Day out to celebrate Childminding Week

The first National Childminding week (October 19-23) honoured the hard work and close knit bonds that exist between childminders, parents and children, and was celebrated locally at Belvedere House and Gardens.

Michelle Grant, Childminding Development officer for Westmeath County Childcare Committee, was joined by several local childminders and their charges in the Fairy Garden at Belvedere.

Going through the small doorway to the magical alcove hidden in the back of the walled gardens, the sounds of laughter can grow louder on approach. Childminders and children are wandering among the statues and over the bridge in the centre of the garden enjoying the celebrations.

Michelle explained that it was just one stop on their day out; she, the childminders and the children had taken a walk by the lake beforehand, continued at the walled garden, and were finishing up in the visitor centre for pancakes and hot chocolate.

“It’s the first time ever,” said Michelle with a smile. “This hasn’t been done before and it’s just for all communities across Ireland, and this is our local celebration here in Westmeath.”

Michelle says the week will highlight the vital work childminders do and their necessity.

“It’s to emphasise the meaningful contribution that childminders make to a community and to parents, who without them, couldn’t go back to work.

“A lot of our parents choose childminding for that reason, that homely environment, that one-to-one, that caring.

“And really childminders are like an extension of a family for many parents because of that close relationship with that one consistent carer, so that’s the big thing today.

“It’s really important they’re acknowledged for all contributions they make and we just feel it’s invaluable and you have –and they have – a unique relationship with the children, and, at the end of the day, they are taking care of the most precious thing in a parent’s world.” Michelle has been campaigning for a week dedicated to childminders for years and is delighted to see it happen.

“I started this job seven years ago when we did the draft regulations for childminding. It took the regulations to come in for all of this to come to fruition.

“A lot of the other jurisdictions have had it for years but, we never have, so it’s lovely to get a wee bit of a budget that we’re able to do something nice for the childminders to acknowledge their contribution.” Another important point Michelle makes is that the bond between childminders and the children they care for often lasts into the child’s adulthood.

“The girls here today will tell you a lot of their children, even when they go to university, when they return home, they come and visit them, because a lot of the kids start with them for maybe nine months a year, the whole way through, maybe until they go to secondary school.”

“It’s all about celebrating their professionalism and their dedication,” said Michelle.