To think childminders don’t really offer a more homely and individual experience?

[Eatingmybiscuits]

Just musing over childcare options and this comes up a lot on the debate - that a childminder is more individual to the child’s needs and can offer a home based approach.

But when I think about it in practice, the childminders I know don’t, because they can’t. So for example they attend a little music group we go to in the morning, it’s really aimed at ages 18 months to two and a half but there are children ranging from 9 months to 4. The older ones are bored and the little ones can’t really engage.

Then if a child is feeling under the weather they can’t really just take it easy as the minder has to tend to other children and take them out.

I am not saying there aren’t advantages to this sort of childcare but AIBU to say this isn’t one of them?

I have worked in nurseries. Very good ones are few and far between. Many are average. Quite a lot are downright bad, not somewhere I’d ever want to send my own under 2.5yo. Many early years practitioners would say the same.

If you can find a decent childminder you are on to a winner! Much better set up.

I think your definition of homely is a bit different to the one people are thinking of when they say this - you are thinking about it being more tailored to the child, which is closer to a nursery setting really which will have set ups for each age range, or a nanny who is caring for the child in the child's home.

When I think of a childminder being more homely, I'm thinking big busy family with children of different ages, everyday sorts of activities like school run or going to the shops, playing at home in the garden, there might be pets around maybe. It's a bit less formal so you won't have as much documentation and procedures, you might get things that happen which are totally down to the CM's discretion rather than a set policy.

I really valued that and liked it better than nursery but did use nursery for my younger two DC, mainly because we are now living abroad and I wasn't confident in my ability to communicate, so set procedures etc was more reassuring.

Actually I agree with a PP that I think you're thinking of the experience an only child would have when you're thinking "homely".

I always thought it was a bit sad and artificial for the first child because what they really want to do at that age is understand the world and it's much more rich and interesting for them to be out and about and doing normal everyday things. To the point that the activities for babies that replace that have to be so much more stimulating to make up for it. But I think I'm in a minority here.

My old childminder used to encourage all
parents to send their kids to nursery once they hit 3. My daughter found the transition to nursery hard however it set her up so well for school I’m always glad I did it.

My DC2 initially attended a nursery from 1 year and has ended up leaving and going to a childminder and he is so much happier. We’ll re-look at childcare again when he’s 3 but a good childminder is worth more than any good nursery for children under 3 (in my opinion).

Childminders have 3 children to 1 adult under 5
Nurseries have
3 under 1s
5 under 2s
8 under 5s per adult
13 under 5s if a registered teacher is working
Much smaller setting with a childminder

I disagree. I used to be a childminder. I had maximum 4 children a day, usually 3. I looked after babies to pre school so all around the same age. It is more individual as with 3 children we get to know them much better. Speech and language development is generally better as we are talking to 3 children all day instead of 30 children playing independently. Needs are better met as there is only 3. A clingy baby can be carried in a sling. A toddler who likes sand can have sand in the corner. A nursery isn’t going to change their routine for a poorly child anymore than a childminder is. A poorly child should be at home. The children in my care went on different visits and experiences instead of being in one room all week. They helped me look after my pets, we went on public transport, to museums, outdoor parks and special trips, to see Santa. We had a wonderful close relationship with every child we cared for.

It’s fine to prefer a nursery - everyone is entitled to prefer one or the other. But childminders are a good and flexible option

@BenefitWaffle

There were at least 3 pieces of research in what I posted and countless more available elsewhere. They're not clear cut at all.

I remember one which stated, up until three, in terms of child development it was in order of Mum, other parent/carer, childminder then nursery. But they don't all measure the same things or give the same weight to the same things. I can't find anything which shows anything other than moderate differences anyway, although I'd think there are some.

I remain unconvinced that early years (or later) education/care is really focused on what's best for the child anyway, rather than how we can service the economy. If it were surely we'd have professional childminders on a professional wage.

@BestBadger sorry I just read the article.
I agree early years education is not focused on what is best for children.

Rooms tailored to age do not meet the developmental needs of all the children the problem with the nursery room is some get held back from experience they are more than ready for. Language development isn't as good on the whole either as they are not exposed to as much variety. The room idea is about ratios and ease for staff not children's needs.

In nursery the 2 plus ratio is 1 in England

I agree the age rooms in nurseries are to make it easier for the nursery and staff. Nothing else.

I am a childminder and I go to our playgrounds in the area etc. how I get work alot of the time. We can only have 6 under 8 and usually only 4 max under 5 so it’s more personal. It depends what you want. I’ve had parents come to me as they don’t want a nursery as they’ve been to them and they’re too busy and feel like their child will get lost. It’s whatever you want and I think with this new funding alot of people gonna struggle to find places so may be stuck with something you don’t want I’ve had 8 enquiries for 2/3 year olds in last week as nurseries are full!

Agree with some of these too! I went to look round a nursery for my daughter I was gonna do an apprenticeship with one and decided not to as it was horrendous! The manager of the place even asked me when I set up as a childminder if I would be taking on as she wanted to leave 😂 I don’t think nurseries are any better I wouldn’t send mine. I had one leave me to go to our outstanding nursery and he couldn’t feed himself was severely autistic and she thought it was better as more kids to socialise and they wouldn’t feed him so he didn’t feed himself because they couldn and didn’t have the time to. She asked to come back and I filled space! I used childminders for my own children and wouldn’t change it.

whay our health visitor in area says is newborn to 2 is good for a childminder as its nurturing froM 2 or 2.5 nursery is good as more children to “talk” to to learn speech. I don’t agree completely but I get where she is coming from but I’ve had a couple since 6m old and they’re all good talkers only some have been referred for speech and lang and again we do all that too we’re no diff to a nursery other than less of us. I work alone but hoping to get an assistant as so busy. My setting is a lot of outdoor play we are lucky to have a large garden and a lot of messy play and being kids I’m big on letting them be free wild and curious!

It’s amazing how all the childminders on MN only take 3 under 4s and no other children, spend all their time on wholesome outings and yet charge less than nurseries.

Yet all the childminders I’ve ever met in real life spend their days ignoring the children in the playground/soft play/toddler group and dragging the little ones on the school run twice a day because they make up the numbers with a load more older ones in the morning and at after school time. If I could have found one of these mythical childminders who are like a surrogate granny yet only charge 6 and ha’penny I’d have used one.

Why are people so angry so much of the time?!

Our CM wasnt mythical. She did exactly as you so bizarrely describe but was a living, real person.

Her husband clearly earnt a decent wage so she didn't need to max out.

And obviously they charge less than nurseries, the overheads are somewhat different...

Yes but you're not likely to bump in to me on the school run are you if I don't do them? I used to, but my children are older now and it's lovely having the freedom of no school runs. I get to do things without clock watching.

I also don't need to advertise (or very rarely) as most of my work is from word of mouth so possibly why you don't hear from them local to you too.

I did both. Childminder was better by a mile! She was amazing!

How does a nursery worker with a 13 month old, 16 month old and 18 month old as her key children give them undivided individual attention while taking their turn in the nappy room doing 9 nappies?
As a cm I'm doing storytime with baby on my lap and a toddler either side they are all engaged. If I'm doing a nappy I'm still talking and singing so the others feel involved ...baby out of their view. We do craft together baby adapted for safety and needs but all doing it. The older children show care to the babies the babies learn from them speaking earlier copying what they see. On school runs we play hunt a colour, shape or number and will stop to look at things. The little ones call out stop, go and laugh getting excited.
On arrival the children run into each others arms and will call each others names even the 18 month old.

I have an 11 year old been with me since 9 months, she treats it like a visit to aunties. If she's worried she talks to me and we've talked through periods, skin care, braces and bullying. She loves the babies and asks to help ....obviously with limits ...she's seeing that babies are hard work and what they need. In the past some have come to me for their work experience. Once I care for them they are my childminding family and can knock on my door anytime even at 15 if they have had a bad day and don't want to be home alone.

So you moan a child can't have a relaxed day if feeling off colour then moan that they are on a sofa watching TV .....what should they do a bit of yoga?
The cm maybe talking about school children who have had a busy week if activities in a school holiday and hit Friday afternoon...

My youngest went to a childminder (though it was some time ago) and absolutely loved having a second family and a 'big brother' who turned up after school and played with her.

Her minder had her own child, mine and another, and the childminder lived her life just as I did when I was at home. They'd go to Tesco, they'd go to a childminder friend's for coffee and play (that childminder would step in if ours was ill) and generally have an un-institutionalised and homely day.

Confused....your plan to pick up early went wrong because it took you hours and hours???? Don't you think if you were that much later than planned the cm would be concerned? Was your lo expecting you early? Loads of parents say to their children I'll be early today and are not yet even under 2s know who goes home next and get upset when the order is wrong so 3 and 4 year olds know your not early. ...that's horrible to deal with.

See Jannier this is the thing. You’re just a little bit too good to be true.

I would be far more impressed with a childminder who said ‘yes, there are disadvantages to this type of childcare - but look at the great things we can offer!’ than this saint like stance which just isn’t realistic.

Don't assume everyone is the same, if one of mine was ill I'd stay home. ( but parents should try to keep them home, so everyone else doesn't get it.)
Also if you do a group for the younger children in the morning you might go to one more age appropriate for the older ones in the afternoon while the younger ones have a nap in the pram.