Meaning & use
childminders
Last updated
“childminders” is a form of “childminder”. See that entry for the full set of meanings.
Meanings
nouncountableBritish
A person, especially in Britain, who is paid to look after other people's children in their own home.
Grammar: Countable; the singular is 'childminder' and the plural is 'childminders'.
Patterns
- work as a childminder
- a registered childminder
- leave a child with a childminder
Both parents work, so the twins spend weekdays with a childminder.
She became a registered childminder after her own children started school.
The childminders on our street meet at the park every morning.
nounplural
People who supervise children in a group setting, such as a nursery or after-school club.
Grammar: Plural noun; often used with 'the' to refer to the staff as a group.
Patterns
- the childminders at the nursery
- trained childminders
The childminders at the after-school club organize games and snacks.
Local childminders attended a first-aid course last weekend.
Word forms
| singular | childminder |
|---|
Common combinations
- registered childminder
- Only a registered childminder can claim childcare support.
- work as a childminder
- He works as a childminder while studying part-time.
- find a childminder
- It took us months to find a childminder we trusted.
- childminder agency
- The council lists approved childminder agencies on its website.
Synonyms and how they differ
- nanny
- A nanny usually cares for one family's children, often living in, while a childminder may look after several families' children.
- babysitter
- A babysitter is typically paid for occasional evenings, whereas a childminder provides regular daytime care.
- daycare provider
- This is the usual American term for someone who cares for children in a licensed home or center.
Word family
- childminding noun
- The activity or business of caring for other people's children at home.
- childcare noun
- The general care and supervision of children, whether by parents or professionals.
Commonly confused: childminders or babysitter?
childminders vs babysitter
A babysitter usually comes to the child's home for short periods, while a childminder cares for children in the childminder's own home, often full-time.
Practice
In British English, where does a childminder usually look after children?
Choose one answer.
'Childminder' means someone who cares for children in their own home, so option 1 is correct. Option 0 describes a nanny or babysitter, and options 2 and 3 are not part of the definition.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “childminders”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.