Childminding with own children

[lizface27]

I'm looking into becoming a childminder as I love to be able to work from home. I currently have 2 children and would love to be able to still have the flexibility to attend special things for them such as nativity's, sports days etc, I was wondering how other childminders go about this sort of thing? Thanks in advance.

I bring my mindees to sports days and plays. They love it. On sports day we have a picnic and they take part in the "little brothers and sisters" race. They are in awe at school plays and wave like idiots to my ds on the stage , it's great.
Obviously there may be times when it's not possible to put your own kids first (the tough thing about childminding) like if mindee drop offs conflict with timings of school plays or whatever. But for the most part, I have no problems.

Dd1 has a cm & she mixes things so sometimes she says she can't have x or y until a certain time to fit in a school thing for her Ds sometimes she takes them along. Also she has a contingency plan with other cms so there are people she can suggest to fill in. This isn't as strange as it sounds they often do days out together etc so they know each other.

My dds go with their cm to see her kids in their school things.

You may not be able to get enough tickets for mindees - check first!

My CM takes my DS with her everywhere, dentist, her own children's sports day, assemblies, concerts etc .. even the weekly food shop!

I think it's great, always gives us something to talk about when I pick him up.

I love it that she does "normal, real life" things with him.

Depends on school..Our school doesn't allow pre school... When my DS did plays in infants I booked the day off. Sports day I take the kids , we make flags but also take picnic games . My ds does know though if it isn't working I just have to leave..

After school activities are the hardest to negotiate.My DS can only do activites if it falls on a night I don't have school children as I can make the children walk home have 10 minutes and then walk back and collect him.

I will say sometimes the hardest thing is your own children come bottom of the pecking order.

I don't think it's the job for you if you want to see school plays

Just like if you're a teacher it'll be hard to get time off in school terms in the day

As a cm you are SE and therefore set your own holidays. Not difficult at all to get term time holiday if you choose.

I generally find it a nightmare taking my minded children to anything at school. Obviously it depends on the children, the 3 and 4 year old I have a the moment are fine, but with the mobile baby, I can think of nothing worse than sitting through school assembly. Sports day is equally as bad. Little children just don't get that they have to sit and watch, they want to run off, meaning I have to run after them and entertain them, meaning I miss what I actually wanted to see. I try as hard as I can to arrange alternative care for the mindees wherever I can for school events or to send dh or my mum to things instead.
I hear people saying that childminding is a good job to fit in with your own family. yes, I'm at home and get to do the school runs, but it really isn't the same as if I were a SAHM.