New to childminding and quetions already!

[Nancy10]

I'm a newly registered CM and at the moment have no children to look after. I'm registered to care for 3 children as I have 3 school age children of my own. I had my first enquiry last week from a woman who wants me to care for her daughter who is nearly 2. To start with she only wants me for a morning/afternoon a week. She has a younger baby at home and doesn't work, so I think it's for a bit of a break. She seems nice enough but she was concerned that her daughter wouldn't be able to socialise as at the moment I haven't got any other children (I've only been registered for 2 weeks!) I told her that I know of other child minders/ children that we could meet up with at the local park, each others houses etc all within about 3 miles and can organise pre school type activities etc. But she has said that she doesn't want her child leaving my house. I explained that all children in my care will be supervised at all times by me, but she said she is neurotic and would worry about her being anywhere else but in my home. She is happy for other people to come to my house though. For one morning/afternoon a week I can cope with this but my concern is that if she ups the days I will be a prisoner in my home practically. Also through the school holidays, what about my own children? I do appreciate it's scary leaving your children and maybe she'll relax after a while but I'm concerned she won't. I know of this woman and she is used to having people working for her and on her terms. I'm seeing her next week and I'm going to say that it won't be that we're going out all the time but I can't commit to not leaving the house when he's in my care. AIBU?

You cannot care for a child you cannot take out

What if you needed to collect your child from school?

Plus it is not health being inside all the time

Steer clear!!! She's already admitted she's neurotic so what other things will she come up with further down the line??? It's not worth the hassle for a couple of short sessions a week.

Wait a bit longer for other mindees.

I can't see how you can promise that you will never leave the house when minding this child. YANBU but the parent is. What about school runs for your own children, what if something happens and you have to go out, I have a mum who doesnt want her dc to go to playgroups, I can work around that but she is still happy for us to go to park, trips, the hell known as soft play etc.

Personally I would not care for a child on those terms, hold out for a mindee longer hours / reasonable terms of care.

no

run v fast

EYFS is v clear on children being part of the community

hang on and I'll find you a linkie

No you are not being unreasonable.

I think this parent is a little OTT actually. It doesn't quite add up that she is fine to leave her child with a total stranger (albeit a registered childminder) but for this stranger not to take the child out of the house. Did she say exactly what her concerns are if child leaves your house?

I personally would not be able to accommodate such a request from a parent, I would need to consider all children in my setting and our usual routine is to go out in the mornings and occasionally in the afternoon.

As you said you will need to consider your own children too.

Try and gauge what it is she is afraid of.

scroll down

also

'Remember that children who have limited opportunity to play outdoors may lack a sense of danger.' from here

you could try to explain that you are required to take the child out and about and that if the parent is not happy with that then she must find a CM who is willing to flout regs

Thanks for your replies! I will explain this all to her when she comes over. I had thought of steering clear but decided to at least see her first. She didn't go into much detail about why she is so neurotic but whatever the reason I can't provide the care she's looking for. It's not fair on other potential parents and children and not for the hours either.
There is another excellent cm in my area who is just brilliant. She is always out and about, at the park, walking along foot paths, library, singing groups etc. This is what I had planned to do. Also where I live we are fairly remote. I can't expect a 2 year old to walk to the shop and it would be very lonely too! With a bit of luck she'll see sense.

good luck

dont touch with a barge pole love... loopy draws.....

Nope, don't take her on. For a start one morning a week may become difficult to accommodate once you get other clients and also you just don't want to be stuck at home like that, the woman is loopy! To be fair, I don't see the problem with only having her DC and no others either - what does the woman think that single-child families do, invite other kids round for every minute of the day

Run Forrest Run!

In reply to lollypop mother, I'm glad you don't see it as an issue that I've only got her DC. If I'd left my children with a cm with a small no of children, I would have seen this as a good thing that they'd have the cm's undivided attention. She's coming round at the end of the week. I'm going to point her in the direction of a local pre school. Also I know of lots of little children the same age whose parents/carers would be more then happy to socialise with us. So he would get lots of interaction, same with going to toddler groups and the park! I'm going to tell her this and she'll have to either accept it or go elsewhere.

Also just to add, a childminder that is never seen out in public with any of the children she cares for raises concerns to me. there is another cm who I see all the time, out and about and she'd be the first person I'd ring if I needed one!