One of the biggest insults you can give a child minder is to call him/her a babysitter.
How many babysitters have a paediatric first aid certificate that is updated every 3 years, have full insurance and many qualifications often including an N.V.Q. level 3 in early years care and education?
Babysitters are often teenage girls hopping to earn some pocket money. Child minders are early years practitioners who actively encourage the children in their care to learn through play. They don’t (or I never did) sit in front of the television while the children are asleep upstairs. Read about a day in the life of a child minder in an earlier post.
Child minders also keep daily dairies and observations of the children which help with future planning of activities which will move the children onto the next level of development and learning
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Not quite the description of a typical babysitter. I am not criticising babysitters merely pointing out the differences. I did some babysitting when I was a teenager, I saw it as an opportunity to do my college homework in peace while getting paid. I got to know the boy that I was babysitting by taking him out for walks at the weekends, this was so that he would know who I was if he woke when his parents were out (he rarely did wake so this wasn’t an issue).
I would be interested to hear what others think of this.
As always questions/comments are welcome, please share on social media and let me know of any topic suggestions/ requests.
Until next time.
Karen
x
I have never thought of a childminder as a mere babysitter. Obviously not anyone can call themselves “a childminder” , it would surely be against the law. Interesting blog as usual Karen .
Thanks for your comment, you would be surprised at how many unregistered child minders there are, part of my role as a support child minder was to try to get everyone to register, being unregistered is asking for trouble x
I’m with you, I view childminders as qualified people who have the right qualifications and first aid training to look after my children! #KCACOLS
Iām about to have a childminder care for my daughter after Primary school ends. She seems lovely and as you say, well qualified. It will be interesting to see if she plans activities for the hour and a half she will be there. Never really considered the differences before.
Have a couple of awesome babysitters and one works as a TA too. #GlobalBlogging
Such a great post and you make so many good points. I’ve never had a childminder look after my kids but they go to nursery where the carers have to be just as qualified. I take my hat off to them for all they do for the kids! #kcacols
I was a babysitter in HS. I put the kids to bed and put on the TV. I was a nanny/childminder and was paid very well and DID MY JOB! I had activities and outings. I had a great time with this boy! #dreamteam
As I said, I am not having a go at babysitters nearly pointing out the differences for those who don’t know, thanks for your input x
Yes absolutely and agree wholeheartedly with you on this X #brilliantblogposts
My child minder is pretty much head of the family! I literally don’t know what we’d do without her.
I never knew this as I’ve never used a baby sitter or child minder, but thanks for sharing. Thanks for joining in with #ThatFridayLinky
I’ve not really heard of child minders. Interesting #KCACOLS
I’ve never thought of a childminder as a babysitter although I know of people who babysit during the day and call themselves childminders! In my mind they are two very different roles which, as you say, come with distinct differences in terms of qualifications, insurance, first aid knowledge and more. Thank you as always for sharing your thoughts with #Blogstravaganza š
I agree these are different roles entirely. Thanks for being with us on the #DreamTeam this week
Great really interesting viewpoint I must admit I have never looked at it this way Thank you for linking to #Thatfridaylinky please come back next week
I’d never really thought of it like this before but now you point out the differences I can see why it would be frustrating. Thanks for sharing with #TriumphantTales!
I was a babysitter as a teenager and would never assume that they were even remotely similar to childminders at all. I totally agree they are two completely different roles. Thanks so much for linking up at #KCACOLS. Hope you come back again next time
As a childminder myself I absolutely DETEST being called a ‘babysitter’ i dont think people realise how much work actually goes into it. Plus the added pressure of OFSTED! I see childminders as educators and a second family to a child while their parents work and provide for them. They provide safe, loving and engaging places for children to stay.
Totally agree on the second family bit, 2 of my child minded children still refer to me as their 2nd mum, 11 years after I stopped looking after them, Thanks for your comment
That’s really interesting. I would never have known this. Thanks for sharing. #AnythingGoes
I didn’t know that childminders were so qualified. WOW! Thanks for the insight! #globalblogging
I used to get roped in for babysitting as a teenager – and I’d forgotten all about it – I’m glad the children didn’t wake up either! Thanks for sharing with #PoCoLo
I used to get comments ‘oh you’re really good with children, you should babysit more often’ irritates the life out of me, i’m a qualified in Early Years and it’s hard work, a huge difference between being good to babysit and a career. Not knocking babysitters though, they still have to have a natural ability and a desire to learn. Thank you for linking with #pocolo
You’re so right but a parallel is that if they see each other regularly, the children and grown-up get to each other really well and build a bond. Not so much with a babysitter because generally the child is in bed at some point but you get my drift! #kcacols
I always learn something new when I visit your blog! I don’t know if I would ever call anyone a babysitter unless they were still at school #KCACOLS
Thanks Shan, that’s very kind x