I was registered as a childminder in November 2004, having spent some time previously tripping over toys, wiping paint off walls and repairing irreparable damage to flowers in our garden. My wife had become a childminder 18 months earlier and after having been asked to help her prepare or tidy on a number of occasions, I thought that her job looked more fun than mine. We worked out whether we could still keep a roof over our heads and meals on the table. As it seemed possible, I joined her.
The setting has developed and grown since then. My wife does more of the administration and I work with assistants. I don’t think that there’s a typical day for a childminder, but there is a broad pattern to the work we do.
Tell us about your day
My day starts at about 7.15am, with checking that everything is fine for the day ahead; activities ready, all food needed, soaps and flannels all named for the children attending, etc. The first child arrives at 7.30am. We read and play until some of the other children arrive. An assistant arrives between 8.15 and 8.30am and we organise breakfasts for those that need it. I tend to take children to school, while the assistant carries on with breakfast and receives any other children in the meantime. The walk to school usually involves games, chases or conversations about the school day ahead. It’s a short school run, but a great workout for me!
We have an activity for the morning and always go out. The weather and the mood of the children often determines which order we do this in. The walk usually include a focus, whether looking at door numbers, road signs, street names, looking for animals and bugs, stopping to play with bats, balls, stomp rockets. Otherwise, if the weather is particularly bad, we’ll get an airing in the garden. I enjoy the idea that I’m paid to be in the park
Just before lunch, I have to collect children from nursery. I often take some of the pre-school children with me, as this helps familiarise them with the school, get them used to the environment and the slightly more hectic surroundings as children go in and come out. We go back and have lunch – almost always a cooked lunch, unless we are having a picnic or the children are making their own sandwiches.
After lunch, some of the younger children sleep. Sleep time should be a quieter time…..but having cleared up the lunch, we play games – Snap, Pairs, simple board games or do jigsaws, unless the children want to play their own games. These tend to keep the children fairly calm while the others sleep.
At 3pm, more children need collecting from school. Again, a few pre-school children may join me. We all walk back together and have a snack. Some of the school children will read to me or practice their spellings. Otherwise, there are activities for all of the children. There are often after-school clubs, where children need collecting. Once they are back with us, we make dinner. Some of the children will usually help cook or set the table. Everyone participates, if we are making our own pizzas or wraps, or contributing to dessert by chopping fruit, making mini banoffee pies or helping with a homemade sorbet. The children are generally collected after tea, which is my main time to catch up with parents. I use an online system for recording the children’s daily data – toileting, sleeps, meals, medicines, sun cream etc – but sometimes (especially with the school children), it’s easier to speak to the parents directly. This is one aspect of childminding that I really appreciate. To a greater degree, I can choose the children and parents I work with. It helps to build stronger relationships and ultimately benefiting the children. Other aspects that I like include watching the children develop and grow, as well as being in charge of my own day. There’s a lot of responsibility, but a lot of enjoyment too.
The last children leave at about 6pm. It’s then time to finish tidying, clearing the floor of food, see what items the children have forgotten and enjoy a break!