How much do you micromanage your nanny?

[Anonymous]

i would not create a set schedule. I would do more like 15:29 suggested and have a list of activities and ideas for the nanny to choose from. Maybe sit down with her and brainstorm a list so she is part of the process then agree that doing 4 a week or whatever is reasonable.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm amazed by how many people are convinced this post is fake. I think OP's gripe is pretty common among parents. In fact, I've met a lot of highly educated parents who choose daycare over a nanny because they want their child to get more "teaching" than most nannies do.

OP, I'm in the same situation. My nanny is great in most ways--I hear it all the time from neighbors and the leaders at a couple of classes DD takes. Her personality is wonderful and I trust her completely. However, she isn't particularly creative and DD is at the point where I think she needs more varied learning opportunities.

I've tried buying books with activity ideas and leaving them for our nanny to read during naptime, but when time allows, she reads magazines instead. I've tried buying new supplies, but she just uses them in the obvious child-led ways.

When we sit down for an annual meeting in the next month or two, I plan to emphasize that I want DD outside getting some sort of exercise for at least one hour every day and being read to for at least twenty minutes every day. I think those things are already happening most days, but I want her to know that I notice and it's important to me.

I will also require that she plan and implement one new creative "teaching" activity per day, which should be noted in her daily log. She can come up with ideas on her own or by using the books I've bought. The activities don't need to be complex and I definitely don't want formal instruction using flash cards or the like, but I do want the nanny to think about new adult-led ways to nurture DD's development.

Activities could include playing animal charades to promote "pretending." Or making play-dough and treating it as a science experiment about what happens when we combine something wet with something dry and powdery. Or making a weather wheel or chart for the refrigerator to help DD identify "hot," "cold," "sunny," "rainy," etc. Or visiting the zoo to see the animals in her books. Or having a scavenger hunt outside for ordinary things like a caterpillar, a red leaf, a gray rock, a yellow flower. I realize that some attempted activities will fail and there may be days when it just isn't possible to attempt anything, and that's okay.

I'm sure a lot of the nannies on here will rail against this "micromanagement," but I prefer to see it as management designed to promote a good employee's growth in a critical area of her nanny skill set. You just have to make sure she has enough down time to plan stuff.

Also, my current thinking is that stating expectations (rather than imposing a schedule with specific activities) should be enough. The nanny should be able to read books and plan activities as well as I can. She should also be able to figure out how to best schedule the day.

Interesting post here. It seems to me that if you hired an actual nanny, she would be "teaching" your child appropriately. Sounds like you found a sitter who is always waiting for your direction. Some parents may want exactly that, it's not a nanny. A nanny knows what to do, and does it.

It's hard to find the person who takes your direction when you feel like giving it, but knows when you're not going to give it, so she should step up to the plate and take the leadership role.

[Anonymous]

As a nanny I have a hard time planning craft activities because almost all of them involve buying something to make them. Or sometimes buying alot of little things to make them. I feel bad asking my employers to buy the supplies so I buy them myself and it does add up. I tend to plan 1 maybe 2 craft activities that you would call "creative " because I'm buying the stuff myself and none of my employers have ever offered to reinburce me or ask me if I need supplies. Even buying food for special snacks gets hard. It all adds up parents and alot of nannies feel bad asking to get paid back.

[Anonymous]

PP, why can't you say to your MB something like, "I was thinking Mason and Addison might like to make reindeer candy canes - the supplies come out to around $15, would that be okay?" She will almost certainly say yes. Then bring her the receipt the next day and get reimbursed. Be professional, there is nothing unreasonable about asking for supplies to do your job.

[Anonymous]

Some nannies don't want to front the money for their employers. Why should they?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Some nannies don't want to front the money for their employers. Why should they?

My manny knows we went pumpkin shopping this weekend and he emailed to say he'd like to pick up paint so he and DD can paint the pumpkins on Monday. I replied telling him if he leaves me the receipt I'll leave him cash to repay him. He never has to pay for supplies needed for activities.

[Anonymous]

I can only speak for myself, but if my nanny did as poster in 16:58 suggests, as a MB, I would be very excited to reimburse for the supplies. Most moms have a lot on their mind and are grateful if their nanny supplies activity ideas and are happy to support them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Some nannies don't want to front the money for their employers. Why should they?

I'm 16:58 and when I say what I suggested, my MB gives me the money upfront. Just ASK for what you need!

[Anonymous]

How old is OP's son? I am having a similar problem with our 4 year old.