To quit a 50k a year job to retrain as a childminder?

[careerchangemaybe]

Just that really. I've recently returned to my job from maternity leave and I'm just hating the time apart from my DC, who is only 9 months. It's inspired me to consider a change of career to enable me to look after my child myself whilst earning a living. I know I'll make nowhere near my current salary but I'll be with my baby, so surely that makes up for the loss of money? Would this be an insane decision?? I do feel like I'm basing this more on emotions than logic. So happy to be told it's insane...

That was more aimed at those who are or have been childminders, of course

@Rivermonsters

Gosh no, I’d kill for 50K

I used to think this when I was working my way up the ladder 10 years ago, earning a fraction of what I earn now. And yes of course it's a good salary and it helps a lot. But it's honestly not everything, and I've realised that now after having my baby. I'd give most of it up for more time with her. Paying someone to care for her whilst I work is just sitting really uncomfortably.

You are only allowed one under one, thus includes your own, so you will most likely have toddlers
Actually nipping to the loo doesn't take that long, or you could get a large play pen, they would ne happy sitting playing with toys while you go. You don't have to entertain them 24 hours a day

Completely insane.
Most people - let alone childminders - will NEVER earn £50K.

This is your hormones talking. It makes NO sense whatsoever to do this.

My suggestion would be requesting part time, so you keep your hand in at your career, but get to spend more of the week with your little one.
However, I wouldn't even think about that until you have given yourself a good 6 months or year run at working again.

I was a childminder for ten years. I loved it for first five years or so then I began to resent it. A combination of my kids getting older, ofsted and paperwork.
Pros-
No need to pay for childcare
With own children
Get to do fun activities with your children
Can choose your hours
No commute
Can choose who you have and how you run your business
Can be rewarding
Cons -
Your children take up spaces so you lose money
Parents messing you about
Your home becoming your work place
Having to do paperwork etc after day is finished
Lots of paperwork
Mess/damage
Bigger car if you want to go out
No guarantee of earnings
Loss of income when sick or needing time off
Advertising/selling yourself in the local community
Challenging children
Your own children not enjoying having other children around

There's a lot of paperwork, for every under five you need to do a learning journel where you evidence development and plan for and evaluate for further development. You need to do regular observations and evidence you are following eyfs. Childminders like all childcare and education are inspected by ofsted. It's a hard job you have to be in it for the love.

@careerchangemaybe

To answer a few questions:

Yes I do like my job. Covid aside - which has wreaked havoc within my industry - I do really enjoy what I do and I've put in over a decade of hard work and study to climb the career ladder. I think it's the difficult adjustment after mat leave that's clouding my judgement ... I only went back at the beginning of January after almost 10 months off with my baby.

I do like children in general, yes, specifically helping them to learn and develop. My original ambition was to be a primary school teacher.

But I do worry that I'd regret this massively when she's older and I'm more comfortable with the separation from her.

I will get better. The first few months are the worst

You aren't insane. Don't be pushed along with the crowd that says money and a "career" working for someone else are more important than finding a different path to spend some years with your baby and make some money as well. You can do it if that's what you want.
You can find a way. it depends on your skills, education and personality.

No, do it!! If you want to anyway 😊 I’m a teacher, currently on mat leave, on a good wage but the thought of returning to my job is almost ruining my entire time off. It’s partly due to me wanting to be with my baby (certainly couldn’t survive 5 full days away from him) but it’s also just because I absolutely hate my job. I counted down every day/week/month of pregnancy as if mat leave was my route out of there! I’ve now started up a little online shop while on mat leave. I work on it every night but have the whole day with my baby. I’ve just gone over my normal months salary this month, all from my little shop, in what I expected to be the quietest month of the year!

If you want to go for it, do it! Would you really be that gutted to leave your job?

The toilet, when out and about, I distract the 3+year olds by pointing out things in the loo, like "ooh, look at that poster on the door, can you point to the rabbit?" Under 3's I go to the loo in front of them, they're oblivious to what you're doing.

At home, use the downstairs loo with the door open. Have little ones playing with a toy just outside the door. The older ones, I'm listening out for them playing in the main room while the loo door is open.

You have to have risk assessments in place. So if you have a downstairs loo it might be safe to nip to toilet as long a child is in hearing. But it's most likely you would take them with you.

In London childminders often earn more than you!

Besides, if it's something you want to do and have researched, then go for it.

Not all childminders are inspected by OFSTED. Agencies are becoming a big thing now where you get the support that the LA used to give (but don't any more).

Paperback isn't such a big thing. My recent inspection, I didn't get asked to show any paperwork apart from a register, accident forms and my policies. I use an online diary so I update it when the children are having lunch/playing. It takes 10 minutes to do. Logs the register, what they ate, nappy changes, when they slept and an overview of what you did that day.
I use TWINKL for my planning and activity ideas.

What does the baby’s father think about the prospect of his home becoming a childcare facility? Or are you a single parent?

Would you have a route back into your career if you want when your child starts school?

Have you thought about how much it would cost to set a childminding business up?

I personally couldn't think of anything worse but I completely understand your desire to spend every moment you can with your child.

Do you plan anymore children? How would you cover future maternity leave without being paid?

Good luck in whatever you decide to do. You never know it might be the best decision you ever made and if it's not, you tried.

You’re being a bit wet with all this “I yearn for my baby” drama.

When she is 3 you will be glad to get some peace at work. Can you not just go part time?

Also, it’s insane to think that the solution to your separation anxiety is to spend the time you do have with your daughter trying to provide auditable, structured childcare to other children for reward. You’ll still be at work. But instead of there being a vague possibility of distracting yourself from these thoughts of wanting to be with your child, she will be right there in the room reminding you that she does not have your full attention, while you wipe another kid’s arse.

Don't do it, you're not thinking straight or about the right priorities. Your child won't be a baby forever, they will be at nursery in a few years and school just after. You aren't thinking about the career just the potential of staying at home. Instead I would look at a temporary decrease in hours for another year working 3 days a week instead of 5.

You would definitely be insane. Do not do this.

I think you have to really like children. How would you feel about toddlers and preschoolers bolting about. They aren't necessarily most gentle. I couldn't do long days. Childminders I know start at 7.30am or earlier and some kids dont leave until 6pm.

No 50 percent of marriages end in divorce don't give up your financial security.

Wow, I haven't read all of this but I'm amazed about all the negativity around childminders! I'm just wondering why people think it's such an awful job.
I've been childminding for around 6 years and I can honestly say it's the best decision I've made. Salary wise, it's not that bad, especially once you factor in not having to pay your own childcare .
Of course it's hard work (as is any job) and you also have all stress of being self employed BUT there are so any positive aspects. It's incredibly rewarding and I feel I'm in a very privileged position to be able to pick up my DC from
School every day as well as earning a reasonably good salary.
Why don't you contact your local authority (they all have their own entry requirements) and get the relevant info and maybe try to meet some childminders local to you to see what the job involves. There are also some really supportive Facebook groups.
It's obviously not for everyone but an absolutely worth you looking more into
IMO.

Have you looked at reducing hours in your current job? Even if your dropped to half a week and took on a job share.

Re going to the toilet, you would have to risk assess taking into account the layout of your house and the age/ stage / number of children you have. My playroom is right next to the downstairs bathroom so I can usually just leave the door ajar and make it quick! Sometimes I might pop a younger child in a travel cot. You'd have to work out what works best for you.

I did this shortly after qualifying as a chartered surveyor. I didn't think I could have children, so when I did I didn't want to hand them over to someone else and miss the milestones etc.

Childminding was good in some ways, my kids always had friends to play with and it helped them socially. Our local childminding group organised lots of fun activities and it wasn't a bad life to start off with.

Having Ofsted come into my home and find fault was hard, though. Not to mention the constant demand for meaningless paperwork which in most cases was just producing a paper trail so someone earning much more than me could check up on me. It's seen as a low status job and after a while that grates, particularly if you've left a high status one to do it. I'd say enjoy it for a few years then go back to your career. Keep up your CPD. I neglected mine, stayed in childcare for too long (hence the username) and then found it incredibly difficult to get back into the 'adult' workplace. It was as though people assume working with young children turns your brain to mush.

Your child would suddenly have to share you with others. Those children might need a lot more attention at various times. How would that make you feel? Or her feel?

My mum used to mind some older children when I was in primary school, plus one little one. It had its moments but a lot of the time it was just annoying always having other children around. Your baby won’t be able to articulate this but she will be sharing you whereas if you go part time she can have your full attention on your days with her.

Is there a career path for you where you could work from home or on a hybrid model? If you could work towards something like that and arrange home-based care, it is the absolute best of both worlds.