My childminder mentioned some time ago that she wanted to get a couple of guinea pigs but that the cage she wanted was very expensive and she wondered if parents would contribute. I think some parents did offer but then we didn't hear any more about it. Now she has said that she plans to get a King Charles spaniel.
My 6 year old goes to her 4 mornings a week before school and 2 afternoons a week after school and other days in the holidays and INSET days. So he's not there all day every day and he doesn't have any allergies. And he likes dogs.
I really think this is a bad idea - from my own selfish perspective (I don't want him coming home covered in dog hair and stinking of dog: also I am allergic to cat hair and the only reason I don't know if I am allergic to dogs is because I don't tend to go to houses where there are any) and also because I wonder if it's a good idea to have a dog when you look after other peoples' small children. In my experience, no dog is 100% trustworthy, though I would be surprised if a spaniel caused any problems - although who can say how they react when in a house full of children from 2-11?
Do you think it is reasonable for me to say I don't think this is a good idea? I feel rather cheeky telling someone whether or not they can have a dog especially as I assume her own 9 year old really wants one and she probably misses out on things all the time becuase of her parents being childminders but I thought the guinea pigs were a much better idea!
I don't know what the other parents think.