Setting up your own childminding business can be hugely rewarding—financially, emotionally, and as a career-move. Here are just some of the many benefits of becoming a childminder.
Spending time with your own children
Many people go into childminding so they can spend time at home with their own children while they are still little. The alternative—going back to work and paying for separate childcare—often doesn’t make financial sense. As a childminder, you can look after your own kids alongside other children, though you need to bear in mind that this will impact on your Ofsted care ratios.
Working from home
Another benefit of being a childminder is that you are able to work from home. That means no commute, and during the day you can take the children to play outside in green spaces and explore the local community. Many childminders say that this freedom is one of the best bits of their job alongside the ability to pick and choose their favourite activities to do with the children—whether that’s arts and crafts, baking, or miniature theatre!
Set your own working hours
As a childminder you are free to set your own working days and hours. Some childminders decide to take Fridays off each week to spend with their own children, and it is also fairly common to open only during term time if you mainly care for school-age children. That said, although you have freedom to choose your working times, you will need to be sure that you match your availability to parents’ needs. For instance, there is little point in offering to care for children 2 hours each day when working families need all-day care.
Financially rewarding
Childminders can earn more than most people expect. Running childminding business, you could earn up to £70,000 a year in inner London. Childminding an opportunity to create a profitable long-term business.
Helping children to grow
Last, but definitely not least, as a childminder you have the opportunity to introduce children to the world and help them grow into happy and confident young people. Many childminders talk about the strong emotional bonds they develop with the children they look after, and the sense of pride and reward they feel as the children grow older.
Interested in becoming a childminder?
