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Paid childcare

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

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Original poster

Childminders Club - so what you all doing with the kids over easter?

21 replies

lunavix · 02/04/2006 20:38

So far I have to do:

Spoon people
Easter cards
Easter baskets
Some new spring hama beads
lots of seed planting and painting sticks to poke in
easter bracelets for the littlies
two new ps2 games
3 new dvds
some easter candles to decorate
operation....

plus we're cooking easter baskets, playdough, tablet and chocolate mountains...

thats all I can think of atm! (Can you tell I dread the holidays???!)

What's everyone else got planned?

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

Katymac · 02/04/2006 20:40

I'm off to Disney (if I find the tickets) and leaving my assistants in charge!!!

Original poster

lunavix · 02/04/2006 20:41

awww lucky :)

I'm very jealous.... I don't think I make any money from my over 5s for the amount I spend hoping to keep them entertained and my sanity maintained...

OP posts:

babydales · 02/04/2006 21:48

The toddler group that my young mindees go to during term time opens in the hols for the big ones. They run 3 mornings a week and are doing a coach trip to Knowsley Safari park during the second week of the hols and an Easter party the first week. Great stuff.They put on loads of arts and crafts for biggies and littlies so keeps them all entertained.

ThePrisoner · 03/04/2006 00:04

Having a complete breakdown ...

Katymac · 03/04/2006 07:26

TP - you have time to have a breakdown

Booh · 03/04/2006 08:50

We go out out out as otherwise I will go mental with a housefull! My assistant will be here soon then they will all arrive, we will load them up and off we go!

Off to country park
seaside etc etc

HellyBelly · 03/04/2006 09:58

This is why I don't do big kids anymore!! (well, not until ds is at full time school then I will feel more comfortable with that age group)

Sorry, no help. Just wanted to wish you well and hope you survive it!

ThePrisoner · 03/04/2006 18:33

... phew ... just finished ... busy busy busy day (but only six children today!!) ... probably done everything on your list lunavix, so what's the plan for tomorrow then??!!!

Original poster

lunavix · 05/04/2006 18:16

i spaced it out :) Had two friends plus assorted kids over monday (ones a CM) and we had...13 kids so that kept them busy. A new ps2 game for quiet time, and we did an easter egg game and plant pot painting...

tuesday... hama beads, two loads of cooking, a new ps2 game (THEY FINISHED THE FIRST ONE!!!!)

today we went to the lakes for 5 hours :)

So still tons to do :)

Helly - I've thought about it, I'd rather ds was around his own age group, but when I have this baby in August I can't afford to have just the one under 5. Else I would too, I remember enjoying not dreading the holidays!

OP posts:

HellyBelly · 05/04/2006 18:44

I gave it a shot! There's bits I enjoyed - going out in big gang to the park or picnic etc, really liked that (and one picnic was in the rain but a right laugh! ) BUT..........I was taken for a ride, the big kids were horrible to the little ones at times and I reckon the big kids just thought I was their mate and I found it very hard to be a 'grown up' with them. It's my lack of experience with this age I'm sure! Really need the money and should have big kids but I can promise you I'd be quitting it all together or having a nervous breakdown if I went back to it now. Really need to wait until I feel more confident! Anyway, I'm almost full with the other kids now and earning much more than I would in a 'proper' job like I did before and paying childcare myself so this is my best option. Luckily my web business is there to bump the money up - finally (about time!) got my website business site finished and will now start advertising like mad!!!

Good luck to all you who have a house full over easter - I will be thinking of you!

Original poster

lunavix · 05/04/2006 21:37

Helly you have one under 5 of your own don't you? So do you have the equivalent of two under 5 full time and that's it?

I'm writing to Ofsted to ask them to extend my registration as I mind twins atm. However I'd like it if they did this full time, and I'd reduce over 5s accordingly, I do feel sane with littler ones.... Plus I need to really give notice on one of my over 5s and it would be nice if I didn't have to replace him....

OP posts:

ThePrisoner · 05/04/2006 21:51

I think that the thing I find more challenging during school holidays is having that mix of older schoolchildren and much younger children. I've been minding for years, but this is the first time that I've had 3 very young under 5s (two of them have only just started walking) together with several older ones.

I have lots of things for all ages to do, but balancing the needs of all the children is an art form in itself!

Helly - I can imagine it must be more difficult to have older ones if you're not used to them. I think that will change as your own ds gets older.

We've certainly had a fun three days so far, but I feel like I'm earning my money.

Original poster

lunavix · 05/04/2006 21:56

I forgot to say helly, I feel exactly the same in that as my ds is only just coming up two, I have NO experience with the big ones, aside from brownies. So I struggle finding a place as friend and carer, as I try not to seem too parental and at the same time not a pushover.

Plus I seem to spend all my earnings on new toys and activities. As a business, I had to start from scratch as ds was a baby and buy EVERYTHING. It seems to be a constant battle to keep them entertained.

TP - I see what you mean there too. It's not so bad with just ds, but when I have all three under 5 it seems to be a constant fight for attention with the older ones!

OP posts:

HellyBelly · 06/04/2006 08:01

lunavix - yes. ds turned 3 last week, mindee who I've had since I reg'd is just 3 too and I have her Mon - Thurs, the rest is made up of part timers - 2 babies (7 months & 8 months) and a 2.4 yr old. I'm only allowed one 5-8 yr old on top of that anyway.

Within a month of starting childminding, I had: ds (2.5), mindee 1 (2.6), mindee 2 (18 months), mindee 3 (5½), mindee 4 (8½) and it was end of July so the lovely summer holidays!!! Very quickly I went from part time with these kids to them all upping the hours to pretty much full time for all of them. Great financially at the time, really stressful for me not being used to it! Think this may have put me off!! I also had a terrible time with ds's behaviour with him trying to get used to sharing everthing all if a sudden, including his mummy! This really didn't help! :(

I definitely want to try the older ones again once i feel more confident with older children!

TBH, i feel i have my hands full as it is as both babies are teething and at that age where they want to move more than they can and are getting frustrated! I'm also trying to get used to the longer days! Really not helped with dh being here since New Year but yippeeeeeeeeeeeee, he finally has some work and starts an ongoing temp job today!!!

ssd · 06/04/2006 08:42

I'm a childminder who has all but given up as I just can't handle my 2 plus other!

My boys are 5 and 8 yrs and both are used to having me all to themselves. Plus we live in a teeny house so when I had mindees in we were all crammed in one room and it was murder!

I've minded for over 3 yrs but I'm now holding out for term time work as I know it'll be a different job with my 2 in school.

I do admire how you all cope, I found the holidays a nightmare of stress and worry and although I'm glad I've given up I'm finding the lack of money a worry, but my sanity comes first!

ssd · 06/04/2006 08:43

that should be others!

HellyBelly · 06/04/2006 08:49

My house in teeny too (my mum and dad call it a shoe box! ) and I think this makes a HUGE difference. I find lots of things difficult about being in the one small room, for example, mealtimes and messy play! The mealtime problem is the fact that one mindee can see all the toys and wants to play before she's finished her food. I could go on and on about the problems but I keep telling myself that one day I will have a lot more room when we finally get out of this house!!!

HenniPenni · 06/04/2006 11:25

Oh i knew there would be a plus side of not being full!

My 3 schoolies are not here over easter hols as olest twos parents are teachers and the other ones mum is on mat leave. This leaves just my own three (11,8 and 5) plus 21month old mindee who I only have part time.

Activities planned so far are: Library trip, trip to park, trip to local windmill for egg decorating and egg hunt plus going out for a family meal including DH and mindee as it's my **birthday!!

Jensmum · 09/04/2006 21:07

I want to make small baskets with the children on Thursday, does anybody know a website where I can get a template from?

lexiemum · 09/04/2006 21:52

could try crayola.com

but would do this:

cut two circles of card, fold each in half, slot halves together to form a heart shape, stick joined edges, leaving top free, add a handle (approx 1in strip of card) - can add paper lace thingy to edges or just decorate with stickers.

bonkerz · 09/04/2006 22:00

Have Easter week booked off!!
Tomorrow we have another childminder coming round and we will do Easter cards and make some chocolate nests.
Tuesday i will be painting egg cups and also doing some easter bunny hats with mindees.
Wednesday i am getting together with 4 other childminders and between us we will have 20 children! We have booked a party bay at a local soft play and plan to have a party for 5 of the mindees whose birthdays it is over easter!
Thursday will be Ball pool, sand pit and pasta play messy day!
then a long break!!

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