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Paid childcare

Discuss everything related to paid childcare here, including childminders, nannies, nurseries and au pairs.

Original poster

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

240 replies

fivecandles · 12/11/2008 19:11

Because I would be livid if I was paying you to mind my child and you were Mumsnetting.

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
Set a reminder
Saturn74 · 12/11/2008 19:44

hully - I was thinking along the lines of supergluing the children to the childminders at the beginning of every session, and cutting off the electricity supply to their houses.

That'll learn 'em.

Original poster
fivecandles · 12/11/2008 19:44

Think you're missing the point flowery. THere are people ON THIS THREAD who are admitting Mumsnetting whilst childminding and justifying it. I started the thread because I realized (for the first time) with horror that this is common place because of comments all over threads in this section of the site.

asif I think it is reasonable to expect that if someone is being paid to look after kids then they are doing just that and not spending their time (which they are being paid for) surfing the net. At best this is irresponsible and unprofessional. In a job they'd be disciplined as I would. The fact that it's considered acceptable makes me very, very concerned about childminders. I could never trust my kids in their care if I would be always be worried that they'd be surfing the net instead of looking after my kids.

OP posts:
asif · 12/11/2008 19:44
Grin
kkey21 · 12/11/2008 19:43

Teachers get breaks also-just to point that out! Oh and a lovely short day too! Just a thought

hullygully · 12/11/2008 19:43

What about if all childminders agreed to be whipped, say, twice a year, just in case of possible derelictions of duty, inadvertent or otherwise. Would that help?

asif · 12/11/2008 19:42

also if you're a teacher with kids, what childcare do you use?

marlasinger · 12/11/2008 19:41

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

guyFAwkesreQuiem · 12/11/2008 19:41

well maybe I'm just a shit mum, but I would personally be delighted if I found a childminder who does the sort of normal day to day things I do while in charge of my DC. I would want a childminder to create a "home" environment, so not always down on the floor playing "with" them, but sometimes doing a bit of this that or the other while my DC are playing happily on their own.

What about babysitters 5Candles - if you go out in the evening, are they not allowed to watch TV/use the computer etc once your children are in bed??

Bubble99 · 12/11/2008 19:41

fivecandles. When you're teaching your pupils are awake, surely?

Would you be happy with your sleeping child being checked every 15 minutes? Unless the CM sat in the room with the children, I don't see how much safer they could be.

Would you be happy with a CM doing written work related to your child while he/she was asleep?

Saturn74 · 12/11/2008 19:41

You appear to be very keen on seeing people disciplined.

asif · 12/11/2008 19:41

and if you're a teacher getting, say, £25k plus a year, don't compare yourself to a childminder getting £3 an hour

as I said, the childminders I know do the job as best they can, but given the reality of a house full of kids most of the time some of them do occasionally turn on the tv or go online, to preserve their sanity as much as anything

KatyMac · 12/11/2008 19:40

Thanks FAQ - just so that I know

I rarely use the net when I am working (unless I am checking something/research for the children/ordering something for the children etc)

Mind you I also don't work F/T & I have had about 6 weeks off in the last 9 - Boy I wish I was healthy

marlasinger · 12/11/2008 19:40

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

hullygully · 12/11/2008 19:40

You seem very keen on whipping and discipline. Is there any connection between this and your grievance? I am sensing you feel a need to feel the ridged leather of the bullwhip in your angry palm.

flowerybeanbag · 12/11/2008 19:39

Well it can't be this thread can it? You started this thread and you have no evidence that anyone posting on it is childminding at the moment.

If you have reason to believe someone is posting while minding someone else's children, and it makes you cross (which is a valid viewpoint), then post to that person on the thread they are posting on while (you think) they are minding children.

asif · 12/11/2008 19:38

fivecandles, if you think all childminders sit and give your kid 24/7 attention for the crap pay they get you're kidding yourself

childminders are human, if you want Mary Poppins buy the video

Original poster
fivecandles · 12/11/2008 19:38

'Oh come on, most teachers doss about on their sodding Blackberries all day while the kids do worksheets. '

Not any I've met. Never. Not one and I've been teaching for over 10 years. Certainly not my kids' teachers and if they did I would complain and want them disciplined.

OP posts:
Original poster
fivecandles · 12/11/2008 19:37

If I personally thought that someone being paid to look after my kids (childminder, nursery nurse, teacher) was using the time they should be spending supervising my kids on the Internet I would whip them out and report them. Sorry.

And actually this has really put me off ever using childminders and I'd warn other people considering it. I find it shocking.

OP posts:
mumsanutter · 12/11/2008 19:36

My minded love the internet, they have found webkinz!! So while they are using the laptop, am I not allowed to look at the web as well (in the same room as them and sitting with them - actually webkinz is quite additive!)

hullygully · 12/11/2008 19:34

Oh come on, most teachers doss about on their sodding Blackberries all day while the kids do worksheets.

guyFAwkesreQuiem · 12/11/2008 19:34

Katy - if you were my CM I'd be happy for you to do all of the above if you had my DS's as charges - I'd even let you have a cup of coffee and a quick read of the paper if they were engrossed in something quite happily on their own

guyFAwkesreQuiem · 12/11/2008 19:32

god forbid I have to put DS3 with a childminder any time soon and he's their only mindee - he can still sleep between 2 and 3hrs in one go in the afternoon.......the poor bloody childminder having to sit and stare at my son while he sleeps!!!

Original poster
fivecandles · 12/11/2008 19:32

'What do you think teachers get up to?'

Teaching?

I'm one of them. If I was teaching and Mumsnetting I'd be disciplined. If I did it repeatedly I'd be sacked.

I'd be outraged if my kids told me their teachers were doing this too. They're being paid to do a job and they have a legal responsibility to be in loco parentis.

OP posts:
dustystar · 12/11/2008 19:32

clearly bored of tormenting people on the SN board then

KatyMac · 12/11/2008 19:32

Can I ask what we are allowed to do

Shopping?
Washing up?
Cooking?
Hoovering?
NVQ work?
EYFS Assessments & observations?
Risk Assessments?
Food Hygiene records?
Incident Reports?

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