Childminder wants to start a facebook account

[Likestoeatcheese]

My childminder has decided that she wants to set up a Facebook page to show parents things she does with the children in her care. She has proposed setting up a closed or secret group where she will add pictures of the children and what they get up to.

I feel very nervous about this for a number of reasons - security issues, who owns the pictures, who gets invited and when, and generally concerned about info on my child effectively being "in the public domain".

She already has a dedicated secure website where she shares pictures and daily activities etc, so the only difference i can see is the facility to "comment / chat" with other parents.

I'd be interested to know what others think.

I'm in loads of secret groups and they've never shown to anyone not invited, my friend checks regularly for me. You can see if new members are added.
The only thing is obviously fb could in theory change settings and also that they may claim ownership on data type things.
Think it's up to you with regard to that bit.

For me I'd love it if my childminder did this personally

I use a service called lifecake for sharing pics - it's an app but there's also a web interface. You invite people you want to see the photos and there's no public access at all, even by mistake - might be an alternative?

I don't see the point in a FB group.

She already uses a secure website to show you what she does with the kids.

Sounds suspiciously like a "valid" excuse/reason to spend her day dicking around on Facebook to me.

I didn't think cms were allowed to post pics on social media of children in their care.

It wouldn't bother me, but we have no security concerns with our children.

If you have concerns over your child's security then YANBU to refuse to allow her to show pictures.

She is not being unreasonable to ask though, I'm sure many parents wouldn't mind.

Does she have to put up photos of children's faces?

I find fb a good advertising tool, and regularly update what we do, and photos of activities, but children's faces never appear on page. All parents signed forms agreeing to this.

You don't have to give your permission, don't agree to anything that makes you uncomfortable!

Sounds suspiciously like a "valid" excuse/reason to spend her day dicking around on Facebook to me
or maybe a valid alternative way to show parents what fun their children are having?

A lot of childminders do this. As FB is so popular and easy to add photos from a mobile, it is instant. I personally don't have a fb page because of reasons given above...FB tend to change settings etc. Any CM with have a photo permission form that has to be signed by the parents. If you, OP, really don't want the photos on FB then it should go on the form as such and be signed. The CM will just have to exclude your child from any group shots, not really a problem. They won't miss out on anything.
I do have permission to put children on my blog page but I always take photos from above or behind a child so their faces are never in the picture, unless it's one I send directly to the parent.

I know a few CM's with Facebook pages & they have all got new business from it (& no, don't spend all day dicking around on Facebook as a result ). If you're not comfortable or have any safeguarding/child protection issue either just say sorry but no or ask that she doesn't include child's full name or photos showing her face. I take loads of pics on my phone & those with faces are usually sent straight to parents & ones without show detail such as hands cutting/mark making or back view climbing stairs etc & used for observations & LJ.

I was going to say the same as ACM88. Can't she show activities etc with just pictures of hands and things? I have a social media account that shows these things, for inspiration for others mainly, and I follow others who do the same. No way of identifying the children though.
I also take pictures of the 'whole child' doing the activities but keep these just for making into a scrapbook for the parents to see.
I'm a nanny not a childminder though.

I had a Facebook page when childminding and found it as an easy fast way of letting parents no what we were upto throughout the day . Now I use a childminder it's a great way to browse through my news feed and can see what my kids are upto or have been upto tht day . I think it's a great thing . Names of kids are nver mentioned . Sometimes tags herself in at a place then tags me in so I no where my children are at certain points in the day

I'm a member of a secret FB group and we all put photos of our kids on it.

If the group is secret rather than private, it doesn't show up on your own FB page. Then you won't get Fb friends asking you what it is or asking to join.

I'm assuming it's as you described in your OP, for the parents of the mindees, and not for advertising .

Unless you have a serious security issues eg violent ex partner , I wouldn't be concerned at all

We have a closed Facebook account for pre-school, which allows parents to see what the children were doing that day BUT we don't allow pictures of the children to be shown, just the activities

I wouldn't want pictures of my children posted on Facebook, faces can be cut and pasted.
Your childminder needs to be asking your permission before using photos of your child on Facebook and you have every right to say that you do not give your permission.