What does your childminder 'do' with your toddler?

[Millie3030]

Hi, my DS is 22 months old and has a childminder 2 days a week. He seems to enjoy going there, and she writes a little note in a contact book that they went to a toddler group or to the park, or walk the school run. She has a 7yr old DS she walks to school. But she doesn't include photographs or really seem to read books with him or teach him anything. I know she isn't a teacher, but I do wonder what he does all day really apart from a 1-2 hr toddler group.

The few minutes I pick him up and have a brief conversation with her while other parents are doing pick ups etc is sometimes a bit busy and I feel I'm being rude saying do you have any photos as she obviously doesn't or she would show them surely? Also sometimes I pick him up and she will say he hasn't slept today, or only slept half an hour, which is strange as he sleeps 2 hrs usually at home. I feel maybe she is out and about and his sleep isn't her first priority, she also childminds a 3 yr old and maybe she comes first as she is older.

Am I being a bit precious and should just be happy that he is happy to go there? Or should I say something? Or change childminders? Any childminders out there that could give any insight?

Oh and she's not really a stickler for all the ofsted stuff and development checks. She fills them in to tick the box but is much more about tailoring her approach to the individual child as she spends a lot of time getting to know them and how they learn best, their preferences etc. She doesn't push them into pigeon holes and if they don't like an activity she encourages play instead.

HSM The thing with phones is though, you don't take the work camera out to busy shopping centres or pubs or clubs in the evening. Camera snatching is not the most common street crime.
That's why I've always been advised to use a basic digital camera.

True squzita. That's why I have two levels of security on my phone and can wipe it using find my iPhone and transfer all the photos to my laptop at least once a day, so I can delete them from my phone.

That wouldn't work as easily, or as securely with loads of staff at nurseries.

Ah yes of course the solution wpuld be to just delete them. Feels a bit dim.

I'm still dreaming about going to pubs and clubs squzita

Mine does a weekly activity plan and meal plan which details everything that will be happening although obviously things do change.

Normally one external activity per day such as Monkey Music, playgroup, rhyme time and one internal craft activity such as sponge/finger painting. Each week has a theme with related activities and books (e.g. my body).

We get photos/videos by Whatsapp and 'artwork' most afternoons plus occasional observations which we get a copy of and a copy goes in DD's file.

I purposely chose a CM who was interested in structured activities and was quite a 'planner' though. Similar to an earlier post, it is a labour of love and pride for her and she purposely has a very low ratio to be able to deliver all this.

My daughters childminder is amazing. She goes four days a week. Monday is a day at the childminders, lots of games, crafts, singing and story reading and two sets of school pick ups so lots of fresh air, she takes her to a toddler group on Tuesday's, family centre on Wednesdays, and on a Thursday either to soft play/walk in the forest/visit to another childminders to play in the garden. Lots of stimulation. we have a communication book that is filled out daily detailing meals, naps, nappies, actitvities, moods, development. I also get given a development folder every six months detailing my daughters development and how this has been supported this includes photo. This is lovely but I find it ott and a lot of paper work for the childminder.