Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Paid childcare

Discuss everything related to paid childcare here, including childminders, nannies, nurseries and au pairs.

Flip

1 2

Original poster

CM club. Do you have an ice-cream policy?

26 replies

BarbieCan · 19/05/2014 06:56

Just wondering how to handle demands for ice-cream on hot days.
I spend a lot of time outdoors and children see others having ice-creams and obviously want one too, but I can't give them ice-cream or ice-lollies all the time, can't I?
It's particularly hard when my own or I fancy one but we can't have it whilst with mindees due to healthy eating and all that. But that is ok.
I look after EY children and I remember being told off at a children's centre because I gave mini milks to 3 years old on a very hot day...(it was after a very healthy lunch too and I was outside the children's centre waiting for the kids to finish their mini milks).
Also it looks like mini milks are not popular anymore. Kids now want cornetto, magnum etc which will get expensive for me if I treat them all the time.
Should I just say no and deal with the tantrums, whys, and demands or do I talk to parents and ask for extra money if they don't mind their children having it when they ask?

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

HSMMaCM · 19/05/2014 07:38

Mostly I say no, but occasionally say yes.

I wouldn't listen to anyone moaning about mini milks as part of a healthy diet.

I have frozen water ice lollies in my freezer at home and the children love them.

Original poster

BarbieCan · 19/05/2014 07:42

Thanks. Yes at home is easy. Not so easy at the park or near an ice-cream van.

OP posts:

SavoyCabbage · 19/05/2014 07:47

I live it a hot place and what I do is freeze those pop top bottles (like fruit shoots ) with a mixture of water and pure fruit juice and take tem with me.

They can have a slurp when they have defrosted a bit and you can refill them for the next time.

starlight1234 · 19/05/2014 07:52

I think it is about Balanced diet. I don't tend to give many treats food wise I save them for parents to give but if we were out in park for a long time we would probably have an ice cream.

I would not offer a big selection..For olders give a choice of cone or a cheapish ice lolly, kids mini milks are perfect. I also wouldn't say yes every time simply the same as my DS.

I include snacks in my prices so it would simply be paid for by me

deepinthewoods · 19/05/2014 08:09

Can't you make your own? My kids don't like dairy and I don't like ice cream, so we don't eat it. I do make and freeze lollies though using fresh jiuce, oragne, apple, mango is nice too.

Blondeshavemorefun · 19/05/2014 08:31

Agree it's hard when out a lot and ice cream van is there

When I buy then for kids (nanny not cm so have kitty) but I always buy small cheap mr men fruit / mini milk - even tho sometimes they say parents will buy them Chocolate / smartie push up / expensive ones - I don't

I also don't buy every trip or expect it and once one dc was being a pain and kept asking when would have one. I said after lunch as at picnic at park. Eventually Was warned not to keep asking or would lose it. He asked again and therefore blondes always keeps her threats promises and he didn't get one :(

Was a lesson he learnt from !!!!

Cindy34 · 19/05/2014 09:11

Saw a programme on TV last week about icecream, the cheaper stuff was better for you as had less fat.

Ice lollies contain quite high sugar, even home made as fruit juice is high sugar. So not sure anything will be perfect but if it is occasional rather than every day then I see no harm. If children were in care of their parents, wouldn't e parents be buying ice lollies/ice cream when at the park?

Frozen water bottles I have done for years, has the benefit of acting as a cool pack as well to keep the sandwiches cool.

As a nanny I don't have an ice cream policy and not sure it has even been discussed. The family has ice cream, ice lollies in the freezer.

busyDays · 19/05/2014 13:39

I always just say 'you have to ask your mum for an ice cream/sweet/cake/crisps/etc', whenever they ask. The children do quite quickly learn that they won't get any treats from me and just stop asking. They still have a great time at the park so I don't really think ice creams are that necessary!

LingDiLong · 19/05/2014 13:43

buying ice creams when out is a rare treat here due to the expense! 5 or 6 individual ice creams is eye wateringly pricey. I usually keep some in the freezer and also homemade lollies so I tell them they can have one when we get home. it is usually no more than a once a week treat.

HSMMaCM · 19/05/2014 17:02

I have a special 'ice cream purse' and sadly it only seems to have money in it about twice a year ??

Jinxxx · 20/05/2014 13:42

We make yoghourt lollies. I don't think even the children's centre staff would object to yoghourt!

JessMcL · 20/05/2014 23:27

Freeze drinks and take them with you- they will defrost but will be nice and cool. I used to do it for work- after 2/3 hours there would be fluid to drink but a huge piece of ice in the middle keeping it nice and cold.

johnworf · 21/05/2014 09:52

Soon to be CM and lurking to see what advice is given

I know that CMs are encouraged to give a healthy balanced diet but when my own daughter was in nursery, their food was provided by the adjoining primary school. On many occasions they had ice cream as a pudding. Sometimes cake and custard.

I'm confused!

ForeskinHyena · 21/05/2014 10:01

Buy some of the 100% fruit juice lollies or make your own and have them when you get home, then they won't feel like they're missing out when you're out and about and it will save you money.

I put frubes in the freezer so they last longer and also they make a handy pop-up ice cream when you chop the top off and squeeze them out.

As a parent I wouldn't mind my DCs having an ice cream or lolly once a week in the summer but I would be more worried about them expecting or demanding any treat than about the health implications. At their age they run off excess energy and they need some fat in their diet so the odd ice cream isn't going to do them any harm (especially when 10 months of the year it's too blimmin cold to eat one).

Bonkerz · 21/05/2014 22:25

I freeze the innocent fruit smoothie tubes and also the squeeze yoghurt tubes. Bananas are great frozen on sticks and also you can make your own smoothy lollies. Agree it's difficult keeping children cool. Lots of water play and shade helps though along with ice play

Tanith · 23/05/2014 19:47

My Ice Cream Policy:

All adults are to be included in any ice cream consumption.

Chocolate of some description is obligatory; whether this includes chocolate icecream, sprinkles, flakes, sauce or all of them at once is entirely at the discretion of the childminder (who will share equally in any decoration used).

Strawberry, chocolate, vanilla, chocolate, raspberry and chocolate are all considered by OFSTED to be essential staples (see below) and are kept in the freezer at all time. These must never be permitted to run out. Frequent inspection is necessary to ensure they are kept adequately stocked at all times.

It is a little known fact that the deterioration of icecream is considerably faster than the sell-by date estimated by the manufacturers. To ensure quality standards, the childminder undertakes to sample icecream on a regular basis.

Ratings:

Outstanding: a plentiful supply of a wide and varied selection of flavours, adornments, wafers, cornets and decorations, including those considered to be staples.

Good: several flavours available, including the staples. Some of the more popular decorations and sauces present.

Requires Improvement: only the essential flavours present with limited decorations.

Inadequate: No chocolate!!

Immediate suspension/closure: No icecream!!!!

HSMMaCM · 23/05/2014 20:23

Love it Tanith. Can I copy it :)

Blondeshavemorefun · 23/05/2014 20:51

Brill tanith :)

Tanith · 24/05/2014 12:14

By all means :)

D'you think OFSTED will approve?

HSMMaCM · 24/05/2014 14:25

Do I care what Ofsted think?

Tanith · 25/05/2014 22:47

I'm often tempted to show them spoof policies, just to see the reaction

starlight1234 · 25/05/2014 22:55

love it Tanith.

I was at home with two Mindees ( 1pre school one baby) and ds (7) the ice cream van arrived on the street. Mindee starts screaming ice cream gets very excited. Baby carries on playing, my ds said nothing carried on with what he was doing ( he knows I don't buy off the street) and she looked round in bewilderment as to why no one was excited at the van's arrival... lol

Lucylouby · 25/05/2014 23:38

I don't buy ice dreams etc while out. It's nothing to do with the health aspect and is all about the cost. This means that my own dc don't get ice creams bought for them at the park etc, but they are ok with it. I sometimes (but not always) buy them an ice cream at the weekend while we are out, but not very often. We have ice cream at home for pudding when/if we want it so I don't feel I am depriving anyone.

SueDNim · 25/05/2014 23:49

I'm not a CM, but I have taught my DD the rule that you can have ice cream if you can't see any clouds in the sky. It turns out to be a pretty rare occurrence Though she does get ice cream on other special occasions, I'm not that mean. I learnt it from a teacher who would buy his whole class an ice cream if there were no clouds.

flipflop79 · 01/06/2014 23:20

Saying "No" all the time seems a bit harsh. As part of a well balanced diet, on a hot day, i don't see why anyone would have a problem with it ( I was going to add "occasionally" but the "hot day" covered that :) ). Having said that, you should check with the parents of your mindees.

Flip

1 2