Over the 14 years that I worked as a registered child minder a few of the children I cared for had special needs: My first experience of caring for a special needs child( which was funded through social services, as respite for the parents) was a little girl, who was 2 years old as she…
When I working as a registered child minder, the parents of the children would sometimes ask me, as an early years professional, if I thought there was something wrong with their child( if had special needs). I always tried to give an honest answer, but was also tactful in the way I replied. One particular…
The package arrived in a bright purple wrapping; which immediately got the attention of the local children who were playing outside when the delivery driver walked down my driveway! Inside the package I was delighted to find 2 children’s books, 2 purple draw string pouches and some monivation cards . WALTER THE WIZARD AND THE…
The first thing that struck me about this hardback book is the colourful front cover. The book is beautifully written with lovely illustrations on every page. The text explains how the Earth, in which we live can have a calming effect on us, if we take the time to look: Therefore it would make a…
When thinking of a gift to buy for a newborn baby people often decide on a teddy bear or other cuddly toy/stuffed animal. Although these may look cute do they actually serve a purpose and benefit the child? The simple answer is yes: As well as being a comfort to a child, a cuddly toy…
This is a small selection of new children’s picture books from Austin Macauley publications. JACK’S MAGIC PYJAMAS: Jack’s parents are surprised when he asks for more brussels sprouts at dinner time, as usually he doesn’t eat them. Little do they know that Jack’s new pyjamas are magic and have sent him on an adventure. This…
Following on from last week’s post about the trips that I took the children on here. To keep the children safe I would carry out a risk assessment and make some preparations:- Firstly I had a piece written into my contracts asking parents for written consent allowing me to take their children out in my…
I was recently asked by a parent what her child will be expected to do before starting school. My answer was as all children are individuals and therefore different there are no set rules, as such. I suggest that a child should be toilet trained ( could be difficult for a child with special needs)…
When I was working as a resisted child minder, like most other child minders I looked after a variety of children of different ages, stages of development and some with special needs (often all at once). My favourite activities which can be enjoyed by everyone, with maybe a few adjustments to suit special needs are:-…
When I was working as a registered child minder I looked after a little girl who wore calipers on her legs to walk, she could only wear them for short periods as otherwise they made her skin sore. Her mother asked me to put them on and remove them throughout her time with me. …
As a child minder I was always looking for ways of entertaining the children that would be fun and educational at the same time. Sometimes, these activities meant that the children in my care would get a bit messy. One of these children would always arrive looking like she was wearing her ‘Sunday best’ and…
Anyone caring for a child under the age of 8 years who is not related to them and for any kind of reward, must become registered by Ofsted Early Years. Many people will think that by becoming a child minder their own children will suffer, however because child minders are self employed they can…
Another child minder (also called Karen!) has asked me for ideas that are suitable for the older children. She also child minds after school; however most of her activities and games are aimed at younger children. The older children that I looked after liked arts and crafts (especially the girls) Making dolls out of wool was a…
I first met Lulu with her mum when we were waiting to collect our children from school. When her mother discovered that I was a registered child minder she asked if I had a space for her daughter ( I did). Lulu’s mother asked me to treat her the same as I would any other…
I had never heard of this, until my sister, who works with special needs children, told me about it. Basically a playdough disco is a fun activity that uses playdough to encourage the movement of the hand and fingers to develop muscle control and fine motor skills more here It also helps to improve hand-to-eye…
My sister told me about this easy to make playdough recipe and as I have only one working hand, since stroke, I decided to have a go at making it from my wheelchair. Ingredients: 2 cups of flour ( any will do, even the cheap value one) half a cup of salt 3 tablespoons cooking…
Thea, a registered child minder has requested this post. Having an Ofsted inspection is a nerve racking time for any setting; but as child minders often work alone, it can be more worrying if you are the only person that the inspector will see/ask questions ( nurseries and pre-schools will have several members of staff…
I came across this company on social media:- All of the stones are hand painted by this growing company. I was sent 2 sets of stones for the review: Both sets arrived in a cute drawstring jute bag. Emotions: These are a set of 6 stones, which would be great for early years practitioners and…
This was a question that I was asked recently : As all children are individuals, the age that they can dress themselves will vary and a child with special needs could take longer to master the art than other children. On average, I would say that by around 3 years of age children should be…
Sockie stars are a new brand who make fantastic socks for children; these socks are special because they have capes that can be taken on and off with the attached Velcro strip. I was sent a box of sockie stars containing 3 pairs of brightly coloured children’s socks. and 6 capes. . Also included in…
I was sent the following new releases for review: PANCAKES IN THE MORNING: This sweet story is told through the eyes of a family of birds who discover and love the taste of pancakes. It is written by R. Towers and Eli Ramos has beautifully illustrated it. Pancakes in the morning retails at £10.99 BUT…
Children would learn and grow better in a happy and relaxed environment available at the educational and daycare centres. Parents often face challenges in selecting the right care and education centre for their young children. This important decision should be a well-informed one, so it is better to know precisely about the quality of child…
Tickle daggers is a rabbit who is different from the rest of his family; his ears hang down, rather than standing upright. But Tickle daggers has a special power – he helps others who are different to fit in and feel good. This amazing children’s picture book is written and beautifully illustrated by Adrienne Anifant…
Elizabeth, who is new to child minding, has asked for some ideas for teaching children about size. I have always had a height chart on my kitchen wall, it was a family tradition to measure my children the day before a birthday and see how much they grew that year. I remember once when my…
After watching a child have a major temper tantrum in a supermarket, a customer ( who was not the parent) told him to “Shut up!” Is it okay to discipline someone else’s child? I used to work as a registered child minder and therefore I had to manage the behaviour of the children in my…
5 Tips for Surviving Family Vacation I remember the chaotic days of our family’s seasonal vacations just like they were yesterday. Between my parents arguing over directions, my siblings crying and bickering over not sharing the electronic devices enough, or my granddad bringing up uncomfortable, and often times inappropriate, conversations about a distant relative…
New child minders and other early years practitioners are sometimes confused by early years jargon; hopefully this will explain:- OPEN ENDED QUESTIONS: These are questions that make children think about their answers, for example; when playing with children instead of asking questions that can be answered with a simple “yes” or “no” ask a…
The Second Baby’s on Its Way – What’s the Firstborn Going to Say? You’ve made up your mind and realised that it’s the right time to get the second baby. Now you need to prepare yourself and the rest of your family for the arrival of this new little being. You and your partner…
Most parents have a busy schedule—making lunches, attending school events, trying to juggle work and a social life. Where does the time go? More often than not, it’s spent playing catch up. Maybe you missed an appointment or forgot to do a few things around the house. To help you get back on track, and…
Debbie got in touch to ask if I would review her strength cards , after the success of my earlier review of my mood stars (for a friend of Debbie). She sent me a box of 24 cards and a cute session bag to keep them in. . The cards are:- playful, graceful and socible;…
When I was working as a registered child minder I was a member of the local child minding network meaning that I had to have some additional policies above that of an average child minder. I am convinced that this contributed to me being able to get an outstanding grade at my inspection. These were:…
When Wendy got in touch to ask if I would review this product I agreed instantly as it looked like a great resource for early years settings and as I was a child minder for many years, I know about such things. My mood stars were invented by Wendy White a former registered child minder…
Elizabeth has asked about this subject as she is new to child minding and therefore unsure how to approach these sensitive topics with the children in her care. When I was a child minder I borrowed toys from the toy library which was organised by the network coordinator there was a good supply of equipment…
A Family reunion is a major event that comes in every summer vacation, in which the members of the family comes altogether to celebrate. Having a family reunion takes time, commitment, and planning. The family reunion is perceived as a time for a vacation and family members want to enjoy a nice setting. Planning a…
Peep into a house party packed with teenagers, what you will see is an entirely different version of High School Musical. Teenage boys and girls taking recreational drugs and alcohol is a common view these days. It is probably due to the glamorization of such addictions in our movies. The one who uses drugs is…
Child care “or also known as “daycare”, a type of service which involves supervision activity of a child or a group of children by persons who have no personal relation to the child’s family. This is a very important and responsible service particularly for the parents of a modern nuclear family when both the parents…
When my youngest son came home from school and told me that he (along with the rest of this class) were learning some basic sign language using makaton a child’s version of British sign language (B.S.L.) I was inspired to also learn some because I was working as a child minder at the time so…
Melanie has suggested this weeks topic. One of my favourite messy play activities is what I call gloop (cornflour and water experiment) as this also covers science in the early years. Basically you mix lots of cornflour with water in a large vessel. I used to mix it in my grill pan as this allowed…
Harry started at Little Treasures quality child minding, when he was 2 years of age. I had previously cared for his older brother, Kelvin, until he left me to start school. Harry had initially been with another child minder, as I didn’t have a space for him, at the time ( there are very strict…
Susan, who has been a child minder for just over a year got in touch and asked if I could offer some advice on transition documents. There are many documents available to buy or download on the market, but I used to make my own using the computer. Basically they need to include the child’s…
Regular readers will be well aware that I worked as a registered child minder for 14 very happy years. years, I proudly managed to achieve an outstanding grade from Ofsted at my last inspection. Sandra has asked for some tips to enable her to get a similar result. I displayed some disability posters in my…
Many parents are under the impression that teaching their child to read is the responsibility of their child’s teacher. While this is true to a certain extent, there is a lot you can do to help as a parent. My eldest son started to recognize words from a very young age by the way they…