Emily

My Requirements

I work from home 3 days a week, in the office Wednesday and Thursday. Ideally, I'm looking for full time childcare. When I am in the office, I work from 9-4, when working from home I work from 8-4 on Monday and Tuesday, and 8-3 on Friday. My start times are flexible, where I can start anytime from 7-10am, and finish anytime after 3 (Fridays allow for early finishes at 12pm). However, my work week needs to be 37 hours so 8 hour days are necessary and my preference is set out above. I am still in discussion with my son's father about coparenting schedules so my childcare needs may change.

I'm looking into cleaning service options; I feel that a weekly clean, and one monthly clean would work best for me but I'd like to understand my options and hear professional recommendations at this stage. It would likely be a 2-3 bedroom apartment.

About my son:
My son is 2, he's really good with movement and physical skills (climbing, jumping, forward rolls, running, etc...), he was a little behind in talking but suddenly decided he does want to talk and has made a lot of progress over the last two months. He taught himself to forwards roll and can usually be seen rolling around any soft area (mattress, couch, etc).

He has eczema, which needs to be managed carefully - currently we use creams and scratch sleeves - otherwise he will scratch until he bleeds, and won't stop without intervention.

He is very sweet, intelligent, and has interest in reading and bluey. But he does enjoy (play)fighting - we accidentally encouraged pillow fights and while we're trying to teach him to be more gentle and when to stop - he has a mischievous energy and loves this type of play; he hasn't been in a nursery environment before, and this might be a behaviour to keep an eye out for because he has a real mean right hook. And when he gets over-excited he bites. This behaviour usually only occurs when he is in a playful mood, and isn't aggressive or anger-motivated.

Ideal environments:
I am looking for active childcare, with lots of visits outdoors, or messy play. He is still a little behind on talking, despite massive progress recently, however reading and interaction is something I am looking for to help him.

With his eczema, he needs to be prevented from scratching often so there must be resources to support him (i.e someone is able to intervene quickly). It would be comforting to me if there was someone knowledgeable about eczema.

I am not looking for childcare where tv is used frequently, or providers do not engage with the children, my son is very active and this will not work for him.

At home, we use gentle-parenting techniques such as natural consequences. We have taught him that he has a right to say no, and that his opinion does matter. However, decisions he makes have consequences. When he displays bad behaviour, we don't shout or hit, but we are firm and we will give 1 warning with the consequence if he continues, and follow up with that consequence if needed - either move/stop play or place him in 'timeout' for 5 seconds - we do not prevent him from leaving timeout, but if the bad behaviour is repeated once again he is placed back. Therefore, I am looking for fairness, with a similar consequence style. I do not feel comfortable with discipline or authoritarian style childcare. I am also not comfortable with passiveness; if he play fights with another child, and they say no but he continues, I would expect for him to have a fair consequence.

I am not comfortable with his face being posted online or anything identifiable being posted.

Please let me know if there is anything I have forgotten to include, this is my first time setting up childcare and I'm unsure how much information is needed.