Any advice please?

[tonannyornottonanny]

Hello everyone,

I'm new and currently studying to be a Primary school teacher. In the meantime I have worked in a lot of childrens centres, schools and nurseries and am currently applying for a nannying position which fits in with my studies. However, I have been asked to provide an activity plan and menu plan and I'm not sure where to start really.

Parents, are there any particular things you would like to have your children doing other than the obvious visits to museums, walks etc.

I am relatively proficient in the kitchen, what might you suggest I plan to cook? doesn't this depend on what the children like to eat and what the parents like them to eat?

Thank you so much in anticipation of ANY advice.

xx

an activity plan would be things like going to local toddler groups, swimming, the library for organised storytime or rhyme times if that helps?

Yeah that's fantastic, what about with older children though? The position I'm looking at is 5.30 - 7 two days a week with and 8 and 12 year old? In this time I would expect to maybe cook their tea, help with homework maybe be playing board games or dropping them at clubs etc?

Do you think this is realistic, if it were full days ie school hols I'd expect to take them to the swimming baths, to the local park, drag them from infront of the tv outside, go to the local museums and events etc?

Thanks x

Our (lovely) nanny came to interview armed with both of these and it really impressed me as none of the other candidates did.

The activity plan specified the sorts of things she would do with them - messy play, craft (making birthday cards, handprints etc), going to the park, swimming, visits to our local city farm, library, playgroups, visiting her parents (I really like the fact she takes the dcs to see them - they don't have grandparents locally, so this is great) etc. She still does all of these things, and I have stolen some of the ideas as well! She did stress that she thought it was important for them to have unstructured time as well, and I think she built that in to a typical day's activities.

The menu plan was a sample 3 day menu for 2 weeks (she started off doing 3 days, now does four). She used it really to show she understood what a balanced day's food looked like and that she knew the sort of things children liked to eat - so breakfast was either porridge with stewed fruit or cereal, followed by toast and juice. Then lunch was a hot meal - she gave a range of options including vegetarian, things like macaroni cheese with spinach, spaghetti bolognaise, home made chicken nuggets with peas, fish pie etc. Then tea in each case was something more snack-y. So scrambled eggs with cheese, crumpets with peanut butter, sandwiches etc.
It does depend on what the children like, of course, but if you can give a range of ideas (and I do think 2 weeks is better than 1) I think that's all you need to do - you can't be expected to know if they like salmon!

Cross-posted, see they are older than mine. That's a tough one, as presumably they'll have homework? 90 minutes isn't all that long if you have to cook tea for them as well. What about getting them to help you cook once a week (teaches all sorts of useful skills) and the other day you do a less time-intensive tea and play a board game together?

Are you doing full days during the holidays? If so, maybe work out what is local to the family and draw up some suggested activities for a typical week (swimming, picnic in the park, museum etc). My advice would be don't over-organise them, and keep it cheap - my nanny is brilliant at finding free stuff to do and I really appreciate that.

I would have thought a 5pm - 7pm job would be giving them tea (something prepared in advance) helping with homework like you say, and then just letting them chill out - board games is an excellent one, in the summer going in the garden to kick a football, have you got a park nearby? rounders, cricket etc?

I agree with others.
90 min its very short for 'activities' so yes board games and cooking together?

Re menu, you could make a column (sp?) with the 4 groups: carbs, protein/iron, fat, fibre and minerals. Then according to what they like you can work out meals making sure that they get all carbs, protein/iron, vitamins, calcium they need.

Thank you all so much for this fantastic advice! It's just been difficult to put into practice my knowledge in this situation when I don't know the children etc.

The position I am interested in currently is just the 90 minutes which initially confused me due to lack of time for activity plans but I think I will plan typical fornight in the holidays and write a short general evening plan. I also do work as a private tutor to similar aged children, and I would happily use this to help with homework/extra work, do you think this is worth mentioning?

Thanks xx

ROFL.

If the mother is asking you about activity plans for 90 minutes for this age group I am concerned as to her sanity (and yours if you work for her). I am really hoping that all she means is that you will oversea their homework, maybe play a board game with them and make sure they don't watch tv or facebook for the whole period.

food - much more normal question. As a mum I would hope a nanny would suggest realistic food that is quick to cook and suits fussy kids. I would love to see stuff like the following:
Pasta with fresh-made pasta sauce, omelettes and spanish omelettes, child-friendly stir-fry, home-made meatballs, grilled chicken with salad and sauce in pitta breads, home made pizza, etc.

oversee, of course