Childminder’s profile - Linda Florentine: “My job allows me to have time for my home and children” |15 July 2019
Linda with a small group of children in her care
Linda Florentine has been a childminder for almost all her working life and is still happy to continue with a small group of children that she cares for in her quiet home at La Gogue. We visited amid a birthday party with red polka dot balloons adorning the veranda.
“It’s been my only job ever since I can remember, almost 30 years now. A house wife, I was at home most of the time when my neighbour approached me to take care of her daughter,” says Linda.
Since she works alone she cares for a small group of five children aged between 4 months and 3 years.
“We do both indoor and outdoor games such as playing with hoops and balls to develop their motor skills,” she says.
Luckily Linda did not have to make any modification to her home but used her start-up fund of R10,000 to buy new toys and stationery that needs to be replaced quite often.
“I needed to buy some more toys because the training we had helped us to appreciate the benefit of this in the children’s development,” she says.
This childminder confirms that the IECD training helped her to improve the quality of her service.
“The most important lesson for me is knowing the crucial value of the educational exercises. I don’t let them look at cartoons a lot, I give them small activities that help them to develop their hands. Many other topics were very useful as well,” Linda affirms.
“My job allows me to have time for my home and children. Everything is in close proximity, I can monitor them all very well like this,” she clarifies.
She has never been tempted to be employed; the thought of doing a single job all her life has always bothered her.
Like many of her colleagues Linda has some uncertainties on how long she will continue.
“I am not sure, maybe another five years but if I stop one day, I will take up sewing full time,” she says. Linda sews in her free time now and this gives her an extra income.
“But if all goes well I will carry on, or perhaps I’ll take in just three children,” she says smiling as she reflects on the possible options.
Contributed by IECD