Childminders make exceedingly choosy house buyers …

We are currently at the ‘estate agents grappling wildly for our custom’ stage – dipping a tentative toe in the local market.

As a minimum I need lots of parking, a downstairs loo - for me as much as for the children (see previous ‘running’ entry), a downstairs office (my kitchen cupboards are currently being taken over by Ofsted-related files, and my kitchen table - once swept of the dreaded playdough - doubles as office space), a super-mega-sized playroom, a really good-size level garden accessible from the playroom (some mature trees would be nice - but not lleylandi), a kitchen with room for a big table (so we can do cooking and drawing and sticking and stuff), lots of sunshine and natural light (children are like plants), and laminate or lino flooring (children are also like puppies).

Oh … and I do have a budget you know … so please sell this house for a small fortune and find me a cheapo bargain to the above spec …

Then I can have some real fun in the Early Learning Centre.

And I’m sorry, Mr. Estate Agent, for bleaching your jacket.

Scotland was in a mysteriously beautiful, damp and atmospheric mood ...

Soft mists revealing teasing glimpses of snow capped mountains and boggy lochs.

We followed the road west from Inverness and over the mountain pass towards Applecross, to its friendly inn for Mother’s day lunch.

Local ale, haddock and chips, and creamy, oaty cranachan to die for.

We waved, like tourists and small children do, to the skiers and boarders from the railway on the way up and down Cairn Gorm.

The accomplished ones waved back at us.

We were invited to join a group of wee, local children in toasting marshmallows on sticks in a smoky forest hut.

We saw mewing baby reindeer - and dark, shadowy monsters in the ripples across Loch Ness.

And sipped single malt whiskeys with romantic expertise.

We are going to Scotland to visit my sister ...

James has just remembered something very important about flying in aeroplanes:

"When the aeroplane goes up, up, up - like this (flapping arm actions) - we need to put sweeties in our ears, don’t we mummy?”

An old lady, alone, hard of hearing and sight ...
Lies awkwardly in her hall where she fell.
She is cold, lying in a wet nightdress, embarrassed and confused.
Frightened, rheumy eyes and grasping fingers.
We hoist her, creaking, upright.
And help her to her bathroom.
Reveal her sallow folds, and change her.
Give dignity and privacy where we can.
We shout – we have to.
And repeat, repeat.
She cries over her soiled carpet as we help her back into bed.
We tuck her in.
Like a baby.
Like the baby she once was.
With peachy, pink bottom and chubby legs,
And eager, sparkling eyes.

Last night was quieter …

It’s highlight being the cuddle I enjoyed from an adorable 8mth old baby boy, and then the girly-chat with his lovely mum en-route to hospital.

Barging loudly, and less adorably, into my quiet bedroom this afternoon was my own 13yr old son.

He said he was looking for the Hoover.

The Hoover??

Now I really do need to lie down.

I had been hoping - working alone again - for a quiet shift, feet-up on station, watching late night OUTV ...

‘Beep, beep, beep’

Call dispatcher at 0030hrs – “We’ve got an RTA for you, rollover, four persons trapped”.

(Nearest back-up 25 miles of B road away)

Bang went that plan.

And … One wash load, one dryer load, one dishwasher empty, one bin empty, a work surface wipe, a trip to take kids to school/childminder, and a dog’s breakfast and bedding change later …

Did I say no housework?

Who was I trying to fool?

From tonight I will be working 4x10 hour ambulance night shifts ...

I will come home crumpled each morning, hiding my eyes from the brightness, and sleep deliciously until mid afternoon.

No alarm clocks, no housework and no children.

A holiday!

Chicken-free nuggets from today’s childminder’s drop-in …

A dietician visited us today to present information and advice specific to the needs of pre-school children (aged one and over)

In brief:

Adult dietary advice does not apply equally to rapidly growing and developing under fives.

What they require instead is an equally balanced diet but with the addition of more full-fat milk/yoghurt and less wholewheat, fibre-packed bread/pasta/rice products than adults.

Their digestive system is not mature enough to cope with large amounts of fibre.

A ‘5 a day’ fruit/veg portion size would be proportionally less than that for an adult.

Snacks should be of nutritional value – not empty calories.

Sweet treats are best given immediately following meals.

Avoid nuts – both whole and chopped.

Water and milk are far better than squashes and juices as between meal drinks.

Ditch bottles after the age of one.

Fruit Shoot is the devil’s beverage.

Taking Care of Ourselves …

Is the title of our new broad monthly topic.

Effective hand washing, cleaning our own teeth, brushing our own hair, and wiping our own bottoms are learned skills requiring coordination and understanding of ‘why’ and ‘how’.

They can take a LOT of practice before becoming second nature.

Almost 4 years ago my son was delivered by urgent Caesarian at 33 weeks gestation.

I spent 2 tearful and anxious weeks shuffling between my bed on the Transitional Care ward and Neonatal Intensive Care where he lay in his incubator in a quiet, dimly lit room.

Kind and gentle nurses watched over him 24hrs a day.

It was a fragile time.

Yesterday I assisted in the incubator transport, to the exact same place in the unit, of someone else’s baby daughter.

It brought back lots of grateful memories.

Sweepstake last week at the childminder’s drop-in group …

There are lots of Spring brothers and sisters due.

Bets have been flying in a pocket note-book.

Three weighty bumps and four lots of stats to predict for each bump – date of delivery, time of delivery, sex and weight of baby.

At £1 per guess plus £1.50 for tea and biscuits it was an expensive morning.

Tonight I was handed my winnings for the first baby in a plain white envelope.

Just enough for a nice bunch of flowers for my mum next Sunday (Mother’s Day).

A little knowledge can be a frightening thing ...

When I first sent my son to his childminder the one thing that worried me more than any other was the subject of Child Protection.

Like all parents I had heard stories of children being removed from homes, or of parents being forced to move out, whilst investigations - subsequently unfounded - take place.

It scared the pants off me.

I was terrified by the thought of someone with very little training zealously examining my child for signs of abuse, ready to call in social services at every bruise they discovered.

When I became a childminder I based my Child Protection policy on those feelings.

CHILD PROTECTION
"As a registered childminder my first priority is the safety and protection of all children entrusted to my care.
Child abuse is a very sensitive subject but one that I must nonetheless address.
I am aware through training of the signs of child abuse and neglect, and it is a condition of my registration that any information I may have, regarding possible abuse of any child in my care, be reported by following the local area child protection committee procedures.
I keep my own secure records which must be available for Ofsted to inspect at any time, and I will ask parents/carers to sign a form to acknowledge, and to describe the cause, of any pre-existing injury that their child may arrive with.
This is for the protection of everyone with regard to any possible suspicions/allegations of abuse.
I also have a strict procedure to follow in the event of being myself accused of causing deliberate harm to any child in my care.
I am an experienced mother of four myself and my children have had numerous bumps, grazes and even the occasional fracture whilst growing up.
I would like to reassure you that I do not go looking for signs of abuse where none exist, and would only break confidentiality if there were overriding reasons for me to do so."

Tonight I tried, alone, to resuscitate an 82 year old lady ...

A sudden collapse.

When you are working on a patient efficiency is paramount.

There is little room for emotion.

The emotion wells as you sit afterwards - surrounded by faded black and white photographs of a smiling gap-toothed girl, Technicolor wedding portraits of a beautiful bride and a once handsome (now bowed and broken-hearted) groom, cheeky-looking grandchildren and great-grandchildren in their school uniforms.

An unwanted guest in an unfamiliar living room - brimful of a lifetime of precious family memories.

“She’s NOT a character – she’s a REAL person …”

Does anyone know who ‘Stephanie’ is?

Because James (nearly four) is in love with her.

He has asked his daddy (because “daddy’s got a tool-box”) in an angst-ridden way to “take the glass off the TV so I can go and play with her” and says he wants her to come to his house so he can “love and cuddle her”.

Yikes - they are starting earlier and earlier.

Personally I blame the goat.

A lovely little boy who I care for frequently is travelling soon on a very exciting holiday with his grandparents.

Today was his last day with us for a few weeks.

We went again to our favourite farm park and cuddled guinea pigs and a pregnant mouse “with a tickly tail”.

We all had a hand-warming go at milking a very sweet, patient and tough-uddered goat.

A large group of nursery aged children with their carers made quite a contrast to the three of us.

The troop of nursery children had to be shooed on, open-mouthed, as they filed past the large trampoline that my two boys were leaping around on - full of envious desire to join in their bare-footed, bouncing fun.

We did have an ‘incident’ in the café though – when one of my mischievous boys suddenly decided to attempt to drink from a pepper shaker and then wiped his eyes in his peppery sleeve.

Let’s just say he won’t be trying that trick again in a hurry.

Nothing beats learning from your own mistakes!

Today we made get well cards for my husband who is in hospital following an emergency operation.

The children’s little faces were so serious as they made their cards and then dictated what they wanted me to write inside for them.

“Be kind to J. Don’t, don’t, don’t touch J’s tummy – he’s got a poorly tummy, he might say ‘ow!’

“Are you in a doctor bed?”

"Have you got blood on you?”

He will smile when he sees them but his stitches will certainly make him say ‘ow!’ if he laughs too much.

There was a stage-school style scrap in the back of the car today

One minute there I was driving along happily with us all singing ‘Old McDonald’ in perfect (cough) harmony …

Then … shout, biff, wallop, pull, yell … total anarchy in the farmyard.

And all because …

One child was particularly enjoying being a pig and oinked for a bit longer than the other one thought was right for the song.

Dem bones, dem bones …

Random observation of a nearly four year old boy – “If we don't have bones our skin will fall down won't it?”

Me – “Yes, that's right - we need our bones to help us stand up straight and move around.”

Nearly four year old boy – “Have you got bones?”

Me … (thinking - “I know I’m old but I’m not THAT saggy”) – “Yes, I have bones too. All people have bones. We also have big curved bones covering our heads to protect our brains.”

Nearly four year old boy – “What’s brains?”

Me – “Your brain is what you use to think with and it is very important”.

Nearly four year old boy … (looking scared) – “I don’t like brains. I want to take it out”

Me – “We can’t take it out”

Nearly four year old boy … (plays trump card) – “Whyyyyyyyyy?”

I have now ordered a model skeleton from a medical supplier.

It will delight and/or terrify him.

I just hope it comes with a manual.

“The broccoli tree did it …”

Said my 3yr old son today - on emerging from bushes with a grazed hand after catching it on a prickly branch.

How do you plan your activities? …

This is another question that parents have asked me, and that I know I will also certainly be asked by Ofsted at my next inspection.

I provide care for under fives, and also - at weekends and during school holidays - for slightly older children who have special living and/or learning needs.

I am not open every day, and I often have short notice bookings for periods of 3-4 hours only whilst parents study, swim/visit the gym, or take time for important meetings etc

So – how to plan for that?

Well, I look ahead weekly to see which children are booked to attend and on what days, and I make an outline of activities - that would suit each individual child - that we could enjoy and that would fit in alongside our regular routines of ‘early morning music and movement’, ‘outdoor play’, snack and meal times, any other planned regular sessions e.g. toddler group, and the necessity sometimes to be here for when other children arrive.

Many children who have autism like a very predictable routine and may become distressed if they are not provided with the opportunity to complete all their most favourite activities whilst in my care.

Young children and babies develop fast. I refer to their picture development files to remind me of what stage they were at the last time I cared for them. This allows me to plan activities which may be suitable for them to enjoy based on their current age and stage of development.

Three and four year olds are wonderful and full of their own ideas for what they would like to do. If you listen to them and observe them in their conversations and small world play then their current interests become obvious and it can be fun to then surprise them by planning activities that you just know they will love, or to let them suggest to you what they would like to do so that they become involved in their own activity planning.

In our playroom we have a big tub full of Brio railway and another big tub full of Duplo bricks …

The latest game is to randomly and noisily empty the contents of both tubs then climb into one each and pretend to be pirates in pirate ships sailing upon a sea of mixed Brio and Duplo.

Don’t you just love them!

I have recently purchased a season ticket for Pennywell Farm which entitles two adults and three children to unlimited entry to all the fab facilities listed on their website.

It is a very friendly farm park set in a beautiful spot high in the South Hams, with lovely views of the rolling hills.

It is a perfect place for pre-school children as the staff are so welcoming and inclusive in their attitudes.

We have already visited three times with several children and they are all asking to go again. Sometimes with the children who have special needs a short visit is all we can manage - but with the season ticket that will not be a problem, as we can come again and again.

I think I will be packing lots of picnics this Summer.

A parent of a little boy I care for asked me the other day how I manage to find time to cook a proper, fresh meal at lunchtime ...

Well, apart from years of experience in cooking for a large family, I also have a very useful slow cooker which I often fill up with fresh stewing beef or chicken and fresh, organic vegetables before I go to bed. It makes delicious one-pot stews all ready to add to rice or pasta for our lunch the following day. The softness of the stews also makes them perfect for blending for babies to enjoy.

I have organic vegetables and fruit delivered weekly by Riverford.

I peel/cut/slice potatoes and other vegetables before the first children arrive in the morning.

It is really easy to make a cheesy, broccoli potato bake e.g. or to have a fresh ham cooking during the morning all ready to add salad or homemade oven chips to and the fantastic home cooking smells that waft from the kitchen as lunchtime approaches give security and routine to the children.

Today we had minced pork, leek, carrot and kidney bean stew with the children’s homemade bread. It took 15mins this morning - whilst the two boys were doing some colouring at the kitchen table and the baby was sorting coloured clothes pegs - to sweat the chopped leeks and carrots in olive oil, add the pork, then some vegetable stock, kidney beans and tomato puree and pop it in the conventional oven to slow cook for two hours whilst we carried on playing.

And when we came in from playing in the garden our warm kitchen smelt very welcoming and comforting.

An online children’s radio station - ‘Fun Radio’ …

Is proving very popular in the mornings for our wake-up sessions.

The older children love to listen carefully, watch me and concentrate on following instructions such as ‘crouch down small’, 'jump up tall’, 'clap your hands’ and ‘balance a sock on your head’ etc

Lots of catchy children’s songs and nursery rhymes are played including movie songs e.g. from Aladdin and other Disney movies and Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.

The station also has a regular lunchtime story slot which is really good for exercising little imaginations and encouraging listening skills.

I really recommend it.

I so love my house on bright, Spring days like today …

When crisp, morning light floods our playroom with colour as the children chase the fleeting silver spots that bounce from the hanging mirrored ball.

And sleepy, dusty, afternoon shafts of sunshine spill through our kitchen window and bathe our table activities and snack times in warmth.