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Paid childcare

Discuss everything related to paid childcare here, including childminders, nannies, nurseries and au pairs.

childminding not for you..................?

15 replies

Starson45 · 12/10/2005 13:50

Has anyone started work as a childminder only to discover it wasnt really for them, or more demanding than they thought it would be?

I only ask cos I have lots of thoughts going around my head - I have only been minding for a short while.

If you did stop, what did you do and do you regret it?

Any advice or thoughts would be appreciated! Thanks

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Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
Starson45 · 12/10/2005 14:00

Please! I need some advice!

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QueenVictoria · 12/10/2005 14:02

No advice - but i am interested in it myself so i will be watching this thread with interest......

Starson45 · 12/10/2005 14:04

Lol QV!

Are you a childminder then?

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katymac · 12/10/2005 14:13

It is so much more demanding than I thought.

I intended for my Dh to mind and i would find another job. However there is plenty for me to do at home as well.

Mind you we grew very quickly

Starson45 · 12/10/2005 14:17

obviously it being your own business in a way, you have to fill out all the forms and trying to sort out my accounts is doing my head in (so much so that Ive given up - and may go back to it in a few , I don't know, decades!

Just not sure it would be better to go to a job and let someone else sort all that out!

Maybe I'm just having a bad day! And its my afernoon off today too!

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QueenVictoria · 12/10/2005 14:22

Was thinking about starting to do it since ive just jacked in my part time job and now need to earn money whilst not having to pay for childcare!

Easy · 12/10/2005 14:23

Starson

If it's the forms and accounts that are geting you down then get someone else to do that for you.

Im a book-keeper (among other talents), and helped my CM sort hers out and then helped her file her tax return last year. It needn't cost too much, and if it makes things more bearable, give it a try.

I could help you if you like.

Starson45 · 12/10/2005 14:27

Thanks Easy!

Will keep you in mind!

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jellyjelly · 12/10/2005 16:11

I do find this job quite stressful (it is one child that is doing that though and very hard work. I find the cleaning and keeping things neat and the paperowrk the hardest .

On the plus side i love being able to do as i please, if it as nice day like it was yesterday we went to the zoo. and being my own boss.

joanna4 · 12/10/2005 16:58

I am jacking it in after 3 years both mine are and always were at school since i became a childminder.Its not the kids, i find the parents very demanding and not a tiny bit grateful.
I have got a job in school as a special needs assistant i am qualified to level 3 for that anyway.It is only short term for the minute but i have put all my stuff away and am enjoying time with my family and having my house back.When my contract for this expires and if it isnt renewed i will continue to look in school for something.
Sorry if its not what you want to hear.

goosey · 12/10/2005 18:30

This man does lots of childminders accounts and saves them more money than they spend on his fee.
I find childminding to be very rewarding as is being self-employed, but it can also be stressful as there are constant standards to keep in all areas and no 'home' to escape to because your working environment IS your home and needs to be ready for the next customer all the time.If you are perfectionist it's a challenge and a half as there is no perfect anything when working with children, but there is a lot of scope within the National Standards for doing things YOUR way and building up a unique business of your own.
I have only been doing it for 3 years so I do expect it to become easier as I gain more experience and develop more planning systems. I have also put myself under more stress than is healthy by doing an NVQ3. I certainly wouldn't consider giving it up, but have insisted on giving myself a planned day off each week and also a long weekend once every 6 weeks.

Starson45 · 12/10/2005 18:35

It's ok Joanna4, I wanted honest answers anyway! I may carry on till my youngest son goes to full time school (another year!) and then re think.

I do enjoy the fact that its my very own business, but it will be a lot of hard work, which I am not afraid of, but just worried about doing a good job IYSWIM!

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Starson45 · 12/10/2005 18:38

Thanks for the link Goosey!

He seems very reasonable and I'm quite tempted to be honest! Thats one part of it that could be taken care of!

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ThePrisoner · 13/10/2005 00:08

I really really enjoy childminding. Yes, there are days when the baby won't settle and seems to have forgotten the "off" button, the toddler has drawn all over the walls and forgotten that he's toilet-trained, and the afterschool child has flooded the loo and shaved the cat. But, for me, there are far more "good" days - sitting in the middle of a park having a picnic, walking in the woods and looking for butterflies, making snowmen in the garden, socialising with friends at a toddler group, and having that choice over what I can or want to do - and then being paid for it (and giving the children back at the end of the day!!) I love it!! And I get to do painting and glueing!!

Paperwork is a pain for all of us. OFSTED seem to demand more and more from us, but you won't get kicked out if you haven't got something, you'll just get a reminder to sort it out. If doing your tax sounds horrendous, so get someone else to do it if you can (liked goosey's link). You don't have to keep heavy-duty accounts, just a weekly record of your expenses. The NCMA have helpful guidelines on what you can record as expenses.

Don't take on too many children if it makes it too stressful, you don't have to work to full capacity. Or maybe do it part-time, or just have schoolchildren.

Lots of minders do the job whilst their own children are little, and stop when they go to school, so don't feel guilty about not committing to doing the next 20 years!

However, if you can't deal with looking after other people's children and you're not enjoying it, then I would say don't do it.

Starson45 · 13/10/2005 08:16

Thanks for all your advice guys!

It is very much appreciated!

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