Resources for Childminders

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    Guidance for Childminders: Understanding Children's Behaviour
    (Barnardos, 2020) Barnardos
    The early years are a critical period for all learning, in particular social-emotional learning. Childminders can play a central role in guiding children’s social and emotional development, supporting children to understand their emotions and develop their behaviour skills. To do this, you must first understand that children’s behaviour is an important way of communicating their emotions and their needs. By understanding the reasons for a child’s behaviour, and what it is they might be feeling, you will be able to respond in a positive rather than a reactive way, which will lead to better outcomes for the child. This resource aims to give you a better understanding of children’s behaviour and what it is that a child may be trying to communicate through their behaviour, and outlines how you can respond to this behaviour in an understanding way.
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    Guidance for Childminders: Stories and Storytelling
    (Barnardos, 2020) Barnardos
    People have been telling stories throughout history, long before we began writing them down. Telling stories is an important way to share and interpret experiences, and to help us to develop a better understanding of the world and the people in it. Stories teach us about life, about ourselves and about others. Children are never too young for stories and they have an innate love of stories that create magic and a sense of wonder at the world. Developing and maintaining a good relationship with the children you care for and doing all you can to support their wellbeing, learning and development is hugely important. Storytelling and story reading are among the most enjoyable ways to do this. Sharing stories is a really good way to spend quality time with the children you care for and to strengthen the bond they have with you, helping them to feel cared for and closer to you. This resource outlines how stories support children’s learning and development, and offers guidance on ways to engage children and make the most of the stories you tell them.
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    Guidance for Childminders: Providing for Play
    (Barnardos, 2020) Barnardos
    Play is of great importance to children, not only for the enjoyment and fun it affords, but also for the powerful contribution it makes to their learning and development. Everyone who cares for and educates children needs to recognise the value and importance of play, and the many benefits it offers. As a childminder, you are, along with parents, one of a child’s first teachers and a main supporter of their learning. You have an important role in creating the space and opportunities for their learning through play, and while the provision of play opportunities is not complicated or expensive, it does need some thought. This is especially important for the youngest children in your care. This resource highlights the value of play and offers guidance on how you can provide rich opportunities for children to experience high quality play, both indoors and outdoors.
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    Guidance for Childminders: Partnership with Parents
    (Barnardos, 2020) Barnardos
    As well as being important for a child’s wellbeing in the ‘here-and-now’, all of the relationships and experiences that young children have create the foundations for their future (Center on the Developing Child, Harvard). A child’s relationship with their parents as their first and most important carers and educators is their most significant. Childminders can also play a hugely important role in contributing to children’s learning, development, health and wellbeing. By working in partnership with parents, sharing knowledge and information, and making joint decisions, you can provide an environment in which babies, toddlers and older children are happy, feel they belong and can develop to their fullest potential. This guide will support you to develop open and honest partnerships with parents to work together in the best interests of the child.
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    Guidance for Childminders: Supporting Language Development
    (Barnardos, 2020) Barnardos
    The first three years of a child’s life are crucially important for their development, particularly their language development. Children’s language does not just develop on its own though. Babies and very young children need adults to encourage and support the development of their language and communication skills. As a childminder, it is important that you reflect on how your daily routines can be developed to help promote the speech, language and communication skills of the children in your care. The more stimulation babies and young children get, with you talking and reading with them, and listening and responding to their babbles, gestures and words, the better their language and literacy will be. This resource offers guidance on how you can ensure that children have the rich language experiences that they need in their earliest years.