Healthy eating

We have meal-times throughout the day: breakfast from 7:30am (unless they have eaten at home already), a snack at 10:30am, lunch at 12:30am (which is often a picnic!) and another snack at 3pm. Freshly cooked tea is at 5pm.

We have a dessert after lunch and tea, which is always fruit/yoghurt. Snacks are fruit and healthy foodstuffs (to your child’s expressed dietary requirements).

Personal water beakers are always available to the children. Rooibos tea (natural South African tea) is introduced when a little older as another option, although water is mostly encouraged. Children are welcome to bring juice from home in their own separate beaker. Each child has their own beaker to prevent cross contamination.

I provide milk, although formula/soya milk will need to be provided by you.

It is important we discuss exactly what their likes and dislikes are concerning food, and if you’d like them to start eating certain foods, we can work together in this. It is all part of their development process.

I try to keep the menu varied, opening up a wide variety of tastes to the children, with both hot and cold foodstuffs. I aim to give the children 5 fruit and veg per day, every day.

I involve the children in cooking too, their favourite being pizza! Even the younger children enjoy holding the grated cheese in their hands and putting it (with help) on their own mini pizza! We cook and bake a variety of foods, so the children learn about safety in the kitchen, and have the satisfaction of creating their own meal.

We enjoy baking and make fairy cakes, cookies and cakes at least once a month per child (all children are part-timers). We get nice and messy whilst having some fun baking, then, after washing hands and faces, kids are lifted up so they can see the baking rise (high-standing oven), and then we enjoy our special treat!

Okay, here you go! Menu sample!

Mon
Breakfast: Weetabix
Snack: Raisins & carrot batons
Lunch: Toasted cheese and tomato, banana
Snack: Fruit bar
Tea: Cottage pie with veg, pear

Tues
Breakfast: Bran flakes
Snack: Dried apricots
Lunch: Philly cheese sandwich, yoghurt
Snack: Fruit biscuit & grapes
Tea: Fish fingers, peas, mash, apple

Wed
Breakfast: Cornflakes
Snack: Breadstick & sultanas
Lunch: Ham and cheese sandwich, strawberries
Snack: Carrot batons & grapes
Tea: Chicken stew with rice, pear

Thurs
Breakfast: Baby pronutro - South African porridge
Snack: Cookie/fairy cake (that we have baked!)
Lunch: Picnic lunch in the garden! Variety of fruit, crackers
and sandwiches to choose from
Snack: Rice cakes
Tea: Spaghetti bolognaise, grapes

School run in the rain!

For those who walk to and fro for school runs... what do you do when it's very windy/bucketing down with rain??? Rain cover goes on buggy, so kids in buggy are fine, but what about walking kids and me???

I have 4 under 3s.. this is worrying me most I think - little chests getting ill if weather foul. Off and on buses with them all.

Anyway, I will give it a go and see how it goes....it'll be rush hour, so will be interesting!!!

Crayons and tellies do NOT mix!

I have had crayon on the telly screen (first week we had it!!! eek!), on floors and walls, lots of wheels gone, kiddy microwave broken when repeatedly told not to play with it roughly, things chewed etc.

Mostly is not malicious... but I have noticed two of my kids have started to act up more since he started nursery, he actually maliciously pulled the wrought iron curtain tailback holder right out the wall last week (it was screwed in!!!!)! Hubby was home and fixed it immed. He did say sorry and I told mum that night, as it was done on purpose, not an accident. I don't mention when things happen accidentally.

They also play up alot when being fetched... get more raucous, jump on the couch (when they KNOW not to do it! And don't do it during the day when mum isn't there...), want to take my toys home and then cry bitterly when they are told they can't, take food (took another kid's baking, takes dried apricots etc.) off the kitchen counter etc. Mum laughs and says 'oh X, don't do that' in this soft and loving voice... which is ineffective. It's really frustrating. She jokingly asks me 'have you fed them today?' Their behaviour is viewed as cute and funny... and laughed off. And it is no laughing matter.:mad:

I am careful with ensuring there is nothing dangerous on the kitchen counters, but now food too???

I have childminder insurance, but was hoping to never have to use it!

Next year!

We have decided we have to go back to the States in 2009 - to visit our new niece of course! With both of my brothers having kids every year at the mo, it's quite something keeping up with them both ;)

Anwyn :)

My brother and his wife had a little girl yesterday afternoon... she is 7lbs and all are well, especially her very proud older brother, Isaac (just turned 1!) The interesting thing is her name... my South African brother and his American wife have decided on a rare name (Variant of Welsh Anwen) and then her mum's middle name... so baby is Anwyn Rebecca. I was flumoxxed by it I have to tell you, but the name is growing on me, has a lovely lilt to it

Decision made!

It does become difficult to always say YES to people asking for accommodation as we have requests from family and friends often re accommodation due to where we live... very handy to get into Central London etc. Family from overseas come in groups and for weeks!

We worked out that we had only 3 months guest-free 2 years ago So we started becoming a bit stricter for our own sanity, and our pocket

With childminding now it is nigh impossible to have guests for more than a week as the guestroom is now the playroom, and it's a schlep to have to rearrange furniture every morning, plus they have to be out real early too!

It's difficult saying no though and we rarely do.

Most people in our church are young families and have full homes pretty much, so not sure there is anyone, but worth networking!

I also asked her for the months and dates... as people might be away on holiday and would like a housesitter. She could then help out at the mums and tots groups etc during the week, great for learning English.

Getting sick!

I know what the general rules re sickness are, but it's difficult to gauge sometimes. I have been poorly (have been off work and so loss of income!), due to my youngest mindee I am sure... but parents sent her along anyway... they hate having to pay for care not used. She had a cold but her nose was running something terrible.. a lovely green colour. This says infection to me? I mentioned this to the parents... 'Oh no, she has no infection, its just a cold'... I am told.

What is your stance on a child being a bit poorly? If I get sick I do not get paid... so if a parent sends their child to me sick, they might not have a childminder available for a few days! And I won't be paid...

I also had a child that vomited... and they sent her to me the next day - now I am sure we shouldn't have them for 48 hours after... but as I only had her brother in my care and no other kids for those 48 hours, she felt it fine to send her... is this fine though? What about me becoming ill??? She plays on me being a softy, and I am

Winter approaches, and so will colds etc. and I want to enforce a stricter attitude in my setting.

Accommodating a stranger for 3 months?

I got this email today from a friend ... she writes about her friend, looking to stay in England for 3 months to learn English. I am not quite sure what to say... we certainly do not have the room... and hubby wouldn't want a stranger in our home even if we did have the space, for that length of time. I couldn't from a work perspective anyway, being a childminder. Difficult one!

What would you say to her???

>>>>>

Dear Jen,

Today I come with a question to you:

I am at the moment in Greece for a bellydance workshop with women from Vienna and my dance-teacher from Vienna. One of the students I know since a few years and I do like her very much. She has been working with her husband for many years as his assistant, while he was a doctor. He stopped working now and is retired, so is she as well. Now she wants to practise her English, she understands a lot but doesn't talk yet, because she is afraid to make mistakes.

Now she told me that she is thinking of going to London for about 3 months and make a course, but also live with a family, so she has to speak the whole time just English. She would also be a wonderful Grandma ... this is what I can feel.

So I promised her to go online and write to you and ask you if you would want
her to come over or maybe know someone where she would be welcomed.
Monika is a very calm, gentle and placid lady (sorry if I used a wrong word, the dictionary had to help me). She would not want to be paid, maybe even the other way round ... paying a bit and the rest for taking a bit care of a child or so.

She is flexible and would appreciate to be in a good and nice family. She would have a problem if she would be in a family with lots of problems and fights. I think you got an idea now what I am talking about.
Please tell me your opinion and your ideas of that, I hope we can help my
friend.

Love and hugs and kisses from Greece
Ursula
>>>>

Life in the UK test

Fair warning to all you lovely UK citizens.... hubby and I are a step closer to becoming citizens!!! We sat the Life in the UK test this am and both passed. Yippeeee!!!

Bleugh!

I know what the general rules re sickness are, but it's difficult to gauge sometimes. I have been poorly (have been off work and so loss of income!), due to my youngest mindee I am sure... but parents sent her along anyway... they hate having to pay for care not used. She had a cold but her nose was running something terrible.. a lovely green colour. This says infection to me? I mentioned this to the parents... 'Oh no, she has no infection, its just a cold'... I am told.

If I get sick I do not get paid... so if a parent sends their child to me sick, they might not have a childminder available for a few days! And I won't be paid...

I also had a child that vomited... and they sent her to me the next day - now I am sure we shouldn't have them for 48 hours after... but as I only had her brother in my care and no other kids for those 48 hours, she felt it fine to send her... is this fine though? What about me becoming ill??? She plays on me being a softy, and I am.

Winter approaches, and so will colds etc. and I want to enforce a stricter attitude in my setting.

Groan

Temp still high. Head is screaming. I am going to eat a banana and get back into bed.

Ugh

Temp is down to 38.5 and have eaten a couple crackers and bananas, which is good. Have a pinched nerve in my left foot too which aint helping any haha. Going to have a bath and hit the pillow. xxx

Tea anyone?

I usually go to my other job on a Friday, but took the day off to do childminding paperwork.... but am home with a splitting headache Feeling ghastly, achy and bally cold! Typical hey?

Anyone care to come over and give me a head massage? There'll be a hot cuppa tea in it for you!

'Jen, can you mind my sweet little pudding on Friday?'...

ust so frustrated though.... having said the same thing over and over and over....

'Jen, can you mind my sweet little pudding on Friday?'...
'No, I do not mind on a Friday'...
'Jen, can you mind my sweet little pudding on Friday?'...
'No, I do not mind on a Friday'...
'Jen, can you mind my sweet little pudding on Friday?'...
'No, I do not mind on a Friday'...
'Jen, can you mind my sweet little pudding on Friday?'...
'No, I do not mind on a Friday'...
'Jen, can you mind my sweet little pudding on Friday?'...
'No, I do not mind on a Friday'...

Aaaargghh!

Rant!!!

I childmind Mon to Thurs, and have a contracted design job on a Friday. ALL my parents know this.. but for some reason a couple of them (part-timers) think they can ask me (often!) if I could look after their child on a Friday...

Firstly, I am committed to another job already, plus the money for childminding is only worthwhile when I mind 3 kids, and even then is less than a day's wage as a designer. So I do not want to mind on a Fri for financial reasons, plus I have a CONTRACT.

I thought they had finally understood this... I have two mothers who are CONTINUALLY asking me about Fridays... I have given them details for alternate care close by and neither has followed this up!

Tonight mum arrives... she has jury duty coming up and asked if I could look after her child on the 2 days a week I do not usually look after her. But on a Tuesday I have 4 (FOUR) under 5s already (with a variance)... and Fridays I do NOT mind!!!

I wanted to pull my hair out! Does she honestly expect me to look after five under 3s!!!! (OK, one turned 3 a couple weeks ago...) with health and safety rules going out the window, plus I am not registered to do this (!!!)... and plus, just forget about my commitment to my other job????

I am so frustrated. HOW do I make someone understand I am not available once and for all!!!??? This parent is also often early dropping off and late picking up... and tonight was again.. even though I sent a newsletter this morning... and dropping kids off early/lateness was an issue I raised on it.

Sometimes I feel I am banging my head on a brick wall. Some parents have this way of making you feel guilty for not putting their little one before everything and everyone else.

OK, rant over. I will have that cuppa Rooibos now.