CM Club - HELP, had enquiry for after school care, got some questions........

[looneytune]

Hi

When I started childminding nearly 2 years ago, I started straight away with 4 mindees, 2 were school runs/holidays. My ds was only 2.5 at the time and I wasn't used to the older children (especially how much they eat!!! ) I only looked after these older children for about 3/4 months because ds ended up at a nursery in a totally different direction so couldn't do both. I decided not to go back to having school aged children until I was more used to childminding.

Well, I feel much more confident now and my ds is going to be 4 in 2 weeks and is very lonely since same aged mindee left a few weeks ago.

Had a call last night for a boy who is starting all day sessions at school after Easter. He's not 5 yet but I believe that once he's doing 10 sessions a week, that's ok as long as he's over 4? Can you please confirm? Obviously I will check with the parents that he is going straight into full days, every day after Easter as this would make a difference.

Questions

1. Am I right about him being classed as an over 5 as long as attending school all day?
2. Do you charge the same hourly fee as normal? My rate is $3.80 an hour and I'd be needed from school pickup (around 3.10pm) til about 5.45pm. The school is probably about 5+ miles away at a guess? Certainly have to drive, it's in the sticks. Not sure when I'd have to leave but would you charge from the time you have to leave your house?
3. I'm not sure if I'm required during the school holidays? What do you lot do/find out about this side of things?
4. What to do after school? - when I had the children I had at the beginning, we used to go to the park, come home and play in the garden/do arts and crafts etc. I'm trying to decide what I should be doing? Do parents expect you to help with their homework? Or have the kids had enough work time and just want to have a snack, unwind etc? Any thoughts at all would be great
5. FOOD - this is VERY important for me to decide up front because I had big ps taker problems with one 8 yr old when I started - I can't have earnt a thing after the amount of food she ate!!! If they require a meal, fine. If they require only a snack, can you give me examples I can show the parents so we all know what's expected. I have my snack menu already but wasn't sure if more would be required for an after schooler?

I'm sure I'll have other questions

It's been left that they'll call me back on Tuesday as we're both about to go away. Then they'll arrange a meeting and at the end of the call, the father said 'don't let that space go!!' Of course I know very well they may not call but if they do, I want to know what I'm offering!

Thanks

I don't charge a holiday retainer as I'm now very happy not to have a houseful of children throughout the holidays!

When I first started minding (when I still had all my own teeth and didn't need a zimmer frame), all my schoolchildren came full-time during the holidays - I'd regularly go out on picnics, farms, trek in the woods etc. with a busload of children, and we had an absolute ball. I am now getting old and creaky, and enjoy having quieter holidays. In the dim and distant past, I had some children that had holiday-only contracts, so it all seemed to even out.

I think you need to talk yourself out of this particular job - you haven't mentioned any positive points about it yet!!

Start a new thread re. the new changes - I am not getting into a discussion on that one tonight!

Oh poor TP and her zimmer frame. At least you'll have LOADS of extended family to help look after you when you can no longer look after yourself!!!

Oh I WAS all positive about it before I came on here and started worrying more about the finer details.

BUT, my positives are still:

• an extra child to liven things up
• play mate for ds as he's a bit lonely since our lovely mindee left last month, especially on the 2 days I'm not working atm (although he does love his mummy time too )
• much needed extra money of course
• meet new people, new school etc.

I suppose the negatives come out on here because these are the questions I have to think about.

I would really like this to work though!

As for the other question, bit like that is it, will start another thread tomorrow then!

I really really really need to go to bed now. My poor dh has been waiting for me since about 10ish when I said I was coming to bed - oops! And no, it's not for any funny business, just a cuddle on a cold night!!

Night night and thanks again for all your help! x

... hope your dh appreciates how clean you are ...

sure he will

and before you ask why I'm still here..........was just checking other thread but definitely logging off now!

night

I have just sat and read all of this and it has given me a headache! Personally it seems like a lot of hassle and seems like it could mess with too many of your daily routines. Do you want the stress of having to spend so much of your day (every day?) driving around, having trouble parking, interfering with nap times (how are the babies going to feel about that?), etc etc?

Are you going to be waking up in the morning and thinking "oh god, another day!" and are you going to be going to bed at night wishing that you had a different job???

If it were me, I would say to myself that as much as its nice to be wanted by this family and the extra money would be a blessing, I would not take the job on. See how much you have worried about it already????

Anyway, that's just me. I like my life to be as relaxed and uncomplicated as possible, which is probably why I have no money! A relaxed me = a relaxed household!

Maybe I should be more like other people???

Why don't you try do a trial school run and see what the parking is like and if you can get a double buggy down the footpath easily.

Hi Saz. I was planning on doing a trial run.

I really want to do this and had a long think in bed last night and as long as the pickup itself is ok and parents of others don't mind, I will do it IF they want me to.

Saz, it's Farley Hill - you ever done this run?

Cheers

Kinda knew it was Farley Hill, had the enquiry the other week and declinded they sounded a really nice family. Done the run for 1 day as a favour for a friend and it is busy and you do have do get there 30 mins before school finishes a parking space. That's why I said about the run.

Are you putting a trial period int he contract?

Thought you might have had the call as they are from your village.

I'd still like to do it if I can. Is it really that bad or is it ok if get there earlier?

Off to toddlers so catch up later or see you there