Child Care

What questions should I ask a childminder?
It’s important that you trust your childminder and feel comfortable leaving your child in their care. You should feel able to ask them about themselves and their experience. Some of the questions you might want to ask are:

Can I see your registration and insurance certificates?
What training and experience do you have?
What hours do you normally work?
How much do you charge?
Do you charge overtime rates?
Are meals included? What kind of food do you prepare?
Do you have emergency cover arrangements with another childminder?
Who else is normally in the house when you look after children?
Do you smoke?
Do you drive?
Do you have pets?
Do you have a garden / pond?
How many other children do you look after?
What activities do you get the children to do?
How do you cope when the children are difficult?
Do you belong to The National Childminders Association?

Environment

The setting in which we experience the anger trigger can play a very important part in the emotional journey e.g. of someone bumping into you in different environments and the reaction you may have.

• A lively party (I might react with a humorous aside)

• A queue for a beach bar on a tropical island. (I might not even notice)

• In a corridor at work (I would expect an apology and be mad if I didn’t get one)

Culture

There are many factors to this. They range from the kind of country in which you were born to the ‘company culture’ you work in or the generation to which you belong. So the culture in which we were brought up and the culture in which you live will shape the kind of response you make to any threat, hurt or frustration. In fact your culture may influence whether you notice a trigger.

Breathe

Before responding verbally or taking any further action use a breathing exercise to calm your racing pulse. Once your internal tension has subsided and you are sure that you are in control of your rage. Move on and congratulate yourself.

YOU CAN TAKE CONTROL OF YOUR ANGER IF YOU WORK AT IT.