How to ask nanny to make activities more enriching?

[Anonymous]

OP, I admit that same thoughts have crossed my mind, but I am holding back on any “constructive feedback” of my nanny for the moment. Am reminding myself to be grateful to have a stable, loving caregiver for my kids so my husband and I can go to our jobs as healthcare providers. Our nanny is wonderful and would be difficult to replace at any time, but especially now!

[Anonymous]

You simply ask your nanny to provide DD with more activities that model her preschool. Just talk to your nanny! Give her a credit card to order whatever she needs and see what she comes up with.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I know what you mean, and I recently had a similar discussion with my 3yo’s nanny. I asked her to organize some art projects with items at home or on Amazon. Also asked her to come up with new pretend play scenarios to broaden DS’s vocabulary and knowledge. DS is like a vacuum cleaner, so thirsty for information and picks up new things so quickly. Previously I felt his morning preschool satisfied that thirst enough and he could have complete downtime with comforting and familiar activities in the afternoon with nanny. But now that there’s no preschool, I want to make sure he’s still learning.

What helped was sending her websites with the types of activities I wanted her to do with him. Also, since she would need to put in a little extra effort to plan things, I told her to come in an hour later everyday. It’s worked well so far (been 2 weeks).

You realize this is EVERY three year old, right?

No, no! OP’s 3 years is SUPER special! He NEEDS enrichment!

I don’t spend hours a day with other 3yo’s so I only know mine well enough to realize he benefits from learning new things. If the same applies to your 3yo then go ahead and enrich him. No one’s stopping you.

lol You so clearly don’t get it.

Read the nanny’s routine for the 4 year old twins. It’s pretty perfect, and yet she admits from the outside looking in, it probably looks like goofing around and random play. If this is your first extended period of time spent with your son during the day, take a more humble approach. Be more willing to listen before you start clinging to buzzwords and demanding changes from your nanny.

Or not.

Maybe if this lasts a long time, you’ll start to understand how you sound in a few months. Who knows, right?

You’re the one who doesn’t get it. The nanny likely didn’t do the learning apps and one-on-one reading and handwriting practice because those kids would have done it in preschool. So she is compensating for the lack of preschool by doing those activities at home.

If you actually read what I wrote instead of just coming to flame me, you’d see that I encouraged artwork and pretend play.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:She is a former preschool teacher. She knows what your child needs at this time.

This. Have you considered that maybe the professional knows what she's doing?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I know what you mean, and I recently had a similar discussion with my 3yo’s nanny. I asked her to organize some art projects with items at home or on Amazon. Also asked her to come up with new pretend play scenarios to broaden DS’s vocabulary and knowledge. DS is like a vacuum cleaner, so thirsty for information and picks up new things so quickly. Previously I felt his morning preschool satisfied that thirst enough and he could have complete downtime with comforting and familiar activities in the afternoon with nanny. But now that there’s no preschool, I want to make sure he’s still learning.

What helped was sending her websites with the types of activities I wanted her to do with him. Also, since she would need to put in a little extra effort to plan things, I told her to come in an hour later everyday. It’s worked well so far (been 2 weeks).

You realize this is EVERY three year old, right?

No, no! OP’s 3 years is SUPER special! He NEEDS enrichment!

I don’t spend hours a day with other 3yo’s so I only know mine well enough to realize he benefits from learning new things. If the same applies to your 3yo then go ahead and enrich him. No one’s stopping you.

Don’t worry, other 3 year olds are completely stupid and incurious. They wouldn’t benefit from learning new things.

Never said anything about other 3yo’s. Just talking about mine.

[Anonymous]

Play IS what your child NEEDS at this time. Get the priorities for your child straight.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Nanny here to 4.5 yo twins. Here is our daily routine right now:

Wakeup, get dressed, sunscreen, brush teeth.

They free-play with legos for about an hour while I prep for the day (unload DW, make breakfast, pack snack, prep lunch, fill water bottles, prep family dinner)

Eat breakfast

Around 9:30/10 we do “Morning School”:
One kid uses a learning app on my phone while the other does a one-on-one reading lesson with me. First we do one lesson from a boxed curriculum called “Learning Dynamics,” then they read me two Bob books (one that they have read before and one new one). Then switch kids.
Finally they each do the same page in a Handwriting Without Tears workbook.

By this time it is about 10:30/11 and we head out for an outing (hike or scooter/bike ride or just go to a big field near the house and bring some toys to use).

We get back around 12:30/1 and have lunch then they lay down for a rest around 2. At 3 they watch one episode of tv in their second language.

After that we do “Afternoon School” which consists of them observing the caterpillars we are raising and the garden we are growing. Then they do a journal page for each topic, which consists of them drawing something they noticed and writing a one-word label for their drawing using inventive spelling.

After that we do a guided activity such as a science project, board game, art project, etc. for about half an hour.

Then they free-play with cars or magnatiles for an hour while I do laundry and make dinner and tidy up from our day.

After that it’s dinner/bath/reading/bed.

As you can see we have a planned curriculum and they are making good progress in math, science, reading and history but most of our day would look like coloring or goofing off.

That sounds like a great routine! Perfect mix of learning and play

Np. What do the parents do that there seems to be zero involvement? They dont even put them to bed? Nanny is raising these twins for sure.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A raise and change of job description.

Stop. I bet the nanny would be happy to engage in art projects and other learning activities without a raise! It’s so much more enjoyable for us former teacher than the nine-millionth game of, “I’ll be Elsa and you be Ana”.

Just talk to your nanny honestly about how things have changed for the near future and you want your daughter to have more enrichment in lieu of school. Mention art projects, science experiments, sensory experiences, gardening, reading and writing, counting by multiples, etc. Ask your nanny how to better structure your child’s day to resemble school a bit more. Eight hours is a lot of time to fill. Projects for half and still lots of playtime.

Would you be ok with your boss assigning you tasks that go above and beyond your job description for no additional pay?

Yes! Of course! Your job evolves in every field to do more of one thing and less of another. No job should ever be totally stagnant especially working with children who are constantly changing and growing.

So you don’t receive raises or promotions? The work keeps piling on and you stay at the same pay. Doesn’t sound like a great environment.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Play IS what your child NEEDS at this time. Get the priorities for your child straight.

3yo needs more than just basic play. There is a ton of learning that can be incorporated into playtime. Do a dance party with little kid songs in several languages. Discuss what sounds animals make and what they eat while pretending to be them or take care of them. Pretend to be different people in the neighborhood or have different community jobs. Incorporate letter recognition and letter sounds into store or kitchen play by asking the child to “read” you the labels. Count groups 1-1 with just about any toy. Work on numeral order with number blocks. Growing and repeating patterns are easy to do with snap beads, pony beads, matchbox cars and plastic animals. Discussion of characters, plots and foreshadowing can happen anytime you read a language you speak. Creativity and thinking outstanding the box happen you read a hold a book in a language you don’t understand. By three, most kids can “read” you the story by making up a story from pictures.

Don’t be lazy. Nobody is saying a 3yo should sit and do worksheets all day. But there’s a world of difference between what a 3yo gets from a motivated, educated nanny versus a disinterested, unmotivated nanny or sitter.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A raise and change of job description.

Stop. I bet the nanny would be happy to engage in art projects and other learning activities without a raise! It’s so much more enjoyable for us former teacher than the nine-millionth game of, “I’ll be Elsa and you be Ana”.

Just talk to your nanny honestly about how things have changed for the near future and you want your daughter to have more enrichment in lieu of school. Mention art projects, science experiments, sensory experiences, gardening, reading and writing, counting by multiples, etc. Ask your nanny how to better structure your child’s day to resemble school a bit more. Eight hours is a lot of time to fill. Projects for half and still lots of playtime.

Would you be ok with your boss assigning you tasks that go above and beyond your job description for no additional pay?

Yes! Of course! Your job evolves in every field to do more of one thing and less of another. No job should ever be totally stagnant especially working with children who are constantly changing and growing.

So you don’t receive raises or promotions? The work keeps piling on and you stay at the same pay. Doesn’t sound like a great environment.

Many people don’t get promoted, or they’re few and far between. Raises are based either on merit or increased duties (beyond the expected scope). Nannies teach young children (through play) until they’re in elementary school; preschool may take some part of it earlier, but it’s still a typical nanny duty. So I’m not sure why you’re complaining that teaching through play is so onerous.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A raise and change of job description.

Stop. I bet the nanny would be happy to engage in art projects and other learning activities without a raise! It’s so much more enjoyable for us former teacher than the nine-millionth game of, “I’ll be Elsa and you be Ana”.

Just talk to your nanny honestly about how things have changed for the near future and you want your daughter to have more enrichment in lieu of school. Mention art projects, science experiments, sensory experiences, gardening, reading and writing, counting by multiples, etc. Ask your nanny how to better structure your child’s day to resemble school a bit more. Eight hours is a lot of time to fill. Projects for half and still lots of playtime.

Would you be ok with your boss assigning you tasks that go above and beyond your job description for no additional pay?

Yes! Of course! Your job evolves in every field to do more of one thing and less of another. No job should ever be totally stagnant especially working with children who are constantly changing and growing.

So you don’t receive raises or promotions? The work keeps piling on and you stay at the same pay. Doesn’t sound like a great environment.

Many people don’t get promoted, or they’re few and far between. Raises are based either on merit or increased duties (beyond the expected scope). Nannies teach young children (through play) until they’re in elementary school; preschool may take some part of it earlier, but it’s still a typical nanny duty. So I’m not sure why you’re complaining that teaching through play is so onerous.

Reread what OP wrote. The nanny was hired as a playmate. She probably negotiated a rate based on duties. Now OP wants to add homeschooling (which is being a teacher, making lesson plans, developing an educational curriculum). That’s an entirely different job, skill level and added duties. If that was presented from the beginning then a nanny’s rate would reflect that.

If you aren’t getting promotions and raises then that speaks on your performance and ability to negotiate for yourself. I know plenty of people who get raises and promotions. I don’t know anyone who, isn’t just starting with a company, ok with continuous added work without any recognition.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Nanny here to 4.5 yo twins. Here is our daily routine right now:

Wakeup, get dressed, sunscreen, brush teeth.

They free-play with legos for about an hour while I prep for the day (unload DW, make breakfast, pack snack, prep lunch, fill water bottles, prep family dinner)

Eat breakfast

Around 9:30/10 we do “Morning School”:
One kid uses a learning app on my phone while the other does a one-on-one reading lesson with me. First we do one lesson from a boxed curriculum called “Learning Dynamics,” then they read me two Bob books (one that they have read before and one new one). Then switch kids.
Finally they each do the same page in a Handwriting Without Tears workbook.

By this time it is about 10:30/11 and we head out for an outing (hike or scooter/bike ride or just go to a big field near the house and bring some toys to use).

We get back around 12:30/1 and have lunch then they lay down for a rest around 2. At 3 they watch one episode of tv in their second language.

After that we do “Afternoon School” which consists of them observing the caterpillars we are raising and the garden we are growing. Then they do a journal page for each topic, which consists of them drawing something they noticed and writing a one-word label for their drawing using inventive spelling.

After that we do a guided activity such as a science project, board game, art project, etc. for about half an hour.

Then they free-play with cars or magnatiles for an hour while I do laundry and make dinner and tidy up from our day.

After that it’s dinner/bath/reading/bed.

As you can see we have a planned curriculum and they are making good progress in math, science, reading and history but most of our day would look like coloring or goofing off.

That sounds like a great routine! Perfect mix of learning and play

Np. What do the parents do that there seems to be zero involvement? They dont even put them to bed? Nanny is raising these twins for sure.

The parent come in at the end for stories and bedtime.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A raise and change of job description.

Stop. I bet the nanny would be happy to engage in art projects and other learning activities without a raise! It’s so much more enjoyable for us former teacher than the nine-millionth game of, “I’ll be Elsa and you be Ana”.

Just talk to your nanny honestly about how things have changed for the near future and you want your daughter to have more enrichment in lieu of school. Mention art projects, science experiments, sensory experiences, gardening, reading and writing, counting by multiples, etc. Ask your nanny how to better structure your child’s day to resemble school a bit more. Eight hours is a lot of time to fill. Projects for half and still lots of playtime.

Would you be ok with your boss assigning you tasks that go above and beyond your job description for no additional pay?

Yes! Of course! Your job evolves in every field to do more of one thing and less of another. No job should ever be totally stagnant especially working with children who are constantly changing and growing.

So you don’t receive raises or promotions? The work keeps piling on and you stay at the same pay. Doesn’t sound like a great environment.

It’s not more work to take on different work! You receive raises and promotions based, in part, on how well you handle the changes in your current position!

I honestly do not understand why you can’t get that. You engage a child differently in every stage of development. Do you charge more when a child starts walking? Or when you potty train? Or when weather prohibits going outside?

This nanny is simply being asked to adapt to the changes of the situation. This nanny should have been doing the things OP wants since the first week school closed. She should have kept the charge engaged with enriching activities - that is her job.

But I’m not going to argue with you further. Ask your employer for a raise just for doing your job better and then let us know how that works for you.

[Anonymous]

I’m so sick of dcum nannies crapping on every thread. It’s perfectly reasonable to ask for more activities as the kids get older. And yes, all employers give more work but no more pay. That happens in corporations too

[Anonymous]

Have them make a dollhouse from shoe boxes