to think that if you are a paid childminder, you should spend your days actually looking after the children....

[NewAgain]

....and not running around town, doing your shopping, meeting mates for coffee and taking your own children to after school activities?
I know a few childminders in my area, who I see regularly around town and on the school run.

Their minded children seem to spend half the day strapped into triple buggies and whinging whilst chilminder goes about her business around town.

Now whilst this is surely completely normal things for people to do with their own children, I would be pretty p!ssed off if I was paying somebody else to do this with my child.

AIBU to wonder if the parents of these children realise that these people are being paid about 4 times over to just drag several children around with them on their normal daily routine?

so how is the childminder expected to do the school run for those charges who need to get to school?

and is it then a crime for the childminder to pop into a shop to get something for the mindees lunch?

or to take them through town, in their triple buggy on their way to an activity?

and if said childminder is minding children all day is it not reasonable for those mindees to take part in normal daily activities, like popping into a shop, or having a drink in a cafe, or popping to the bank?

and is that not the point of a childminder as opposed to a nursery - that the children are cared for in an environment similar to normal life? (no slur on nurseries - just different)

But how does everybody else who works for a living do all of those things?!?!?

ANSWER - they do them when they are not working!!!!!!

Newagain are you serious? I appreciate there are always going to be bad examples of childminding, just as there are bad examples of every profession, but I would be fascinated to know what your idea of a childminders day would be?

I mean how do you KNOW the trip to the shops is not for example, an opportunity to do colour or counting games? I have done this with my own and minded children - it is part of our role that we combine a home like childcare experience with learning through everyday experiences (god sounds like I have sold my soul to the DCFS!)

I could go on but have EYFS paperwork to write up - oh and before you have a go that I am on my computer and not looking after children - ITS MY DAY OFF!

When my ds was small I deliberatly chose a childminder rather than a nursery so he could take part in normal family life - ie going to shops, library, doctor's appointments for her dc etc. He still did plenty of fun stuff too!

I 'heart' Childminders! I think you're all completey bonkers wonderful to mind other peoples children for about 50p an hour!

me too. there's no way i could do it.

Some of the reasons you have mentioned are why I would never consider using a childminder.

Whilst I don't expect a childcare provider to spend 100% of the time doing activities I don't expect them to be shopping, meeting friends or attending activities that don't include all the children. I do feel sorry for the little ones who spend a good deal of the day in a buggy going from place to place every day.

What is the going rate for a child minder then?

'Cos I am wondering how much the one in my street gets paid to sit in coffe shop for an hour whilst 4 children belonging to other people just amuse themselves?

This is why I use a childminder. Because I want my small child to have the kind of routine that she has at home.

She's only 18 mo. I don't want her in a structured environment.

What the hell is wrong with getting some fresh air in the buggy?

Weirdo.

Newagain - the people who choose childminders for their childcare usually do so because they want their children to be "out and about", in and out of the house, seeing a bit of the world and having a change of scene. They want their child to have an approximation of the kind of life they would have at home with the parents - ie. a sort of fitting in with normal activities. As opposed to the rather regimented and restricted routines of nurseries. Or at least I did.

Typical rate for a CM is between £3 and £4 per hour. That is gross, not nett. A very different figure. The have piles and piles of preparation and paperwork to do, and if you have spoken to any of the CM's on here, you will know that large parts of their weekday evenings and their precious family weekend time, is taken up with it too.

I would seriously think again, if you think the ladies of leisure in the coffee shop are having it easy.

I used a childminder when DS1 was small for that very reason - I wanted him to be doing the kind of things we would be doing at home if I wasnt at work - running errands, meeting people etc.

YABU

Why wouldn't you be able to accept that parents of the mindees would have some idea as to whether their children are thriving or not and let them decide whether the CM is doing a good job?
YABU and judgmental of the CM and the parents.

I rarely get the luxury of meeting friend for coffee - if we ever do meet up (oh and for friends read fellow childminders) its either in the park where we help each other in pushing swings, supervising slides and picking up from little tumbles or at groups -and we are even very selective about those as we hate the ones where folk sit around ignoring the children over coffeee - we sit down on the floor and play with our charges

That said sometimes we do (shock,horror) need to talk to each other about work arrangements - we support each other with holiday/sickness etc, ask advice (thats not gossip its seeking support to ensure best practice)and sometimes, shock horror thats easier over a coffee - we usually do it at home though in case a stranger sees us and posts on forums saying how awful we are having coffee and talking

In fact, you sound veeeery jealous.

If it's as easy as you think there's nothing to stop you becoming one.

I agree with the others that I wanted my DC to get a home from home experience, which IMO means learning to wait in shops etc., meeting other family members/friends.

Besides, if I were at home with the DS, I wouldn't be doing "constructive" play with them 24/7.

It's not good for them.

They need to learn to entertain themselves and fit in with others.

oooh we haven't had a bash the CM thread for aaaaaaaaaaaaages

OP YABU

I could give you reams of info about why CMs are REQUIRED to take their charges out and about but I can't be arsed

my child my choice.
i value real life experiences as a huge part of my childs learning , and trust and respect my childminders judgement and ability to balance the needs of all the children in her care. I rely on my own gut feeling , on recommendations and on ofsted ..all who agree that the care provided is outstanding.
i would much rather my childs learning was supplemented - learning about coins by going to buy some apples after a morning with plastic coins in the role play corner.

Like in every job there and good and bad people doing their job. There are good childminders who you usually dont see as they just pop to the shop to get something or do education with the children then pop off to do more stuff with the children. Every area has their cliche of childminders who meet up and chat but sometimes its what the parent is happy with and having seen the childminders around that is what they have chosen.

when they're not swilling coffee and ignoring their mindees you just know they are watching jeremy kyle on HD bought for with your hrd earned cash.

and they get dog hair in the smart priced mince they serve up for the children when you specifically requested nothing but organic tofu.

I think childminders are mental brilliant. Well the ones I know are anyway. OP I think it's a little odd to be getting your knickers in a twist about this. If it concerns you and your child is involved then have your say to the CM in question, if not, perhaps best not to pass judgement on a snapshot of someone else's day. Unless of course you are stalking said CM as you seem to know all her movements.

Im not a childminder I am (if i had a real life a nursery nurse) however Ive been asked lots and lots of times to childmind peoples babies/toddlers.....I always say no,I cant because I have my life to lead I care for my poorly son and my aged FIL.

The answer I get everytime is that they dont want there child 'learning' all day they want them to have a 'normal' life similar to what theyd have if they were at home with their mummy.

Dont knock childminders they have a very hard job.

My Dc3 willbe going to a childminder in September when I start uni. He spends the majority of his time now strapped into his car seat, pram or baby bouncer as I ferry the other two around.

I don't want him to go to nursery, I want him to be with one kind women who will treat him as if he is her own. If that means 'dragging' him to Starbucks and the launderette, so what.

their child* i have soap in my eye from cleaning the oven .....