Singing

I work in a day nursery 2 days a week, often staff will just start singing a child's song or a nursery rhyme, it creates such a lovely atmosphere, especially when another member of staff picks up on it and through the building singing can be heard, encouraging the children to join in.
So sing to your children it's a lovely pastime.

Happy Outlook

I have experience of caring for children for 32 years.I have looked through their eyes and seen their simplistic and uncomplicated view of life and most of the time they are happy bouncy and full of life.

As we get older,independent,making our own decisions, we seem to get bogged down by pressures around us and loose sight of the innocent natural happiness we had when we were young.

If we could hold onto those feelings which most people have experienced as children ,and make them spring into our minds in times of trouble,we would be able to get through many of our most pressured times and help us to lead better lives.

A Typical Day Childminding.

8.30 I begin by setting out the toys for the day, depending on which children are coming.

8.50 Ben arrives [18 months], Dads in a hurry says a quick hello, fills me in on anything important, says goodbye to Ben who sometimes re-acts to the transition, he re-acts today. I pick him up, give him a cuddle, re-assure him, we sit on the chair by the window and talk about what we can see, re-assuring him all the time and distracting him from his insecurity.

9.00 I hear a car, here comes 2yr old Poppy. She comes in shouting hello and straight away plays with the construction toys I’ve set out.(when setting out the toys I make them as appealing as possible ) It can often ease a child away from a parent.

I sit with them encouraging them to play together, learning social skills, conversation, imagination and physical construction.
I always have music on in the background and often find Poppy singing along!
They can have free play if they choose but Duplo seems to be the favourite.

9.45 We go upstairs to the toilet and wash hands before snack time an activity in itself! Ben gets so excited about washing hands-or is it water play?

10.00 Snack time-the children bring their own preferred snack, I have my coffee and biscuit we all sit down and watch TV approved (by me), with lots of singing, counting and art work ideas.

10.45 After snack, if anyone has a nappy it’s nappy change time!

11.00 Outside play, weather permitting or we’ll go for a walk. [If bad weather, an art activity prepared beforehand]. Out door play is free play with bikes, scooter, hoops, balls pushchairs, sometimes paint activities or sand or water play. We may play imaginary games i.e. pretending to cross the road at traffic lights, going to the shops or being on a train etc.

12.00 Lauren arrives from nursery .settled in by a chat about what she’s been doing or a story and cuddle.

12.15 All upstairs for toilet and wash before lunch. Quiet play or looking at books while I set up packed lunches or heat up soup etc bought from home.
We all sit at the table or high chair. With children’s music on in the background, talk and hopefully have a leisurely lunch.

1.00 The older ones are allowed down first to enable them to have a non -baby or toddler interference for a few minutes. It gets a little chaotic whilst I clear up. I usually let them have a run around, till it gets out of hand, then quiet time with books. The young ones sit in pushchairs pending sleep if they need it and the older ones sit with me and have a cuddle, if they want one! We watch children’s T.V again not just rubbish. Whilst sitting quietly I write the children’s diaries for the day.

2.00 After rest time approx. 45 minutes, we do an activity; art play, a game, puzzles.playdough ,water play etc. [free play available at all times]. Nappies changed, and then outside play or a walk. Maybe pick up after school children.

4.00 Back for toast and drink, chill out time for anyone arrived from school, half an hour of T.V. then free play, in or out, or art work till home time. Any art work achieved during the day I set out in the kitchen for the parents to view and take home. We call it the gallery.

5.00 Try to chat with the parents but have the written diary as a back up incase I don’t manage to tell them certain events of the day.

Send everyone off with a cheery Goodbye.
.
5.30 Then begin to tidy up. I try not to tidy up too much with the children here because I want them to continue playing as long as they can, although I do ask them to help put a few things away as to promote tidiness.

My Big Reward for Being a Childminder

Even though my 32 years of childcare has been an absolute pleasure, I was 50 recently and was taken out by two mothers whose children I had looked after from babies, until 14 yrs old.

The evening started at one of their houses to which I was sat down, fed with nibbles and champagne. Then the three boys I looked after produced home made cards and a wonderful porcelain fruit bowl with all their names painted on the underside, and random words that they associate with coming to my house for all those years. After drying my tears and having lots of hugs we talked of the old times.
Then the mothers and I went to a very expensive restaurant, I was treated to a lovely meal with all the frills and lots and lots of reminiscing, then taken home by taxi.

It made me feel so happy I didn’t want the evening to end. But the next morning I awoke to see my lovely gift and very thoughtful and personal cards and so appreciate what they did for me, but both mothers said they have very successful jobs and couldn’t have got there without my help.

Earlier on my actual birthday I was setting up for a normal childminding day when the two children I was looking after that day burst in with balloons, home made cards and presents .Followed by the two mums, birthday cake and treats, they had also made a pass the parcel.
We all had lots of fun, making my day very special.
Later in the day I had a visit from the other child that comes a different day–armed with a lovely present and home made card that she had made with her older brother and sister that I used to look after. I felt very loved and appreciated.

I am soon to end my childminding business and feel that I have been so lucky to have had such a rewarding job with many happy memories and met a lot of lovely people.

Setting up a Child Minding business.

My reason for starting childminding was because I had a career in childcare and a dream of running my own nursery, whilst having my own children and doing it my way. I did not want the ‘institution’ approach but the homely mother/grandmother feeling.

When I started out it was just looking after other peoples children, you did your own thing.
Not many guidelines in those days but because of my experience and qualifications, mothers trusted I would give professional care.
So I rcalled Social Services of my local Borough Council, went to an introductory meeting and a short introductory course, had a home visit, was approved and set to.

Things have changed dramatically since then back in 1987!

Now there is a Foundation Course to start with, a home visit to make sure all safety regulations are up to standard, space is adequate, windows have safety locks, safety glass on patio doors, electrics and heating are in good order and a fire inspection from the fire officer is required.

All plug sockets must have childproof covers, kitchen cupboard doors & drawers must have child locks, medicines and cleaning fluids must be locked away.

The place is to be clean and well kept. You should have adequate and safe outdoor play areas and equipment.

All people of sixteen and over in the house have to have a Police Check.

You must keep all paper work in order i.e. contracts, children’s details, medical book, accident forms, daily diary, register.

Policies on; behaviour management, health and safety, child protection, policy on sick children, equal opportunities, accident procedure, fire evacuation procedure, complaints procedure, confidentiality report etc. according to the standards of the local Inspectorate. Insurance details and a personal statement.

Then, when all this is approved, you can start looking after children.

If you have some locations in mind, advertise in shops, local paper, doctors surgery, clinics, community centres but remember to keep your identity safe. You will be on the Social Services list and you can be put on the Childminder Database.

You will be expected to give a very high standard of care and take courses to keep up that high standard; be visited yearly by an inspector (not as much as an ordeal as you may think because they put the children first and make it a pleasant visit). You can also expect an unannounced visit at any time.

If I were setting up now, to make it a business venture, I would prefer to have a set room i.e. garage conversion, spare room, extension, a downstairs toilet and if planning full time, 40hrs a week, employ a cleaner!

Always put the children first- you are running a business and putting so much into it mentally and physically.

Please never loose sight of the fact that the children are individuals and you are a caring loving person.

STRESS

There will be times when however professional you are you will feel stressed.

Possible causes:

• You are tired or unwell
• Children testing your boundaries of discipline
• Cooped up (weather conditions)
• Excited and noisy children
• Children unwell
• Children tired
• Babies teething
• Hunger
• New children not getting on
• Squabbling

Advice:

Be on top of the situation, take a few seconds to step back and see what is happening, take control of yourself first then deal with the problem. If you blaze in with anger it hardly ever helps the situation.

Do a little deep breathing or count to ten. Then try and organize some different activity, divert the children’s energy to thought provoking games e.g. matching cards, puzzles, reading stories etc.

Or if you can find the energy, indoor denmaking. Make a space and get cushions out for climbing and jumping. Maybe play hide and seek or pretend shops.

Of course there is always outside play, weather permitting.

The children will forget they are trying to wind you up and the pressure will drop.

If none of this works, I reach for the lavender oil, put a few drops on my wrist, breath in, sit down with the children and read stories or even ‘chosen' TV programmes. Chill out, recharge your batteries. Remember you don’t get coffee or lunch breaks away from the children.

Then give everyone a big hug and feel proud of yourself.

Introduction

I am a registered childminder, UK NNEB trained, caring for children over the last 32years. It is my aim to share and pass on some of my knowledge gained from this hands-on experience to people that really care about what they do. Who want the best for the children they are nurturing and helping through childhood into adulthood.

My success story is that my husband and I have two lovely daughters one 20, one15, they have turned out just as I had dreamed they would when they were babes in arms. There have been ups and downs naturally but how else do we learn if not from experience?

I have been childminding for18yrs and only recently have two brothers I looked after from 4months old, stopped coming on a nightly basis after school, being 14 and 12. They had the option from their parents of stopping a year ago but just didn’t want to stop coming to me.
I had two sisters 8 and 5 who came from babies through to school, who begged their mum to let them come in school holidays.
I saw a 16yr old today I had looked after for 5yrs working in a shop, went out of her way to chat to me and tell me how she is doing.
I often meet another, now young man, in town on Saturday and we stop to chat and catch up.
I’m invited to birthday parties and school concerts etc.
I am pleased to say the list goes on, I love my work and the friends {parents and children} I’ve made along the way.

Previously to working from home I worked as a nanny and in two different day nurseries over several years.
I had a dream of running my own nursery and found childminding to be the most effective way for me to do this, whilst also caring for my own two girls.
I do part time, which I like, because I see lots of different children and they get to be with their parents a fair bit of the time.

My aim is to share my experience with anyone who wants to listen; mothers, fathers or would be childcarers.

I don’t profess to know all the ‘politically correct` ways of doing things, I’m sure I have many faults.

I am going along the guidelines set out by the various authorities and don’t want to take any blame for any of my ideas tried out that go wrong - you try things out at your own risk!

Remember though most of bringing up children is common sense.