I think i would like to stop supplying dinner!?!

[donna porter]

Ever since I started childminding I've supplied a home cooked hot meal for all children and we've been having dinner at about 4 o clock. That suited me fine when my own babies were small but now they are getting bigger I would like us to have our dinner with my husband a bit later. The children I mind are 5 and 18mths. The 5 year old is a nightmare at mealtimes so it would be nice not to have that stress but the 18mth old is a pleasure to feed.
Do you think it would be unfair of me to change the rules like that??

[moggy]

No, not unfair, if you...
- give some notice and discuss it with parents first to get their feelings about it (or at least let them know you are listening to them)
- maybe give the option that they supply a packed-dinner for you to heat up if it suits you/them.
- if food is included in your fees, be ready to address that as they won't be getting as much for their money any more.

Or can you find a way to cook extra portions for your family's late meal and use those re-heated for the mindee's early dinner the next day, or frozen for future use (to save you cooking twice in a day)?

I hope they take it well and you find a good solution for you all.

[Daisy De]

I agree with everything Moggy has said.

Just wanted to add in 20 years of childminding I have never provided meals and it has never been a problem with parents. I don't have to fret about what to have, when or how to cook it and there is no stress about food not eaten :D

[funemnx]

I stopped providing meals and the parents were not happy about it, but had no choice - now that those children have grown up and moved on I've just offered to heat up food parents provide - I don't push the children to eat and it just goes in the bin if they don't eat it. The relief is fantastic! :thumbsup:

[Shamai]

I'm seriously thinking about giving up doing dinners too - one mindee has a school dinner, dinner with me and then eats with parents!! The other mindees also get fed again when they get home. Its hard balancing all their likes/dislikes and I hate wasting food. Parents tell me not to worry if they haven't eaten all their dinner as they can have something later :doh: I think it depends on what time they are collected/how it impacts on your family mealtimes. I haven't increased my fees in two years so maybe I can go along that route - no increase in hourly rate but no longer provide dinner. That would be such a relief for me too Funemnx :thumbsup: Good luck whatever you decide Donna x

[smartbear]

We just do fruit/cheese/toast etc which fits in with my own children after school/park. Easy to do, can be eaten outside as a picnic if weather nice, & mine still get dinner later at a normal time. Also all kids eat that kind of food! but nutririous enough to function as evening meal if parents really want (though why anyone would want their last meal of the day at 4.30 is beyond me!)

[donna porter]

I'm seriously thinking about giving up doing dinners too - one mindee has a school dinner, dinner with me and then eats with parents!! The other mindees also get fed again when they get home. Its hard balancing all their likes/dislikes and I hate wasting food. Parents tell me not to worry if they haven't eaten all their dinner as they can have something later :doh: I think it depends on what time they are collected/how it impacts on your family mealtimes. I haven't increased my fees in two years so maybe I can go along that route - no increase in hourly rate but no longer provide dinner. That would be such a relief for me too Funemnx :thumbsup: Good luck whatever you decide Donna x

Good point there!! I've just renewed contracts and haven't put prices up! :-)

[newbie]

I've always provided dinner but now I find that parents with a contract till 6pm are asking to collect earlier at 5pm which makes dinner even earlier and more of a rush which equates to more stress! My own children are older now and don't want to eat at 4pm/4.30pm which I can understand.

[watgem]

I did this a few years ago as I had a mix of children having dinner/not having dinner on different days, when the dinner ones swapped to a non dinner day I explained to mum that I wouldn't feed some children and not others and the non dinner children had been at my setting longest, she wasn't happy but understood. I do give a healthy and generous snack after school at about 4pm to tide them over until they get home, it was the best thing I did, less stressfull:)

[vikiwizz]

I am just about to start childminding in Sept, I am supplying dinner at an extra cost, but this is because I have a 3 year old of my own that needs feeding, so for the time being it suits me. I can imagine as my own children get older then this will change but this is one of the reason I did not include in my fees as its then 'easy' to take away,

[amanda1309]

I have just given my parents a letter saying I will be no longer supplying an evening meal. The letter was sent end of July to say from 1st September no more evening meal but I will supply a healthy snack.

[charlottenash]

I'm the same Viki I charge for food, and therefore when I want to take it away it will be easier :)

[maisiemog]

I don't mind supplying dinner at the moment as they all stay until 6pm and my DD wants to eat at 5pm. I think as she gets older i may want to stop providing them as I do love eating as just a family, something we don't get to do very often. I don't charge for them at the moment but I'm the only minder round here who provides them so I don't want to as it seems to be my big selling point and I could lose business.

[littleDs31]

I have just sent a letter to my parents saying my i am no longer providing meals and requesting they send a packed lunch. I have explained that this is a way for me to cut costs rather than put up my fees. The parents have all been fine about it thank goodness!! :)

[KaicosMummy]

I sent out a letter beginning of july saying as of september the first I will no longer be providing cooked meals, but a healthy snack instead. I just put that as soon as I wss back from school run I was straight in the kitchen cooking, serving up and then washing up, and this is time I would rather spend engaging with children and doing group activities. All parents seen my point if view and completely agreed with me x

[donna porter]

I sent out a letter beginning of july saying as of september the first I will no longer be providing cooked meals, but a healthy snack instead. I just put that as soon as I wss back from school run I was straight in the kitchen cooking, serving up and then washing up, and this is time I would rather spend engaging with children and doing group activities. All parents seen my point if view and completely agreed with me x

This is exactly what I'm thinking :-)

[kats]

Ever since I started childminding I've supplied a home cooked hot meal for all children and we've been having dinner at about 4 o clock. That suited me fine when my own babies were small but now they are getting bigger I would like us to have our dinner with my husband a bit later. The children I mind are 5 and 18mths. The 5 year old is a nightmare at mealtimes so it would be nice not to have that stress but the 18mth old is a pleasure to feed.
Do you think it would be unfair of me to change the rules like that??

No not unfair, things change in your own family and that has to come first, i did this several years ago parents were fine but i did cushion the blow by saying i would provide a snack instead and since then ive never looked back. It certainly didnt affect my inspection outcome and it suits me and my family much better :)

[Nicadooby]

i'm also thinking of going down the not providing food route too how much notice did you all give?

[The Juggler]

i stopped doing it as most of my dinner eaters left and decided it was too hard - it was such a pleasure to be able to not stress about entertaining the very littlies whilst cooking every night. My after school consisted of coming in, starting cooking, dishing up, clearing up and then parents would arrive. I felt like my own children didn't get any attention. Instead when i stopped, everyone had snacks together after school and then everyone went off to play and I could give everyone the attention they needed.

I would pitch it rather not as you don't want to do dinners anymore but say, you feel you could give the children more attention if you weren't concentrating on cooking dinner for such an early time. Reassure them you will provide a substantial snack, say crumpets and fruit. I assume if you are doing dinner at 4pm they go home reasonably early so they should be able to have dinner at home but if they feel when they get home is too late for cooking and serving dinner to the 18 month old say they are welcome to send something to be warmed.

[Simona]

I feel there are 2 problems in this
1. we cook dinner and then the parents collect early and it is wasted
2. Parents feed the children when they get home so our cooking is wasted there too

My thinking is to discuss this very clearly when contracts are signed
If you provide dinner then the parents must give ample notice when they will collect early so it saves on waste
If the parents cook for their children then agree a good snack after school pick up but no hot meal

All this can be reflected in our fees
Personally I ask parents to be considerate that between 4.30 pm and 6pm is my busiest time and early pick ups in the middle of dinner are disruptive so notice is vital

Little children cannot really go until 7pm when they get home to have a hot meal
The reason for providing hot dinners is also, in my view, a way to help 'busy' parents so when they get home they can have some quality time before bed and encourage healthy eating in a social environment and promote PSED

I am sure that many CMs cook excellent meals and are very organized only to be finding the efforts are wasted by early pick up and another meal offered when they get home...working in partnership with parents is a 2 way system...they too need to be part of the partnership

[Chatterbox Childcare]

Have you thought about keeping 2 meals over from the night before and reheating them?

[hectors house]

I always cook in the evening for my family, prepare extra, dish it up directly into bowls, allow to cool then cover in cling film and put in fridge for the mindees lunch the following day. In the time it takes to microwave the meals, the children have helped lay the table, washed hands and sat up. I only do tea on 2 days a week, it's generally sandwiches, fruit, a milk based dessert, home made cake. Again it takes 2 minutes to make the sandwiches, the children lay table, wash hands and sit up - while they are eating sandwiches I am cutting up fruit etc - I wouldn't want to be spending all my time cooking away from the children and I'm sure the parents wouldn't either. None of my parents pick up early as this would mean they have to feed their child and they have paid me £1.50 for a meal that they didn't eat.

My own children were always used to not eating their tea until gone 6 as my husband worked on a farm back then and I wasn't going to cook twice. If you don't want to do meals so early, tell the parents that you will either give some fruit or some toast or they can provide a meal for you to microwave.

[littleDs31]

I gave them a months notice. All but one were absolutely fine with it. It's going really well now and any newbies are told I don't provide meals only snacks from the start. Much less waste and outgoings. Wouldn't go back now:)

[kellyskidz!]

I do a cooked meal for lunch which is usually something from our families dinner the night before which I froze and a lighter dinner for mindees at around 4pm. I make sure I tell parents this and stress its more of a light bite than a proper evening meal, and that their child will probably be hungry later. This way I can give the kids their light dinner of soup, pizza, sandwiches etc at around 4-4.30 and then we as a family eat a cooked dinner at around 6 when all the kids have gone and other half is in from work. My own daughter usually has her little dinner with mindees then a small portion of our dinner with us so we all eat together
I honestly don't find meal times too stressful doing it this way, but I can understand how it could be a pain for some who cook fresh, I think a month is a reasonable amount of time to give a parent and I'd word it as a pp said, that you feel cooking takes time away from the children, and that you want to focus more on them than being in the kitchen for long periods of time. I'm sure the parents will understand xxx

[munch149]

I do a cooked meal for lunch which is usually something from our families dinner the night before which I froze and a lighter dinner for mindees at around 4pm. I make sure I tell parents this and stress its more of a light bite than a proper evening meal, and that their child will probably be hungry later. This way I can give the kids their light dinner of soup, pizza, sandwiches etc at around 4-4.30 and then we as a family eat a cooked dinner at around 6 when all the kids have gone and other half is in from work. My own daughter usually has her little dinner with mindees then a small portion of our dinner with us so we all eat together I honestly don't find meal times too stressful doing it this way, but I can understand how it could be a pain for some who cook fresh, I think a month is a reasonable amount of time to give a parent and I'd word it as a pp said, that you feel cooking takes time away from the children, and that you want to focus more on them than being in the kitchen for long periods of time. I'm sure the parents will understand xxx

I do exactly the same

[Simona]

If cooking meals for the children increases our outgoings...why not raise fees slightly to cover food and cooking?

Is our time really being taken away from children because we offer a hot dinner? after 9 hrs in our care surely meal times are just as valuable as care and education...and offer a wonderful opportunity to interact over meals, learn manners and socialise?

Cooking does not need to take a lot of time if we cook in advance and freeze their meals
What are the benefits to working parents if they get back home stressed and then have to worry about cooking dinner?

[shortstuff]

What are the benefits to working parents if they get back home stressed and then have to worry about cooking dinner?

I dont see your point Simona. If we are able to cook and freeze meals so are the parents. Arent some of us working parents also?

Ive cared for los whos parents batch cook at the weekend and provide healthy and nutritious meals for both lunch and dinner. All because they work they still wanted that input into their lo.

Yes part of the service we provide could, if chosen, be to provide meals. That is our choice and we shouldnt feel pressured by parents or other cms to change our choices.

I personally do cook for mindees but If I chose I wanted to stop that would be my privilege as a service provider.

[Simona]

I dont see your point Simona. If we are able to cook and freeze meals so are the parents. Arent some of us working parents also?

Ive cared for los whos parents batch cook at the weekend and provide healthy and nutritious meals for both lunch and dinner. All because they work they still wanted that input into their lo.

Yes part of the service we provide could, if chosen, be to provide meals. That is our choice and we shouldnt feel pressured by parents or other cms to change our choices.

I personally do cook for mindees but If I chose I wanted to stop that would be my privilege as a service provider.

Please read my response again but let me clarify this...
I was not putting 'pressure' on anyone to provide meals...just reflecting on the comments and expressing my personal opinion on the benefits or otherwise of providing meals for which we are paid or at least cms could be well paid to provide...

Being from a mediterrenean culture I put a lot of emphasis on meal times and the social interaction that comes from it...personally I find meal time a pleasure, my children have always eaten well and a very varied diet.
I have never had what some cms label 'fussy eaters' ...children have manners and often I have had to prompt them to leave the table or they would be there for hours eating and discussing

I cook nutritious great meals and charge appropriately to reflect the quality of what is on offer...
Parents do nothing but praise my effort and all that results from it...sorry I am now making it personal

You obviously disagree with my view and I respect that while I disagree with your choice of response...it means to criticise rather than respect a point of view.

Part of the CMs service has always been to provide a home from home environment...yes we too are working parents and have chosen to be so and it will be definitely your privilege to stop meals if that is what you want to do...that was not what I was trying to say

I am coming from the point that we ...CMs...will be under a lot of competition in the future both from agencies and schools...up to us how we tackle that

It seems to me that Childminding is really changing
I apologise if you felt pressured but deep down you know that was really not my message.

[mummyMia]

I serve a cooked dinner but only at 6pm or just after, which is the time when my family eats. I find this makes things a lot easier as any children that leave at 6pm or earlier don't get dinner, just a lighter snack after school. I currently only have one child who stays until 7pm and that is only 3-4 evenings a week. I tend to do healthier home cooked meals on the days that I have him and something quick and easy like chips and beans or pizza on the other nights. This works well for me. :)

[teacakepenguin]

I love mealtimes with the children (I have mainly after schoolies) but I find I hardly see them as I'm normally too busy cooking.

I really dislike using the microwave and reheating things, sometimes I can prepare food earlier in the day but sometimes I'm busy so it all happens after school.

I tell parents that I serve food at 4.45pm (my kids are hungry things so that suits us) so either they pick up before or if it's after then they'll have had food, I won't not feed some unless it's a one off from time to time. I feel bad for the child who leaves at 4.30-4.45 though, as I've hardly seen him, as I've been cooking for the remaining mindees and my children.

But I do really enjoy us all sitting down together, and I have seen how much it's encouraged the children to try new things. I love mealtimes. Just not cooking.

I need a cook lol.
Jx

[jackie 7]

As I have under 3s I cook main meal at lunch time.i tell parents I do tea at 4,40/4.45. Best was mum who put child in nursery/day care and realised he was so hungry when she collected him. And said she never had to give him a meal when he came to me. Ok I told her he would eat sf 3.30 or 4 at nursery. She was very surprised.