Can I ask my childminder where she plans on taking my child during the day?

[catandbabymum]

Can anyone offer some advise please?

I'm a bit concerned that I don't where my childminder is taking my LO during the day. I did sign an agreement for her to take my LO out in the car and on outings etc but all she's told me about was a baby group and now I know she takes her to other places and other childminders houses. I'm happy for her to do this but would like to know about it. Other people have told me thier childminders tell them everyday where they are planning on going and if it's ok. Can I reasonably ask mine to do the same? My LO isn't old enough to talk yet so she can't tell me what she's been doing!

Absolutely. She should really tell you herself as you should know where your child is. Doesn't she mention anything when you collect or write in daily diary?

Yes.

I am a childminder and I have a detailed talk to parents before their child starts about what we get up to. It's a big selling point so I'm suprised your CM hasn't done the same.

I also tell mum every morning a rough idea of what we will probably do, though it is never set in stone. I tell them what we have done at the end of each day.

I keep a 'learning diary' for each child that documents each childs learning and experiences, with loads of photos/ written observations etc that parents can look at whenever they like, and to keep when the child leaves me.

Our first CM got really grumpy when I asked for this info - this was the first of many signs that things were not going to work out.

Since then we've used 2 fab CMs who usually write in a book about any outings.

IME this is really important when they are little, less of a big deal as they get older and more talkative.

I tell parents when they drop off in the morning, because what we do sometimes depends on the weather, but yesterday I told them all we were going to a particular farm and when we got there it was closed, so we went to a different farm. Today we asked the children where they wanted to go and went to a play area and for a lake walk. Parents are always informed where their children have been at the end of the day and are told as much as possible in advance. I certainly don't have any problem with being asked ... we just don't always know :)

agree dont always know or that plans change but in evening she should ALWAYS say what they have been up to and thought all cm's had to keep a diary for each child even if just with basic food/sleep/activitys etc

I often mention when children are being dropped off where we expect to be during the day, but not always. Sometimes parents are in a rush, or there are other things to talk about. I think they all trust I will have things planned to interest their children (or indeed a number of options to choose between) and won't be doing anything daft that they need to worry about.

"Other people have told me thier childminders tell them everyday where they are planning on going and if it's ok" suggests to me a very odd relationship between parents and their childminder. I take it you mean the childminder has to specifically ask if the parents approve her plans for the day. How on earth would that work? e.g Parent one drops off their child. CM says "I thought we'd go to the park this morning" Parent says "Great". Parent two drops off child, CM says "I thought we'd go to the park" and parent two says "I don't want DC going outside today".

As I see it, you need to be on the same wavelength as your childminder as to what are appropriate activities and outings, but you cannot expect to micromanage. If you don't trust her judgement, then why would you leave your children with her?

That said, I agree that two way communication is entirely reasonable and necessary. Perhaps you just need to ask. If you haven't been asking what her plans are, perhaps she has wrongly inferred that you are not particularly interested.

Drop offs in the mornings tend to be swift so in fact I do not usually have time to tell parents if we have any plans for the day but when the children are picked up at the end of the day, I always let Mum and Dad know what we have been up to - sometimes hand over a photo if we've been somewhere special so they can see what their little one got up to!!

I do a daily diary though havnt got time to do it on the day as too busy with the children, parents get it the next week iycwim..

I have what we generally do in my welcome pack, along with all policies and proceedures.. I sometimes mention at pick up if we are going to park, soft play etc and often text parents the night before to bring wellies etc..

I think you and she need to talk more..

Of course you can, she might not know but should always tell you at the end of the day what she has been up to, and I use a contact book for under threes and write everything I have done in there.

I think you should be able to ask either at the beginning of the day or at the end but it should be for information purposes. I don't think you she should be getting permission from you unless you entered into an arrangement with her re what was and what wasn't acceptable.