To find it worrying that so many people suggest fostering and childminding to those who are desperate to earn money?

[AlternativePerspective]

Obviously there are often people on here who are desperate for work and whose lives don’t fit in with having a full-time job e.g. they have school-aged children etc.

The standard jobs being advised tend to be along the lines of “take in ironing/get an evening job/get a part time supermarket job.” All of which are valid although taking in ironing has become somewhat of a cliche over the years but more increasingly I have seen posters suggest to OP’s that they should become a childminder, or “have you considered fostering?

While I think it’s fair to say that most childminders do become childminders in order to fit earning a living around their own childcare needs, it definitely takes a certain kind of person to be a childminder,and a decent childminder goes through a lot of training etc to ensure they do the best job. It certainly isn’t an occupation anyone should take up on a whim or out of desperation.

Ad fostering should be seen as a vocation not an occupation. Ad while foster carers do get paid, the idea that people who are desperate for work, and money should take on fostering the most vulnerable members of society as a way o make money is awful.

Does the same apply to teaching, doctors, social work, care work? No one should be doing it because they need a living?

But with most jobs you get at least some time when you can switch off - unlike fostering. Surely if you’re having kids living with you 24/7 that needs much more than just being in it for the money?

I wouldn’t do it because I’d hate it. I have huge respect for the people who do do it.

Put it this way, should I ever do it I would definitely take the child out, to musuems, national trust properties, the sea side.
We are usually talking about children who have had their childhood robbed.

I know of one foster carer who did zilch after her foster child's gsces?
Absolutely nothing.
Not a pizza, cinema...small treat? No.

Personally I find that absolutely disgraceful.

Not all foster children are trouble. Many are teens who are just in their room's!
No behaviour issues either.
I've been Gobsmacked by how little some foster carers actually do
.
It's basically bed and board.

I've done informal childcare for a friend. We have close parenting styles, child at same school.
I wouldn't touch actual childminding because the standards would have to be very different, and papertrails, auditing. What works as an extra child tacking on in family life does not work as formal, paid childcare.

When it's suggested as a quick easy income, it's totally unfeasable. It's not an instant start up, it requires a suitable home, resourcing, training, oh and actually wanting your home to be to be occupied by a handfull of children each day.

On the recent thread there were early signs that the person wasn't in a suitable position, even before it was spelt out. The fact that it was a mentor posting was a whopping big hint from the start.

I love how once you posted that government cuts stopped the free childminder training in areas with shortages, the poster who suggested Surestart centres should have done this suddenly was questioning whether it was a good thing. 🙄

I think it’s the same as anything in life.

people who have no clue about something seem to somehow magically assume that it’s very easy to do

@CoralBells it was such a good scheme too. The training took place in the children's centres, classroom style, with a creche provided. Priority for places on the course was given to core geoups such as unemployed parents looking to return to work, parents wanting to re-skill, etc. Some of the registration costs were covered too, they included the ofsted-specific paediatric first-aid training and a food hygiene certificate as part of the course. There was a grant afterwards, it wasn't huge but it was to assist with start up costs. The centre also set up a childminder playgroup session where childminders in the area could take their mindees to play together, where they could do EYFS linked group activities that might not work at home due to space/numbers/resources, and where they could get support from other childminders.

One of those most disgraceful things this government ever did was get rid of SureStart, it directly benefited under fives and their families - particularly those from vulnerable groups - and was proven to improve outcomes for them.

Sounds fantastic @Jott

My friend was the same. She only started it because of the money and that it would fit in with her lifestyle.
She has 3 kids she has taken in and her own child.
She says it's quite easy.
You don't have to have really troubled children you can pick and choose.

I also think she enjoys the glory and saviour compliments she gets regularly about how great she is for looking after these troubled children.

Also in lockdown they were all allowed to attend school as they are deemed 'vulnerable children'. So she got paid even though they were at school.
She said it was great. Also gets extra money for them at Xmas. They can also attend lots of after school clubs for free.

The only thing she says is difficult is the paperwork but that's about it.

Sounds like a terrible way to must make money. There's a million easier things to do than take care of a troubled child. Work in a bar for instance.

Bar work doesn't earn as much I guess and allow you to stay home with other children.

Illegal childminding in poor areas is not uncommon.

Some fester carers do it purely for money.

I’d say most foster carers do it for the money I bought a car from one so we had to unfortunately spend an hour in her company before she’d hand the fucking keys over, she literally had her own children living in a shed at the bottom of the garden to fill their bedrooms up with foster care children. one of these poor souls came down for a drink and something to eat while we happen to be there there was literally one cupboard for her kids and another cupboard full of cheap shitty crap for the foster children . Unfortunately the foster child accidentally opened the cupboard full of the branded snacks before being very quickly directed to their cupboard so we were able to compare and contrast.

As someone who worked as a childminder, I disagree with you there. Obviously if you’re going to be looking after early years/foundation children then the expectations are a lot higher re education and development etc.

However, I only took in year 1+ children which meant less paperwork and less hands on education, just providing a safe and stimulating place for them for a couple of hours after school. I don’t consider myself a natural mum at all, but my circumstances meant that SAHM was the only option for a while and when I divorced XH childminding was a great way to continue to be there for my DCs after school, with another part time job in school hours.

I don’t think fostering is in the same league at all and should never be done solely for the money, but sadly it is often advertised as such. I always thought it was more of a voluntary thing with expenses paid rather than a paid job, so was surprised to see how much money could be made. Sad really, but as a full on 24/7 vocation I guess it needs to be well compensated.

I have 2 relatives who foster for financial reasons. Both have made amazing transformations to their homes. They are lovely and the children are cared for but it was initially very much a 'omg they pay how much' situation. One had a bit of trouble with a small child and just said find her a new home. So they got given a new child.

I suppose the real test to see how much the foster parents really love their foster children is to adopt them.
Many won't as they would lose all that money.

My friend has said it to me. She is a foster carer. If you already have a child/children it is a good 'job'.
You can tell the social worker what age children you want to take in and also stipulate that you won't take children who for e.g have learning difficulties, or have been victims of sexual abuse etc.

I had a friend who became a childminder because it fit with her children. I think she skipped some of the set up as she had a teaching qualification.
She hated the kids. She was really popular and had a waiting list (probably as childminders are so hard to find). She didn’t do much with them, just let them run around the house and give them sandwiches. She would say she really didn’t like them and couldn’t wait for them to leave. She only did a few years though.

I also met a few childminders at playgroups who obviously didn’t like the children. But I would say the same for the staff at my daughters nursery. It was just a job.

Not all foster children are eligible for/able to be adopted. My cousin has three foster children, all siblings and all are going to be with her long term, the eldest has already been with her for eight years. They're still in contact with their birth mother who sees them regularly, my cousin is not able to adopt them. Adoption, or lack of, is not an indicator of love.

@Jott so would she adopt them if she could?
After they are 18 hopefully she will allow them to still live with her. She might not get money then but having that close bond you would not want them to leave.

I don't think she's ever properly considered it as it's never been an option but when the other DC were born and she was approached about fostering them she said yes and then yes again a few years later when the third arrived. If she didn't care she'd have said no.

Foster parents are there to care for and provide a family environment for the child, look out for their best interests in a nicer environment than a children’s home. Many don’t want to adopt nor do they consider the child in the same way as ‘one of their own’. That’s not really what fostering is about and there’s nothing wrong with that as long as the child is looked after properly

Are you going to bother coming back @AlternativePerspective ?

I have never seen on here, or heard IRL, anyone suggesting fostering to make money.

Childminding I’ve seen on here. Obviously you shouldn’t do that JUST for money, but there’s nothing wrong with it as a suggestion to people with young children as an option worth exploring.

Yes of course she obviously cares. Hopefully she will let the oldest stay on after 18 so that they can be with their siblings.