Kirsty Currie - childminding

With increasing online safety concerns and the rapid development of AI and image-sharing technologies, it is more important than ever to protect children’s digital identities and prevent potential misuse of images. Although I have accepted parents signed consent in the past to share their childs image, the children themselves are unable to consent to a lasting imprint being created for them. Going forward you will still see little hands and back of heads giving a glimpse into our little world🥰
I will continue to share updates, activities, and special moments in ways that celebrate what we do while keeping all children safe and protected.

Here's a glimpse at how weve spent our week

*Pictures showing childrens faces will still be shared via the secure Famly app that only those enrolled in the service can access ❤️

Learning all about colours through play and a variety of activities 🌈

In a childminder setting, having mixed-age groups brings lots of positives. Children naturally learn from each other – the younger ones copy and are inspired by the older children, while the older ones build confidence, patience and empathy by helping and leading. It feels more like a real family environment, where children learn to share, take turns and respect different abilities. Mixed ages also encourage cooperation rather than competition, and activities can be easily adapted so everyone is included at their own level. Overall, it helps children feel secure, valued and part of a caring little community.

Updated childhood immunisation program

As we open back up after the Christmas break, we need to remind ourselves we are still in the depths of winter. A time for slower living, taking time to enjoy cozy moments, noticing the changes to nature and slowly getting back into a routine ❄️

🧠💬 Men in Childcare & The Reality of Childminding in 2025

So… my husband is in the process of registering as a childminder so he can work alongside me—and wow, the reactions have been eye-opening.

His male friends? Shocked. Some couldn’t believe he was “giving up” his career to do this. Others asked if he was “just helping out” or “babysitting.” And it made me wonder… is it because he’s a man, and they still see childcare as “women’s work”? Or is it because he’s highly educated, and they don’t see childminding as a real profession?

Either way, it’s been a fascinating mirror to hold up to society’s assumptions.

💡 Even my husband admitted he was surprised by how much training is involved. Despite watching me work for 7 years, he hadn’t realised the depth of what goes into being a registered childminder. Now he’s got a whole new respect for the role—and even said he feels guilty for ever seeing it as glorified babysitting.

Because here’s the truth: Childminders wear every hat imaginable. We’re educators, caregivers, policy writers, accountants, marketers, safeguarding leads, play facilitators, emotional anchors, and community connectors. We manage relationships with children, families, local authorities, and inspectors. We plan learning, track development, respond to trauma, and adapt to every need that walks through our door.

And we do it with heart, skill, and professionalism.

👨‍👧‍👦 So yes—men can be childminders. And they should be. Because children benefit from diverse role models. Because care isn’t gendered. And because the more we elevate the profession, the more we challenge outdated stereotypes.

To every man considering a career in early years: You are welcome. You are needed. You are capable. And to every childminder—regardless of gender—thank you for the invisible work that keeps our communities thriving.

Let’s keep changing the narrative. 💚

🍄national mushroom day🍄

We found lots of different fungi on our walk today 😍 we enjoy looking at the different colours, shapes and sizes 🍄

🤎🤎🤎

Today we found where the fairies live 🍄

Children don't need screen time, they need to be bored, to become active, to create ❤️

..when we hand our children phones we steal their boredom from them. As a result, we are raising a generation of writers who will never start writing, artists who will never start doodling, chefs who will never make a mess of the kitchen, athletes who will never kick a ball against a wall, musicians who will never pick up their aunt's guitar and start strumming. -Glennon Doyle Melton