Paying grandparents for childcare

Happygran do you manage childminding?...I'm a qualified teacher so familiar with the rules etc OFSTED.. my daughter has often suggested I take in other kids to earn ...but reckon it would be so hard work for me now...although like you unfortunately find ourselves at this age with debt

I have mixed feeling as my husband and I are registered childminders and work together and we need every penny we earn because we are in a lot of debt.

We are limited to the number of children we can care for by Ofsted so if we gave a free place for a grandchild we would be out of pocket and find it very hard to manage, yet at the same time I would feel terrible about charging for my own flesh and blood.

Not a nice position to be in.

I can't afford materialistically to spoil my 2 very young granddaughters but I can give time freely which is of more value than purchased items. They will have memories of the times spent.....ipods, ipads etc etc will be long gone in the bin

misunderstood I agree 100% with your principles but some of us would welcome a token amount ...can't work because we're doing this to help our kids...still have bills to pay myself...not all unfortunately in your financial situation where it can be offered for free...

We look after our 2 grandsons full time as both their parents are teachers. I love the fact that I am helping my daughter and son-in-law to better themselves so that they can give my grandsons the best in life. It is not a chore it is a privilege and I feel honored that they trust us to look after them.

Although I have loved looking after my GS after being made redundant and looking for work, now really need to get a job and trying to fit it into our routine. So it would solve so many problems for us all if I could get some help, would love to spoil him with buying stuff but spoil him by doing lots of fun things instead.

My deceased MIL would only child mind if I paid her. My youngest is 43 now.

Message deleted by Gransnet.

pompa it is a strange phenomenon that grandmothers are drawn to shops that cater for babies and young children! I thought it was just me and am relieved to know it is obviously beyond my control!

bay ??? = baby

That would be a waste of time - you would just go out and buy something for your GC. Mrs. P cannot pass a bay shop without being magically drawn in.