Rubbish childminder! grr

**sweets** · 17-06-2009, 09:00 PM

I go to a toddler group that has a mixture of mums, cm's and grandma's, most are lovely and i can chat with them all but there is one childminder that NEVER gets up off her bottom. if she really really has to, usually if one of her littlies needs changing she trudges across the room rolling her eyes and moaning! I go with a friend who's a mum and she has said that she wouldn't leave her dog with this woman never mind her child.
What is most annoying is if i go to a meeting or training workshop this CM is very vocal, always has a lot to say and if you didn't see her in action you would think she was lovely and a really good minder! it really annoys me, i just wish that our early years worker could be a fly on the wall at toddler group, she would have a heck of a shock!
She is not horrible to her children or anything but she is just RUBBISH!

**Deb** · 17-06-2009, 09:02 PM

I know a few like that! I sometimes wonder if they see toddler group as their time out and begrudge having to do anything during their break?

**Mouse** · 17-06-2009, 09:06 PM

Annoying isn't it? I know one cm who everyone at Early Years raves about, but they don't see what we see (and don't believe what they hear about her!).

Pipsqueak · 17-06-2009, 09:09 PM

Yep - I know a few minders like that. They all look at me like I am loony when I actually interact with the children - y'no, get down and play with them, read them a story, encourage them to come and help me do.....
Perhaps I am missing the point of childminding????

**sweets** · 17-06-2009, 09:21 PM

glad i'm not the only thats annoyed by these people! I do have a sit down at toddler group for a chat and a coffee ( is that awful?) but i also spend a lot of the time watching my mindees and interacting if needed or wanted.

TheBTeam · 17-06-2009, 09:32 PM

We tend to find it is the childminders who interact with the children and the parents that don't at groups, that said though I know of some minders who just use the groups to sit and do nothing for the morning!

**sophiestars** · 17-06-2009, 10:32 PM

I go to a group where there is a minder like that. She plonks herself on the same chair every week and doesn't budge until it's coffee time. Her little mindee must be coming up for 3 and is very shy but this minder doesn't do anything to encourage the child to play or interact with anyone. She just sits with this little girl next to her and chats to her friends. It makes me sooooo mad!! She obviously doesn't do a daily diary as there would be nothing to go in it. - Sat on chair for 1 1/2 hours!!
Even at snack time when the children all sit round a little table and sing songs before the snacks come out, she just stays where she is which I think is just plain rude as all the helpers put alot of effort into leading the singing.
Why do these people become childminders if they can't be bothered?
I'm sure we have all been to groups and had a good old chinwag with whoever is there but not to the detriment of the children. I go to a different group just about every day and of course chat and have coffee but certainly don't ignore the children. I interact with them and participate in all the activities going on, infact alot more than when I just have my own children!

**singlewiththree** · 18-06-2009, 06:21 AM

Originally Posted by jodie

glad i'm not the only thats annoyed by these people! I do have a sit down at toddler group for a chat and a coffee ( is that awful?) but i also spend a lot of the time watching my mindees and interacting if needed or wanted.

I don't think its awful, I do it too. I think they mean more if you sit there all the time and basically ignore your minded children by not encouraging them if they are clingy, basic needs like nappy changing and converse with them when you are needed. I do a lot of activities at home with mindees and feel that in toddler groups they need to spread their wings, and learn to socialise without an adult along side them but there as back up when needed.

**georgie456** · 18-06-2009, 01:25 PM

We have a couple like this at our cm toddler group.

A new cm has started coming and she is amazing with the kids and really throws herself into the activites etc and there is a small group who sit and watch her and complain amongst themselves about how keen she is and how is nothing but a suck-up

They really are rather unpleasant! But they will be the ones asking her for help when they are due inspections no doubt!!!!

**The Juggler** · 18-06-2009, 01:29 PM

Originally Posted by jodie

I go to a toddler group that has a mixture of mums, cm's and grandma's, most are lovely and i can chat with them all but there is one childminder that NEVER gets up off her bottom. if she really really has to, usually if one of her littlies needs changing she trudges across the room rolling her eyes and moaning! I go with a friend who's a mum and she has said that she wouldn't leave her dog with this woman never mind her child.
What is most annoying is if i go to a meeting or training workshop this CM is very vocal, always has a lot to say and if you didn't see her in action you would think she was lovely and a really good minder! it really annoys me, i just wish that our early years worker could be a fly on the wall at toddler group, she would have a heck of a shock!
She is not horrible to her children or anything but she is just RUBBISH!

just the one! you should see our cm-only group!

**clorogue** · 18-06-2009, 01:37 PM

I know one like that too - and she got outstanding. I couldn't believe it and nor could the other childminders!! One of my parents couldn't get out of her house quick enough when he was looking for a childminder!

**Chatterbox Childcare** · 18-06-2009, 01:46 PM

I use the time at toddler group (Monday morning so coffee needed!) to sit back and watch the children. This is part of their child led activities. Yes I do sit on my bottom for an hour but I am observing and watching them intergrate and play, developing social skills. I do not feel that they are missing out because I am not with them at their sides. We do have puzzles and sticking which obviously needs help and singing is always with all of us together.

Maybe this makes me lazy but I do not see it that way.

**Trouble** · 18-06-2009, 01:58 PM

i used to call ours cms like that the witches

**ajs** · 18-06-2009, 02:11 PM

Originally Posted by DebbieS26

I use the time at toddler group (Monday morning so coffee needed!) to sit back and watch the children. This is part of their child led activities. Yes I do sit on my bottom for an hour but I am observing and watching them intergrate and play, developing social skills. I do not feel that they are missing out because I am not with them at their sides. We do have puzzles and sticking which obviously needs help and singing is always with all of us together.

Maybe this makes me lazy but I do not see it that way.

no i agree with you debbie but i think the point is she is not observing them but busy chatting and moaning when they need changing etc.
i had to check you didn't mean me when you said moaned about nappy changing as that was definatley me yesterday, although i was sitting playing with the baby when the older one came and told me she'd done a poo

**Andrea08** · 18-06-2009, 03:05 PM

i go to soft play with one of the biggest slides ever

i sit and chat with my friend get the juice and bickies, watch take to the toilet and try and relax in a safe environment.

i take pictures and wave at the mindees at the top of the slide etc but yes i do sit and try to just keep an eye on them and often have to go looking at home time as they all run off to hide lol

toddler group is the same i chat with other cm's and catch up with training dates etc but the children are safe PSED with the other children and we take turns with book reading, helping to dress in the role play area and ask for pizza n chips when they play in the den kitchen,,

BUT i do take the time to chill ,, be with friends,, and be a grown-up

i do understand that some just sit and dont move or even talk with the children which is a bit out of order realy but working 10hrs a day without a meal break etc is a long day so once a wk at toddler group wount hurt, we all need adult company and sometimes its the only time during the day (or in school play ground) that we get the chance to talk to another grown-up.

this cm might be working her socks off in her setting and this 1 & 1/2 hrs a wk is her only break?

andrea x x

**georgie456** · 18-06-2009, 04:32 PM

Originally Posted by DebbieS26

I use the time at toddler group (Monday morning so coffee needed!) to sit back and watch the children. This is part of their child led activities. Yes I do sit on my bottom for an hour but I am observing and watching them intergrate and play, developing social skills. I do not feel that they are missing out because I am not with them at their sides. We do have puzzles and sticking which obviously needs help and singing is always with all of us together.

Maybe this makes me lazy but I do not see it that way.

No this doesn't make you lazy in any way because you taking an active interest in what the children are doing and letting them have their time to play without interruption.....

**Mrs.L.C** · 18-06-2009, 04:39 PM

I think there needs to be a good mix. Be there for the children when they need to but let them have their freedom to learn how to interact and play without adults being by their sides. I noticed another childminder yesterday following one of her mindees round like a little lost sheep but didnt seem to want to talk to any of us even though we all tried so it can go from one extreme to another.

I like to have a rest at toddler groups like others esp when working 50 hours a week plus doing the every day things like cooking and cleaning as well as having adult conversation but im always watching the children and making sure they are ok etc

**nannymcflea** · 18-06-2009, 05:26 PM

I'd love to sit and do nothing at toddler group, trouble is mine drag me to the play cooker and I end up stacked with food! I do take time for a cuppa and my lo's are happy to go and play without me but I do see toddlers as an extention of home, some time to go and do and time with me.There are cm's who sit and chat there are 1 or 2 that play, I'd not like to judge but when one of their lo's is running around with a bag over their head i do feel that perhaps they are not paying their child enough attention!

**sweets** · 18-06-2009, 05:36 PM

I get what you mean andrea ,we all need a break and i sit at toddler group too for a chat and a coffee, but i always have an eye on my mindees. This cm doesn't! 1 of her little ones fell off her chair once and cried, as it was she was ok but her minder didn't even think about getting up, she just rolled her eyes like she does when 1 needs changing! No one likes dirty nappies and sometimes i may have a moan but she leaves hers for ages before she gets up and does something about the smell thats travelling across the massive church hall! lol

Its her attitude i don't like!

**mushpea** · 18-06-2009, 06:13 PM

Originally Posted by DebbieS26

I use the time at toddler group (Monday morning so coffee needed!) to sit back and watch the children. This is part of their child led activities. Yes I do sit on my bottom for an hour but I am observing and watching them intergrate and play, developing social skills. I do not feel that they are missing out because I am not with them at their sides. We do have puzzles and sticking which obviously needs help and singing is always with all of us together.

Maybe this makes me lazy but I do not see it that way.

I too sit and watch whilst having a coffee and discusing planning etc with the other childminders i go with, I think it is important for children to learn to play independantly away from adults but in a safe enviroment, if they come to me and want somthing or want a book read then i will do this but generaly i let them play, there is one childminder that comes that sits with her children and will not leave their sides, they will not learn how to be indepent or learn to play independantly cause she just wont leave them alone, this to me is damaging to their learning because they arent learning independant play or how to interact with other children.
I spend the best part of our day doing acitivities and playing with the children and work hard for my money.