child at pre school, nanny at home alone

[SarcyMare]

for one afternoon a week, my child is at pre-school what sort of things do you ask your nanny to do in that time.

she (with my full approval) does all the tidying up after the kids involving the kids so their room is tidy, beds changed, playroom tidy, what else is there?

For one afternoon after she's dropped off and picked up, it probably doesn't leave that much time so all the things you've mentioned - maybe preparing dinner and then let her have a cup of tea in peace before the madness resumes!

She could do some batch cooking for tea/dinner? Or do some prep for craft/baking activities? But I agree with the previous poster who said it isn't really much free time at all and given that many nannies don't have a proper break on days when the children are home, it might be nice for her to just have a long lunch in peace on that day!

we live 2 mins walk from school so she has 2:45 to herself if that makes any difference, (sorry forgot you don't all already know that)

When my charges have been at school/nursery I have - sorted/tidied rooms/play rooms, done a toy cull, batch cooked, kids washing/ironing, picked up birthday cards/gifts for birthday parties, but also sat down with a cuppa a trashy mag and enjoyed 20 minutes peace

One afternoon isnt much time when you take into account dropping off and picking up, when my youngest charge was at pre school I used to prepare tea and eat my lunch in peace, thats about all I had time for.

Like the idea of using it to set up some crafty or baking stuff for them to do when they get home, if they still have the energy. A little children's plot in the garden maybe?

Or batch cooking.

Are there child-related errands - library books, bits of shopping etc - that wuold necessitate a trip into town. Child free. with time for a cake and coffee. That would go a long way to making me happy!

Let her have a break?
If chores etc are all done why look for work for her?
Let her manage her own time.

You might find that she would prefer to do a couple of the jobs that she normally does with your child around during that time - easier without children 'helping' and would give her more time for activities or outings with your little one.

One afternoon a week. I expect that she'll use the time to do all the chores that are a pita with a small child around while singing to loud inappropriate music

You could send her shopping for birthday presents for all the kids parties that you'll be spending your weekends at

When I was a nanny I did batch cooking and sorting toys/clothes, etc during my "free" time.

Does she usually get a lunch break or is she on duty all hours on the other days of the week? What kind of hours does she do for you, and on what salary?

Does your nanny usually get a break I.e does your child sleep. yes you are paying for those hours but come on it's one afternoon a week. Just let her have those 3 hours or whatever it may be to rest and maybe do one of the nursery duties in that time.

I would prob change beds without kids that day - batch cook a meal and freeze a few portions and then sit with a cuppa

You don't need to fill every minute of her child free time and we are talking one afternoon - not every afternoon

Batch cook? What is there to batch cook during Summer? Or am I unusual in doing lighter meals using lots of often cold ingredients during Summer?

Dishwasher, washing, vacuum around the home, general tidy. Getting bits and pieces from shop.

If you were at home, what would you be doing?

I would just leave her to get one with what she does tbh

She will no doubt just try and use those 2 and bit hours to sort kids stuff out easier without toddlers help.
Ie sort through clothes for stuff too small, filtering out drawings ( children want to keep everything! But ideally you only actually want 1 in 5 pictures filed away max as the rest scribbles the same as the other 100!), or can pop to shops to buy new kids socks/ book hair cuts/ Order craft bits etc just easier as can do quicker if not at toddler speed

Then if nothing a break is fine surely. Most jobs get hr lunch break where as she never does as can't just leave child alone

What is her personality? If she is generally resourceful then I expect she will have things in her mind she wants to get on with, (other posters have suggested ideas. Remember that some of these chores may not be clearly visible, such as sorting out clothes or toys or perhaps preparing a type of meal that takes more time than usual). She may even come and ask you if there´s anything specific you would like to be done during that time.

Overall, if you think she works hard then I would not stress too much about these couple of hours.

However, if you believe she is wasting the time you are paying her for then suggest a couple of chores.

Thanks for all the great ideas and thoughts, you are right it is only 1 afternoon, but soon it will be 3 sessions and i need to keep her employed to cover holidays and sickness.

Is she a full time nanny? Can you adjust the sessions to when you're not at work if it is a part time role?

It is full time 8:15-6:15

I think I would just leave as mentioned and ask her to do kids stuff as usual ( as she can then go outside with children in morning and late afternoon), and she will be available when they are ill/ nursery closed during those few hours

It's a very short time- I am sure she has plenty to catch up on.

Ok so a 50 hr week. I woukd definitely leave her to it then. She will prob appreciate the little break.

I don't think you need to micro-manage her time to that extent.

I think when it's just one afternoon then leave it up to her.

Once it's three afternoons a week you could find a few child related jobs to fit into that time. Sorting out clothes or toys they've grown out of, cooking, sorting out craft stuff. There will always be something to sort

My DC start reception in September and we are thrilled that our nanny has decided to stay. We had previously discussed her leaving after Christmas once the DC have settled at school, but we don't want her to leave and she wanted to stay so she will be with us indefinitely.

She will be home from drop off until pickup and we are both trying to figure out what she can do all day. She will of course do all the DC's cleaning, laundry and cooking but she does most of that already and it will only fill a couple of hours a day. I wouldn't dream of asking her to do non-DC related housework (we have a cleaner). I don't mind her having a big chunk of the day off and I am more concerned that she will get bored after a few months and decide to move on.

If there are any nannies on here that solely look after school age children, how do you fill you days?