What should / shouldnt a childminder do when the have mindees with them

lost in meaning lost in their imaginations and play, not actually getting lost

Hairdresser I'd be fine with as long as it didn't take the piss tbh. If it's once every 6 weeks, at somebody's house, as long as there is something to keep the kids occupied then it's relatively normal. If it's every 2/3 weeks and time consuming it definitely needs to be brought up.

I agree with Theas RE the dogs, it is good, though I would have reservations about really horrid days, does she have a plan in place for days where it's horrid outside? How often does dog walking take them to something that they can get lost in, like the park or a lareg open space to play around in?

kat What about child-led play? And leaving kids to play by themselves? OPs children are old enough to play their own games together, and that kind of thing is very important too. My charges can spend hours running their own games in the garden and house, I leave them to it, you have to allow for autonomous play as well as running activities and in a home-care situation they also need to factor in living as a member of the family.

The CM still has to provide the EYFS, even if your DD is at morning pre-school. Why not ask her what kind of activities they do in the afternoon?

Dizzy - Why not going in to town?
Great experience for kids lots to do and see or the opportunity for a nap. Chance to grab something to eat, go to a park or go on the bus/ tram/ train. One of my parents said she chooses a CM so their DC have this normal experience as if they were at home with them.
She is a level 6 Early Years practitioner!

I don't think the OP mentions ironing does it? Apologies if incorrect.

I run errands with my mindees. Shopping / bank etc. I wouldn't have my hair done though. Prefer peace and quiet for that.

Walking the dog fine.

Be careful of falling into the trap of thinking well I pay her so she should be doing x, y and z. CM is extremely invasive. And the impact in terms of extra housework should not be under estimated. Nor should the additional hours put in planning etc. I reserve the right to keep on top of things during the day rather than it eating into my evening. Plus parents might complain if my house was a total shit tip!

Please don't begrudge your CM hoovering/ cleaning up the mess your DC has made. General household duties can be done quite naturally around small children. Without detriment! Nursery's and pre schools do this whilst the kids are there. Not all have cleaners.

Re the dog walking if you don't like it speak to her, if she wants to continue you can always find another who is more to your requirements or give up work and care for your own children.

No, not non stop all day, that isn't what I meant. I mean they should give some thought to the days activities and what the kids will be doing, and how they will be involved in things. They are supposed to be following early years curriculum after all. Kids helping to prepare lunch and clear away afterwards is good for them. Kids going into town on the bus is a good experience for them. Doing a supermarket shop can be good if they all have their little tasks to do.
I can iron on the other side of a stairgate whilst supervising my toddler but the difference is that I am not being paid to do that. If you are paying for childcare you should expect them to do stuff with your child.

Walking the dog fine unless weather is awful then I wouldn't be happy with it.
Jobs around the house while children play, washing, cleaning kitchen or bathroom etc fine as long as she doesn't do jobs the whole time she has children there. But getting a hair cut or going into town to do jobs no way! And definitely not ironing! She's getting paid to look after other peoples children, she should do her job right!

"I would expect a childminder to be interacting with the children throughout the day"

Seriously? All day, every day? Do all parents interact with and educate their preschool children all day every day, and not get any jobs done?

I think you are being unrealistic. If the CM doesn't leave the iron on in the same room as the children and then leave to answer the phone etc I don't see what the problem is. I used to do the ironing during the day when DD was small. Perhaps I am a bad mother.

Question is do you want a homely atmosphere or a nursery one?

Walking the dogs - brilliant. Every child probably needs more doily excercise than they get on a school day. Even in the rain they won't dissolve.

Hairdressers, shops, bank, dentist other stuff also fine by me. I'm assuming the CM would do what I would and involve a child in things - " get me one box of weetabix from the shelf..... Which biscuit shall we choose for our drink when we get in ....pay the lady .....etc" all. " learning" for preschool kids.

Ironing maybe not ? But washing with child helping - fine.

And if a CM took her to the dentist ( whilst CM being seen ) and wasn't nervous I might give her a huge hug as I hate dentists and not passing that on was hard.

If you want a more "educational" environment send them to nursery. Been out and about doing things, chatting to people etc might be what you really want.

My youngest knew so many people locally that taking her to the shops was a long round of " hello lellys friend" (lelly =her name for CM) and them chatting to her. That was really nice.

DD is nearly 15 and now goes to see "lelly" for a cup of tea and a chat still every few weeks of her own volition.

Ironing around small kids is a safety hazard in any case. She should not be doing that.
I would expect a childminder to be interacting with the children throughout the day, not ignoring them while she gets her own stuff done. I wouldn't expect it to be like a nursery inside a house, so obviously things like washing up need to get done and so on, but I would expect to see some educational value to how a pre school aged child is spending their day. With school aged kids I would be less bothered, they need to relax after a long day at school.

Walking dogs I'd be ok with.

Haircut not.

A trip into town to go to the shops, post office etc is if not every day.

Depends what the balance of other activities is though.

Haircuts, no. Everything else fine.

I think in balance with doing things for the children it's okay, it just depends on what the balance is like. Is it well balanced do you think? Some childminders are very child-focussed, whereas others are more mixed, it depends on what you want and if they provide it.

I wouldn't use a cm with dogs at all! And no to the haircuts or ironing in work time.

Perhaps things like haircuts, ironing etc should be done in her own time. However, I think going for a walk every day is good, summer or winter.

Walk to park with dogs sounds fine although if the weather is horrid would make more sense to do indoor play and walk dogs later herself. Quick trip to shops is OK, if kids are involved correctly it can be educational for them.

Haircut absolutely not OK in my opinion. She should do that outside of working hours like the rest of us have to.