Feel like I have made a big mistake

[gallifrey]

I am a very newly registered childminder, I don't have any mindees yet, just 1 little girl to drop off at school this week.
Anyway yesterday I went to the local childminders drop in at the children's centre and there were 4 other childminders there from my village, now as far as I know there are only 5 of us in quite a big area so I assumed there would be plenty of work for us all.
Anyway 3 of them have spaces and are struggling to fill them, one woman was telling me that she is having to advertise for the first time ever and has a whole day free of children.

I was a bit upset and came home and started looking for a job!

I feel so useless like I am just waiting for the phone to ring and not doing anything proactive even though I have put my details on 3 websites.
I want to print up some flyers to put up locally but my DH said it was a waste of time as everyone these days would look online.

Do any of you advertise anywhere? What is the best thing to do?

All of my mindees have come through word of mouth. It's maddness really because our local authority has a really good online service where people can search for childcare and my details are on there, as well as childcarelink.co.uk and also in the book of information held at reception at the school!

But I've had no enquiries from there at all - just Mum's approaching me in the playground saying that so and so's neighbour's, cousin told them I was a childminder

So my advice would be to get chatting to people! Put a card up on the school notice board, in children's centres, supermarkets etc. flier the playground - my DS did this for me put fliers on car windscreens, always have your cards on you for anyone who speaks to you about minding too.

Good luck!!

do you have a local primary nearby? Its worth putting up cards round there, getting to know local mums, registering with the council and listing which schools you can pick up and drop off from. That is more likely to attract parents who are also looking for childminders for younger siblings.

I look for mine on childcare.co.uk are you registered on there ?

Yes I am registered on childcare.co.uk and registered with the council and on their list of childminders too on their website.
I have a local primary very nearby but my daughter goes to a different school about 5 miles away and I have to pick her up every day, I have had loads of Mums at her school ask me about picking their children up from there, but I want to avoid having loads after school as I wouldn't have room in the car for them all. Also the school near me finishes earlier than my daughter's school so I would have to take them all with me.

I was thinking of putting an ad in the local magazine that gets delivered free around here and one in the local shop.

Thanks everyone xx

Longer term, you could also get to know your local NCT course leader, ante- and post-natal yoga teacher, baby swimming teacher etc? Even local church's children's officer?

Do any of the parents at your dd's school have younger ones who need looking after in the day, prior to picking up the older ones from school? I am also new to childminding (registered at Easter) and only wanted to work part-time. I am now pretty much full for the days I am available. In the daytimes I have 4 x 1 to 3 year olds (Not all at the same time) who are all younger siblings of children at school with my dds. 2 days a week I do after school care for an extra 2 or 3 of the older siblings plus my own. I think your dd's school is the place to start....