Karen Ramplin

Childminder

The provision of my service, which I offer, requires knowledge and understanding, with professional values, skills and abilities, and a personal commitment to children. I feel children are unique individuals and you should be aware of how to work with a range of children with varying needs, which including understanding that children will have different dispositions with different ways of playing and learning, and understanding what additional support a child may need from time to time. I do feel that communication is an important tool when looking after children, but should be aimed at age appropriateness, which can be done by language, characters, stories, music and positive interaction with the child. I believe there are five different ways of providing provision for play, learn and development. These are: motor/physical play, social play, constructive play, fantasy play and games with rules. All these are addressed according to the play and development stages of ages. From Birth to 18-months I provide stimulating and educational activities like sight, sound, touch, taste and smell as these are the ways babies learn about the world. This is why the best infant toys are usually bright coloured noisemakers and provide pleasing effects for the child. 18 months to 3 years I provide provision action play games as toddlers are delighted when they are running, jumping and climbing, so a toy to ride and zip around is a sure hit whether it is a tricycle, bus or car. Three to six years children are provided with more imagination and interaction play roles, which includes play telephones, kitchen appliances, baby dolls and vehicles. Also, art materials are another favourite with most children this age group. I provide good, healthy and nutritious meals for the children in my care and encourage all the children to eat the ‘five servings of fruit and vegetables a day’. Through the provision of play, learning and development, with all these factors built in, we have ‘a happy child’.