What is reasonable for me to expect my CM to do whilst the kids are with her?

[honie]

Hi

I have two LO's with a childminder for an hour before and three hours after school. She does the school run, takes the kids and hers to the park a couple of times week for 20 minutes and gives them a snack. She wont feed them unless I take the food with me, and it has to be something easy like soup or toast with beans. She cooks her families meal while my kids are there and does her housework, other than a bit of sticking and glueing my kids are watching tele or playing on the comp, in good weather they play in the garden.

I'm not sure if I am being unreasonable thinking she should be doing a bit more with them while they are there? It would also be a huge weight off my shoulders if they were fed before 7 at night as they have lunch at 12.

Other thing is that she takes weekdays off with a week and a few days notice, leaving me no choice but to take time off work, is this normal?

Sorry for a million and one questions, but as she is my first experience of childminding I have nothing to base it on!!

Thanks you for reading!!

I agree with many of the messages here. After school kids generally want to relax have fun with other children. Sometimes it can be really difficult to get them interested in anything, they love a run around the garden - running off energy. I allow some TV when they first arrive, then make sure lots of activities are provided - puzzles, games, books, quiet time for homework, maybe some craft work, drawing, playdough. It can be difficult to get heavily involved with painting ect, as you then need to clear down for food. I feed my mindees (for an extra charge) so have to cook while children are there, so this does create some "housework" such as clearing tables, setting, keeping worktops clear and clearing away, wiping mess off floors. I am contracted to give 4 weeks notice of time off, unless there is a reason such as illness or emergency. Speak to your children and find if they are happy, thats what is important.

Thank you for all the replies, You,ve all been really helpful.

I think possibly as it's the first time she has been a CM and I have used a CM we're both having teething issues!! I'm going to put together a bag of food at the start of the week to take round to her house, I would love to eat with the children as a family each night but by the time I get home, cook and feed them they wouldn't get to bed untill past 8 and thats too late, it's making them (and me!!) grumpy!

We have 2 weeks notice for holidays in the contract, would that be the odd days off too? One child is happy, but the other isn't so keen, she doesn't get on well with the CM eldest child. We are intending on changing to AP childcare when it's viable.

Congratulations to the lady who is Pregnant!

If I had that sort of contract I would encourage you to pay £1.25 for supper for each child and then sit them down with my 2 and other mindees at 5pmish for their dinner.

I've always felt - and politely encouraged parents to consider the same - that children staying with me after 5pm ought to have their dinner at mine - its too later for them otherwise. mind you I provide "picky snacks" after school - like fruit with few crisps, few biscuits and maybe crackers and cheese or breadsticks - which take a while to eat. The playroom is available for all children and they often get together to make rsmall world type games with the farm and cars etc all mixed together. I allow 20 mins of tv or computer games - and its either or not both for 20 mins! I do not EVER do housework after school except cook the tea - and if its somethign like lasagne or roast dinner I will have pre prepared alot of it before leaving for school and may already have it in the oven on low....

She sounds like someone not doing it for the love of the kids or as a career - more a pockt money childminder.....you should be getting more from her time with your children.