do you do early starts? and how do you manage?

**AnnieM** · 09-08-2010, 07:57 PM

I start at 7.30am 5 days a week and have done for the last 9 years. I don't mind it too much but when you finish at 6.30pm it does make it a long day. I am shattered by the time the kids go home and OH can't understand why, afterall I've only been sat at home all day playing!!

**watgem** · 09-08-2010, 09:19 PM

I have been aked if I can do this for a baby 3 days a week after Christmas so was interested to hear everyones views, I am a bit worried cos I have to get 3 of mine ready and left for school by 7.40 so wondered if I could manage it, and some days I don't finish till 6 so think I will have to have a think-any suggestions of what to charge (£3.00 ph normally) would be much appreciated

**SimplyLucy** · 09-08-2010, 09:41 PM

I did 6.30am starts for 2 and a half years.

The children were aged, 3 and a half and 6 yr old twins when I began.

The minded children arrived in their jammies every day. We chilled and watched telly for half an hour. At 7am we got breakfast underway, by then my own 4 children were beginning to stir. I made packed lunches for my lot whilst mindees ate.

Mindees would wash, brush teeth and dress, at the same time I'd be waking my own tribe up. My youngest was 3 and a half at the time, my others were 5, 7 and 8!

I'd get my lot breakfasted whilst the 3 mindees began on puzzle/drawing.

By 8am all 7 children would be dressed, breakfasted, washed and teeth brushed ready for the 8am arrivals!

I loved it, I was so organised. Now mornings are a nightmare, I struggle to get organised. I've begged the mum to go back to early starts as it makes me more organised.....she laughed at me!

Oh and I'm a single mum too! It was hard work but well worth it! Oh and OFSTED loved that I did the earlys and took mindees in still in their jammies. She even mentioned it in my report, said I was accomodating and understanding of parents that work difficult hours!

**Shirlwith3** · 10-08-2010, 06:11 AM

I have a family(2) that arrive at 6.30am, 3-4 times a week & I am finding it very hard & tiring 1, beacuse I have another child arrive later at 7.30 but he screams alot 2, I have a puppy so am finding it hard to taking him for a walk in the morning beofre they arrive 3, their mum keeps giving them a biscuit to come with so walks through the door & pup (Weimaraner) will steal it from them as he has not had his breakfast yet. 4, both children are not quiet when they arrive so will wake hubby up & my 5yr old daughter too.

Thankfully they finish next week, I have decided that I am not willing to start that early ever again.

**tinkerbelle** · 10-08-2010, 06:21 AM

i start at 6 am 5 mornings a week i leave my own 3 in bed (aged 11,10 and 8) they sort themselves with clothes and i make their breakfast it works for me at the minute but god knows how im going to do it when iv had the baby

**tracey36** · 10-08-2010, 06:43 AM

i do a 630am start 3 days a week and 7am start for the other 2 days was a shock to the system at frist but now im used to been up and ready for these times my children arnt even out of bed at this time never mind dressed, i am dressed with coffee in hand when they arrive think as long as your organised and a morning person shouldnt be a problem

**Pedagog** · 10-08-2010, 06:47 AM

Currentlu my earliest is 7.50, however I used to have one that was here at 5.45, luckily it was only ever for 4 days, then the the next week she would be on afternoon and be here till 6pm, then the next week lates and it would be a finish time of 10pm.

The lates were worse than the earlies.

**hayleychildcare** · 10-08-2010, 06:52 AM

I start at 7am 4 days a week.
I get up at 6.30 get washed and ready and im ready downstairs with a cuppa in hand when he gets here.
He is 1 year old
My own kids are still in bed aged 10 and 15. This mindeee leaves at 2pm and as from September i will have between 2pm and 3pm free until i go collect schoolies. And all of them are gone by 5pm

**Hebs** · 10-08-2010, 07:01 AM

thats great

i like mine being a mix of part timers, means no day is the same

**jaja** · 10-08-2010, 07:35 AM

i used to start at 5.45 am for two siblins, there mum phoned when they left there house and i would have 10 mins to through some clothes on before they got to the door step, some mornings i just opened the door they walked in in pjs flopped on the sofa and went back to sleep or watched tv, in the winter we would all have a cuppa tea and cuddle on the sofa before getting up and dressed, it worked really well and then my kids got up when they were ready, i have to say that now i dont do early monrings me and mine always seem to be running late on getting out of the house to get to school, lol... not sure why that is though, lol lol

I do think it depends on the children you look after, and how ealry, and i used to look after these children after school and then it changed to before and after school for three years miss them so much now, but one might be coming back to babysit my kids soon, we talk alot and yet i still miss her coming

xxxx

**ladybug** · 10-08-2010, 07:48 AM

I have started at 7am for 2 years now and the little one i look after will be 4 in sept, he comes in a plays while i do breakfast and push the hoover round he is as good as gold, in march i took on a 8mnth old from 6.30 but this is only 2 days a week so its up at 6am which i struggled with at first, i look forward to naptime after lunch when i sit and chill with my lunch and loose women for an hour!!! fully recovered its time for afternoon play!!!!!!!!! but i agree, would rather have early starts than late finishes, I am all done and starting dinner at 4.45pm!!!!!!!! Give it a go, the bonus in this area is that no other minders want to do early starts so i tend to get quite a bit of work!

**porky1979** · 11-08-2010, 07:29 AM

Hi, I start at 6.30am 3 days a week, I get up and get myself ready but my 2 sons are not ready. My eldest gets himself ready and the youngest needs help but I manage ok.

**moljak** · 11-08-2010, 10:39 AM

Been asked to do a 6.15am start by a student nurse who needs to get to her placement by 7.15am.I'm considering it as she won't always be at this placement so hours will change.

**fluffysocks** · 11-08-2010, 01:35 PM

I do 7:45am starts and find that hard enough!! really wouldnt consider any earlier as its a long day, when you think I dont physically stop from the first child arriving or mine getting up till tea done and everyone in bed.

My own children are rarely ready when people arrive at 7:45, they have been fed and washed and are just left to get themselves dressed-although now its the holidays I start at 9:30am and quite often the children are just finishing breakfast and in pj's! I've offered for mum to bring mindee in pj's if they want as my two love pj days just chilling out in the house!

I think it really is going to depend on how much of a morning person you and the child is!

x

**Mykidsrock** · 11-08-2010, 01:49 PM

I've done both early and late starts and must admit I enjoyed the earlier ones. I had a mindee that came at 7 and I fed them breakfast. I made sure I was ready and my kids then had breakfast with the mindee before they got ready. I found it worked really well and much better than my late start of 8'ish when I then found we were all rushing out of the door for school runs.

**Ju B** · 11-08-2010, 02:07 PM

Hi- yes, I love the early starts. there are lots of childminders living near by so I chose to specialise in earlies and weekends. I start between 6 & 7 and I'm all done by 9am, 3pm in the school hols. I charge a slightly higher hourly rate than some but I don't "sting" parents who have to start work early- Obviously I get dressed, although I have answered the door with my gown over my clothes on very cold mornings. My kids amble down stairs whenever they're ready- I have spare duvets and blankets and all the children snuggle up together B4 breakfast. Its really cool- I get the whole rest of the day with my children