Mindee that doesn't play on her own?

'If the OP has never looked after a 5 year old before, how is she supposed to know what typical 5 year old behaviour is?'

She has. At least, by her own admission she has and had been a nanny for a decade or so before becoming a CM.

A lot of people have given no advice, just venom.

If the OP has never looked after a 5 year old before, how is she supposed to know what typical 5 year old behaviour is? Nursery staff deal with loads of children every day. I would expect a 5 year old to be able to amuse themselves for long enough for me to do other jobs like change a nappy or prepare a meal.

lots of 5 year olds can't play on their own - and nursery staff that I know happend to know that

I think it is sad that a paid childcare professional finds it bizarre

and some of the advice given is that this child might be better suited by an alternative form of childcare.

I think it's great that someone in childcare wants to improve their knowledge and get advice and new ideas. I often post questions and ask for ideas on a nanny board.

but presumably you wouldn't be so stumped by her behaviour that you would ask for advice?

But the OP has the mindee for 9 hours a week.

Well, I think all childcare is about balancing the needs of various children, unless you have one nanny per child.

I've worked in nurseries, and sometimes you have to put a clingy child down, even if it cries, if all members of staff are busy with something else - 3 or 4 children per staff member means not all children get all the attention I want.

As a nanny, I would have no problem with telling a demanding 4 year old that they need to play on their own for a while while I change a nappy or put laundry on. In fact I used to often send my 2yo and 5yo charges into the next room to play (or even watch TV), while I cooked tea.

Working it out. Nine hours over five days = I can't do maths.

What is it? Just under two hours a day?

I would be mightily pissed of as a parent if my CM was expecting to do anything but give my child full attention for a lousy two hours a day.

Changing a one year old's nappy takes what? Two minutes?

i don't know. i'm not a childminder because i wouldn't feel comfortable getting paid to look after other peoples' kids and then not doing that because i was looking after my own, tbh.

"'buying her a lot of stuff in the sales to try and keep her busy' constitutes sensitive care for a child who has been in reception since September and probably wants a bit of TLC after a day in a class of 30? "

totally agree

I don't do that for my OWN children

what are you doing with a one year old that means you cant spend more time with her? one year olds are pretty easy IIRC.

yes you ignore the baby and give attention to the older child tbh

OK, what do you do as a childminder, and one mindee needs one to one attention all of the time - ignore the other children?

'So what do you do if you have three children and one needs one to one attention all the time - ignore the other children?'

But we're talking about a childminder, not a parent.

Isn't this thread about finding ways to cope?

So what do you do if you have three children and one needs one to one attention all the time - ignore the other children?

The OP is only talking about 9 hours a week with the mindee.

Spread that out over a week and it doesn't amount to a lot of time or attention?

And I don't think 'buying her a lot of stuff in the sales to try and keep her busy' constitutes sensitive care for a child who has been in reception since September and probably wants a bit of TLC after a day in a class of 30?

but if you cannot cope with children needing attention one to one (believe me this happens when you have three or more of your own children!) then maybe you are in the wrong job?

Don't be a childminder if you're going to care for more than one child? I don't understand.

Most childminders will have a few babies and toddlers, plus after school children - so not all children can have undivided attention all the time.

well don't be a frigging childminder then

why on earth BE one if you are about to have 2 children under 18 months

Don't be ridiculous Eniddo! Anyone who cares more more than one child at a time can't possibly give each child constant, undivided attention - that's the same whether it's a CM, nursery, school, nanny with more than one charge, mother of more than one child. Expecting a 4 year old to play independently for a few minutes while you see to other children is quite reasonable.

What a bizarre thread.

jesus christ

you are a childminder

you are supposed to be looking after her

you are paid to do this

thank god you are not looking after my children

poor lamb.

chloejess mum let me know how it goes ( oh and im still off duty its a saturday night ...lol)

cup of t my children went to private nursery too as i did work,and i had the same thoughts as u about not leaving my kids with a cm . before studying then becomming a cm. you have your right to say what u want .i agree that parents and cm work together as i do with mine what i wrote was in general to all those bad comment to cloejessmeg as i think they were bang out of order as she was only asking for advice not critism. its a hard job a some people think of us as baby sitters or that we dont do a proper job when we do and its a privlidge to be able to look after other parents kids and be at home.u have yr right to your comments and so do i and what i write on here i comming from me as a mum and then a cm And as a cm we r always told that ALL childrens needs come first i see u only pick up on the negative stuff what about all the rest and the comment about stay at home then u know yr own standards was comment as a mum and i wouldnt say that to a mindees parent as afterall im off duty at this time off night .

If I went to visit a childminder and they said that their own children came second to the mindees, I would def steer clear of them. Sorry but how awful must it be for a CM's child to know that the mindees come before them because mummy gets paid for those ones?

Thanks numberfour.