Childminder shopping ? advice please.

tallulah20

apologies if this is the wrong place to post
My daughter is 2 and has been going to a childminder for about 6 months now. We have been happy with the childminder overall however when I went to pick her up on friday the c/m said that she had not had a sleep because they had to go to the shopping centre as her daughter needed (the childminders daughter who is 16) a new pair of shoes for shcool. I was really shocked but didnot say anything at the time as other parents there and wanted to discuss it with my husband. Am I being unreasonable not being happy? I wish she had asked permission and don't feel happy about my daughter stuck in buggy for 2 hours (the time they were out)

renowen

Hi

Well im a nursery nurse and know childminders who are also ex-nursery nurses and I know for US this isnt appropriate, a quick trip to the local shop is one thing but a 2 hour shopping trip is another! Especially as it didnt envolve the minded child (if it was to, say involve the child in choosing new toys for the minders house then thats a bit different but buying shoes for her own child should be done out of hours) so no I dont think your being unreasonable and if you arnt happy with it you should say something. I think some minders forget that, they might be at home but they are still WORKING.

xx

debtfreein4years

i wouldnt make a big deal about it if its a one off. if it starts happening on a regular basis then i would say something. its no different in the grand scheme of things to you taking her shopping and her being in the buggy for a long period of time.

I really wouldnt make a big deal out of needing permission as where do you draw the line, what if the childminder was taking all the kids on an impromtue trip to the local park woudl you want her to call for permission every time she took them out?

tallulah20

thanks - i see what you mean about permission and would not word it like that to her - park etc are all fine and I am laid back about most things but just felt this was not quite right -as you say she is working and I think things like this should b done in her own time. maybe I have not clarified properly what childminders do and don't do. As if she was pooping out to shops or post office that would not have bothered me.

liney

It's happened once in 6 months, and she told you about it when to be fair she could have neglected to mention this.

I'd ask her not to take my child shopping if it happens again any time soon, but if the next time is next year for another pair of shoes i'd let it go.

feelinggood_2

I don't think shopping trips, appointments and similar are a problem, I think it is a good experience for childre, I like a childminder to do 'normal' things. I don't think I'd be happy about missing a nap though. If it were me, I'd mention that I don't have a problem with things like this, but ask that routine isn't disrupted.

Sarahlou_2

A little unreasonable to drag a 2 year old round shops for two hours shoe shopping, stuck in a buggy and no sleep - but it may just be a one off.

My DS went to a childminder and during the school hols they did the shopping at ASDA each Monday. However she made it fun and educational eg spotting items on shelves, counting out money, determing healthy from unhealthy etc.... I didn't stress about it. TBH I think they enjoyed going as they usually got to pick a treat (new toy or game)!

However - I did object once when she took him after school and when I picked him up she'd only given him a bag of crisps for tea as "she didn't have time".

Swings and roundabouts I guess!

geordiebird1970

I was a childminder for 11yrs and i would take the kids in to town once a week to go shopping etc and the kids loved it as we would stop and have drink and biscuit and if the weather was nice we would go and feed the ducks. I did use it as a teaching lesson ie looking for colours, numbers etc, none of my parents ever complained, if you dont want your child to do these things stick her in a nursery.

tallulah20

i would rather send her to a childminder as I like the home environment, but just wondered if this is common with all childminders? I can't go shopping when I am at work so don't really thing she should when she is at work - as I said before - She is my first daughter so maybe I really have got the wrong end of the stick with what they do and don't do.
as alot of people have said - it prob just was a one off and not a problem. thanks for all advice

Yorkshire-Lady_3

If you choose a Childminder, then you have to expect her to do all the normal things that you would do if you were at home with your child.

So she took your child shopping, Great!
Such a learning experience.

I regularly take my minded children to the supermarket, and it's amazing how much they pick up on. Bigger/smaller sized packs/tins, Counting 4 apples and 4 oranges into bags, choosing what they would like for lunch, helping to pay for the items, the list is endless.

PLease remember your childminder doesnt get a lunch break, and hell, I sometimes dont even get to go to the loo on my own!!

Give us a break!

choccymoose

I run the local childminding network as part of my job, where I live, I also tutor the Diploma in home childcare and run the pre -registration course. When this is raised on courses we say that popping to the shops to get ingriedients to make a cake type thing should be perfectly reasonable, as it is going to be an activity that you will be doing with the children, for trips that involve shopping for longer we reccomend that they ask the parents as it is down to parental choice.

As you yourself has said, a childminder is a more homely environment ans therefore, the minded children are going to be seeing day to day chores being done and can join in, i'm not talking a full on house clean etc but washing dishes after lunch etc.

I used childminders for both my children and at times when the childminder needed to run an errand she always told me and made it fun for my child and the others in her care. The fact she told you is an indicator that it very rarely happens, and if you are happy with all other aspects of her care then I would not worry to much at the moment. If it happens again in the near future then maybe have the conversation then.


Choccy