New Childminders and Experience

[Valencia]

Hi

Getting enquiries through and wanted to know what new childminders say when they're asked:

- how long have you been a childminder?
- how experienced are you?

Have you found that it puts parents off being new registered with not a lot of experience childminding or are there any other USPs you can say about yourself?

Thanks in advance.

[EmmaReed84]

I got my first client when I was pre-reg (signed contract when cert arrived), she visited me on her own while my son was asleep and knew I was just starting... when she asked about experience I told her I had the best experience ever... being a parent myself!

The next visit she brought her children to meet my youngest son and saw how I interacted with them. Her son jumped on my sofa and before Mum could say anything, I picked him and talked to him and explained sofas are for bottoms and got out some different toys which he loved.

I think it is hard when people talk about experience... you can have all the experience in the world, but that means diddly if you don't gel with the children you take on... equally you can have very little experience and click right away.

Do you have any children signed up yet? Me and some other minders are having a mini Olympics in July, you are more than welcome to join us, even if you haven't got mindees... lol

[MrsP2C]

no helpful advise but I like your website

[Valencia]

I got my first client when I was pre-reg (signed contract when cert arrived), she visited me on her own while my son was asleep and knew I was just starting... when she asked about experience I told her I had the best experience ever... being a parent myself!

The next visit she brought her children to meet my youngest son and saw how I interacted with them. Her son jumped on my sofa and before Mum could say anything, I picked him and talked to him and explained sofas are for bottoms and got out some different toys which he loved.

I think it is hard when people talk about experience... you can have all the experience in the world, but that means diddly if you don't gel with the children you take on... equally you can have very little experience and click right away.

Do you have any children signed up yet? Me and some other minders are having a mini Olympics in July, you are more than welcome to join us, even if you haven't got mindees... lol

Thanks Emma, you're absolutely spot on! There's no substitute for being a parent!

[Valencia]

no helpful advise but I like your website

Thanks MrsP2C - did it myself.