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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

Nanny taking DS to children's play group

37 replies

CruCru · 19/10/2012 19:55

Today my nanny took DS to a playgroup run by our local council. They let them stay (and he had a really good time) but said that really it is only for parents. AIBU to think this is a bit weird? It means that children whose parents work miss out on going to play groups.

OP posts:

forevergreek · 19/10/2012 20:47

i agree lunar, but it can also be lonely for nannies. i don't anymore, but i have worked 24/6 as a nanny for a few years, and 24/6 alone with a baby in your care can be very lonely. especially as often with these jobs you are in a new area/no partner/ no friends often allowed at homes...

ceeveebee · 19/10/2012 20:51

How odd. My nanny takes my twins to lots of groups including one at our local children's centre, churches and private groups. What else are nannies supposed to do with them, stay in all day? Sit in the park in the rain?

Original poster

CruCru · 19/10/2012 20:54

That's it forever - I'd like her to meet some more people. DS is awesome (obviously!) but it would be nice for her to get her own nanny / parent posse in the area.

OP posts:

forevergreek · 19/10/2012 20:59

We end up at other types of groups, more like paid music/dance/gym classes. but it is harder to actually meet people there as you are suppose to concentrate on task and not natter! london, is great as a huge amount of museums and parks but obviously until you know people it can be hard to arrange to meet up with others in these places

ceeveebee - are you sw london based? (think i 'spoke' to you before) i would recommend the wetlands in barnes as your twins grow and if your nanny drives. annual pass is £40 ish i think for a family (was a couple years ago)so well worth it for a mornings toddle around. also some groups in sheen welcome everyone (or did)

ceeveebee · 19/10/2012 21:05

forever yes Richmond. Thanks for the tip - there is loads to do round Richmond/Sheen/Barnes - we love Kew Gardens too!

Mrsjay · 19/10/2012 21:09

What about childminders My friend is a CM and took her mindees to playgroups or grandparents or even aunty the list is endless , I think that is quite weird, was it a mums/parents specific group sometimes they can be run like a family group still not right though

RubyCreakingGates · 19/10/2012 21:15

Sounds like the group we run called TalkActivity, which is for children of between 18 months and 2 1/2 years who need some extra help to boost their communication. It's for primary carer and their children, brcause we give various strategies each week for the family to do as "homework".

I'm not sure whether we'd send a nanny away, but they certainly are not our primary target for this group.

There are weekly childminder's groups with a different target audience.

GoldenPeppermintCreams · 19/10/2012 21:30

I work in a children's centre, and from the name is sounds like a targeted drop in play session to boost communication, as mentioned above.

Saying that, if a child needed extra support we wouldn't mind if it was a grandparent/nanny was bringing them. Don't get nannies in our area but childminders and other carers are very welcome to our non targeted play sessions. We encourage it, as we hope it will give our parents encourage to go back to work and use childminders.

Pleasenomorepeppa · 19/10/2012 23:20

CruCru' are you in N London by any chance? I went to Chaterpillars when DD was younger. A friend (a paed speech therapist) used to help run this group & it was mainly communication based, but, as a former Nanny myself, I can't see why he would be discouraged from taking your DS.
If you are in N London I can give you a list of baby & toddler things to do/go. I was a total baby group junkie & when DC2 arrives in Jan I'll be right back at all of these things .

Original poster

CruCru · 20/10/2012 08:22

Hi Please, that would be very kind. I have the list of stuff run by Islington council but if there is anything else you think is good, it would be great to know about it. Perhaps I (or my nanny) will run into you at one of them soon.

Thank you very much.

OP posts:

wheresmespecs · 20/10/2012 08:31

I think you need to talk to your council and get clear guidance. Different town, but we have council run soft play groups and they are a mix of parents and childminders (not sure we get nannies round here, but childminders the same in this respect) -

But they also do Sure Start/Flying Start groups, for parents with babies and toddlers - but these are targeted at poorer areas, where families have been identified as needing 'parenting support', and the emphasis here is on how to play and interact in specific ways (supporting language learning etc).

It isn't always clear when a toddler group is advertised which it is, but obvs it isn't appropriate for a nanny to take up places at the latter, whereas it's no problem for the former.

nannynick · 20/10/2012 08:33

Ive encountered this. They say I need to attend the special childminder group instead of Stay&Play (a toddler group).

These days I don't mention I am a nanny. I avoid completing any paperwork so don't have to lie.

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