What do you want from your childminder?

[moomin35]

What dyou look for in your childminder?

A sort of 'home from home'.
A home that includes some older dc (or younger, once dc became older IYSWIM).
Someone who goes out every day - including to groups sometimes, but also to the ordinary every day things like going to the post office, or going through a car wash or going to a shop. As well of course as the park, and duck pond, etc. Also, someone who lets them "help" with cooking or with sorting the washing out from the machine, or doing the garden, etc. But someone who isn't following a timetable - someone who can be spontaneous if it snows or a rainbow appears, or who can make a common sense judgement if one of the little ones is a bit 'off colour'.

Realistically, they also had to be affordable, and it's a big help if they are near to home, have somewhere outside their house you can easily stop the car for a few minutes at pick/up drop off.

Perfect answer backforgood :-)

Gee thanks

I'm not normally renowned for my eloquence

My guest rottie is lovely and loves kids :)

But agree not wanting a dog at a cm / Tho others on here want that situation so that they don't fear dogs

yep you can now close this thread, backforgood has provided the perfect answer.

I want them to be at home, just not my home :)

Agree with everything backforgood says - it's the home from home aspect that drew me to a childminder more than a nursery. That and the idea of a little second family, with the other mindees and maybe the CM's children.

When we met our first CM, I barely asked any questions, I walked in and CM immediately asked for a cuddle with (4mo) DD and I had an overwhelming sense of "I like you, and I like your family". The little things they did were wonderful - occasionally during the school holidays DD would be the only mindee and they would go out on a family day trip and just take DD along like another member of the family. I was devastated when we had to make the decision to move to another CM.

I also wanted a CM to be more flexible than a nursery, which so far has turned out to be the case - as in, they have understood that with some families it's not as simple as needing care either 60 hours a week or every Tuesday and Wednesday, and we've been able to come to some compromise over our silly work shift patterns and their financial stability.

On a very practical note, someone who has good contacts with other CMs in the area so that there is a chance of finding emergency care if needed, and who tells you about their holidays in plenty of time so you can arrange your own cover.

I will be looking for someone kind, caring, who talks & sings to the children. I'm not much bothered about groups and organised fun. More in their interaction with the children.