Skip to main content
Skip to main navigation
Skip to talk navigation

Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Unflip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Saved Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Unflip

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

1 2

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

Childcare

work from home.childminding or anything else

34 replies

ivet83 · 07/02/2006 14:11

hello everyone i want to ask you about childming and work from home in general.i have an eight months old daughter and i stay at home looking after her.we are getting a mortgage soon so i want to help my husband with the money.i want to register as a childminder or anything else i can do from home.i can see that many of you work with their computers from home but what do you actually do?i have come across many websites offering work from home but its all crap.pay us money and whatever they are just not real.i want to actually do smth at home and get paid for it.and i am not sure if childminding is a good idea.scared of designing my home as a nursery.help

OP posts:

Report

ivet83 · 09/02/2006 11:34

to diddle-thank you for this nice message.i have decided to go to one of the briefing sessions to find out for myself and i am going to look for a childminder whose home i can visit and just get an idea of what is all about.i live in central london.if any of you live in central london i would be greatful if you let me come and maybe spend an hour with you and the kids.

OP posts:

diddle · 09/02/2006 08:17

ivet83 - I started childminding 3 yrs ago, I have no children of my own yet. I use the lounge for playing, with the toys tidied away at the end of the day into storage chests, we also have a dining table in the liunge for meal times, messy play etc. we don't use the garden at the moment but do have parks and fields nearby for outdoor play. I use the spare room for nap time and obviosuly the bathroom, the children are not allowed in the bedrooms or Dh's office, and they know and repsect this.
I have never had anything in the hosue damaged byt he children (wallpaper ripped, coloured on etc) nothing like that at all.
The only thing i needed to do, was make the house child friendly, which involved blocking some gaps in my banister on the stairs, putting certain locks in certain places etc, as you may do for your own children.

It is very hard work, but you can set your own hourly rates, working hours etc. You can earn enough money to live on. If we needed to manage on my wage solely, then we could. Plus it will mean you can still earn money and see your child grow up, this is the main reason i started and now have our first child on the way, i'm really looking forward to seeing my baby grow, and being able to experience someone elses childs firsts etc is very special, and very rewarding.

Skribble · 08/02/2006 16:57

I think you have to really stop and think about what you would like to do, especially if you are working from home as it can be very isolating.

What have you worked as previously?

What hobbies or interests do you have?

What have you always wanted to do?

What skills/ qualifications do you have?

I sell pocket money toys from home and will be back trading at the Sunday market in March and at Summer fairs and Gala days, I have a newish website that I am trying to expand and I am considering doing it through ebay even if just for the advertising. I tried party plan before Christmas (my own products) and the one party I did was very sucssesful so I will do more next year.

spykid · 08/02/2006 16:40

bump

spykid · 08/02/2006 16:38

Sorry ivet, only just caught up with this thread.
If you want I can send you details.
It is only £38 pounds start up fee which provides you with the books and all you need to get going.
No targets to meet so no pressure.
I can tell you in more detail if you like,
email me at h d robinson 2003 at yahoo dot co dot uk.
Lots more info I can give you

HappyMumof2 · 08/02/2006 14:19

Message withdrawn

ivet83 · 08/02/2006 13:52

to ayla99-what did you mean when you said other workshops/courses you can take.you mean in connection with the childminding oe else?and all the other things at the end of your message,are they from home?

OP posts:

ayla99 · 08/02/2006 11:09

Childminding is not for everyone. You need the support of your hubby & child(ren) who will have to share both you and their home.

You need to consider the extra wear & tear on your home (I'm on my fourth settee in 5 years and I don't allow jumping/climbing or eating on any of them) and extra cleaning (potty training, spilled drinks etc on your carpets).

You need to provide a safe environment for all the children - they don't need access to the whole house but you need to ensure sufficient space for play, eating, naps etc.

You need to buy books, toys & equipment for the age-range you intend to care for and these will get lost/damaged/worn out & need replacing more often than you might imagine.

You need to register with Ofsted, do a first aid course & an introductory course in Childminding. There are lots of other optional workshops/courses you can take.

Income is irregular - parents can give notice to quit at any time eg, change or loss of job, maternity leave etc. If you (or your family) are sick or have to go to a funeral, for example, you don't usually get paid.

You need to put in a lot of time, in addition to the childminding hours, for book-keeping & doing your tax return (or get an accountant), administration & contracts, training, planning activities/meals etc, cleaning up & preparation.

You need to cope with children from different families who may have very different ideas on how their child should be raised.

That said, I love being my own boss. I can choose which families to work with. I can plan my own day & change my plans as it suits me. I have been able to take forgotten homework/violin etc into school for my dd. I have met & worked with families from all walks of life, people from Scotland, Ireland, Russia, Lithuania and China. I love helping the children learn new skills & making them laugh.

I've worked in retail & administration where backstabbing & gossip was all the rage and there were no thank yous for hard work & dedication. I find my working day as a childminder much more enjoyable & satisfying. There's nothing so rewarding as a child's smile & laughter.

But if its not for you, other things people do to make ends meet are: typing/secretarial, website design, ironing, sewing/tailoring, evening babysitting, cooking (eg birthday cakes), selling home made veg, jam etc, hand crafted greeting cards, book-keeping/accountancy, dog walking, ebay/car boot sales.

As well as usborne books, avon, betterware, kleeneze, chocoholics, tupperware etc.

Isyhan · 08/02/2006 10:08

ivet83- I think you are asking yourself the wrong questions. instead of asking what can i do that will prevent me paying out 1000 a month ask yourself what will i be good at. only be a cm if youll think youll be good at it.I decided to do it when i had bad childcare experiences and i thought i could do that much better. as a parent you want the best for your child not someone whose doing it primarily for monetary reasons although we all need to live.

lexiemum · 07/02/2006 22:05

ivet - I'm not a cm but would consider it based on the fact after many years working with children of varying ages I love working with children but then I'd be no good at the business side of things so I'd rather be employed.

Trying to think about how you could meet other children. How about visiting your local toddler grps, soft play etc - you'll find lots of cm's there, no doubt and chat with them or you could, as I do go and play with the kids rather then chat - see how they respond to you and you to them.

Why not have a friend over with a couple of toddlers and take charge for the hour or so they are with you. That'll no doubt give you an idea.

The best bet though - is go to the local Registration Meeting and hear all about it. I guess (TP will correct me if wrong!) that local CM's with variety of experiences will be there too, so you'll get the full picture.

ivet83 · 07/02/2006 20:03

i don't mind you are not being rude but how would i know if i've never looked after other people's kids

OP posts:

ivet83 · 07/02/2006 20:01

i qualify for child tax credit not for working tax credit so there is no help out there

OP posts:

HappyMumof2 · 07/02/2006 19:49

Message withdrawn

ivet83 · 07/02/2006 19:47

well i enjoy looking after my child but i don't know about other children.i just don't know how is gonna be.i am at the stage where i have to see if this is what i want.i wouldn't do it just for the money.no way

OP posts:

mumlove · 07/02/2006 19:36

ivet83 - you said this (along with wanting to become a childminder i also thought of going back to work and sending my child to nursery.i can honestly say that i never expected to pay 1000pounds nursery for a month in london)

1 question I would like to ask you is why wouldn't you sent your DD to a childminder, you are asking for our advice but still wouldn't use 1 of us for your own child?

most childminders are cheaper than a nursery and gives better care to a child under the age of 5yrs and the same face to see every day they go.

ThePrisoner · 07/02/2006 19:10

Another agreement with HappyMum - don't be a childminder if you don't want to work with and care for children. I do this job because I love being my own boss and I love mucking around with children. I wouldn't do it if I didn't earn a decent wage from it, but you definitely have to want to do it (not for the money).

ThePrisoner · 07/02/2006 19:07

As my own children were older when I started minding, I had experience of all age groups, so certainly haven't found any ages being a problem. I guess it would be a bit more difficult to have a much older schoolchild if you don't know anything about that age, but it's not rocket science and you'd soon learn. Lots of other childminders mind older children and only have toddlers of their own, so you can make it work.

I love looking after babies, but I also love them learning to walk, becoming toddlers, and then seeing them off to school. Some childminders don't have babies, others won't have over fives.

As HappyMum says, I think you'd soon find that staying indoors all day long with a child would soon tip you over the edge! Going to a toddler group or soft play session is good for your sanity, not just fun for the children.

You don't have to drive to go out and about, I know minders who use public transport! Do you have a school which is walking distance? If you had children before or after school, you would have to go to the school to drop off and pick up.

Also agreeing with HappyMum, you don't have to take on anyone you don't want to.

HappyMumof2 · 07/02/2006 18:59

Message withdrawn

ivet83 · 07/02/2006 18:57

along with wanting to become a childminder i also thought of going back to work and sending my child to nursery.i can honestly say that i never expected to pay 1000pounds nursery for a month in london.i mean i want to go to work to earn money right?and it turns out that i have to work to pay the nursery which is rediculous.it doesn't make sense.how does the government encourage families to have kids?that's one of the reasons i thought about childming.its obvious i cant send her to nursery i might as well look after more kids to earn smth and for my child to socialise with other kids too.

OP posts:

HappyMumof2 · 07/02/2006 18:47

Message withdrawn

ivet83 · 07/02/2006 18:38

to theprisoner

thanks for your message.do you think it's better to have younger children under five or school kids.which ones are more trouble.i am just curious.and if i may ask can you choose which child to take on or not?and as a childminder do you necesary go to school with them and pick them up?do you need a car to go places with them?cause i don't drive.i heard that you have to go to libraries,playgroups and so on.i thought this was looking after kids in my home not being a tour guide.

OP posts:

ThePrisoner · 07/02/2006 18:29

ivet83 - lots of the things that you have to do to your house for childminding are the things that you would have to be thinking about once you have a crawling baby anyway (stairgates, cupboard locks, socket covers, moving things to a higher level etc).

I work full-time as a childminder, and no longer have small children of my own. My house is not specially adapted for mindees, but it obviously has to be safe. We use all of the downstairs rooms, but not upstairs. It certainly doesn't look anything like a nursery, it is my home and I want it to stay that way!!

I have children of all ages, including children before and after school. You can take on as much or as little work as you feel you can manage. You may choose to have just one toddler during the week, or you might just have older schoolchildren.

As LoveMyGirls says, you can go to a pre-registration meeting which will tell you answers to some of the questions you may have.

Don’t want to miss threads like this?

Weekly

Sign up to our weekly round up and get all the best threads sent straight to your inbox!

Email address

Log in to update your newsletter preferences.

You've subscribed!

ivet83 · 07/02/2006 16:44

i would greatly appreciate it if anyone works as a childminder can join this discussion because i am really curious about all aspect of that job.from what do you do all day with the kids to arranging your home and so on.thanks

OP posts:

ivet83 · 07/02/2006 16:32

that's what i don't like in these sales jobs.there is a potential to earn but not guranteed.

OP posts:

ivet83 · 07/02/2006 16:27

ok so it sounds like you basically have to adapt half of the house for the children.i thought that the living room will be enough for everything.and that's what worries me cause i want to be able to decorate like i want and i am really tidy as well.my daughter is small to make a mess not just yet.but she will soon i guess.and do you know howm much you would take in london if you live there?

OP posts:

Unflip

1 2

Please create an account

To comment on this thread you need to create a Mumsnet account.