never ending really
I have taken them to London which they love and behave very well wherever we go

The most important thing is for them to have 'no pressure' and watch the clock so often and they also want yummy food...so nothing too difficult to provide

Hope you all enjoy your half term as I will...

TBH my ds who is 11 wouldn't want to go to a childcare setting at all but if he did he wouldn't really be up for 'activities' at all. He does alot of sport after school so I am happy to let him wind down by playing on the ps3 or watching tv. He also plays out with other children and yes out of the sight of an adult??! I find it a bit strange that you would not adapt your cm business to suit the needs of the child according to their age.

I look after school children who are 10 and are with me the whole day during holidays...I simply love it!!!
They are wonderful with the young ones and never bored throughout the day

Hi, I look after a 15 year old. Most of the time she is happy getting involved with whatever the little ones are doing and enjoys helping. She also sometimes prefers to be alone which is fine and I let her use my laptop or watch tv, read a book etc. Eventually they do grow out of wanting to be with a childminder but they all do so at different ages.

There was an article in Ncma's magazine last year ( I think.it is called who minds) by a boy who was older. That might offer ideas.

also - not although