Childminder’s Job Description: What Does a Childminder Do
Childminder’s Job Description: What Does a Childminder Do
A pilot childminding service in Singapore is now available for kids aged between two months and 18 months.
According to the Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF), the Early Childhood Development Agency (ECDA) will appoint operators, which will in turn engage childminders.
The childminder will provide infant care within their own home or at community centres or community clubs. But, what exactly are the duties and job description of a childminder? Here’s a quick summary.
Childminders care for babies and children, typically up to age 16, usually in their own homes.
Work Description
- Ensure the safety and well-being of children.
- Provide essential care: diaper changes, feeding, bathing.
- Offer emotional support, creating a secure and happy environment.
- Foster learning through play, books, and toys.
- Organise outings to parks, playgroups, and other activities.
- Adhere to parents' wishes regarding routines, diet, and religious beliefs.
Pay
- Childminders are self-employed and set their own rates. However, they may also be working under childminding companies like NannyPro and Kidibliss.
- Childminding services cost around S$1,200 to S$2,800 per month, varying according to the type of childminding arrangement. Most childminders offer reduced rates for multiple children from the same family.
Conditions
- Typical schedule: Childminders can set their own hours to some extent, but flexibility is crucial. May include early mornings, afternoons, and evenings, especially with pre-school and school-age children.
- Childcare limits: Up to three infants at any one time under the pilot scheme in Singapore.
- Age preferences: Childminders may choose to specialise in specific age groups.
Skills Needed
- Experience: Previous experience with children is highly valued.
- Education:
- Diploma in Early Childhood Development & Education
- Diploma in Early Childhood Care & Education - Teaching
- WSQ Professional Diploma in Early Childhood Care and Education - Teaching (PDECCE - T)
- WSQ Professional Diploma in Early Childhood Care and Education - Teaching (Chinese) [PDECCE – T (CL)]
- Advanced Certificate in Early Years (ACEY)
- WSQ Advanced Certificate in Early Years (ACEY)
- WSQ Advanced Certificate in Early Years – Chinese (ACEY-CL)
WSQ Higher Certificate in Infant Care (HCIC) - WSQ Higher Certificate in Infant Care - Chinese (HCIC-CL)
- Essential skills
- Practical and organised.
- Understanding of child development.
- Warm, friendly, and supportive.
- Interest in early childhood education.
- Ability to interact effectively with children.
- Multitasking and managing multiple children.
- Calm demeanor and patience.
- Responsibility and confidence.
- Good-to-have skills
- Imagination and initiative.
- Ability to handle emergencies.
- Understanding of diverse cultures and parenting styles.
Roles & Responsibilities of a Childminder in Singapore
Each childminder can care for up to three infants at any one time under the pilot scheme in Singapore. Let’s take a closer look at their duties and responsibilities.
Duty #1: Provide daily care & supervision
Childminders will perform essential tasks such as feeding, diapering, and toileting. For instance, preparing age-appropriate meals like introducing solids or using baby-led weaning techniques as well as assisting older children with using the toilet.
ECDA will conduct background checks on childminding operators and require them to meet certain service requirements, such as putting in place guidelines on practices to keep the child safe and ensuring that the childminder is trained in areas such as basic infant care and first aid.
Duty #2: Plan & implement educational activities
Childminders also play a vital role in fostering children's development.
To occupy the kids throughout the day, engaging and stimulating activities are often planned to stimulate cognitive, social, emotional, and physical development. For instance, babies can look forward to sensory play with different textures and materials, art and crafts, music and movement activities, and language development games like storytelling and reading.
Beyond the home or community space, childminders can broaden their young charges’ social horizons through outings to parks and playgrounds. Encouraging children to try new things and participating in these activities can help the kids discover the world around them as well as boost their confidence and self-esteem.
Duty #3: Maintain a safe & nurturing environment
Besides providing the basic care and planning educational activities, what else does a childminder do?
They also create a positive and inclusive environment where children feel safe, respected, and valued. This involves establishing an enriching daily routine for the kiddos in their care, which allows children to understand what to expect throughout the day.
For example, consistent mealtimes, nap schedules, and playtime routines all help to promote a sense of comfort and predictability.
Duty #4: Provide daily updates
Lastly, open communication is essential for a successful childminding experience.
Childminders in Singapore should provide regular updates to parents on their child's day, including information about meals, naps, activities, and any significant events. Any concerns or issues raised by parents must be addressed promptly and professionally.
Benefits of Childminding Childminding offers several unique benefits for both kids and parents as compared to infant care in a preschool. Under the pilot scheme in Singapore, each childminder can care for up to three infants, allowing for more personalised care and attention, compared to the higher stipulated staff-child ratio of 1:5 for infant care in a preschool. A childminder can provide individual attention and tailor their approach to meet the individual needs of each child, such as personalised feeding schedules, providing extra comfort during naptime, or offering different levels of support during playtime.
For children who are more likely to get anxious, a smaller, home-based setting can promote a better sense of comfort and security. Familiar settings help alleviate separation anxiety and allow them to feel more at ease when away from their parents. The consistent routines and personalised attention provided by a childminder can also help to reduce anxiety levels and create a sense of predictability and stability.
Childminding is also pretty flexible. Parents can choose the number of days a week they need help and opt for more flexible hours, compared to infant care centres where children are left there for a fixed period of time. This can be invaluable for parents with unpredictable work schedules or those who need to adjust their childcare arrangements on short notice.
Lastly, childminding is a more cost-effective solution for parents who only require the service a few times each week. When you enrol you bub to infant care, you typically pay a fixed price. However, parents who only require childminding care for selected days a week will only need to pay for the blocks of hours used. Even better, government subsidies are also available for care provided in five-hour or 10-hour blocks between 7am and 7pm from Mondays to Fridays, excluding public holidays.
The Bottom Line
Childminders offer a loving and nurturing environment for your child, which is a valuable alternative to traditional infant care settings. On top of that, they also provide essential daily care and engage the kids in stimulating play activities to support their overall development.
If you're a parent seeking more personalised care and flexibility, a childminder may be an excellent choice to consider. Alternatively, a professional nanny from a confinement nanny agency is also an option. They can provide invaluable support with infant care, assist with light household chores, and meal preparation, allowing mothers to focus on bonding with their baby.
Read our confinement nanny vs childminder article to learn more about the differences between these two options.
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