Childminder Secret Santa
Spread a little sparkle this Christmas
Over 400 childminders took part last year
Secret Santa is back for 2026. Sign up, get matched with another childminder, and send a bit of festive happy post their way. It’s completely free, and it might just be the nicest thing you do for a fellow childminder this December.
How it all began
Why I started it
I started Childminder Secret Santa back when I was still doing Usborne. I just thought, who doesn’t like the idea of sending someone a present and putting a smile on their face? Childminding can be an isolated job, especially in December when you’re busy making magic for everyone else’s children and not much for yourself. So I gave it a go.
The first year, 2024, around 30 of us took part. Last year I’d just rebranded to Not Just a Childminder and printed the very first issue of the magazine, and I thought, well, everyone seemed to enjoy it last time, let’s do it again. I made a form, posted it on the Facebook page, and within two hours I had 150 people signed up. By the time registration closed, over 400 childminders had joined in.
And this year lets make it even bigger!
2024
2025
How it went last year
Over 400 of you took part, a bit more than I was expecting when I hit publish on that Facebook post. I matched everyone up, sent out details, and followed up with a form about allergies and gift preferences so everyone could shop with confidence. It wasn’t perfect. A few parcels got stuck with couriers or left behind bushes, and there were a few anxious messages asking whether gifts had landed. I chased every single one down myself. But what I heard back made it worth it.
Testimonials
”Thank you ever so much for letting me know and putting my mind at rest. Thank you for sorting the secret santa out and making us smile.”
Thank you for setting this up, it’s a lovely idea in a very isolated job at timesThis year, registration closes 30 October and matches go out by 6 November, weeks earlier than last year, so there’s a proper buffer if a parcel gets delayed instead of a last-minute scramble.
Sign up for 2026
Here is how it works. Sign up below by Friday 30th October. Sign up closes then and there is no joining in after that. I struggled to say no last year and it caused lots of problems, so this year I am being stricter.
Matches go out by 6th November. Spend up to £15 and post by 15th December so it lands in time for Christmas.