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Original poster

What is reasonable for me to expect my CM to do whilst the kids are with her?

29 replies

honie · 25/02/2009 16:37

Hi

I have two LO's with a childminder for an hour before and three hours after school. She does the school run, takes the kids and hers to the park a couple of times week for 20 minutes and gives them a snack. She wont feed them unless I take the food with me, and it has to be something easy like soup or toast with beans. She cooks her families meal while my kids are there and does her housework, other than a bit of sticking and glueing my kids are watching tele or playing on the comp, in good weather they play in the garden.

I'm not sure if I am being unreasonable thinking she should be doing a bit more with them while they are there? It would also be a huge weight off my shoulders if they were fed before 7 at night as they have lunch at 12.

Other thing is that she takes weekdays off with a week and a few days notice, leaving me no choice but to take time off work, is this normal?

Sorry for a million and one questions, but as she is my first experience of childminding I have nothing to base it on!!

Thanks you for reading!!

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Littlefish · 25/02/2009 16:52
FriarKewcumber · 25/02/2009 16:50

I am fairly chilled about what DS does with CM as long as he isn;t parked in front of TV all day - like Littelfish I expect him to do pretty much what he would do with me. Degree of light housework OK, playing in garden OK etc.

I think its very odd that she makes dinner for her family but doesn;t feed your DC's at the same time - I would have an issue with that - perhaps offer to pay her for their tea-time meal on top?

Mintyy · 25/02/2009 16:47

You could look into changing childminders. There are plenty who will provide tea (may charge a little more).

I wouldn't have very high expectations of specific activities that she might do after school with your kids, though. What would you do with them if they were home with you? Bearing in mind that you have to get dinner on and generally keep everyone happy.

Also, the children have just been at school for 6 hours. They don't need to be busy busy busy all the time.

Littlefish · 25/02/2009 16:44

Hi honie - no, I wouldn't say that your experience is entirely normal.

How old are your children?

It all depends on what you agreed with your childminder initially.

Were you expecting her to provide food? Would she provide it if you paid extra.

The deal with my cm is that yes, she cooks after school while dd is there but all her mindees, her own children and she sit down and eat together at about 5.00pm. While she's cooking, my dd would be playing with the older children, dressing up, playing with toys, playing out in the garden, or occasionally watching TV.

To be honest, when dd comes out of nursery at 3.00pm, she doesn't really want to do very much. If she was at home, she would just be playing and chilling out, so I'm happy for her to do the same with the childminder. What would your children be doing if they were at home with you?

The food and housework thing with your childminder would bother me. She certainly shouldn't be doing lots of housework. Obviously, she would be mopping up spills etc. or even chucking in a load of washing etc would be ok with me.