Childminders

[whitewitch]

Just wondering what peoples views on childminders are?? I use one myself and i find her very good, does alot with my kids from baking, pictures, outings, stories, jigsaws etc If you had the chance would you change your minder or keep the one you are with?? What sort of activities does your childminder do with your kids and if they are happy going there??

[mums angels]

I don't use childminder as i'm a stay at home mum but did used to childmind for 2 years , it was nice to take them out and do arty things with them etc and i only quit because i had my second child and found that i couldn't care for mine as well as i wanted whilst having the other 3 in the house .

If i ever needed to i would use a childminder however i would perfer one that just cared for my kids as feel that id want my kids to get the attention i'd be paying for so to speak . My sister in law had to hire a nanny to get this thou but it puts her mind at rest to know that her wee one has her sole attention .

[whitewitch]

I don't use childminder as i'm a stay at home mum but did used to childmind for 2 years , it was nice to take them out and do arty things with them etc and i only quit because i had my second child and found that i couldn't care for mine as well as i wanted whilst having the other 3 in the house .

If i ever needed to i would use a childminder however i would perfer one that just cared for my kids as feel that id want my kids to get the attention i'd be paying for so to speak . My sister in law had to hire a nanny to get this thou but it puts her mind at rest to know that her wee one has her sole attention .

does she have to pay extra for that?? i know with my minder it is the going rate, but i take it for a nanny for her sole use only would be a higher rate.

i think it would be a rewarding job looking after other kids, and knowing that they love it helps. my kids somedays play on going in but then i cant get them out!! i think it is a little game, other days i dont even get a bye haha!!

[Ash]

Im currently studied to become a childminder, i love kids, i have a wee girl and i cant wait to get started !

[mccaugm]

I think I have the best childminder ever.
She looks after my youngest whilst I am at college. He adores her. Her youngest is the same age as my wee boy and they get on brilliantly. I feel secure in the knowledge that my son is in her care.
She made a point of making sure I got references before I employed her services. My little boy has come on leaps and bounds as he socialises with children of his own age group. Something that was difficult for me as my elder children are in their teens.
She is also very flexible as my study time can change at the drop of a hat.

Thank you "L".

[mums angels]

does she have to pay extra for that?? i know with my minder it is the going rate, but i take it for a nanny for her sole use only would be a higher rate.

i think it would be a rewarding job looking after other kids, and knowing that they love it helps. my kids somedays play on going in but then i cant get them out!! i think it is a little game, other days i dont even get a bye haha!!

She pays a little more but apparenty not much , the wee one loves his nanny and shes become a member of the family almost , she has him at her house in the mornings takes him out and about , swimming etc then has him home in afternoon for his parents comming home.

and i'm yet to see a child that doesnt play the " i don't want to go" card when going to something , and its funny its usually the things they love the most .


i have a lot of respect for childminders these days as the laws have changed so much that it has put off alot of childminders that had been doing it for years , i would go back to it again but not as a registered childminder maybe as a nanny or part time for familys or friends.

[henry20]

I don't have any children, but if/when I did, there is only one childminder I would use. If she wasn't available, either me or my OH would have to give up work. She is the only person apart from family that I would trust with my children.

She is a friend of mine and also used to mind the son of someone I used to work with. Without going into details, the mother would never win awards for mother of the year - don't get me wrong, she was never cruel to her son, just didn't spend any 'quality' time with him. The difference in the boy once he went to the childminder was amazing - he came on leaps and bounds and was taught right from wrong. His mother constantly swore in his presence, but you will never hear him utter a swear word. I believe this was due to his interaction with his childminder.

Anyway, as with all employment these days, so much of it is about paperwork rather than the actual job. If a child in your care was out running in the garden, fell and grazed its knee, you are not allowed to give them a hug - thats crazy in my book, it is anyones automatic reaction to comfort the child, but as a childminder, it is frowned upon.

Also, I know of childminders that I would never leave my children with, so I would only ever leave my children with a childminder that I knew personally.