On the day that spells are traditionally being cast, five leading childminding organisations within the United Kingdom and Ireland have joined forces to launch a campaign that dispels some controversial childminding myths circulating within the childcare sector.
The Scottish Childminding Association (SCMA), the Professional Association for Childcare and Early Years (PACEY), PACEY Cymru, the Northern Ireland Childminding Association (NICMA), and Childminding Ireland are working together to highlight the essential work that professional childminders deliver whilst busting myths and promoting key facts about their childcare services.
Commenting on the launch of the campaign, Maggie Simpson, Chief Executive of SCMA said: “Early Learning and Childcare is continually changing. By 2020, in Scotland, families will be entitled to 1140 hours of funded childcare so now is the right time to do some myth busting surrounding childminders and the professional services they provide. Working from their own homes, childminders provide an unrivalled continuity of care, offering unique and flexible approaches to professional childcare whilst looking after small groups of children in a family setting. Childminders provide the best start if life for children and it is hoped that our myth busting campaign will lay to rest some common misconceptions about the essential childcare services they provide.”
The Childminding Myths campaign consists of a full colour brochure detailing specific myths together with the actual facts, and nine myth busting cards to be shared through social media to support the launch.
“There are many myths surrounding using a childminder for childcare which are totally unfounded,” said Claire Protheroe, National Manager for Wales, PACEY Cymru. “Negative assumptions about working in childcare can be frustrating for childminders, who know only too well the commitment and dedication that goes into the work they do. Whilst speaking as a peer group it was concluded that these frustrations and myths were common to us all. So, we joined together to develop a campaign that dispels childminding myths for those considering using a childminder.”
This campaign has huge relevance for Irish families and childminders as the country’s childminding sector is on the cusp of change and the Department of Children & Youth Affairs are working on an action plan for childminding. Bernadette Orbinski Burke, Chief Executive of Childminding Ireland explains ‘With an estimated 35,000 childminders working nationally, childminding is the cornerstone of the childcare sector. Parents, in their thousands, choose childminders, as they want a home-from-home environment for their children. We are pleased to be involved in this myth busting campaign. Childminding must get the recognition it deserves.’
Key myths that the campaign aims to dispel include:
•
Childminders are just babysitters, children just play and don't learn as much with a childminder
•
Childminders are not regulated or inspected
•
Childminders can look after as many children as they want at any one time
•
Childminders are unqualified
•
Childminding is only for women
•
A childminder will replace the parent/s in a child's affection
•
A childminder works for me (the parent)
•
I can't use a childminder to help with childcare costs
On each fact card the myth is stated, for example:
Childminders are just babysitters, children just play and don't learn as much with a childminder. Underneath this statement is the fact to dispel the myth, for example:
Play is an essential ingredient to support children to think and make sense of the world around them. The value of play is understood by childminders who will have a daily routine in place to ensure children's learning and development needs are being met. This includes a range of stimulating activities, including creative play, messy play, outdoor play, reading, storytelling, role play and music. Childminders may take children on regular trips; depending on the hours a child attends a setting; and participate in groups and activities within the local area.
Each card highlights the logos of the five leading childminding organisations who are supporting the campaign in the United Kingdom and Ireland.
CLICK HERE to view the childminding myths and follow it on social media using #childcarechampions #ChildmindingVoices #childmindingmyths.