A question for all you Childminders out there

[chrissnow]

I may possibly be looking for a childminder soon (dependant on job interview success!!)
Is it more difficult/annoying for childminders to have children for 3 mornings a week as oppose to f/t? It may seem like a really stupid question but I am a total novice!! I know the easy solution is to phone around local area but I just want to get a feel for the possible reaction first!
TIA
(there'll probably be more questions as the thread goes on too!!)

As a childminder I prefer to care for children full time. It is harder to fill the other half of the day, plus I find it a lot harder to do things with the children when they are only here for a half day. Saying that, I do have one mindee who is mornings only and I'm sure you will find other childminders that are able to do it.

So would even just a couple of full days be preferable? I don't want to do it Mon-Fri if I can help it.

It depends on the childminder, some prefer full time and some prefer parttime. Full time or full days at least makes it easier to organise activities. I think most childminders have a mixture of both though.
Goodluck on getting a job

thanks. Not just a job - the job!!!

yeah it would depend on the childminder, id quite like 3 part days but again its up to how much you need to be bringing in as a wage.

ok fingers crossed for the job

Hi Chrissnow,

I much much prefer part timers and now have all the mindees on my books on a part time basis

I know of several other c/m's locally that prefer them too - a couple,like me prefer them part time because their own children are still quite young.

Another minder has only part timers beacause she loves her morning nursery job too much to give up so works 1pm til 6pm and another prefers little ones only up to up 3pm so that she has her places free to pick up as many as possible from school, therefore maximising her earnings

HTH

brilliant thanks!!! At least I know that there are some out there that like it!!! That way I can keep trawling through and not be disheartened by a couple of 'no's'.
How long before being contacted/chatting does it usually take to actually 'take on' mindees? Does mom/dad come along for 1st session or is it drop & run?

mindingmum - where are you? Are you free?!!

Hi Chris

I'm in Chester - - nowhere near you I'm afraid and I love little girls too !!

Don't be disheartened as once you've spoken to a few childminders the news will travel fast and almost certainly you'll get sorted.

If a c/m has a vacancy she usually will take you straight away - if you don't need her straight away, she may ask you to pay a retainer (as most won't hold the place without one and rightly so as most are in great demand)

When you find someone, ask for a visit, and then you can ask whether she would like you to attend for the first session (I personally prefer the 'drop and run' method but would never insist if a parent wanted to stay). You know your chidren best.

Rest assured that we deal with children all day, every day and consequently have lots of ways of distracting them from their distress (if there is any)when you leave. In my experience, mindees have almost always stopped crying before mum (who's also crying!!) has turned her engine on!!

mindingmum - you are ace. Thanks for all your advice. Shame you're so far away!! The eldest is a proper 'girlie' youngest is a bit more of a brute tomboy (even though she looks like a china doll!).
I'm not opposed to drop & run, but would like 5/10 minutes perhaps just to 'see'. There have never been any tears at pre-school in the 6months dd1 has been going there so hopefully the same would apply.
All there is to do now is wait and see if I get the job and then ring around I think. I have had a recommendation from someone at work so I think I'll start there and if she's full take any recommendations she makes. Pre-school is going to give me a list of CMs that use the pre-school too (word of mouth more reliable than adverts I feel)