What age would you stop childminding?

[Angela234]

Hi i am 60 now , I have always been fairly full, but finding this last 12 months or so I'm not getting children I just have a 2 year old 3 days, I have had a couple come to look around seem to love my setting but then i hear nothing.
I am beginning to think they may think I'm too old.
Anyone been in this situation
I really enjoy my job
Thanks

[FloraDora]

I am 60 + and have just retired. I had lots of people wanting my services... so I don't think it is age.
It's not your numerical age...but your outlook I think. Think of your unique selling point to promote.....
I think it will just be a blip not your age....as you said you have been full in the recent past ...

Enjoy and it will shine through to the right parent.

[Dragonfly]

My friend a childminder is 60+ and is always full. So I also don't think it's an age thing.

[Angela234]

Thanks that sounds reassuring. I have ofsted coming in September got a call beginning of holidays but as this year I have no children in hols term time only they put it off until September, did start to think is it worth going through an inspection if I want get any more kids.
I don't drive but we go out for walks , so still very active ,visit soft plays and other groups I don't have school age children maybe occasional times in holidays.
Hopefully thinks will pick up I do worry if I don't get more the parent I have my decide to put little one somewhere he will l have children to play with.
Thanks

[FloraDora]

I don't drive but we go out for walks , so still very active ,visit soft plays and other groups I don't have school age children maybe occasional times in holidays.

Thanks

Be confident about what you offer....don't apologise for not driving. ' we go out for lots of walks to...., I encourage social skills by meeting up with other children at.....group and ....soft play regularly. Because I don't have after school children I am not restricted with drop off and pick up from schools which allows time for open ended activities and the time to go with the individual child's interest and encourages deeper learning when they can extend their play.'

Could you team up with another childminder and do activities together at each other's homes or parks? Then if that childminder has enquiries she/he can't accommodate then you could be an alternative.

When I started and had one child on a couple of days my parents loved it. We attended one singing group together every fortnight, I met up once a week with another childminder, they came to us or I organised a forest school type activity ..so she learn't how to share 'her ' toys, but the rest of the time was just her and I, lots of bonding and activities geared to her interests, time to bake, paint, explore and problem solve and play with her on her next steps...she made accelerated progress in lots of areas. She was happy to meet with the new children as they arrived, attended a nursery eventually on two more days a week and mixed well there too. She arrived at school with lots of foundation skills and well prepared and has finished her reception year achieving well in all areas..
Proving that it is fine to be on your own at a setting as long as you organise for some social play if they don't get it elsewhere.
Your inspection will be easier to prepare for as it will show your relationship with the LO, activities will be geared to this child's next steps, you will have time to promote your positives to the inspector if you just have one LO to care for.
Remember Theresa May is running(?) a country .....she was born in 1956.
The future is that people will work longer too.
Experience often reassures parents.

[Dragonfly]

I've been in childcare ( not just childminding) over 37 years. I don't drive either. I often find people that don't drive are more active As they are always walking to get to places.Children adore going to the fields and being outside.lm sure youcan go to groups,can meet up with other people with young children. And I'm sure there will be someone looking for a great childminder with experience coming along soon.its a bit like waiting for a bus, none come along and then lots come all at once.

[Maza]

Lots of lovely things said already.

I also don't drive and it was never questioned by parents. As long as the children got out everyday and had a nice variety of quality experiences then the parents were more than happy.

I had just one child for some of the time (my DD was at school) and again it wasn't an issue. It was lovely to totally be able to follow his interests and have proper conversations (as much as you can with a toddler, lol) with just him, cook his favourite lunches all the time etc. There are other small scale childminders around here who have just one child too.

Do think about how you can reassure the parents of this one child that he does get to socialise with other children - groups, meeting up with other minders/neighbours with children etc.

I'm sure it's just a blip in supply and demand that you're experiencing right now and hopefully things will pick up soon. Believe in yourself though so that everyone else will too.

I would be keen to get the inspection over with whilst I had fewer children on role. Good luck. :)

[Angela234]

Thanks everyone I do have a CM fried who comes here sometimes or we go soft play together, I know 2 childminder s who pass pas my number on.
One more child one the days I work would be fine hopefully I will get some more calls soon
Thanks for the reassurance about my age

[SYLVIA]

I'm 60 next year and I'm full at the moment but not sure if I want to take on any babies again as I quite enjoy the older children more now. Having said that I sometimes think some mums prefer an older childminder as it's more like a granny figure in their child's life rather than a mummy. I've had a parent here once who seemed worried that I would replace her in her child's life as he was here 5 days a week, 10 hours a day and all mum seem to do was bath and put him to bed. They moved away in the end and she shortened her working days

[Mouse]

I'm 60 next year and I'm full at the moment but not sure if I want to take on any babies again as I quite enjoy the older children more now. Having said that I sometimes think some mums prefer an older childminder as it's more like a granny figure in their child's life rather than a mummy. I've had a parent here once who seemed worried that I would replace her in her child's life as he was here 5 days a week, 10 hours a day and all mum seem to do was bath and put him to bed. They moved away in the end and she shortened her working days

I was going to say that some people like their child being looked after by a grandparent type figure.

A friend of mine was a childminder until she was 65. She was always busy, but did stop taking on babies for the last few years.

[watford wizz]

Bespoke silver service minding!! Embrace your age and experience, keep up to date and active and market aware.May need a bit of fresh rebranding but there is definitely a market out there. Xx