Being a nanny and playdates

[Pistachio14]

What are the situation with playdates and being a nanny?

Do your employers allow you to have people in the house?

Do they allow you to take the children to other peoples' houses?

What about meeting up with friends/partners for days out with the kids - is that ok?

These are all things you need to discuss with your employer at the interview stage. It is different in every job.

I understand that. I'm just wondering what the norm is, because I wouldn't want to bring up these questions if they'll shock potential employers.

The first three are all fairly standard and "normal", and if you bring up play dates,they'll tell you their preferences.

Your fourth point isn't "normal" but my last family loved my partner and he would often come along to the park or days out.

My current family would freak out if I asked, but they pay me to do a job and not to hang out with my friends or partner on their clock. Nanny friends who have charges a similar age, yes. Childless friends, no!

As the others have said all normal except for 4.
Never partners. You are at work! Family if children same age and parents agree. But unlikely. You are working remember.
Another point to remember, you arrange play dates not parent. You have to be happy that your charges benefit from play date, not that it is free Childcare for parents friends!

I have play dates with children of the same age roughly as my charge. I always run it past the parents first in this particular job as I am working for a high profile family..

I wouldn't ever meet up with partner/friends. However, my Mb suggested that they were more than welcome to visit me in the Eve's when I am doing proxy parenting for them .

I do playdates at the house & at other people's houses. We also meet up in the park/woods/library sometimes. My employers are happy fore to meet with my sister & cousin who both have children about the same age as my charges (all aged 1-5). The same for my friends if they have children/charges of similar ages. I don't imagine they'd be happy with me meeting a partner while working though.

Depends on your employers, I don't take my charges out in either job or have playdates but as I work part time for both families (and one of before /after school only) its not too much of an issue. My main employers also have a massive garden and forest, pool, gardeners around often, etc. So we're not short of things to do our being around people. Suits me! They're fine for my partner to be here too, encourage it to a certain extent and know that I won't take the mick with it.

our nanny often takes my toddler to meet up with her sister in law who has a child of the same age, I'm more than happy with this but touched that she asked permission first. I'd like to know if other people were coming to the house (but would be unlikely to say no, just might ensure I was not working at home that day so they didn't feel inhibited). On occasion I'm happy with her meeting up with family/friends at work even without kids eg her dad came to visit her a few months ago with his new dog and they all met up at the park for an hour and that to me is one of the huge benefits of having a nanny. If she babysits overnight I always offer for her partner to stay too as I'm aware that she's more confident not being alone at night and after all, even though I'm paying her, she's giving up valuable free time. He usually arrives around 9pm and leaves at 6am so kids often don't see him but they've met him and really like him too. I do however trust her and him implicitly and it was my idea to invite him, she'd never have asked and was really grateful that I offered, as a parent I think I'd been a bit wary of a nanny who brought this up at interview or in the first few weeks of the post.

Nanny has play dates in our house and at other nannies charges' houses.

My nanny did meet up with her boyfriend but I explained to her that because I didn't know him and he wasn't a registered childcare provider I didn't like it. Now she has asked me and I've met him a few times then it is fine but not often as it is a bit cheeky.

My employers would prefer not to have strangers in their house, so no play dates at my work house. They would happy for play dates in public areas though.

It's bit unusual, but I don't mind too much.

You need to discuss. As an employer id say no to 4 unless they had a child same age as charge. You're at work and 4 sounds like you dragging your charge along on your social outings.

I agree with Sleepless, it would be a very odd request, if you brought it up during the interview stage. Also, I feel the first 3 are integral parts of your job - developing the kids social skills. Some may not think play dates are the way to go and hence you need to check with them. The 4th one however, is you mixing you work and personal life. If you get along great with the family, it may happen as a consequence. But it's not something you should plan for or expect.