Kids playing Wii at the CM's house

[Rollergirl1]

DC's are starting at a CM's next week (after both attending Nursery for 3 1/2 years and 1 1/2 years). We went for a visit this week so that the DC could get a chance to meet the other atteendees and get a little used to CM before they start.

I am very new to the world of CM's so I have no clue what is usual. There were 3 children at the CM's, ranging in age from 4 up to 8. The kids were playing on the Wii the entire time we were there (2 hours). I don't really like the idea of this and I definitely don't want my DC's playing it age 4 and 2). The CM did volunteer (without me mentioning it) that use of the Wii is only allowed in the school holidays as a treat and in term-times would only be for an hour on a Friday afternoon (the children won't be there on a Friday). I know that they are out of the house a lot and go on lots of trips so I am fairly confident that they won't have access to it a lot. But I am still not 100% happy with it being available atall.

What do other people think about this? Is this standard?

I had up to 8 children ranging from 2-13 over the holidays during the holidays I operate a much more relaxed atmosphere, as well as all the normal trips to the park, craft activities, games, ect it was a pretty awful summer holidays weather wise, so the children were allowed to play on my eye toy, and we also had movie afternoons with popcorn. A lot of the time the little ones weren't interested and would do something else with me, but it can be difficult to keep over 8's occupied. Overall everyone had a lovely time.

Now we are out of the holidays, I am getting back into a more regular routine which doesn't include video games or movie afternoons.

CM does have two older boys so I am sure that is why it is present in the living room. And while visiting both my DC's paid no attention to it whatsoever and were pottering about playing and investigating all the toys.

I wasn't worried as such, but this is all new to me and don't have anything to measure by!

Am I missing something, is there something wrong with playing on the wii? It's fun.

2 hours on a wii is a long time, but she said it's a friday treat during term time, I don't see a problem

Mummalish: It may well be "fun" but I don't think it is appropriate for a 4yr old. I know it's all personal parental choice but I want to prevent my children playing with electronic games for as long as I possibly can.

As a CMer myself it is often quite hard to divide my attenton between a potential new client and the mindees so I find them an activity that they will love and let them get on with it. As you had 90% of your CMers attention then it's not fair to ask her to be able to entertain the children as well as go through the contracts and policies with you. Nothing wrong with a bit of Wii when you are otherwise tied up. Now I don't have a wii personally and the ones I look after are too small for it anyway but if a potential client does drop in during working hours then I will pop on a video or cbeebies to keep the kids occupied and out of trouble until I can give them my full attention again. Mostly I just make sure that I see clients after my mindess have gone home though. Much fairer for the kids, easier and less stressful.

Breastmilk: Well I'm not a potential new client. My DC's are starting with her next week. We have already been through the contract and her policies. The whole point of the visit was for my children to meet the other children that they will be spending their days with so going after they had gone home would have been utterly pointless.

But I take on board the giving them an activity so she could have time to talk to me and concentrate on my DC'a.

I am also a childminder and i have a son whos 7 so loves playing the wii and computer games my daughter is nearly 3 and has no intrest in it. I think rollergirl is over worrying and there is no need. Its only my son and older after schoolers that i let have permission to use it sparingly. If i had a parent coming round to sign contracts ect then you have to have an activity that the other children enjoy while you are busy to the paperwork side, otherwise it would of been impossiable for her to juggle it all.

If it was a promised treat then is it fair to disrupt that because you were coming over? I like the fact the CM was consistent, promised the treat, delivered the treat and subjected herself to the scrutiny of a new client.

Secondly whilst it's the CM's workplace it's also the DC's home so as you said it's unsurprising the Wii is accessible. It wasn't clear whether it was them playing with it or whether they were just older mindees.

Your CM sounds very sensible, very clear about what is and isn't allowed and very open - all good things.

Were you worried about the game that they were playing? I think the games available would concern me more than the fact the Wii was there as some games can actually be quite beneficial (not for very young children though).

It sounds as though the CM will respect your wishes about not making it available to your children and they won't be there on Friday anyway.

Mine are in childcare mainly to keep them away from TV, video games etc. Having said that as long as you are aware of the situation aand are happy with it then Okay. Personally I wouldn't be..

Most childminders only use it in moderation just the same as a nursery would i used to work in a nursery so i know this and it can be very imformative at times. You may be surprised when they go to school as my son is 7 and has come home and said at certain times they have watched videos its not as if its going to be on 8-6 everyday.
Relax a bit.

For a start - childminding is about home based childcare and that means the care is centered around stuff that happens in the house - whether that is games consoles, cooking, tidying up, pairing up socks, going shopping for resources/supplies/food etc. For want of a better explanation.

My (older) minded children have access (by invitation) to a PS3 (eldest sons room) and an XBox (middle sons room) and we did have a Wii downstairs pre-decorating and it will be put back down there and used - in moderation, age appropriate games etc.
The Wii, any techie stuff (the PC etc) like this is beneficial to the children - again in moderation.

Do you want a home based atmosphere. It sounds like your chosen minder kept her mindees safe and occupied whilst still giving you her attention. She explained her rules and boundaries on the games console. Not sure what more you want.

The games they were playing were a table tennis game and then super mario kart. So not educational. The children were all mindees and not her own children. One of them is 4, the same age as my DD.

I am sure that the CM would respect my wishes if I made it clear i didn't want them playing. And I'm really glad that she mentioned it off her own back. It's not really a case of me wanting more from her. I get a good vibe from her and I am fairly confident that DC's will be happy and well looked after with her. But it's just so different from the Nursery enviroment that I am used to. I was really just garnering responses to check that people didn't think it was a massive no-no.

yes it is educational rollergirl - anything can be educational.
from using the Wii they are learning - hand-eye co-ordination, gross motor skills, sharing and communication skills, ict skills, concentration and listening skills.
Games consoles like the Wii and DS's are proven to help children.

The main thing that though is that you are happy with your minder and that you feel you can talk to her - which I think if you have concerns like you have expressed here, then you do talk to her.

Games consoles aren't a big no-no - providing they are used in moderation and are supervised, age appropriate etc.

the problem that comes with telling your childminder that your children cant playing the wii is when the other children are playing it and they are left out. i have a playstation which one of the after schoolers plays i allow my daughter(3) to watch him play and also my assistants son (4)but i then have another 3 year old who isnt allowed to watch much tv and computer games are a big no no its a nightmare trying to get him to do something else, we read books and the minute its done he runs through i then try to get him back to play room to do a different activitie which i does eventually do but its always at the back of his mind to hurry up with what hes doing so he can get through to watch. its a bit of ashame occasionally i let him watch for 5 minutes then try to get all the children to come and do something which sometimes it works and other times it doesnt.
would you allow the children to play its an odd time for a short period of time. i would say a wii is better than a play station as they are at least moving about physically than just sitting.

I've got a Wii, but it's for my own children.
Don't want mindees breaking it