I read with interest the article saying anxious parents 'mistrust nurseries, minders and nannies' prompting them to place greater trust in their immediate family to care for their children (News, 12 October). As a grandmother, I agree. The only problem is that I live three hours away, so am still trying to work out how to be a minder for my grandchild, which I would dearly love to be. After reading the early numeracy feature (Birth to three, 12 October), I found myself counting out my granddaughter's scoops of milk powder and digits on her hands and feet. Each time I spoke to her she repeated sounds in exactly the same number of syllables. I find myself, as most grandmothers do, with a newly found patience and fascination when with this wonderful little being.
I read with interest the article saying anxious parents 'mistrust nurseries, minders and nannies' prompting them to place greater trust in their immediate family to care for their children (News, 12 October). As a grandmother, I agree. The only problem is that I live three hours away, so am still trying to work out how to be a minder for my grandchild, which I would dearly love to be.
After reading the early numeracy feature (Birth to three, 12 October), I found myself counting out my granddaughter's scoops of milk powder and digits on her hands and feet. Each time I spoke to her she repeated sounds in exactly the same number of syllables. I find myself, as most grandmothers do, with a newly found patience and fascination when with this wonderful little being.
I wonder if a nanny or nursery nurse would realise that the words a baby was trying to say were words that they had heard. My daughter-in-law had to tell me that she was saying 'good girl' between each mouthful of food. I hadn't been saying it and she was telling me. How could an outside agency caring for her have known that, however efficient they are?
Irene Russell, teaching assistant and grandmother, Folkestone, Kent
