To make child carry own bag?

[Badabingbadaboomm]

I nanny for a family and look after a 7 year old.

I started working with them when child was 5 and I carried their bag up until around the start of the spring term this year. I have my own bag that I carry and need to have one hand free for crossing roads grabbing child from walking into every single stationary object they encounter

Ive stopped carrying their bag now because they keep bringing mass amounts of toys in their bag to school making it heavier. I already struggle with fatigue so extra weight makes it difficult. I did talk to family/ child about not bringing extras but they haven’t listened. So I have stopped carrying the bag. Cue lots of whinging from the child about having to carry their own bag, most of the children in the school do this. Child uses a school branded backpack that is child sized.

AIBU and mean or right in thinking if they are going to take toys into school that they can’t even play with them that is their responsibility? Child is 7.

Tell dc you are a nanny not a pack horse....
Have a sort out before you set off and encourage removing most of the crap...

YANBU at all, a child that age should carry their own bag.

A 7 year old is perfectly able to carry their own backpack as you must know. Just insist he carries it.

I wouldn't let them take the toys.

YANBU he should carry his own bag and shouldn't be taking toys to school.

YANBU. You could sympathise with the child saying "That sounds hard for you, it does get very heavy when you put lots of toys in your bag. Why don't you just choose 1 toy tomorrow, then your bag won't weigh as much," while still making them carry it.
I say this as someone who is often a packhorse for my kids' bags, however it should always be your choice and I will make them carry their own stuff if I am too weighed down.

When they complain point out “well it’s all the toys that are making it heavier”

I do point it out. I look after them from after school so unfortunately can’t control what goes in the bag before school.

but glad to know others don’t think I’m being unreasonable!

We make pre schoolers where I work carry their own bags, except 1 kid who needs a lot of emergency medicines. Rule is if they bring the bag they carry it.

Similar to @LaMaG the rule for mine has always been “you pack it, you cart it” from being about 5. I carried zero school bags on a day to day basis. Stay strong OP.

I was an after school childminder for quite a few years, the children always carried their own bags.
Like someone said up post, I'm not a pack horse...

Not only should school age children be carrying their own bags, they should not be taking their own toys to school. Home brought toys are nothing but needless upset and aggro for the pupil AND the teachers trying to keep the bloody toys safe from being taken, lost or worse, broken by other kids.
Like others have said, you're the nanny, not a pack horse.

My 3 year old carries her own backpack, as does my 5 year old. Not sure why a 7 year old can't. I jusr refuse to carry their stuff, like you say I need free hands for keeping them safe by roads etc. So I tell them to put their bags on, and we don't go home until they are carrying it.

My kids have attended 2 schools where the policy was to encourage independence and carry their own bag from reception.

my 7 year old manages 3 bags , back pack plus one on each hand. I say to them “What is mummy not?” When they leave stuff in my car. They reply “a packhorse” YANBU.

Perhaps insist that they leave things at school if he won’t carry them home. If school are fed up they can speak to parents about it.

I say to them “What is mummy not?” When they leave stuff in my car. They reply “a packhorse” YANBU.

I love this

Thanks everyone. I thought I might get “they’re only little” replies but glad I’m not wrong for doing this.

YANBU

Obviously they should not be taking toys into school, but, obvs you can't control that.

Of course a 7 yr old should be carrying their own bag. Mine all carried their own bags from when they started Nursery. Perhaps if he did, he'd realise that is one (of several) good reason(s) not to cart a load of stuff to school that shouldn't be going there.

When I got my son a bag with a chest strap across the front it made such a big difference. I think half the time he had given me the old bag to carry as it had just fallen off his shoulders and was annoying him.

I used to carry my daughter's bag. There were no toys. It came to an end when I discovered her collection of precious rocks in there!!