Nannies just "pretending" or harming the child's development when they have planned lesson/activity?

[Anonymous]

From another thread on Daycare vs Nannying someone posted
"Daycare is more exhausting but the challenges are more rewarding. You get to actually use your degree. You see kids at different levels of development, group dynamics, build lesson plans, and its just more mentally challenging. [/b]You can "pretend" to do lesson plans as a nanny but it is so unnecessary and counter to child development anyway. Being a nanny can be great but don't play teacher for your own benefit, its silly and not what the job or child requires. "[b]

Is it just me? Maybe I'm sensitive but I find this a little offensive. Why am I just "playing" teacher? My plans for my charges are not pretend. They may be for a group of 2 or 3 but my goals are just as real as any daycares.
Why is it counter to the child's development? And it would be way easier on me as a nanny if I just let the kids "run wild" ( of course not literally) rather than bother to plan educational activities.

I'm looking for parent and nanny opinions here.
Do you plan or want planned educational activities? Do you think having a lesson plan is too much?
I totally believe in child directed activity but I also know we need to lead/guide as well.

[Anonymous]

My DD is a young 2, and her nanny does not have formal lesson plans. Despite this, DD can identify animals and match the animal to the sound they make (thanks to the nanny taking her to the zoo many times and reading lots of animal books). DD can count to 10 and can identify letters. She can make faces for happy, sad, surprised, angry, confused, etc. She can pet a neighbor-dog gently, she can climb and jump and spin, she has manners, knows her colors, can (mostly) share and take turns, etc. So lesson plans are nice, but not necessary.

[Anonymous]

That poster is an idiot and has no idea what she's talking about.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:That poster is an idiot and has no idea what she's talking about.

Idiot OP here.
I don't know why but I am constantly amazed by the ugliness that some people spout on this forum.
I asked a legitimate question. If you disagree with my opinion all you have to do is state that in a mature way. Name calling as we all know is childish.
I thought this was a place to ask questions and learn what others think.
14:39 disagreed with me but stated it in an articulate and intelligent manner. That is the reaction of an adult.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:That poster is an idiot and has no idea what she's talking about.

OP again. After rereading the quoted post, I'm not sure who 14:29 is referring to but I still say name calling is unnecessary.
If I misunderstood you 14:29 I apologize.

[Anonymous]

A smart nanny is always teaching,
as is a smart parent.

[Anonymous]

I think the PP was referring to the OP of the post you were referring to, OP.

I also feel like 14:29 isnt necessarily outright disagreeing with you; her child learned all those things [in part] because the nanny taught her them, quite possibly through "formal lesson plans."

I myself dont think having educational activities, or even themed weeks/months (i.e. as one might in a preschool setting- for ex, 'ocean theme' or letter-of-the-week, etc) is detrimental in any way to the child, unless taken overboard. That's just silly!

[Anonymous]

I think formal lesson planning is more important in the daycare/preschool environment because you have more kids and having to spend time thinking about a lesson plan that will benefit all of your kids is often the best way to ensure that all the kids receive sufficient attention and scaffolding for their learning and development. It can certainly be done as a nanny, and will likely be beneficial, but it is more up to the preference of the individual nanny. When you spend your time with just 1-2 kids, it is much easier to continually observe their development and come up with individualized activities for them without much formal planning, so whether you formally plan or not is more up to how you are wired- some people prefer pre-planning and others prefer to work on the fly, one isn't necessarily better than the other, they are just two different ways of reaching the same destination.

[Anonymous]

MB here. Our nanny is always planning educational activities for DD. I'm very grateful and appreciate her skills. I would never consider her a pretend teacher.

She is a teacher and one the most important teachers in my child's life.

[Anonymous]

I personally think planning learning activities are important in both instances. Why would a 3 year old with a nanny be less deserving of a structured, enriching day than a 3 year old who's in daycare?

The big difference is that nannies often have more household related chores that take up time, so nanny isn't able to give the child as much of a learning opportunity as a child would get in daycare. Add into the mix younger siblings and having to cater to their needs as well.

[Anonymous]

I have never made a lesson plan or done weekly themes. I have made work sheets for older charges and helped with sight words. I take my charges to the library weekly. In my experience most children are in pre school starting at 2 or 3. I like to let my charges have more free time and playground time when they are with me since they are in school 3 hrs a day already. And my younger charges well at 1 I don't see much of a benifit in a lesson plan. Just lots of activities outside of the home to be social like Gymboree, music class, library, play groups.....

[Anonymous]

I have never made a lesson plan or done weekly themes. I have made work sheets for older charges and helped with sight words. I take my charges to the library weekly. In my experience most children are in pre school starting at 2 or 3. I like to let my charges have more free time and playground time when they are with me since they are in school 3 hrs a day already. And my younger charges well at 1 I don't see much of a benifit in a lesson plan.

+100 The other thread was started by a nanny asking for advice on the difference between working in a daycare/preschool or being a nanny. If you want to do lesson plans, themes and more teaching then the daycare/preschool is a better job fit for you than being a nanny. If you enjoy being around kids and don't feel the need to be doing structured teaching then being a nanny is a good fit for you.

[Anonymous]

I personally think planning learning activities are important in both instances. Why would a 3 year old with a nanny be less deserving of a structured, enriching day than a 3 year old who's in daycare?

The big difference is that nannies often have more household related chores that take up time, so nanny isn't able to give the child as much of a learning opportunity as a child would get in daycare. Add into the mix younger siblings and having to cater to their needs as well.

Most 3 year old are already in good preschool programs. They have structured, enriching activities in the mornings. Its nice to just let them play, do what they want, and be kids in the afternoon. Many 3 years olds still nap so after nap there isn't a ton of time to put your lesson plan in place anyway.

[Anonymous]

Lots of morning programs have no playtime, so I don't think that's so good.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

I personally think planning learning activities are important in both instances. Why would a 3 year old with a nanny be less deserving of a structured, enriching day than a 3 year old who's in daycare?

The big difference is that nannies often have more household related chores that take up time, so nanny isn't able to give the child as much of a learning opportunity as a child would get in daycare. Add into the mix younger siblings and having to cater to their needs as well.

Most 3 year old are already in good preschool programs. They have structured, enriching activities in the mornings. Its nice to just let them play, do what they want, and be kids in the afternoon. Many 3 years olds still nap so after nap there isn't a ton of time to put your lesson plan in place anyway.

I'm talking about kids who are not in preschool at all. If they're already getting 2-3 hours of structure at preschool, at home should be for playing and resting.