Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Paid childcare

Discuss everything related to paid childcare here, including childminders, nannies, nurseries and au pairs.

Flip

Original poster

Nanny for a very active 3yr old?

11 replies

AnnetteTwitcher · 24/04/2012 08:13

Hi our nanny share arrangement is coming to an end and we are considering just keeping her on as sole charge for our very busy 3 yr old & 1 yr old DS's. At present Ds1 goes to nursery 3 days a week and has 1 day with the nanny, ds2 & another baby.

It would be marginally cheaper for us to take ds1 out of nursery and have both boys cared for by nanny but am worried that he won't get the stimulation he's used to as he's been in nursery since 9 months old and has loads of friends etc...

DH thinks am worrying over nothing- back in the 70's we were both cared for at home by DM's until of school age and have turned out ok but am worried about depriving DS of the early years foundation he's getting currently!

Has anyone else got similar experience?

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

RillaBlythe · 24/04/2012 08:26

Will he be starting his 15hrs at preschool in Sept?

Original poster

AnnetteTwitcher · 24/04/2012 11:29

I think he gets the 15hrs in June but in order to qualify for the full allocation we have to send him to his existing nursery for 3 days which means we still have to pay circa £550 per month even after the 15hrs.

He was offered a pt place at local infants school but 12-3pm which we've declined as its too much for the nanny to be going back and forth with 3 kids in the middle of the day (she can't go to any of her existing activities).

OP posts:

minderjinx · 24/04/2012 13:02

Really? I know plenty of nannies who manage to take a child to pre-school and still fit in plenty of other activities for their other charges. If she can't continue the ones she's doing, surely she could find some others on in the morning or while your three year old is at pre-school.

nannynick · 24/04/2012 13:14

If the share is ending she won't be taking 3 children, only 2. So would asking the pre-school at the infants about a place for say September be benficial - 2 or 3 afternoons a week so there are 2 or 3 days available for all-day trips out, or whatever activities your children enjoy doing.

In the title you say your 3yr old is very active - how does being at nursery help that? He surely would get more time outdoors running around woods, at the park, with nanny... or are you finding that your nanny does not do many things to help him release his energy?

redglow · 24/04/2012 20:41

Exactly Nick why would you put a very active three year old in a nursery if you did not need to. I looked after a child like this and had to go out every day for a long walk so he could let of steam.

HolyCameraConfusionBatman · 24/04/2012 20:57

I agree with nick and red. I would think the last place you'd want a very active 3-year old is cooped up all day in a nursery! The nanny should be able to get him out and about. If he enjoys the social side of nursery I'd send him to school nursery or pre-school part time.

ALL the activities in your area only run hours that overlap with a 12pm/3pm nursery run? Really?

Karoleann · 24/04/2012 21:18

Afternoon playgroup sounds perfect for your ds. It's likely that your one year old will want to sleep in the afternoon anyway,so early lunch, 12pm drop off a md then back to sleep for your little one will probably work quite well for your nanny.
I think at three though thy do need something (I've two boys and a
Title girl) I wouldn't take him out of formal care completely.

Original poster

AnnetteTwitcher · 25/04/2012 22:39

I've had a really positive experience of his care at nursery, it's a big setting with a large garden and they always do lots of different activities such as simple maths, painting & messy play, role play etc and there are lots of kids his own age to play with. He is such a popular little chap and has made a great little circle of friends so we also really value the social side of the care he currently receives.

The nanny is great and does go out every day but somehow I just think the care he gets at nursery might be more structured, although i take on board the points about outdoors play.

It's all too bloody complicated!

OP posts:

nannynick · 25/04/2012 23:05

Care at nursery will be more structured. He may need that but he may also need unstructured time as well. A mix of care from nanny and nursery could work well.

RillaBlythe · 26/04/2012 07:31

The point about the preschool is that your DS would have the structured time every day for free - you posted earlier about the cost of keeping him in nursery - & that maybe it is worth working your nanny's other activities around the school run.

catepilarr · 26/04/2012 09:14

sorry for stealing the thread but is it common for nursuries in the uk not to take children out for walks and play in playgrounds? where i come from i am used to nursery schools where they go out for at least an hour in the morning and then after nap around 2pm they often go outside to play until the parents pick them up (which might be until 6 usually). and my own nursery had a huge garden with a sandpit and a seasaw for every class (four classes a school). i know things are different in different countries but a nursery school not taking children outside sounds plain wrong to me.

Flip