Daily activities with a 2 year old - what to do?

[Anotherbook]

My ds is just 2 and has a nanny share 3 days a week while I work (the other child is 1).

My nanny takes my ds to a music class 1 day,the park and to play sometimes at other similar aged children's houses for an hour or so.She reads to him and plays with his toys with him but doesn't seem to do anything else like playdough,drawing,waterplay - I have these things available - (possibly because of the 1 year old or clearing up the mess?).

She lets him lead what he wants to do but doesn't seem to do anything new with him.What would be things I could suggest she does with him?

I sort of expected that with her being qualified she would have been bringing him on with new things but maybe this is because he is only with her part time and she has a younger child to look after too?

I think I need a set sort of timetable of things I could suggest she does with him daily.He has just given up his afternoon nap so she does have a couple of hours just with him to do activities that may not be so easy with another child to look after.

He loves being outdoors,playing with balls,cars and trains,his farm,lego,jigsaws,books.Not that interested in his play kitchen yet although likes cleaning,sweeping and hoovering!

What should I be encouraging my nanny to do with him also? Is there other skills he could be learning?

IMO when the child is just 2 years old playing with toys is exactly what they should be doing...

maybe you could suggest that one time during the week they do an arty activity together and another time maybe cooking / baking etc (would be easier when 1 year old is asleep)

but to be honest if you want a child to have all their toys chosen for them send them to a nursary where they do that

i cant see the problem with your nanny playing with your 2 year olds toys with him to be honest

you could also ask that she spends a few sessions a week outside, but it sounds like she does anyway, and most nannies i know ensure we go out at some point every day regardless

as for waterplay.... the water play we do every day is bath time, and if hot in the summer the paddling pool

hi am a cm and an ex nanny i currently look after aboy og 2.7 and a boy of 1.7.i do lots of puzzles,sticking ,painting,playdough,reading,we go in garden or park they love the trampoline,slides swings.And love playing football which we always take to park.we are making crowns tomorrow the one yr old does make alot of mess but heyho i clear it up.the 2yr old knows most of his colours and shapes and i am now trying to teach him to write his name i know this is young but i dont force him he wants to do it.we also go to playgroups.

Thankyou,
I think I'll ask her specifically to do a craft activity once a week such as sticking,playdough as I think he would like this.

She could not be an arty person?

I am not too worried about art/craft but would like him to have time experimenting.I think this may be the case MatNanPlus.

Is there any other things my ds could do in his time with his nanny that anyone else finds good with this age?

i think that making & icing cakes / biscuits / jelly etc is always great fun with 2 year olds

actually its fun full stop lol!

also collecting leaves / conkers just to stick on a piece of paper...

swimming if your nanny is confident taking 2 littlies swimming (I used to take a 12 month and just 3 year old swimming and we all had a great time.... they have now become 3 and nearly 6 lol and we still have great fun swimming)

what about toddler groups or crafty groups? any of those in your area?

my charges just love playing with their trains & tracks and cars / road / garage etc and we are always making giant train tracks, with the level crossing joining the road to it etc... + we all love duplo (lego now they are a bit older), stickle bricks, Mr Potatoe head and dinosars, the children would spend forever in the garden on the trampoline / bikes & cars / sandpit / treehouse given half a chance. also jigsaw puzzles

alot of that is a bit more difficult if trying to involve a 1 year old who WILL just break everything which is a bit hard for a 2 year old to understand.

Thanks nannyL that gives me some good ideas to suggest.

My nanny can't really cook but I could make some cakes for them to ice or some biscuit mixture to put in the freezer for rolling out.

I think now my ds is not having an afternoon nap it will be easier to do some of these things.

It is not that i think there is anything wrong with playing with his toys but I feel my ds now needs to be doing a bit more.

its nice to have something structured such as music class/tumbletots etc

then play time at home, should be that - play!!

i am not a particually arty nanny, but can manage to get out playdough/painting/sand play etc

now autumn is here collecting leaves and sticking/bark rubbings etc

maybe suggest an craft activity once a week - she is only there 3 days and its hard to fit everything in

At two my daughter was dangerously enthusiastic about pretty happy helping me with housework, she loved shopping and played with water (in her bath) for hours.

One of the problems with nannies is that they don't do the usual cleaning and shopping chores (and don't take baths with the children) that children this age learn so much from and enjoy so much.

I definately agree he needs to play but wanted to make sure he is getting experience of different things so I'll suggest to her a few things you've mentioned here.
Thanks for the advice.

If shes not so good with cooking, maybe you could help her and ds with making cakes/biscuits for a couple of weeks then she would be abble to make them on her own. Cakes aren't that difficult!!