Any childminders want to chat?

[Snap8TheCat]

Thought it might be nice to start a thread for childminders to gather and chat. Who would like to join me? It can be a lovely job and I think there are quite a few of us on here.

I've been minding for 8.5 years now, recently taking on an assistant as business is doing well. We currently have 13 children on our books.

I love my job and love talking about it (mostly). There are plenty of down sides but mostly positives. It allows me to raise my lovely children alongside looking after fab mindees.

Come join me!

Brilliant thread, can I be the second badger here please?

I was a science teacher, took time off to raise my own children, decided I loved early years so have spent the last year being a TA in preschool, and I have just completed my course online.

I've not registered yet or done my paediatric course, because I want to get the garage converted into a play room, but I am very interested to hear what you all have to say.

Of course, welcome 3littlebadgers Do you have any specific questions? The garage conversion sounds exciting.

Thanks Snap. Nothing to ask as the moment I'm just excited to nosey in to the real life experiences of people who are childminding now.

Jannier. Yes there is a staff member who deals with the press etc & she works hard. It is just hard for them to get the message across sometimes when the ‘popular papers’ like their sensational headlines without finding out the correct information.
Welcome 3 Little badgers, perhaps we ought to start our own ‘holt’!

Do any childminders provide nappies and wipes as part of your fees?

Hi snap. No I don't. My fees are lowish and parents send in packed lunch, nappies and wipes, I provide snacks and drinks, milk/water.

Snap I provide everything. Slightly higher rates than those who don't though.

I’m on the cheaper side of most around here and provide everything except nappies and wipes but in getting fed up with pull ups/nappy pants being sent in. I know it’s personal preference but I just can’t stand them. Costed it all up and for a pound a day a could provide it all and have proper nappies. Seriously considering it!

HSMMaCM do you ask what brand they use at home or just buy the same for everyone?

I hate pull ups too. They constantly leak and you have to take all lower clothing and shoes off to change which is a right pain when you're out!

I choose the nappies I use, but I did have parents request a particular brand once, which I was happy to use and all the children switched to that brand.

I hate huggies and pampers

You could ask that parents provide you with a pack of normal nappies to use with you then its no different for either of you. I do think because parents are shown so little now in classes a lot don't know its possible and easier to change a nappy without stripping off.

Contentious issue there jannier. I asked on here a couple of months ago and was told I was completely unreasonable for telling parents what to provide for their own child.

I agree snap. And I also think parents should use whatever nappies they want to! I don't like pull ups but it's always am option to use my own nappies so I don't make an issue of it.

I don't see why asking for a pack of nappies is worse than accepting the pack of pull ups Your not asking the parent to use them. Most who use them say its to save the problem of holding a child down who wants to crawl not talking about price so why does asking for a pack of 24 nappies rather then 20 pull ups make an issue? child comes in pull ups rip them to remove, child goes home in nappies you can stand up to rip off the same as pants. The only difference is to the cm who when out can change a nappy in seconds rather than strip off shoes trousers tights etc.

What about asking for a raincoat? Hat etc, many parents don't use them at all so that's extra expense yet we have no problem asking for them.

Ask away if parent does not like it they wont sign your contract and will go elsewhere.

I agree jannier but my thread asking if people would be offended ran to 300 messages telling me what a shit cm I must be if I couldn’t accommodate pull ups!

I remember that thread snap, people saying that they send their kids in trainers because they look cute and how dare you ask for something to make your life easier. Had to hide it in the end I was so pissed off with some posters.

Oh I know. I came to the conclusion that most didn’t even use a cm but couldn’t pass the opportunity to slag one off. For some reason we are one of those professions that people, especially if they have never even encountered one, really hate!

Hi all. Just what i need this morning! Thanks for starting
Anyone else's husbands just don't get it?
I have 2 DC of my own, both still fairly young. DH does nothing to help me around the house despite me working full time too, long hours and early starts.
Never helps me get our DC ready in the mornings, doesn't even sort the kitchen if I don't get round to it the night before. And don't get me started on his clothes, cups, shoes all over the house!
He works hard, out the house 12 hours a day, am I being unreasonable expecting him to help out a bit?
Feeling a bit fed up today!

Dizzy. It's because you're home all day. It's not really working is it .

DH 100% did not understand until he started working with me. He apologised once he realised.

Now (10 years after he started work with me) if my mum calls half way through lunch, or pickup time, he says "doesn't she realise you're working ".

I think they either get it or they don't. And it doesn't matter how much you spell it out to them.

I encourage DH to take a day off every so often when I'm working. He's registered as my assistant just in case of emergency.

I make sure he doesn't stop. Honey can you just make a drink / pass a toy / hold the baby / feed the baby / sort a snack / make lunch / pop to the shop ... ... ... When he complains about how tired he is I smile sweetly and say something like yes and just imagine how tired I am after doing it alone all day. He usually pulls his weight for a while after that. He's due another day off soon.

Hi all. Just wondering how often you update your learning journals/next steps? I aim for every half term but often don't manage this. I am busier in the school holidays due to having my "after schoolkids "all day. So I usually end up doing them evenings/weekends which I really don't enjoy!

I do my learning journeys in little chunks most days. I do have the advantage of working with DH though, so while a couple of children are sleeping one of us can type up our notes.

Hi I am new on here and after some advice from you lovely chimdminders, I have my first ofstead inspection from tomorrow onwards and would love any help/tips/advice on anything you can think of... feeling very nervous x

Hi Coles

Firstly I'd say have all your paperwork ready & laid out easy for the inspector to look at without you having to faff around looking for something. If you can write a SEF that's very detailed then that's less time they need to ask you stuff.

Make sure you have all the up to date numbers etc in your safeguarding policy etc.

Know your children where they are & they're next steps & they seem to be hot on prevent, British values, fgm & radicalisation.

Great practice to have feedback from families on next steps, learning journeys & maybe some form of questionnaire. They love to see working in partnership.

If you have any 2 year olds have a 2 year check example.

Make sure you ask lots of open ended questions to your little ones & follow their lead if they start to get interested in something you weren't planning on doing. Offer them choices etc when it comes to lunch like have some cucumber cut up & carrots etc & let them pick them out the bowl onto their plates (if old enough)

Goodluck & try not to let it stress you out, just have loads of resources out so they can see what the children have available to them.

Sure you'll do fab.