Where do childminders take the children in their care?

[Mand81979]

Hi, I have recently started childminding initally with 2 boys both under 18 mths but over 9mths. This makes life easy because they are playing with similar toys and so can easily be entertained. Now I have an additional 3 girls over the age of 3. This is creating a complicated and wearing day. The girls want to play with toys that contain small items like a cash register. The boys sometimes try to take the pushchair off one of the girls causing the girl to scream. The girls have a short attention span wanting to get everything out within seconds of arriving. I personally would prefer 6 children under 18mths than the situation I currently have but ofsted feel that managing more than 1 baby is more than enough. However my Mum and I am not giving up so soon or working seperately. We choose to do this to be at home with my baby boy as long as possible. So there must be away of entertaining everyone. Any advice welcome!!!

I meet up with some local childminders, to go for a walk in woodland/park. Our walk route is such that the children can walk/run ahead a bit and still be seen. At the half-way point is a cafe, where the children have their snack and chit chat with each other. It's exercise while socialising... and they seem to enjoy it much of the time.

When I have children of different ages I often take them to the country park. Places like that children can make their own entertainment depending on what they like. We do 'treasure' hunts where they have to find different items ie sticks, leaves, acorns etc. We have then done collages with all the things we have collected.
Soft play can be a good one too as they usually have different parts for different ages (this depends on how much they cost near you obviously).
Farm, beach etc.
When at home, if the older one want to play with toys with small parts I let them do it at the table where the small ones can not reach.

I do the same as sb - use a table as the shop counter where the till and the money has to stay. "Tiny Toys stay on the Table"

I don't do soft play very often. I'm lucky to have a pet shop nearby (cheaper than the zoo lol) as well as a choice of swings/play areas. Beanbags, balls, a bucket and a field usually keeps the younger ones happy. Frisbee is popular too. The little ones roll it.

I make a point of going out every day - even if its only to walk around the block. Saves your sanity! With the treasure hunts, doesn't have to be things to bring home - eg the number 3, a blue car etc. My mindees love a "Which way? Walk" - take turns at every corner/crossroads to choose which way to go. Set a timer on your watch/phone and see where you end up when the timer goes off.

Music, singing & dancing usually goes down well with all ages. Last week had 1 yr old bouncing up and down and clapping next to a 13 year old doing lots of complicated moves she'd learned at dance class. Lovely!

I have 6 children under 2 and a half and on Monday we go to music and movement class, Tuesday is childminder drop in, Wednesday is the park or playground or ducks and a cafe for a tea cake and juice, Thursday is play at home day when another childminder comes round to play and Friday is a walk up to the library for storytime and toast in the cafe. We do all of this in the morning and the children sleep (all at the same time) all afternoon. I love my job.

find your local c/m's group and go along to that - ours is for children uptp school age so plenty for all ages to do. Get in touch with your local surestart children's centre , they will have a list of groups you can attend and try the local library for story time.
good luck getting around with 5 under 5's - l o l

Thank you for all your replies they have been very helpful.

Hi MAnd, were you the cm with the older girl who you(if it was you) were having probs with-wouldnt play/feet up on furniture etc???..if so how is it going?, is she still there?

Hi PinkChick, No not me. Mand

Ah, just cos you said you and your mum, this otehr cm was minding with her mum..oops sorry

I have 4 mindees ( 3 of them are brothers aged 3.5, 6 and 9 and the other boy is 5) and my own ds who is 6. For the last 2 weeks we have been to 3 different parks where they have played in the sand with the buckets and spades, played football with most of the kids in the park and on the days where the weather was a bit naff played with the Early Learning pirates set and Dr who toys.

I have to keep the 9 and 6 yr old amused as when they get bored, they start to fight with each other.

I cannot wait till tomorrow when they are back at school, much as I love the hols, I love being back to normal and able to do proper housework (been too tired to do dusting after work so blitzed the house this weekend!)Am now off to do a bit of ironing and bed, night night all!