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

[newandlearning]

hi all..

I've had someone ask me about taking on her two boys 3 mornings a week from 7am .. just to take to school... I've got young children myself and live on own.

I'm wondering if you start at 7am.. I know I'm expected to be dressed etc. .. but are my children as well? I would give everyone breakfast but am just trying to weigh up if I can realistically take on this commitment.. I would like to if possible.

I would value hearing from you .. help would be great

[Chatterbox Childcare]

I do this 3 mornings a week and find it hard and he is 9.

I literally jump out of bed, throw on some clothes and let him in, Mine dress themselves but I certainly wouldn't have them up and ready for 7.

Think about the age of the child coming at 7 and the work it creates and is it worth it? I would do it for age 5 upwards but not before.

[funemnx]

I do a 7 a.m. start twice a week for a 3 year old (I've had him 2 years). I'm a morning person and up 6.30 every day so it's not a problem for me. I am dressed when he comes but usually have wet hair and no make-up
He's been no trouble and usually watches t.v. for half hour while I get the coffee on and breakfast underway.....

[lou lou]

i am just going to do a seven start for an 8 month old for one day a week at the moment i use to do it before and it was quite hard going and it is not as if you finish when he goes home at four i still have till six to go so it can be a long day especially winter time.

[flowerpots]

i do a 6am start twice a week for a 14month old, shes very good but i still find starting at this time very tiring.

[miffy]

This would be too early for me

If you do it make sure it is financially worth your while, especially if you're also giving breakfast.

I wouldn't expect my own kids to be up and dressed either.

Miffy xx

[Hebs]

2 days a week i start at 6am, the other 3 i start at 7am,

i find i much prefer the early starts to the late finishes

[miffy]

i find i much prefer the early starts to the late finishes

Late starts and early finishes are even better

Miffy xx

[Hebs]

Late starts and early finishes are even better

Miffy xx

yeah but how often does that happen?

[sarah707]

I have started at 730 for years now.

The only reason I agreed to start so early was because the boy was very quiet, calm and easy to accommodate.

He would sit and draw, do puzzles, look after himself etc while I sorted my 2 and got breakfasts ready for the others who arrive at 8.

I think it depends on the child. Good luck

[fionamal]

The earliest I have started was 7.30am but left my own kids to wake themselves and had their clothes all laid out the night before for them so they could get dressed. During the school holidays I left them a while and they could have breakfast in jammies and then get dressed.

I now have an 8am start and its amazing what that extra half hour does

[patevans]

2 days a week i start at 6am, the other 3 i start at 7am,

i find i much prefer the early starts to the late finishes

same here

I was doing 7am starts with 3 mindees 5 days a week but dont have any children of my own so it was only myself I had to get ready!

[birch24]

I start at 7.30. But my children stay in bed untill they either wake up or have to get up for school I don't make them get up for the minded children.

[Gizmo]

I start at 7.30 and my children usually get up just before this, I did have one at 7 for a little while and found it really hard at that time dont think I would start that early again

[breezy]

I start at 7.30am every day, I do find it hard as I'm not a morning person at all, my kids are up and ready by then on a school morning as they both leave early, but in the holidays they're usually asleep or in pyjamas!

[crazyhazy]

I'll hopefully have a before and after schooler starting at the end of the month, who needs a 7am start. Haven't quite worked out how I'll manage but I don't intend on waking my two girls before she arrives, plus she's 9 so hoping she'll like helping me! It's not so bad cos h doesn't leave till 8ish so can get my two dresses if I need him too.

[SandCastles]

I'm a morning person and are up at 6am every day ready for my 7am start with a 2yr old, I am dressed have makeup on, done my daily risk assesments, maybe set the breakfast table with drinks and cereal my two awake and come down in their pj's when they are ready and get dressed and washed downstairs. The 2yr old plays happily while I prepare toast and a hot breakfast. It is tiring as I finish at 6pm but without this mindee I would lose a lot of income (11 hours a day x 5 days a week) so I don't complain too much to OH
Why don't you do a Test Run, by getting your self ready for a 7am start to see what impact this has on your day.

[Lyns123]

I start at 7.15 3 days a week but fridays i start at 9am which is lovely, i do end up twiddling my thumbs waiting though as my daughter (2 and half) has me up at around 6.30am everyday anyway x

[karen m]

i do a 7 start but child is 7 next week ,he is hard work as he never wants to do anything,i have relented and allowed t.v on for half hour normally do not allow t.v. this is 5 days
use to start at 6 and 5 days and he was brilliant

[sweets]

my earliest start is 8am 3 days a week, i wouldnt want it any earlier