Nursery World - Positive relationships: Let's talk about ... doing chores

Are childcarers any different from other workers where seeing to their own personal needs during the day is concerned? Annette Rawstrone spoke to childminders

Q: Is it acceptable for childminders to do chores during working hours?

'Yes, but the childminder should know why they are doing a certain task, and if it doesn't fit in the child's day, they shouldn't do it.'

'Generally we don't think it's acceptable to do chores during working hours. It is our job to be working with the children and that's what the parents pay us for, not for doing housework. One parent even asked when we did our housework, as he was concerned we would be doing household tasks rather than caring for his child - a fair question.'

'It's important that childminder's homes reflect those of the children's families. In a normal home setting, a parent would carry out chores and include the children.'

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