would it put you off a CM if they had in their garden, a swing and slide set and 8ft trampoline,

Sounds great.

Don't CMs take their mindees to the park and playground. Bet there are lots of equipment there for children of different ages. Would that also be of concern?

What is wrong with a wooden playhouse?

Bear in mind that many children grow up with older siblings with gardens full of swings, slides, equipment etc for older children. I don't think there is much cause for concern if the children are watched (and many younger siblings are not watched in their own home gardens).

No sounds like a nice child friendly house to me. I am sure CM would have safety procedure. Better trampolines than sterile clean tidy house now that I would worry about!!

If I was a CM I'd be put off by prospective parents who came to my house and asked lots of anxious OTT H&S questions. There is no way I'd want to look after children who'd been brought up in that kind of attitude- too much fuss every time they fall over/bump their head and parents who are more likely to make a big deal out of everything. Not worth the risk, from the CM point of view, I'd say.

This sounds exactly like our old childminders's garden. It wouldn't put me off at all.

I think people molly coddle their kids too much these days. Falling down so lonas injuries are minor is good for kids because it teaches them how to get up again.

No harm in letting a 2 year old jump around on a tramploine even if it is made for 6 year old so long as someone is there to make sure the child doesn't fall off or get kicked in teeth by another child wearing steel toe boots.

Licking cake mix carries salmonella risk from raw eggs.

I'm a CM.My garden is like toys r us and i actually call it an extra room as the children do just as many activities out side as in.Your CM should carry out regular risk assessments and safety checks-most have policies for use of certain equipment, and forms to sign-I do for the trampoline especially- and if you are not keen on your child using something, then ask her not to let them, but don't let your child miss out.

am a cm and that sounds like my garden too. The trampoline is for my dd only as she is 10 and all mindees too small to access so thats no problem.

I think you expect the cm to be out in the garden with the children, i always am cos garden is huge. Swing set also dds but littlies can access, with me always in attendance.

Whats wrong with a playhouse, mine love ours and parents are more than happy that children can play in such a great space, have little slide and trucks as well. Ofsted make you have risk assessments for EVERYTHING.

This is an issue of trust, if you cant trust the cm in the garden how will you trust her to look after them in her car/house/ kitchen/park.. you trust her or you dont.. thats the real issue not play equipment..

It would put me off if the cm was happy for a 2 year old to go on a trampoline that is for a 6 year old as they would not be insured.All manufacturers guidelines should be followed and I would want to know that she followed these. Some cm insurers will not insure children on trampolines so definately check. I also would not be happy if the trampoline was designed for 1 person but was used by several.
But saying all that if the children are supervised I would be happyish!!

Sounds like my garden too.

That's my garden as well! Mine has a label on saying no under 6s, so I have a rule that parents can take their younger children out for a bounce when they collect them if they like, but it is their reponsibility, not mine. The most accidents are around the swings (children getting bumped by them) and the occasional child slipping on the ladder up to the slide. No serious accidents and the children love the equipment.

Risk assessment - like everyone said.

the equip would have to be safety checked and risk assesments carried out, and you could show these to prospective parents. I would see it as a big positive.

I would see the equipment as a positive

ah, i thought you were the parent visiting cm's...i dont let my dd or any mondee lick the cake mix..i did as a child...so do ALL of my mindees at home but we CANNOT let them for fear of food poisening!

My SIL's main reason for loving her CM is that she has a lovely garden with lots of toys including a swing and a slide.

It didn't put me off - my CM has the osrt of equipment you describe, though her slide set is a Little Tykes one, so not huge. Mind you, that is the one my DD1 fell off when she was 18 months old. It was an accident but DD1 did end up in A&E (she did that toddler thing of stopping breathing with the shock). My CM handled it wonderfully and DD1 was not really hurt. CM needed a stiff drink afterwards mind you!

IMO, I'd rather the DDs were outside all day playing when the weather permits and I trust my CM to care for them in the garden as she cares for them elsewhere (near the road for example!). I love picking up filthy, happy, knackered little rugrats at the end of the day

Oh, and yes to licking the cake bowl, as long as they don't eat more mixture than goes into the oven.

i can see what you're saying, but really if shes reg, insured and you and your LOl are happy with her then you need to trust her to care for your LO as well as she always does

Most large trampolines CANNOT be used by children under 6yrs old (as per manufacturers guidelines). It does NOT matter if the parents sign a consent form as the child would NOT be covered by the insurance.
I have a trampoline in my garden but its for MY children's use only as all my mindees are under 6yrs old.
I may even get rid of it as it can't be used whilst minding.
The swing and slide will have to be age appropriate, so if a 3yr old falls off a slide made for older children then again, won't be covered.
Best to go to park playgrounds and do risk assesments for each and everyone.