Am I missing something here - what are the children whom you are meant to be minding doing while you are on the Internet??

guyfawkes - sorry, didn't mean that they plan to have a break between 11 and half past, I do realise that they would have to take a break when and if. Designated was the wrong word! What I meant was, if the kids were happy playing or sleeping then the childminder should be able to take a break and in that break they should be able to do what they want.

I don;t get why it would be wrong for a CM to use MN whn her mindee was asleep. What should they be doing - staring at sleeping child in case they wake

I was a teacher. I used Mn at school before. We were allowed to use the internet for personal use. I used it at lunch and break times, and in contact time.

I know work in a prison and I am allowed to use the Internet for personal use still, although what I can actually access is severely limited - no MN, which is probably a good thing lol.

My DD is in bed asleep right now - am I ok to be on here?

I think comments like these give all childminders a bad name.

I am a childminder and work hard to provide excellent care for the children I care.

The LO's I care for sleep for 2 hours - (in different rooms, so I couldnt watch them both without waking one of them)

I am currently trying to write 50 policies with no help and really appreciate this time to sit down at my laptop and do these.
I also have daily records to the parents to write, which I do when they are asleep, to avoid taking time away from them when they are awake. - surely this is the same as being on the internet?
I have a listener and can hear the children breathing through it!

Obviously if a minder was spending excessive amounts of the childs waking time on the computer, it isnt acceptable.

Childminders do take the care of the children very seriously, so please do not make this something that it isnt.
Thank you.

Okay, Tryingtocookacurry...then you answer the question.

What do you expect the CM to do while the child is sleeping?

"maybe, the childminders are only on here when they are having a designated 15/20 minute break"

PMSL @ the thought of a childminder having a "designated 15/20 minutes break" - hello??????????? Welcome to the real world - unless you have robotic children there is no such thing as a "designated" break while loooking after children in a "home" setting.

I'm sorry, but I agree with 5candles, to a point!
I also would not want my childminder to be on mumsnet during the day when she is supposed to be watching my dd. But that might be that when I use mumsnet I find it very addictive.
I wouldn't mumsnet at work and wouldn't have time to, to be honest!
Although, she is due breaks and if she chooses to do this during her breaks that is her choice.

Fivecandles - maybe, the childminders are only on here when they are having a designated 15/20 minute break and this is what you have seen on another thread when they go running off. Because they have had to have their break cut short due to a child needing them.

well 5 candles is mnetting whilst her children are around (especially if sleeping makes no difference to the supervision requirements).

can I just check - can parents mn while the kids are around?

If not, I'm fucked!

Or is it just if you are getting paid to be with a child that you have to be giving them your total attention at all times? If you're with them for free you can ignore them as required, right?

[hopeful]

15.26 - still has finger up his nose but is farting as well now

Ooh marking my place to read properly later.

I am PMSL at this thread!

DD goes to a childminder. During the day, DD does a wide range of activities. They do the school run, go to the park, go shopping, colour, paint, bake, eat, play, dance, sing, learn etc etc. Should the cm wish to spend some time on MN when DD is asleep, I wouldn't mind. I dont begrudge her reading a paper whilst DD was asleep.

Katy, I'm a minder (its tulip - i've recently changed my name! thought this one was more me!!)

FFs get over yourself five candles. Are we expected to sit and stare at a sleeping child????? As long as the children are checked regularly (SP) then there is no harm in using the computer. I happily admit to mumsnetting while mindees are asleep as the computer is at the far end of the room that they sleep in. NOW WHAT WOULD YOU EXPECT A MINDER TO DO WHILST MINDEE IS SLEEPING?

Oh marla you are really makin me giggle!!! Shhh I must be quiet dd is sleeping and I will desturb her!

marla.......in the case of my DS3

15.23 (so one hour later) - he's rolled back again and has his finger up his nose

Im a nanny, my boss has given me her laptop and told me im more than welocme to use it when kids are asleep for pseronal use. and when kids are up for anything work related. obviously with a baby monitor on, doesnt distract me any more than preparing meals does...infact probably less as the computer is closer to the baby than the kitchen.

she probs wants her cm to be preparing home made snacks for the kiddley winks whilst they snooze and planning the afternoons elecution lesson.

Just to add i often go online and David LLoyd as well after my charges swimming lesson, killing time before the school run while he plays in the soft play section next to the computers...

is that ok? or not?

how shocking is this........I have met my DS's teachers (both nursery and infant school) in the Morrisons Cafe during their lunchtimes . Why aren't they in school/nursery keeping a watchful eye over my children - after all they do get paid be there.............

FFS ANSWER MARLA'S QUESTION!!!!!!

fivecandles, what do you expect CM's to do while the children sleep?

And answer it quickly please. DD is crawling round the floor in her pyjamas, drinking her milk and waiting to go to bed while I am recklessly mnetting. Should I expect social services in the morning?

fivecandles evidently never takes a single minute off

Five candles do you constantly mark or plan during your non-contact time and during break and lunchtime? You are being paid at that time to be a teacher.

And yes I know teachers work hard and into the evening doing those things but so do CMs with all the paper work they have to do.

Not a CM but would happily use one.
Not a teacher but have worked in enough schools to see what goes on at break time/lunch time/non-contact time.