Does anyone not go out a lot with mindees?

**helendee** · 24-02-2013, 07:08 PM

DH and I look after six under twos every day. We used to have an eight seater car but unfortunately it didn't last long and died on us quite spectacularly last year and we cannot afford to replace it currently.

We have a lovely park just over the road which we use on a daily basis, weather permitting and we have spent a lot of money buying fun equipment for our garden so the little ones spend a lot of time out there, again subject to weather conditions. However, we are not withing walking distance of toddler groups or soft play venues and I am concerned that we are not conforming to EYFS regs by being unable to do this.

I hasten to add that we do lots of activities with the children and are always buying new resources but I cannot take them further afield at the moment.

Just wondering if any of you are in a similar situation? x

**blue bear** · 24-02-2013, 07:14 PM

There's nothing in the eyfs to say you have to go out on regular visits, if there were lots of nurseries would be classed as inadequate. Sounds like you have assessed the service you offer and are meeting the needs of the children,getting outdoors daily and planning to follow their individual interests.

**jillplum** · 24-02-2013, 07:18 PM

I only go to a couple of groups. Most of the time we are at the local park or woods or in the garden. If you have quite a few children they will get all the socialisation they need. Children dont need to go to the zoo or soft play to have fun. It sounds like you are providing a good service and if the children and their parents are happy thats great.

**cockatoos** · 24-02-2013, 07:22 PM

Oh I am sort of in the same place! My husband is coming to work with me soon, and initially we have 4 per day lined up (oldest 2 1/2). We also have a 7 seater but to honest it is hard enough getting three in the car, let alone more. We are lucky that we live in a large town with toddler groups which are walk able.

I think we will become much more home based and I don't think that is a bad thing. I am really looking forward to using our home and garden more. The children know it well and we plan appropriately for their ages and staged, as I'm sure you do.

Most nurseries don't go on trips out (perhaps taking some to the park every so often) and they are capable of fulfilling the EYFS, so I don't think you should worry. It's all about how you use your indoor and outdoor space.

**Pixie dust** · 24-02-2013, 07:27 PM

I don't go out to any groups at the moment as most of them are quite a distance away and some of the children go home at lunch time so we just don't have the time. It would be nice for me to have a bit of adult conversation very now and then but that's a different story.

**mushpea** · 24-02-2013, 07:33 PM

i got to two groups at the moment then meet up on other days with two friends who are childminders, we also go to the allotment and woods reguarly but i am begining to run out of time to do things at home with them! Mondays and Thursdays I have a 3yrold and a 1yrold all day and go to no groups as there arent any on these days so we do activities at home or go for walks or meet up with the other 2 minders, tuesdays, wednesdays and fridays I have a 4yrold and 18mnth old and we go to toddler group and the childrens centers on two of those days, they only come to me half days at the moment althoug this will increase for a couple of weeks but as we are out a lot finding time to do other stuff is hard, like i have planned this week for st davids day but when I think aobut it there ismnt much time to do the crafts with these two as we are out so much.
So i guess its finding a balance of what you do, yours are obviously in a good social enviroment so i woulntd worry about that so much but i would take them out and about for walks or to the parks or shops so they can mix in their local community and of course do crafts and play at home.

**jillplum** · 24-02-2013, 07:38 PM

I know what you mean about finding time to do things. Mine all nap in the afternoon. We go to 2 groups. One child doesnt arrive till 11.30. By the time they are all fed and watered and changed and we have done school and nursery drop offs and pick ups the day is over. I do specific things like st davids day on a friday morning when I run a toddler gruop with some other childminders.

**helendee** · 24-02-2013, 07:39 PM

Thanks for all the replies ladies. i do have another query though as to what crafts can you do with fifteen month olds? Despite us buying lots of lovely craft items none of our little ones are the slightest bit interested, the most we have achieved is the odd scribble on a piece of paper. I have bought finger paints, made playdough and bought lovely stickers but they don't have a clue really, are they just too young?

**sophieg** · 24-02-2013, 07:45 PM

Anyone else having trouble using this site on an iPad?!? I've git the app but wen I open it the screen is black. I'm on my iPhone now which is allowing me in, wondered if anyone else was having problems? Tia

**sophieg** · 24-02-2013, 07:46 PM

Sorry on wrong page!

**mushpea** · 24-02-2013, 07:48 PM

Ive stopped buying crafts as there are some lovely things you can find for free on the interent and play dough I make myself, how about messy play like animals in shaving foam, gloop , water play, sand play, or things like put a tray of seeds on the table and a peice of paper with glue on and let them drop the seeds on the paper, maybe not crafts as much but items like pebbles, glass beads, bottle lids, boxes, etc for them to look at and play with.
I tend to do crafts with the older ones and adapt them for the younger ones, the older onex get an explaniation of why we are doing it ie story of st davids day and the younger ones get all the bits to make the craft and I just let them free with it so instead of making them stick bunnies ears where they shoudl be they stick them where they want to so its still the same craft but their version of it, at todders the other week they were making masks and the woman running it insisted on adjusting everything the 18month old did which annoyed me imensley as this was the childs product not hers, in future if this happens again i will tell her to leave the child alone and let her do as she wishes, who cares if the bunnys ears stuck up its bottom thats how the child did it so it should stay that way!

**Rick** · 24-02-2013, 08:09 PM

Originally Posted by helendee

DH and I look after six under twos every day. We used to have an eight seater car but unfortunately it didn't last long and died on us quite spectacularly last year and we cannot afford to replace it currently.

We have a lovely park just over the road which we use on a daily basis, weather permitting and we have spent a lot of money buying fun equipment for our garden so the little ones spend a lot of time out there, again subject to weather conditions. However, we are not withing walking distance of toddler groups or soft play venues and I am concerned that we are not conforming to EYFS regs by being unable to do this.

I hasten to add that we do lots of activities with the children and are always buying new resources but I cannot take them further afield at the moment.

Just wondering if any of you are in a similar situation? x

I have been a bit worried that I haven't been out enough. We always go out to play group in the morning and try and get out in the garden but I just find it too cold for mindees, they look frozen waiting for the bus back home from play group! I just don't feel I should be taking them out in the temperatures we have at the moment. Last Monday and Tuesday was lovely in the garden, since then temps have gone down again. Hurry up warmer weather!

**kel1983** · 24-02-2013, 08:33 PM

We haven't been going out much recently. Mindees have been feeling under the weather so not really fair to be dragging them out in this cold.

The older children have been out to play on our undercover decked area but only last about 15 minutes before they want go go back in. We do school drop offs and picks ups and do try and take the lo's out in turn so they get some fresh air.

We mind up to 6 children a day so socialise with each other and we do activites during the day to pass the time.

**Zoomie** · 24-02-2013, 08:39 PM

For my 15-16 month mindee, craft activity really just means some sort of sensory play. I will give her paint, or water, or lentils to play with. I do not expect an end product and parents get a picture of them doing the sensory play as opposed to a piece of art.

**Carol M** · 24-02-2013, 08:47 PM

This winter has been one illness after another for my lo's. As most are under 2yrs i have hardly been out! As for crafts i have done things such as let them play with paint on paper then I cut snakes out ( chinese NY) Let them use glue stick and glitter pots and heart confetti then I cut out heart shape from their creations and it became a Valentine Card. The older ones have more input into an end product. For the younger ones it's more of a sensory experience.
Carol x

**Mouse** · 24-02-2013, 08:49 PM

For craft activities have you tried filling zip top bags with hair gel, paint, sparkly bits etc?

My little mindees (from babies upwards) love them. They're lovely & squidgy...but with very little mess! Mindees can make shapes with their fingers, run cars over them to leave tracks, press shapes into them etc.

**helendee** · 24-02-2013, 08:56 PM

Originally Posted by Mouse

For craft activities have you tried filling zip top bags with hair gel, paint, sparkly bits etc?

My little mindees (from babies upwards) love them. They're lovely & squidgy...but with very little mess! Mindees can make shapes with their fingers, run cars over them to leave tracks, press shapes into them etc.

Lovely idea Mouse, thank you. Do you use zip-top food bags? x

**cathtee** · 24-02-2013, 08:57 PM

Originally Posted by Mouse

For craft activities have you tried filling zip top bags with hair gel, paint, sparkly bits etc?

My little mindees (from babies upwards) love them. They're lovely & squidgy...but with very little mess! Mindees can make shapes with their fingers, run cars over them to leave tracks, press shapes into them etc.

What a fantastic idea, i may have to pinch it if that's ok

**SYLVIA** · 24-02-2013, 09:01 PM

I go to one toddler group once a week. We do go for a walk in the woods or to local parks but mine are really fond of a walk round the road and down to see the trains. They are still out for a while and doing something they all choose to do.

**Mouse** · 24-02-2013, 10:18 PM

Originally Posted by helendee

Lovely idea Mouse, thank you. Do you use zip-top food bags? x

Yes, zip top food bags. They're about A4 size. I did do some with just paint in, but the ones with hair gel are much better. I put a good splodge of gel, 2 colours of paint or food colouring and some glitter. As they squidge them around the paint or food colouring mixes, so you get a change of colour. You can put the bags in the fridge so they feel really cold.

All I would say is make sure you squash all the air out of the bag before you zip it up or you run the risk of the bag bursting!