childcare choices

[EElisavetaofBelsornia]

DC1 starts Reception in September. I work 3 days a week so need before and after school cover those days. DC2 goes to a lovely childminder who does drop off and pick up at the school, there is also wrap around on site and the cost is the same.

It would be great for both DCs to be together but my main worry about the CM us that she has TV on before and after school. I am fine about some TV but DC1 is a bit obsessive and won't do anything else, interact at all when it's on. The on site provision uses TV too but not quite si much. However they have high staff turn over and I haven't been impressed by how they deal with bad behaviour, low level bullying etc. WWYD?

CM and ask her to not put the TV or just restrict it?

Find another childminder?

What would they do if you had them at home?

After school children can be very tired, irritable and hungry. So they may not be in any mood to do very much but relax. Some may do that by running around the garden, others may do jigsaws, colouring, others will watch TV or use a computer/tablet for games/tv/Youtube Minecraft Videos.

As you are happy with care of DC2, I would give it a try. DC1 may well just chill out after school. After they have settled in to the school routine, they may start to do other things like playing in the garden.
CM may take children to the playground/park after school some days. DC1 may get into reading and want to do some reading afterschool with CM.

Thank you for your replies. I wouldn't really want another CM as DC2 has a good bond and it wouldn't seem sensible for them to go to different ones.

I did wonder if I could ask for TV to be restricted. But the other children she looks after, including DC2 do exactly what nannynick says, a bit of TV watching interspersed with playing with toys, going into the garden etc. I feel like I might be a bit PFB to ask for the TV to be on less because DC1 is a square eyes! Would you mind if you were the parent of one of the other DCs?

Does DC1 know any of the other children there? Maybe they will make a friend with a similar or older aged child and thus not be quite so interested in sitting in front of TV all the time.

I feel that you could ask CM to redirect DC1 to other activities if TV watching does become the constant thing.

You might find that although he watches a lot to start with that this will trail off once the novelty wears off and he will go join in with the other kids. Raise your concern with the CM and let her know that you are a bit worried about DS1 just watching tv all the time - if she notices this could she turn it off for half an hour and encourage him to do something else for a while. I would go for the CM rather than the wrap around care for this age group. I think the home environment of a CM would be better than the full on classroom style of wrap around care.

For three days a week, I wouldn't worry too much about the TV. When children start reception their days are very full, so a bit of relaxation in front of the TV really isn't going to do any harm.

I'd prefer a CM with a TV over breakfast/after school club for a reception age dc.

Other parents will probably thank you for asking for the TV to be on less!

Yes he knows several of the others a bit, and likes a couple of the older ones a lot. Also quite good at making friends. You might be right that other parents agree - think I will talk to CM.

I wouldn't mind at all. DS is Thomas obsessed at the moment and I restrict it as much as possible.

I wonder if he will grow out of the obsessiveness. DH is a bit like that - can't put smartphone down etc and DSS is a bit addicted to Playstation. I think this is why I am worried and would like to restrict it.