Unsure about childminder

[Rockieroad]

My DS, 14 months, has been going to a childminder 3 days a week for around a month now, as I am back at work.

He is happy at pick up and drop off, doesn't mind saying goodbye etc.

However, I'm just not completely happy with the situation and I don't know if I'm just being precious, or whether I should find a new childminder.

The things that I am not comfortable with:

• no updates throughout the day. The childminder was using an app but when we started she said she was having issues with it, the developers have updated it and now it doesn't work. We have brief chats at pick up and drop off but I'd like more information on how well he is eating/sleeping/nappies/activities throughout the day. From talking to other people this seems quite normal considering his age?
• little/no outside time. DS goes in the buggy twice a day for the school run, but other than this there is no outside time (except during the school holidays when the childminders DD was home!). I liked the childminder as when we went to visit she was showing me the child friendly garden and was saying how outdoorsey she is
• no structured activities at all. I know DS is still young, but they go to a stay and play once a week and other than that, as far as I know, it's just playing with toys. No arts & crafts or messy play or anything

I just worry he isn't stimulated enough and is bored but of course I have no way of actually knowing.

Is this normal? Am I just being PFB or is it worth exploring other options? I don't want to move him unnecessarily as he seems reasonably settled but something is just making me uneasy!

Can I ask how you know he’s not doing those things if she’s not giving you a detailed breakdown of his day? Could it be that’s she’s just not telling you “oh Jack went in the garden for 10 mins, then did drawing” etc?

If you’re uneasy about his safety/happiness though you should listen to that feeling.

I have to say this app business wasn't about with my youngsters and they survived. Personally I prefer people looking after my child rather than spending hours on an app.

I have to agree with @ArnoldBee, childcare providers seem to consider an app a “selling point” but frankly it just takes time away from looking after the child and I wouldn’t have time to be checking it anyway. Seems a waste of everyone’s time.

That said if it’s important to you then I would look for somewhere that prioritises these kind of updates. Because as @Fiestyfish says, it’s difficult to know what they’re actually doing.

DD is a similar age. She goes to a childminder only once a week at the moment but we will be increasing - I don’t get lots of updates throughout the day and she doesn’t use a specific early years app but I do get at least one picture via WhatsApp each day she is there, and then a picture of a sheet where she has written what she ate, how long she napped for and how many nappy changes. It’s kind of the minimum I’d expect to be honest.

On the one hand I’d love more photos/ updates but having worked in early years settings (more in school though) I know how quickly the apps/ learning journeys can turn into a ‘box ticking’ exercise and detract from meaningful interactions and I’d rather my childminder focused more on those.

I chose her as very much a home from home setting and am not too fussed about her doing too many structured activities but like you the outdoor time was important to me (possibly because I can be a bit lazy on that front myself ).

Could you have a chat with the CM in the first instance - ask if she’s sorted anything out with the app yet and if not what is she planning on doing as an alternative to communicate with parents, just say nicely that you’d like a bit more info - hopefully she’ll be able to reassure you and if not then it makes the decision a bit easier.

My DS is older but has been going to our child minder since just before he turned 3.
I never got updates bar one or two pictures back when he first started. He's now 5 and still loves going.
I don't always know what they've been up to. AFAIK they aren't there to provide education or structured tasks, they are there to take care of the child when the main carers are at work/unable to for whatever reason? I may be wrong but I know nursery was way more structured but then I paid more for that.

How many kids does the childminder look after? It can be hard if they are all wanting to do different things, some not wanting to go outside etc.

I would also say that your child is going to have a lifetime of structured activities so just let the kid play. This is how he will learn best until year 1.

Are you sure they aren't going outside? There's no harm in asking for more information during the day.

Activities wise, a childminder is unlikely to have the same level of provision as a nursery.

Not all childminders are highly qualified either. It's very straightforward to get a childminding qualification and takes a matter of weeks. I say this as a very experienced teacher who did the childminding qualification on mat leave in 5 weeks during my dd's naps.

Where did you find her?
Did she come recommended?

Thank you for all the replies! Was worried no one would get through my rambling.

@Fiestyfish - this is a very good point and you are right I don't know. However, the one time they have been out I got a ton of photos updates which the complete lack of updates some days worry me. I am going to start asking a casual 'what has he been up to today' to try and gauge it

@ArnoldBee @PurBal I completely agree that I wouldn't want the childminder on the app for hours! But from speaking to my own mum from when I was at a childminder back in the 80s, she used to get a sheet of paper briefly summarising things, and I do know others that receive information in some way or another.

@AliasGrape I feel the same about structured activities. I'm knackered at the weekend and trying to catch up on chores - and would feel less guilty getting on with things if I know he has had a stimulating and exciting week haha. That's a good idea to ask about the app again - I will do.

@SliceOfCakeCupOfTea this is the thing. I wasn't entirely sure what to expect and that's what I was trying to find out/whether it was worth looking into nurseries. One of the reasons I chose a childminder over a nursery is just because there aren't any close to home, would be around a 15 minute drive out of the way that I would rather avoid, but of course will do this if I need to. I thought that childminders also had to follow the EYFS hence why I expected a bit more than just free play all day? She minds 2 other under 5s, and then drops her own children and I think or two off/picks up from school

Yes you should have the basics of sleep and food and ideally
Played outside /with playdough /colouring etx

Some childminders provide more of a structured day whilst others are more free play. A young child learns far more through play than structured activities.
A childminder shouldn't be discounted because they don't do more structured activities, it's more following the interests of the child and helping them develop, learn and grow.

I use an online system but never login in whilst working, I just provide a summary every evening including some of the things we've done, food, nappies and sleep etc. You could always ask your childminder to provide you with those details. I also occasionally message photos during the day but that's not often. I always send photos at the end of the day with the summary.

Have a chat with your childminder, it's far better than coming on here and asking peoples opinions. Everyone looks for different things in childcare, someone else's perfect minder may be completely different to what you would like. Just have a chat and ask for a regular update every day

The lack of time outdoors would bother me but I don't think structured activities are necessary for a 14mo. As far as I know, OFSTED registered childminders do have to follow EYFS but I'm not sure what else a 14mo would be doing in a nursery other than free play? Happy to be corrected as I haven't ever used a nursery.

My kids childminder used to send me occasional pictures which was fine for me. If she had time to go on an App or send elaborate messages showcasing their daily activities I'd a) quickly get quite bored and b) wonder how she found the time to do that when she has 3-4 mindees to look after.

Found her on childcare.co.uk, unfortunately don’t know anyone locally enough for recommendations.

I am going to speak to her but wanted to know what was normal and what wasn’t based on others opinions, didn’t want to overreact!

From this thread I’ve realised that the structured play thing isn’t too much of a big deal, but seems the general consensus is they should be going outside a bit more (or maybe they are and I just don’t know!). I’ll ask a few more questions and go from there

Does The cm have a garden ? How do you know she doesn’t do outside time and take them for a walk or park or feed ducks or play in her garden

Mine are older now but we actually worked alternate hours to each other when the dc were young as we didn't feel comfortable with childminders. I totally understand as the children cant talk or communicate clearly it I such a worry.

But I really believe now that if they are happy and fed and minded at that age that's all they need. I no time at all they will be able to tell you what they did.

What I would do is ask the minder if you could have a chat and talk to her. Just ask her for a rough idea of the the routine and change fees if you still feel uneasy

What makes you think they don't go outside?

Talk with your childminder again. If she is not working out, find another one on the same website. But chat to her first and perhaps offer some suggestions on activities to do etc.

When my DD went to a cm years ago, around the same age as your DS, we had little notebook. The cm would write in it each day, if she had slept, eaten well, any particular activities she had enjoyed. I also wrote in it to let her know anything. This seems like a reasonable amount of info to want for a child that age.

I would say definitely have the chat with your CM. Having an excellent working relationship is vital for all parties, including your little one.
As for 'structured activities' that's not really a thing. She may be following in the moment planning, she may be a child led setting. However, she absolutely has to be implementing the EYFS as an Ofsted Registered Childminder. That doesn't mean having 'structured activities' though. If she has a child friendly garden then I imagine that she uses that most days. Just ask, have that chat. Ask to be updated even if it's a text or a couple of pics through the day.

I work in childcare, I do nanny shares (so similar to a childminder in that I usually have kids from 2 families at any one time)
I use WhatsApp to communicate with the parents. I try to take photos wherever we go (not so much the mundane playgroups, but out and about) and let them know about sleep etc..
I think that parents should never feel like they are being a burden asking for information, they are your children at the end of the day!
I also don't spend ages on my phone. I can whip the camera out in seconds and I send the photos once the children are napping or if they are engrossed for 2 mins.

I agree with others that free play is important, when at home we mainly free play to be honest. But i do set the tuff tray up sometimes too! And we do arts and crafts although I find up until about 18 months, they don't tend to love painting much, maybe 5 mins max! So sometimes the clean up isn't worth it but we do do it.

However, outdoor time is important for me. We are outside every single day, at least every morning and often in the afternoon too. I believe that outdoor time is super beneficial to young children and they can learn so much too!

But ultimately, you need to go with your gut.

Oh and as for doing chores at the weekend, your little one can get involved too! It's surprising what they'll love doing!

All the beat.

All the best * that should say!

My CM sends me maybe one or 2 pictures a day, which is ample, I'd much prefer her to be with the dc than fannying about on an app.
If your dc is an only and she has other pre schoolers they are probably having loads of fun just being with other kids and free playing.

I used a private nursery with dc1, we had apps, handover logs, formal parents evening etc. I use a CM with dc 2 and have none of that, but am equally happy.

It's a very personal relationship with a CM and you need to be happy, but you must be realistic as well.

Like all settings there have been a lot of changes...most stopped paper diaries due to covid on guidence given to reduce things going between houses......also typically 2 parents in 10 engage with them typically loosing them letting lo draw all over them cover them in food or not getting them out of the bag after the novelty has worn off.......the eyfs has also changed so all settings are encouraged to do less paperwork and more play. You talk to her every day why don't you ask is x going 8n the garden? Is x doing messy play? Current eyfs guidence for all settings it reduced adult led activities and more child led with the adult adding vocabulary, enhancing play etc but not forcing it.
Most will send less pictures once your child is settled some forwarding them weekly or monthly even half termly. As Ofsted do not want to see the type of paperwork contained in apps many settings are now saving their money .....again a lot of parents never log on anyway and sending by WhatsApp is free. Ofsted want to know a practitioner knows the children where they are and what's next which is generally done by 3 to 5 hours of one to one questioning...What is that child getting from that activity to meet next steps? Where is that child in their communication why how etc. not read paperwork by ofsted inspector arrived at 9am and left at 3pm no breaks continual questions on each of the 3 children on every activity the child selected other than looking at safegaurding stuff, registers, qualifications, references and 2 year checks it was all verbal. Why spend £100 plus for something not looked at?
You can look at a childminders training and references I have a degree, level 3 childcare and education, portage and loads more this year so far I've completed a year long cache level 3 in children coping with adverse experiences, a level 2 in specific learning needs, and numerous short courses. Most childminders have the same qualification as a nursery room manager.

Not sure if you've spoken to her yet but I'd get a notebook and say you're conscious you keep quizzing her at pick up when she no doubt wants to end her day so would she mind jotting a few lines about your LO's day. This is fairly standard practise in any childcare setting and takes literally minutes (I'm a cm and do mine whilst the dc are eating tea) eg
Am:went to playgroup via the park & fed the ducks
Pm: wooden puzzles, train track and dress up. Nap 1-2:45. Dirty nappy after lunch.
I put meals on mine plus any issues, concerns or the odd funny/lovely moment. My ds went to a childminder and she did the same & I still like looking over them 17 years on!