Nanny Outings

[nannynick]

As a nanny I like getting out and about. I feel that pre-school children learn about their surroundings and about 'things' by exploring, touching, seeing for themselves.

So when the 4 year old I care for asked to see a helicopter, we went for a drive to a museum with helicopters next to a military airfield where they trained pilots to fly helicopters.

Is that the sort of thing you do / your nanny does, or am I just a bit mad doing this kind of outing?

Where has your nanny taken your children on outings?

I don't drive, so am a bit restricted in that sense, but then again live in a city and think children often really enjoy the whole process of public transport!

I go someone with my little charge every day - toddler groups, soft play, library etc. We're a little bit restricted by school runs in the morning and afternoon, but in school holidays I fully intend to do trips to the zoo, museum, city farm and maybe take the train to the next city.

I take the children anywhere and every where

parks
duck pond
woods
beach
sea shore (live close to the sea)
bus rides
train rides
ornamental railways
country parks
farms
zoo
local manor house (similar to a NT house but not owned by NT) for the walks and train and coffee shop there
toddler groups
soft play
swimming
music groups
library

anywhere really

within 10 miles in term time

up to 50 miles in the holidays (But almost always within 20 miles)

Hi Nick,

Those are exactly the type of outings I find my charges (4,7,8) enjoy too.

For example, my little boy (4) was asking me lots of questions about God, Jesus / what went on in a church, so we visited a local church and he had a look at their bibles etc.

Makes for interesting life experiences IMO

Forgot to add, it is interesting to respond to their particular interests at the time (as you clearly already do), rather than just sticking to the same old soft play/library all the time

Quite agree Lucy87, I find outings are best when they are a immediate response to a request from the child. I get tired of choosing places to go, so love it when a child gives me a suggestion - even if it's just a vague topic area.

same as nanny l

go anywhere and everywhere tho have been further than 50miles

would drive up to 2hrs for a great day out

also took 4hrs to get home from legoland once as of HUGE accident on m25

my 3yr loves cars,planes, trains etc

I'm almost always had little charges (3 months to 3 years - ish) and so haven't really had that many requests for outings. My new charges are 2, 4 and 6 years old, and I'm quite looking forward to responding to their interests as nick and Lucy say!

Tankie - you should have lots of fun with children of those ages. They will love going out and about exploring the world around them.

Oooh absolutely. We're doing 4 days in London at the end of February and we're having great fun planning exactly what we're going to go and see.

Tower of London, London Eye, London aquarium, science museum, changing of the guard.... I don't know how we're going to fit it all in!

Anyone know what London Zoo is like these days? It wasn't brilliant last time I went - I think they got rid of a lot of the 'interesting' animals.

Our lovely ex-nanny took ds to a Dr Who exhibition (involved train and tube travel and far too much detail about Dr Who).
She also used to take the children to a place she knew by the peripheral fence of our nearby airport so they could watch the planes take off/land - she used to be taken there by her Dad when she was a child.

frannikin - london zoo is fab - went there last year with charges

though i would get a taxi from charing X, rather than do tube, bus and walk 9tho kids enjoyed it)

We go out to toddlers, softplay, music group, walks, feed the ducks, rhyme time at library - I have my DD who is 8months and look after a 1 year old - any ideas whatelse i can do with these ages?? always out in the morning and then usually do something messy in the afternoon at home - in the holiadys etc also have a 5 year old so then also do things like - soft play, the lookout in Bracknell, farm, beach, bikes etc etc - planning on doing lots more in the wamer holidays - beach, farms etc!

Swimming at Coral Reef? You can take 2 during toddler time. Mind you, may be worth waiting another few months, so that both of them are a bit bigger and thus better able to wear armbands.
Also for the Summer is Legoland - little ones love it, even if they can't go on that much (Fairytale Brook, Duplo Train, Big Train, Duplo playground) plus of course the 5 year old would like that as well. Costly though, best to get annual pass.
I rarely have a week where I'm not at The Lookout - the staff know me well now!