Activities for 1 year old with nanny

[Smerlin]

Need some advice from any nannies that can face it on a Fri night!

I am concerned about the activities my nanny does with my one year old who she has been looking after for 2 months now. I would like her to do one activity a day like stay and play/messy play/rhyme time etc (if naps work out of course) but she only does this if nagged and generally takes her on play dates with other nannies. She said this is what she has done in all her jobs.

What would/ do you do with a one year old ? She is NWOC so has her own toddler too but I'm generally only suggesting free activities (eg at library/ children's centres) that I think her toddler would enjoy too.

I would be finding activities or doing playdates with nannies with charges of the same age. I like to have a varied week both for the development of the child & for myself.

I've been with my 13 month old charge for 8 months, we do music on Monday, baby gym on Tuesday, swimming on Wednesday and another music and dance class on Friday. All in the morning. Thursday is out free morning when we meet up with nanny or bosses NCT friends.

Afternoons we go to the park, meet friends or do baking or crafts.

With a NWOC the employer should cover the nannies child class fees.

I have nannied my current charge for several months and as we approach the 1st birthday we do activity groups like - Music and movement, Toddlers, Baby gym, Rhyme time, Messy play in the mornings, we then do swimming, playdates with other nannies/mum friends, the park, library, arts and cradts in the afternoon. To be fair we have done most of these groups since I started [at 6 months]

From the nannies I interviewed my impression is organised activity in morning and home activity or play date in afternoon is a pretty common structure (my DD will only be 7 months but I assume a year is very similar).

That was my impression too LightTripper but we seem to get play date every day and organised activity once a week.

In every work I had, I start to go to activities once a day since baby is 6 ot 7 months. There are nice playgroups/story time for under 1 year old.

But actually, it doesn't matter what anybody here does. If you want your child to go to one activity a day, the nanny has to do it. SHe is a nanny, not a chilminder. You're the boss..

She is taking the piss a little bit... Did you talk about your expectations when you interviewed her. Did you ask her what kind of activity she usually do?

I can't believe she actually keeps on doing wathever she wants after you told her what you want. You should print the timetables of the children centres around your area, sit down with her, and tell her that you are going to have a look together to choose wich activity she is going to take you DC. Don't give her a choice

Quite right, nanny is an employee and has to do as their employer says. Be firm, you want them to go to these things.

If you have to, then find when these things are on and tell her to go.

Nannying can be very lonely, so meeting up with someone she knows is alright if you are ok with that but it should not mean they can't do things you want your child to do. Meeting new people is part of the job, I have recently met a nanny working in the same area as me, caring for a child of the same age, the children already knew each other via preschool which is how I found out they had a nanny. So yes we now do playdates but it is to get the children to play together, as well as for the adults to have a chat.

I agree at many groups are mornings, a few are afternoons. This tends to fit with young children's sleeping patterns as most will nap in the afternoon, dropping morning nap first.

I've been with my current charge since she was 6months she's 3. The routine was similar to as above and all the nannies we know. Usually we go to a class in the morning as the majority of classes are in the morning. Then afternoons were usually left for activities at home the park errands. Usually just quite activities. As Someone else said you as the boss can tell her what and where you want her to do.

I've been with my charge since he was 11mths (he's now 24mths). He has nursery 2 days a week, we go swimming once a week and do a toddler group and singing group on a Thursday. Wednesdays we keep for home activities and playdates.

My boss and I agreed we didn't want to fill his days with structured activities as he's a very independent little man and it doesn't suit him. But previous posters are right - you employ her so you have the right to tell her where you would like her to take your child.

Play dates, if you're willing for her to arrange those, have lots of potential for the child to make friends and for your nanny to socialise (it can be a very isolating job) but classes encourage all sorts of things - learning new skills, listening, communication etc.

I agree. Also at least an hour outdoors everyday, unless there is torrential down pour. I take LO to Hullabaloo, playgroup, messy play, bounce and rhyme and soft play - this one with another nanny- usually in the mornings. During the afternoon we have small talk time, explore and learn, story and music bag time at home either before or after play/walk outdoors. LO is 18 months. Play dates with other nannies are good but only if it benefits LO. I only do this once a week for my sanity too. I do meet other mums, childminders and nannies at morning activities too. Therefore get adult contact.

It's nice to have a planned activity to go to - breaks the day up

Sounds to me the nanny cba to do and activity and 'work' compared to maybe looking after and sitting at friends house

Play dates are essential for a mums /nannies sanity but not if not doing anything else

And I think the nanny should pay for her child's fees in classes not the employer

Te her you want Her to do abc or book your child into swimming / music / bounce etc