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suzy:-)
28-03-2012, 08:58 PM
hi everyone just wondering what u all do

when i done my pre childminding registration one thing always sticks with me with what i was taught and its this ......

no answering the door in your dressing gown, we must be ready for work ( this i do agree on ) but .........
no doing house hold washing
no doing your weekly tesco shop
no socialising i.e cuppa with friends and co

house work basically kept to a minimum
now im frightened to do wrong and never have but id really like to get out and about more without feeling like im doing wrong e/g i went to my mums today for a cuppa , took little one who was perfectly happy but all the time i was thinking "is this aloud" , i worry what the parents expect from home childcare i should of mentioned this to them on there first visits but i just wondered apart from the usual learning journal what every one else does with there day
ps we do go to playgroups 3 times per week,park,ducks,homebased activities but when u have a little one all day i dont want to feel bad about nipping into town for instance
thanks x x

sarahjane
28-03-2012, 09:03 PM
I might get shot for this but I do do my washing, I pop into town (I went yesterday to get a birthday present for an after school child) and I probably do other things that some on here wouldn't approve of but I never hide anything from parents and they are all happy!
Do what you feel comfortable doing :)

suzy:-)
28-03-2012, 09:09 PM
I might get shot for this but I do do my washing, I pop into town (I went yesterday to get a birthday present for an after school child) and I probably do other things that some on here wouldn't approve of but I never hide anything from parents and they are all happy!
Do what you feel comfortable doing :)

personally i dont see anything wrong with this as long as u include the eyfs , i would rather get out and about doing everyday life thing that mums and dads would usually do than being stuck in a nursery .......right??? x x

Twinkles
28-03-2012, 09:11 PM
It is what it says 'home-based-childcare'.

I feel our advantage is that we can give the children an experience of being in a home - with all the things that happen in a home ( within reason ).

So to me yes pop the washing on - don't do the weeks ironing

Pop in and have a cuppa with your mum or a friend - not every day

Nip into town to pick a few bits up - don't do your whole Christmas shopping with them in tow !

Most things we do , we do for the children in our care but sometimes they have to ;come to the vets , post a letter , come to buy bread/milk etc.

I personally would not do a full weeks shop with the children but that's more for my sanity than anything !

PixiePetal
28-03-2012, 09:14 PM
It is what it says 'home-based-childcare'.

I feel our advantage is that we can give the children an experience of being in a home - with all the things that happen in a home ( within reason ).

So to me yes pop the washing on - don't do the weeks ironing

Pop in and have a cuppa with your mum or a friend - not every day

Nip into town to pick a few bits up - don't do your whole Christmas shopping with them in tow !

Most things we do , we do for the children in our care but sometimes they have to ;come to the vets , post a letter , come to buy bread/milk etc.

I personally would not do a full weeks shop with the children but that's more for my sanity than anything !

ditto :thumbsup:

most of my friends are CM so it's good to meet with them and mindees all get on

Ripeberry
28-03-2012, 09:15 PM
The only thing I would say is when visiting relatives make sure you have risk assessed their home as it might not be 'child friendly' Might be easier for people to visit you.

suzy:-)
28-03-2012, 09:25 PM
The only thing I would say is when visiting relatives make sure you have risk assessed their home as it might not be 'child friendly' Might be easier for people to visit you.

talking about people visiting me lol i feel even worse when parents pick up and i have guests it doesent happen very often at all but i had two of my own childrens birthdays the other week and both occasions there were people in my living room when parents came , i just wanted my family to run in the kitchen or something even tho i have nothing to hide think i may have a confidence issue , my friend and i are bridesmaids and she came round so we could leave straight after mindee left and have a fitting but i did wonder what the mum felt when she seen her there ?? even tho she literally pulled up minutes before , mum may have thought she was here all day :panic:

LChurch
28-03-2012, 09:47 PM
I always make sure my mindees parents know if I am doing things like shopping! We are in the middle of decorating and I had run out of paint and needed to get some other bits so took mindee with me to homebase, I just turned it into an "educational" outing! Mum said mindee was quite used to it, she said she wanted to go into the trolley! Mindee is not even 2 yet but talks nineteen to the dozen! At my inspection I remember inspector said that you can turn the washing into an "educational" activity - sort the whites from the darks etc, as long as you can prove EYFS you are ok! I always think kUW!!! i have been known to drop into an old people's group after all they need to be introduced to all walks of life!

Obv don't hang your washing outside and leave lo inside! But I will often do dishwasher when minde is having breakfast etc. I again use this to my advantage as she names things as they go into the cupboard!

Always think about how you can tick it off on EYFS.

Hope that helps

BucksCM
28-03-2012, 11:25 PM
Being a Bucks Buddie, I do hear some stories of what is told on the ICP/cypop5 courses. Some of it is laughable! :laughing:
I always make it very clear to parents at the first interview what I'll be doing with their child...toddler groups, surestart sessions, childminding groups, outings to woods/parks/friends etc and a tescos shop on friday. As already said, it can all be linked to the EYFS in some way.
I have actually had a parent thank me because her toddler is better behaved in tescos now!:)
I just think that if i would do something with my children then I can do it with minded children too. I always keep the parents informed and if I'm going to do something very different then I'll seek permission first.

EmmaReed84
29-03-2012, 05:02 AM
I have my weekly plan which includes things like playgroup, messys place, tiny tots, plananed activities and some of my planned activities are things I need to do, if I can tie it in with EYFS. Also I plan visiting (most the people I visit are CM's or have children)

If I have to get a little bit of shopping (ie bread, cheese, potatoes etc not a weekly shop) I take mindees with me, they help me, we talk about food, count things in the basket etc.

My parents are all fine with it, like they say the reason they chose me is because it is a HOME environment, if they wanted a nursery environment they would have put them in a nursery!

mrs robbie williams
29-03-2012, 05:48 AM
I only have one lo with me during day at mo and i always do something with her in the morning group/park/ducks/activity that i can link to eyfs, after lunch she normally sleeps for couple hours so i get all my bits like washing (never ironing) etc done then, but the other day she didnt want a sleep so she 'helped' me, we hung the washing out, tidied the garden, washed up - it took twice as long but it got the jobs done and lo enjoyed herself xx

blue bear
29-03-2012, 06:34 AM
How life has changed, I clearly remember on my course (16 years ago) to match socks with little ones when folding the washing off the line!
I am not a setting I am a home, I'm not a nursery worker I'm a childminder, I look after children in my home, I share my home, the children become part of my family and we do things together all the while I'm mindful of their development.
No I wouldn't spring clean my house while lo's are here but pots get washed, wet pants get thrown I'm the washing machine with my wash, we hang out washing and will even run the Hoover round if glitter spills etc.
I was talking to an ex nursery worker who told me the used to have to wash every toy every day plus bedding towels etc while the children were still there, now I wouldn't dream of doing that, thta's a weekend job here.

buzzy bee
29-03-2012, 07:16 AM
LOL well I don't answer the door in my PJs BUT DS is usually in his PJs when I have 7.30 drop-offs!! Oops :blush:

The only things I do housework wise are washing up and washing. The children either help me or if they're happy playing I just leave them to it.

I do pop to the shops / bank / post office etc when I have to, but not to do a full weekly shop, and as others have said you can link it all to the EYFS.

Plus, if their mums work most of the week, they might not get to have these experiences if it wasn't for us, and to me that's the whole point of CMs.

kellib
29-03-2012, 07:18 AM
I do these things with my mindees too, today we're going to the bank but then we'll also go to the park on the way home so mindees get some playing time in there.

I don't do massive shops when I have mindees but if I need bread/milk etc then yeah I'll pop to the shops, I would with my own son so it's no different.

miffy
29-03-2012, 07:25 AM
hi everyone just wondering what u all do

when i done my pre childminding registration one thing always sticks with me with what i was taught and its this ......

no answering the door in your dressing gown, we must be ready for work ( this i do agree on ) but .........
no doing house hold washing
no doing your weekly tesco shop
no socialising i.e cuppa with friends and co

house work basically kept to a minimum
now im frightened to do wrong and never have but id really like to get out and about more without feeling like im doing wrong e/g i went to my mums today for a cuppa , took little one who was perfectly happy but all the time i was thinking "is this aloud" , i worry what the parents expect from home childcare i should of mentioned this to them on there first visits but i just wondered apart from the usual learning journal what every one else does with there day
ps we do go to playgroups 3 times per week,park,ducks,homebased activities but when u have a little one all day i dont want to feel bad about nipping into town for instance
thanks x x

I agree with being dressed and ready for work but not the rest of it. I work those jobs into the day, to me that's what would happen if lo's were at home with their parents.

Miffy xx

kel1983
29-03-2012, 08:07 AM
I am with everyone above.

Today we are walking to the larger supermarket to buy milk and toilet rolls (essential items). Its cheaper to go here than the local shop. The one child we have will get fresh air and on the way back we will stop at the play park.

We do washing and washing up but there is 2 of us so one is usually watching the children. Last week I mowed the lawn while the children were sleeping (cominder watching them) If i didnt do it during the day it wouldnt get done and the children were desperate to play out on the lawn.

It is a home from home and we can very often teach children through what we are doing around the house.

suzy:-)
29-03-2012, 08:52 AM
thanks everyone for your replys

this forum is fab !!!!
x x

rickysmiths
29-03-2012, 09:02 AM
Gosh it is Home from Home care. The parents that use me use me because this is what they want.

I have put the washing on the line this morning between two mindees arriving and have just hear the machine beep at me so will be putting that load out in a min.

I go shopping, not everyday but we do supermarket shopping and they are learning where their food comes from, they see all the varieties of fruit and veg etc etc. I take them present shopping as well.

Over the years we have been to the dentist, the doctor, the hair dresser.

I will dust if the children are playing happily, I have solid floors so I usually sweep them at some point every day. I will run the hoover over the living room. I clean the windows as well, inside if they are playing, outside if they are outside or asleep.

I cook, get tea ready for instance.

I have done sewing, card making, even got my circuit machine out and cut out shapes and titles for their LJs

I don't see anything wrong with doing all these things the children need variety and to see normal everyday life going on around them.

caz3007
29-03-2012, 09:28 AM
Rickysmiths - I dont have a cricut but do have a bug and the LO's love winding the handle whilst we out stars, hearts and flowers for glueing

I also only have one LO and mum says to me I dont mind what you do with her or take her cos I know you will look after her.

We visit parks/feed the duck/toddler group but we also have friends nip in for a cuppa. Sometimes its when LO has her nap and sometimes she is awake but she loves it as she gets to chat to different people and they often bring her a little cake :laughing:

I do washing and washing up, and when she is asleep I may nip upstairs and put washing away, wipe the bathroom over....its just what her mum would do when she was asleep.

We nip to the local shops and we visit cafe's occasionally. They way I see it she should be experiencing with me what she would if her mum was at home, if mum wanted us to stay in all the time and have no visitors she would have chosen to send her to a nursery

Tatjana
29-03-2012, 12:01 PM
I agree with everyone on here. I don't do big clean ups but bits here and there are essential otherwise we would be worn out trying to fit everything in before or after mindees are here. I hoover otherwise the mess would be ridiculous with all the food on the floor after snacks and meals.

I try and keep meals simple as don't want to spend hours prepping/cooking and washing up.

I wouldn't dream of doing a weekly shop with mindees in tow, that would take too long and be unfair on them. Picking up essentials is different.

I do pretty much the same as I do/did with my own children and they have developed very well!!:thumbsup:

It's unrealistic to expect to play or observe mindees every minute they are with us.

jane5
29-03-2012, 12:20 PM
I am starting at 6.30am for one of my regulars for the next 6 months and I have said I may be in my pj's when she arrives :blush:

Mum is absolutely fine with that as she is just thankful that I have agreed to keep lo because she usually started at 8.30.

So far I have always been dressed but it will cover me if I oversleep one day, I am not a morning person and I am never usually awake before 7am :p

I will take my dd to the hospital or doctors with lo's in tow and the mums are ok with that or they would have to take time off work.

I nip to the local shops but do my main shopping online because I hate doing a big shop with children :o

I clean up after the lo's and put the dishwasher or washing machine on but do a proper clean at weekends when they are not here.

breezy
29-03-2012, 12:28 PM
I have a couple of mindees here who love helping with the dusting and hoovering, their next steps are down as " mastering ironing and coffee making":laughing:

rickysmiths
29-03-2012, 01:04 PM
I have a couple of mindees here who love helping with the dusting and hoovering, their next steps are down as " mastering ironing and coffee making":laughing:

I like it! Start as you mean to go on. :laughing::laughing:

Bridey
29-03-2012, 01:13 PM
Years ago I worked for a mother who lived across the road. My own son was a baby so there were no school runs ... we ALL used to be in our pyjamas at drop off! I've worked for the family for 9 years now so I don't think it did any harm!

mushpea
29-03-2012, 07:57 PM
we go shopping and I hang out the washing and empty the dishwasher, do lunch etc whilst working.
I've only ever had one complaint and that was from a parent of a schoolie who told me that I shouldnt be doing paperwork or cooking my dinner whilst the child was here, she told me that she paid me to be with her child 24/7 and I told her that it is not what her child wanted and that sometimes her child preferd to be on her own or play with the others which is when I did this paperwork etc and then I asked her when she did her housework and cooked her dinner to which she looked puzzled so I expalined my setting is a home from home setting so everything that goes on in a normal home happens here and that I would not be constantly glued to her child.

buildingblocks
29-03-2012, 08:37 PM
hi everyone just wondering what u all do

when i done my pre childminding registration one thing always sticks with me with what i was taught and its this ......

Who told you this!!! Remember you are your own boss and so long as you can 'justify' what you do to the parents and Ofsted nobody else's business. I told someone from the LA the other week when the LA pay me minimum wage for all my 6 places full time then they can tell me what I do

no answering the door in your dressing gown, we must be ready for work ( this i do agree on ) but .........
I agree with this but I know of a local CM who used to frequently do this and have heard of another. I have done this on a couple of occasions when I started work at 5.30 on a Sunday (my day off) when mum went off on a drugs raid and dad was at work

no doing house hold washing
I don't personally but this is because my washing line is a rotary one that has to go in the middle of where the children play so I do it all Saturday night and hang out on a Sunday

no doing your weekly tesco shop
Would always have said no to this (mainly because I hate shopping at the best of times) but it would always depend on age and temperament of child/ren. Having said this I now do this every week as I take my mum shopping on a Saturday - in her 80's - and when I took on my Saturday child mum was made aware of this as it meant taking child with us. She was happy with this. Have to say he is a little darling who loves it flirts with all the ladies and little girls we see when out and about and actually really enjoys the experience.

no socialising i.e cuppa with friends and co
rubbish we often have cm friends round with their mindees and in the case until recently it was the only way one of my mindees mixed with other children during the week. My mindees over the years have always had contact with mine an d hubby's parents who have been frequent visitors over the years and provide children with older people to socialise with I am age of grandparents so our parents in their 70's and 80's were a generation they weren't used to

house work basically kept to a minimum
hate doing it when the children are not here let alone when they are here

now im frightened to do wrong and never have but id really like to get out and about more without feeling like im doing wrong e/g i went to my mums today for a cuppa , took little one who was perfectly happy but all the time i was thinking "is this aloud" , i worry what the parents expect from home childcare i should of mentioned this to them on there first visits but i just wondered apart from the usual learning journal what every one else does with there day

Would always just drop into conversation oh we are off to see my mum today so they know what your plans are but thats just me as I like to keep the parents informed as to roughly what we are doing as they like to know

ps we do go to playgroups 3 times per week,park,ducks,homebased activities but when u have a little one all day i dont want to feel bad about nipping into town for instance thanks x x

I have to go into town every couple of weeks to do banking for my mum and to pay her bills as I don't have a choice as I work 6 days a week but again I just say to mum oh I've got to do mums banking to morrow so we are off into town and then the park. Have been know to be asked to pick up the odd thing whilst there for parents

fluff1975
29-03-2012, 09:29 PM
With you all on this one too!

I did do the 'big shop' when I just had the one mindee and he was 7 wks old! At such a young age his mum was desperate for someone to be his 'second mother' (her words!).

I do visit my parents for lunch about once a month and take with me whoever I have that day. I keep a full RA of their home, and just make sure I'm extra vigilant. The children's families love that they are getting that experience as none of them have grandparents or grandparents who are local to them. Mum and dad have an orchard which is great not only for the fruit but for picnics too! There is an accessible stream running through the village and in the summer we play on the park there and watch the cricket matches on the green. It's bliss!

Like someone already said, I am home-based, not a nursery!