Childminder: is this ok?

[EmmalinaC]

DD1 started school last Thursday. She will be with a childminder three mornings and two afternoons. So far she has had one afternoon session and one morning session with the CM.

CM has just called to say her own daughter (same age/school as mine) has been invited on an after-school playdate with a child she was at nursery with, tomorrow afternoon. She asked if I was happy for her to take my DD along too.

She knows the house/family and (although I don't and nor does my DD).

I just wondered if this is a normal thing for a CM to ask? Sorry if that's a stupid question but I'm new to this childminder/school business so I'm not sure if I'm being a bit pfb or if the childminder is being a bit cheeky.

Also, would my CM's liability insurance be valid in someone else's home. Is that a consideration?

Any advice welcome. Thanks!

Wouldn't have a problem with it myself. No different to taking smaller children to toddler group really?

I wouldn't have a problem with it - it might be another friend for dd.

For me, integration into the wider community is one of the big benefits of a childminder.

A childminder is a bit like a surrogate grandmother, rather than a small nursery, iyswim.

Getting out and about is nicer than hanging aorund at home, in any case. It'll let you be more lazy with a clear conscience!

I take it that she is going to accompany and stay with her own dd and yours? If not, obviously a complete no no; if so, I wouldn't have a problem with this.

Thanks for your sensible replies. I have just called CM to say it's fine and I've told DD, and she's really excited

Surrogate grandmother? all the cms I interviewed, including our cm now have been far, far too young to be grandmothers :)

[sticks head round the door]

Hey Star, I am a Grandmother I will have you know!

awww shoshe :) I must not have interviewed you! lol
I'm not saying there is anything wrong with grandmother cms or nannies. Quite lovely/ideal in fact. I just have never met one!

Must been pension day, and I was down the post office

It's not the age, it's the attitude.

Slightly inclined to spoil the kids; different nuclear family all connected to the same cm/ grandmother to make an extended family of sorts; has own ways of doing things, and not really constructive to micro manage; and lots of love and patience.

Ah I understand, sylvanianfamily :)

Sylyanian that is a fab way of putting it. I've been struggling a bit to define in my own mind what I expect from mine (by which I mean she's not a nanny in my sole employment or a teacher) and you've summed it up nicely. Thank you.