Young childminders

Pipsqueak · 17-04-2008, 09:36 PM

Originally Posted by chelle

Oh my god i feel old now! i turned the big 4 0 at christmas but i dont feel it still feel like i am in my 20s ( i wish)

40

omg - that is ancient - NOT!!! lol

Age is definately a state of mind.

Glad you are feeling a little more confident about it MrsB

**chelle** · 17-04-2008, 09:44 PM

Originally Posted by Pipsqueak

40

omg - that is ancient - NOT!!! lol

Age is definately a state of mind.

Glad you are feeling a little more confident about it MrsB

LOL

your right it is definately a state of mind

**ajs** · 17-04-2008, 10:16 PM

i don't think your age is a serious consideration to be honest
i think it's all in the mind i started nannying when i was 19 and now i am a lot older in fact older than all of my parents

**buildingblocks** · 17-04-2008, 10:27 PM

Age doesn't come into it so long as you can cope with the parents. I know of someone who is around your age but parents seem to always take the mick with her and I think they do this because she feels her age is an issue. If you start of and lay ground rules and don't let it be a problem then it won't be. I am an oldly with no children and I sometimes think that young parents won't choose me as I am older then they are so we all have worries in one way or another

What is it they say

Age is a case of mind over matter - if you don't mind it doesn't matter

and as Groucho Marx once said you are only as old as the man that you feel
( actually it is A man's only as old as the woman he feels.)

this of course makes me ancient

**Twinkles** · 17-04-2008, 10:32 PM

Originally Posted by Pipsqueak

40

omg - that is ancient - NOT!!! lol

Age is definately a state of mind.

Glad you are feeling a little more confident about it MrsB

The state of my mind is bl**dy ancient

**cher25** · 17-04-2008, 11:38 PM

Hi, I'm 25, been registered for over a year but only started working last september. I only have the 1 child at the minute and her mam is the same age as me. But i do worry sometimes that i may be too young to do this, especially after getting an enquiry last week where the women commented on how young i sounded. Knew straight away i wouldn't get a call back. But im not going to let it put me off.
Age doesn't matter and it's up to us young people to prove that!

Cher.x

**RedDragon** · 18-04-2008, 06:29 AM

Funny how we all have to abide by the "rules" - unique child, anti-discriminatory policies etc but as soon as a parent phones and hears a young voice on the phone the childminder does not hear back.

All I would say is make sure you have lots of policies in place so no one tries to take advantage.

**mrsbumbles** · 18-04-2008, 07:02 AM

When i started out as a childminder i was younger than all the parents of the children i cared for, and it has never been a problem

Now i am old enough to be one of my parents mums

But to be fair she is a young mum, but all the same it is making me feel old.

Good luck with your minding, i Wish i had a bigger garden, I envy you, my garden is the size postage stamp!

**Mollymop** · 18-04-2008, 07:10 AM

I am 28 and it doesn't worry me about being one of the younger ones.
My friend started minding when she was 20 and she has had no problems. You'll be fine. X

**angeldelight** · 18-04-2008, 07:31 AM

Well I am STILL 21 and it does not affect me

My daughter was 19 when she started and its always been fine

God that makes me only 3 when I had her haha

Good luck

Angel xx

**Banana** · 18-04-2008, 09:02 AM

I started minding at 23. Only been doing it for 16 months but have been full for the majority of it

good luck

xx

**miss muffit** · 18-04-2008, 09:10 AM

Hi I started minding in my twenties...no not the twenties!!! I think the children keep me young at heart, its just the face that has changed!!! oh for a face lift!!!

**Lottie** · 18-04-2008, 10:21 AM

Agree with the other girls.

Age is just a number. Just have the confidence in yourself and remember that we are all human, no-one is 'better' than the next person.

I am 33 and the prospective parent when I told her yesterday said that she was older than me... 34

! It's all about confidence.

**littlesprogs** · 18-04-2008, 11:25 AM

I was 20 when i got registered and i'm now 21 but i also had no experiance whatsoever and it was never a problem.

Good luck with your registration x

**smithya85** · 18-04-2008, 01:06 PM

Hello!

Im 23 and am currently going through the process of becoming a childminder (not registered yet) I also have the same concerns as you about people's views of a young childminder but I dont think I would consider age relevant when choosing childcare for my own daughter (Many more qualities would come higher in my checklist) so hopefully others will view me in the same way!

**tulip0803** · 18-04-2008, 01:19 PM

Age is not an issue in this job really. You are definately older than most of the Nursery assistants I have seen AND having a baby of your own you have experience with children

. Some parents may think you are too young but most would think you are perfect. Some parents can always find a reason not to want to use you, trick is to think that you wouldn't want those parents anyway and not take it personally.

Age shouldn't be relevant it's your attitude and the level of service that you can provide and with a lovely outdoor area you have a great selling point so make the most of it. GOOD LUCK

You will enjoy itX

Unfortunately I no longer have to worry about being young

.

**Alibali** · 18-04-2008, 01:22 PM

I think everyones ideas of what they want in childcare is so different. Some parents prefer experience, but others find this intimidating, as if the childminder thinks she knows everything iyswim, also every minder is different, I will be 40 on my birthday and I have much more knowledge and patience than when I had my 1st daughter at 24, however my bones do ache sometimes!!! It's just a case of building good relationships and we can all do that regardless of age.

Good Luck ps, I am sooo jealous of your home and garden, you must be doing something right!

Ali

**Trouble** · 18-04-2008, 05:00 PM

no one cares how old we are as long as we do a good job and the kids have a good time

and were cheap!!!!!!!!!!

**deeb66** · 18-04-2008, 05:06 PM

I think age is irrelevant!

I am only 24...

Yeah right....you believe that you will believe anything

**manjay** · 18-04-2008, 05:10 PM

Originally Posted by deeb66

I think age is irrelevant!

I am only 24...

Yeah right....you believe that you will believe anything

Hmmm! Not sure about that one!

I think parents can have objections to lots of different things. Personally I would prefer to go for a younger minder (albeit inexperienced but willing to learn) instead of an older minder who maybe was not willing to move with the times!