Nowadays, many parents can no longer afford the luxury of staying home with their child all day. This is often solved by placing the children with loving grandparents or at a daycare center. However, a childminder family can be a very good alternative that is often ignored. Shelter in an ordinary household.
How does childcare work?
There are many childminder families in the Netherlands who look after someone else’s children for (a number of) days. The requesting parents and the host parents are linked through a mediation agency. These childminders are therefore usually under the supervision of recognized mediation agencies, so that the quality of the childminder families can be guaranteed. For example, childminders must meet certain (fire) safety requirements, they must regularly take first aid courses and attention is paid to the pedagogical aspect of the work. The childminder takes care of the child in his or her own home, which is equipped for the presence of children.
What are the benefits of childminders?
Unfortunately, many parents ignore the possibilities and benefits of childminders when looking for childcare. In contrast to a daycare center, the children are usually under the care of a childminder, who knows the child inside and out. However, the biggest advantage of this construction is for the child himself. This does not have to do with a changing occupancy, each with their own customs, as is often the case at daycare centers. The parent also has an advantage in this regard, as he/she only has to communicate once what is going on in the child’s life or what he/she does or does not appreciate when it comes to his/her child. Unfortunately, it still often happens at daycare centers that the various teachers are insufficiently aware of issues raised by parents. In short, the child itself is the center of attention.
In addition to the individual aspect, childcare has other benefits for both parent and child, such as:
- There are no specific opening hours, which means that this form of childcare is also suitable for parents with irregular shifts
- While a daycare center will approach the parents at the first cough, rash or raised temperature with the request to pick up the child due to illness, most childminders do not make illness a problem at all. The child is in a familiar environment and the parent can still go to work despite an unpleasant case of chickenpox.
- The costs of this form of childcare are simply eligible for a contribution to childcare via the tax authorities
- Clear agreements can be made with the childminder about childcare
Are there also disadvantages to childcare?
Of course, there are cases in which things do not click in the relationship between childminder, parent and child. In that case, consultation can always be held and, in extreme cases, another form of childcare can be sought, either within the circle of childminders of the childminder agency, or another form of childcare.
Another point that is considered a disadvantage by some parents is that the child is not kept busy with all kinds of activities all day long. After all, the child is cared for in a homely environment and normal household duties are performed by the childminder. This means that it is not possible to undertake an activity every day, such as at a daycare center. However, there are also parents who do not see this as a disadvantage but rather as an advantage. Even at home, entertainment for the child would not be provided all day long, and in this way the parent can still perform these activities in their free time without the child getting the idea of having to do the same thing again. Moreover, several parents believe that these activities, especially for younger children, can be quite tiring, which in turn affects their own free time with the child at home.
View the options for childcare with a childminder family
In short, a childminder is a good alternative to childcare. Take it into consideration and visit a childminder at home, for a good conversation about the possibility, but also just once in a while when there are childminders present to get a good idea of this form of childcare. With all forms of childcare, it is always important that everyone involved feels good about the chosen option!