How much TV time should nanny give kids

[yadayadaa]

When watching a three year old and one year old ?

There are other ways for a break apart from the TV. Our nanny sets up craft, or water play, or puts on meditation music while they lie on the floor. She can then have a tea and reply to her text messages or whatever. I know my children are engaged and learning, not staring mindlessly at Peppa pig while I pay for the privilege.

I have a professional job and can't remember the last time I did nothing for a full hour on the company dime. I don't know too many professional women who take a full lunch break, most of us are having a sandwich with one hand while trying to get through the day's tasks and back home to our children. I work hard to pay for, among other things, well above market wages for our wonderful nanny.

If I was happy having the children plonked in front of the TV while I worked then that is what I would be doing and I'd be saving a fortune in childcare costs.

Yes, and I'm curious as to what her hourly rate ir

That’s so funny, you assume the ages and attention spans of all nannies children are the same! ‘Set up crafts’ would buy me about two minutes with my current charge’s ages and abilities. I do not think it’s unreasonable to use the TV for an appropriate amount of time for a solid break when every other part of the day is either filled with activities or household tasks.

I’ve been nannying for 15 years, you don’t need to be telling me how to suck eggs. It’s of no mind to me whether or not you work a break into your day, @SkyandSurf , but I do.

Yes! I laughed at the PP above who said her nanny was allowed 45 mins to herself while the kids were napping then had a list of suggested chores 😂

Some days I had a shorter rest when I was cooking, but as I batch cooked (and so did the parents!) I didn't have to every day, and you bet your arse that I was sat on mine for a good chunk of the nap.

Still left the place spotless and cleaner than I found it 😉

Yes, I’m sure sitting at a desk is just as physically exhausting as chasing around 2 under 2s.

It’s not a break unless it’s uninterrupted, and I no of no child who would even watch Peppa pig without asking for something.

And why are you martyring yourself with no proper lunch break? My bosses took their full ones, I worked right in the middle of lockdown, they had lovely meals together followed by leisurely walks, no less than an hour per day.

@NotAnotherBathBomb

She gets 15 an hour.

She's never been a nanny before but has childcare qualifications and a lot of experience.

That's a decent rate for a new nanny, have a word. Give a limit. If she opens up that she's using the TV because she's struggling to manage, see if you can help or find someone else.

She should be more resourceful, getting ideas from Instagram and asking advice on fb groups.

I’d also add (I posted upthread) that with nannying work the interpersonal dynamic matters. I want our nanny to feel appreciated, autonomous etc, because I find that’s the best way to run a long term employment relationship with an adult person who knows more about dealing with kids than I do. So I won’t be limiting tv, let alone barring it. I trust her to make appropriate decisions. In turn she has gone above and beyond for us.

@NotAnotherBathBomb

Thanks I have children and know about chasing them around.

Honestly, that's the job. If you wanted a desk job I am sure you could have found one.

I don't see why people go into a field that involves being single handedly responsible for children and then complain about.. being single handedly responsible for children.

If you can find an employer who will pay you to regularly plonk children under the age of two in front of the TV (when the health guidelines recommended no TV at all) - then fill your boots I guess.

We are coming into the nice weather so I would be asking her to be spending a significant amount of the day outside anyway.

I’d be looking more at an average amount of tv rather than a daily limit as someone feeling poorly or terrible weather might mean a quiet and less active day at home with more screen time as a one off compared to multiple days out in the woods away from all screens.

No one is complaining though? Just reiterating that it’s a full on and intense day if you’re doing it properly, we are not robots, and it should be absolutely no problem whatsoever to take the appropriate break. I’m sorry that’s not the case at your work- I am sure you’d be legally entitled.

Drama. I'm not complaining about chasing them around, I'm pointing out that we are not robots, and deserve rest too.

A rest does not equate to plonking them in front of the TV all day.

Must be tiring always thinking in extremes.

Is there still a Mumsnet classic or has that gone ? This is both hilarious and terrifying in equal measure.

@yadayadaa

I think the crux of it is, you're the employer and you set the terms. People hiring nannies specify what they're after 'must speak French' 'must have experience with multiples' 'must be comfortable with Montessori' 'must cook only vegan' or whatever. It's your child and your home. It doesn't matter what other people think, you decide these things. You can specify an amount of TV you're comfortable with and then recruit and pay accordingly. Candidates can decide if that's the gig for them or not.

Yes, you might sadly miss out on hiring someone like PPs who feel TV is a crucial professional tool for them, even for babies under two. A hardship you will have to live with. There are many nannies who don't feel that way and you'll hire someone you're compatible with instead. We've never had this issue with nannies, they've been professionals who have a lot of ways to keep children of all ages engaged without resorting to TV as a default.

It's all about being clear from the outset so the nanny knows what she is signing up for. And again, pay accordingly.

There are some people with serious chips on their shoulder on this thread. How dare mothers not be thrilled at the prospect of paying you by the hour to scroll on your phone while their toddler is glued to the TV?

For the record, we've never given a nanny of ours direction about if and when to put TV on but they've each has the good sense to use it when a child is ill, or overtired etc. not every day as a matter of course. They all seem to understand (amazingly) that they are there to engage with children.

I haven't been brought before The Hague for violating their human rights yet🤞

That’s funny because there’s definitely a chip on the shoulder alright @SkyandSurf - I was thinking the same- it seems to be on yours.

No chip here. I've only good things to say about our nannies. We've been really lucky.

I had a thread recently but can't seem to find it. We had a housekeeper/mothers help and it ended up into an awful situation. Just like you, we initially let things slide and then it became very difficult to address anything with her. She knew I relied on her so started taking advantage. I think you need to be very clear on your expectations and never let anything slide. If anyone remembers my thread, an update is that she contacted the agency asking if they could arrange a meeting with me as she wants her job back. I guess she didn't realise how easy she had it here, and she pretty much told them that. She was also awful to them and they don't want her on their books as well.

Totally different scenario.

What is the same, though, is the fact that you both keep saying 'nannies' which neither of your employees are/were.

What does it say in her contract about breaks? What does it say about TV? What does it say about housework? Cooking?

Nursery/preschool used to for a short period every day. Especially once the kids had dropped naps. So 20-30 mins of CBeebies Numberblocks or something similar after lunch to provide downtime and whilst the staff cleared up and some had their lunch break.

But that's in the context of a nursery open 7am to 6.30pm so 20-30 mins is a tiny fraction of the day.

For a one year old, zero TV. It says this on the NHS website. There's a very good reason for it too.

For a three year old, I'd suggest maybe 15 minutes a day, supervised and with the parent explaining what's going on. Thomas the tank engine (the original series) and Fireman Sam (series 1-4 ONLY) are both excellent choices.

‘Explaining what’s going on’?! That’s a joke, right? Why would you need to explain an age appropriate tv programme? Misses the point somewhat, surely 🤣

This has to be a joke

Mumsnet classics is for threads you think people will want to read again - not a thread you wish you hadn't read in the first place !

So true