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Paid childcare

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

CM Club: Pros and cons to childminding.....

5 replies

KaySamuels · 29/01/2008 10:12

I love childminding, but am frequently becoming tempted by the outside world of childcare! I have my NVQ3 to soldier through anyway at the mo so can't xhange anything for some time yet, but thought I could weigh up cm'ing on here, it may also show newbies the pros and cons too, and hopefully won't put them off!

Pros:
At home for your own ds
Love workin with children
Self employed, so can choose what you do with your day/hours of work etc.
Building bonds and relationships with the children and families you care for that last for years
Your job is to play, go to the park/seaside/woods/splash in puddles

Cons:
Payment issues (late payments, low fees, high expenses etc)
Being messed around i.e. changes of hours/days, early drop offs and late pick ups, being taken advantage of
Contracts end, work is never guaranteed
Paperwork and training to do after cm day finished
Can be lonely if you don't have a good support network
Your child/ren can become jealous/ placed second to mindees needs.
House looks like an explosion at toys r us

Anyone care to add more?

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
crace · 29/01/2008 10:49

I just did the positive benefits for my assignment:

Working from home and be with own children
Flexibility of the service you provide - own hours etc
Continuity of care - watching the LOs grow up and flourish
Mixing with different family structures and cultures

Mum2Luke · 29/01/2008 11:15

All those plus lack of work due to too many other childminders/day nurseries in your area.

OFSTED - biggest bugbear to childminders with their inconsistencies.

I love the work but at the mo I've had two lots of parents pull out before signing contracts, this is work I really needed as it was full-time.

Ineedaholiday · 29/01/2008 12:30

all those plus
cons - children sent doped up on calpol so they are fine until 11oclock and when you phone parent they turn round and say "oh they were sick/ had a temperature/runny bum last night but were ok once id gave them medicine so they cant be ill" doh you gave them medicine so of course their symptoms went away.

  • lack of change of clothes/ suitable clothing. its pissing with rain send your children with these things please.
-its ok to watch mindees when they are choked with cold but parents will quite happily moan that the cold came from one of the other mindees even when they havent been their on the same day. -parents ability to forget anything you tell them about hols etc even though its written in childrens diary, and on a bit of paper in their bag and has been texted to their phone.

pros- when mindees come running to give you cuddles
-when they draw pics of their family and you are part of it.

  • when you help them learn something eg ride a bike, maths homework, write their names.

pros outweigh the cons its just some things are really irritating cos the children arent happy if they are wet or ill

Ineedaholiday · 29/01/2008 12:34

can you tell im having one of those days.
Does anyone know how to dry those furry ugg boot things cos the radiator doesnt work and mindee has nothing dry to wear on her feet.
goes home in 30 mins so mum can carry her to the car. Mum wont send her with change of clothes cos it gives her extra washing and doesnt want her wellies to get dirty ,wtf they are meant to get dirty.

Ineedaholiday · 29/01/2008 12:36

hmm i meant radiator doesnt dry them not that it doesnt work.
Sorry im turning this into one of those threads where someone sits and talks to themself.

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