8 Reasons To Choose A Career As A Childminder

Perhaps you often look after your younger cousins, brothers, or sisters. Or maybe you earn some extra cash through babysitting kids in your neighbourhood. Either way, you love looking after children, and you’re good at it too!

If this sounds like you, you should seriously consider a career in childcare. Childminders are skilled professionals who provide a vital service, and, generally speaking, love what they do.

Becoming a certified childminder can offer tremendous career satisfaction. It also offers regular work in a stable, high-demand industry. If you’re still not convinced, here are more good reasons to pursue a career as a childminder.

1. The Job is Very Rewarding

What’s better than shaping the next generation? As a childminder, you will take care of children, typically aged eight and below. Along with playing with the kids and keeping them entertained, you will also teach them about the world, how to behave, and generally how to be good humans.

You will see them grow physically, mentally, and emotionally, and build real connections with your charges. This makes childminding a truly rewarding profession. After all, this work is a vital contribution to society.

2. You Will Receive a Steady Income

Modern life can be hectic. Working parents need help to look after their children, often on a daily basis. This demand is only increasing, with more working parents looking for support. Many childcare centres are booked up months in advance, and they’re always looking for qualified childminders.

Therefore, a full-time childcare professional can easily generate a stable income. You can either find a position with an established childcare centre or start your own micro-enterprise. Either way, you’ll turn a fun job into a stable source of income.

3. Work From Your Own Home

Another benefit of becoming a childminder is the opportunity to work from home. You don’t necessarily need to work with a childcare centre and commute there everyday. Many childminders set up their own business working out of their homes.

You’ll need to have some paperwork in place and comply with annual checks by your local Health and Social Care Trust. You’ll then be able to enjoy all the benefits of running your own business from home.

4. Flexible Working Hours

Childcare professionals can generally choose the working hours that suit them. If you’re self-employed, you’ll be able to discuss your working hours with parents. On the other hand, if you’re employed by a childcare centre, you can usually negotiate shifts that suit you.

Most centres are open from early in the morning through to the evening, and some even on weekends, so there are plenty of options to make your shifts work for you! Either way, you’ll be able to set your working hours around your other commitments, and even balance your work with raising your own family.

5. Plenty of Job Opportunities

Childcare centres prefer candidates with prior experience in the field, and qualifications are usually an essential pre-requisite. Start with a childminding course for a reputable institution, and then build your experience from there. 

Moreover, becoming a childminder can prove beneficial for a wide range of childcare roles. From running your own business to becoming a day-care centre manager, starting this career path will unlock a wide range of opportunities in the childcare industry.

6. You Will Build Strong Relationships

As a childminder, you will build strong, trusting relationships with the children you look after. Furthermore, there are plenty of opportunities for networking with parents, colleagues, and other professionals in the industry. As you meet different people, the chances of building valuable relationships increase.

Parents will belong to a range of different professions, so there will be plenty of opportunities to leverage these connections. Notably, the connections will be genuine as you care for their children on a daily basis.

7. Possibility of Starting Your Own Business

Generally, childminders either work on their own or as an employee or contractor for a childcare centre. However, as you gain experience, you may want to start your own day-care facility. Childcare courses offer a wide array of training.

You will learn professional practices and theory, and gain experience with real-life applications. This combination will undoubtedly turn you into a well-equipped, professional childminder capable of starting a high-quality childcare facility.

8. In the End, It is Fun

You can always look at the financial and professional advantages of a career. However, job satisfaction is the most important factor of all. A career as a childminder is loads of fun. This job is fulfilling, exciting, and filled with fun. It will keep you on your toes, but you’ll go home happy at the end of the day. And after all, what’s more important than that?