CM Club: Advantages (or Disadvantages) of a group childminding setting

[KatyMac]

I've been asked to provide a piece of the advantages or otherwise of working within a group setting.........I haven't got very far

"When 2 or more childminders work together in one household, this is referred to as a group childminding setting. There are some advantages of this type of childminding
? You aren?t dependent upon one person for the care (so hospital appointments, annual leave and illness are less likely to result in no childcare being provided)
? As 2 or more adults are working together their strengths and weaknesses can be shared so that your child benefits from several peoples experience and training.
? Working with other adults can offer emotional stability and support for the individual childminders"

OK I guess it is boring

What about you can have more children which is good for social development, as in your child is more likely to find someone to "click" with ?

Oh that's a good one

Thanks

the child gets more 1 on 1 with an adult??
say if 2 cms have 6 children between them rather than 1 cm has 6 children alone.
Its hard when you actually think about it!

Youve someone to make you a cup of tea and change all the sh*y nappies.
[runs off quickly]

CoolJ - I know fab isn't it

Babytalk13 - well with 2 adults I can have 12 children......

Oh ok, I know some cms that work together that are only allowed 6/8 children but quess that point doesnt work for you then!

But I guess what BabyTalk is saying, one CM could go in the garden with 11 whilst you or whoever could spend 1 on 1 time with a child with special needs or something.

Ouch - I want to be the one doing 121.....I don't want 11

Hahah all in the name of good fun ;)

More flexibility to follow child's lead i.e.

• if you are on your own, you either all go out to the park or you all stay at home. In a group you can take the children who want to go and leave those who don't (within ratios of course).

• possibly a better range of activities provided i.e. it's far more rewarding to set up a craft activity that is going to be done by 12 children than by 3 or 4, so the cm's are more likely to do that sort of thing. Same for things like painting - an absolute pain to set it up for one child to use, but you don't mind so much if you know 3 or 4 will probably have a go.

That is very true WriggleJiggle

Also I hate painting but love cooking & one of my co-minders is the opposite

I agree with all the advantages that have been said. To balance things out I tried to think of some disadvantages. I think if the groups of children get bigger then there may be a danger of it becoming institutional and less home/family style care??

I would agree with that Popperdoodles

Generally 6 with us occasionally 9 seems to work OK