No you may not....

[Anonymous]

Watch tv all day, play on the xbox for hours at a time, be glued to your ipad/kindle/tablet.

Anyone else finding themselves having to repeat one of those phrases constantly? I just started with a new family for the summer and when we interviewed they were all about the kids having limited screen time, going outside, taking trips to the park & the pool - all totally awesome! Except they apparently only want those things to apply when the nanny is present because otherwise these kids are GLUED to a screen of some sort and it makes them very nasty when I get here in the mornings and say "you can finish the episode/level/whatever that you're on but then it needs to be turned off so we can all have breakfast". Any recommendations for a smoother morning transition? Because we're on week 2 and they are down right nasty about having to turn electronics off before they come sit down for breakfast. Or is this a suck-it-up for the summer situation?

[Anonymous]

Is it possible to ask the parents to tell the kids to turn off all electronics (like on an airplane) when you ring the doorbell? It is the parents who want them to have limited screen time when they are paying you so they should be cast as the bad guys in this.

Or make it a hard and fast rule - no screen time at all when nanny is with you as per their parents' demand.

[Anonymous]

So parents still don't know what they want? It's maddening. And really bad parenting.

[Anonymous]

I would tell the parents about the problem and let them give you a suggestion.
I had the same issue with a 6yo boy when I had a temp position a while ago. He was allowed to wake up and watch TV but consequently didnt want to turn it off to get dressed and eat etc. Drove me nuts.

I would maybe suggest as this is short term that you tell the kids they can watch some TV in the afternoon "If" they cooperate with turning it off in the morning. Any arguing and they lose the TV in the afternoon.

[Anonymous]

Put the pressure back on the parents by reminding the kids that their parents have restricted their screen time when they are with you. Say this in front of the parents. If they still struggle then I would tell the parents and suggest a family meeting to find a solution. I would ask for no tv during the week. Then you don't have to have this battle every day.

[Anonymous]

But your employers want YOU, the nanny, to take on their parenting responsibilities. Don't you see?

[Anonymous]

Agree on a time for breakfast, say 8am. They can do whatever before, but as soon as it's 8 and breakfast is served (have a visible clock or a timer nearby, so they can see exactly what time it is), they have to turn everything off without questions.

Then if they have cooperated well, they have another half an hour or how long you think is good at strictly 4pm and until 4.30pm. If they fight you, they lose the afternoon screentime.

This is what I do with my 7, 11, 11 and 14yo, and it's worked really well since we implemented this during their last school break. It also helps that I have the full support of the mother who reiterates the rules before she leaves for work every morning. We also keep all the portable gadgets in a big basket on the computer desk, and they're very good about forgetting it's there - out of sight out of mind.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Agree on a time for breakfast, say 8am. They can do whatever before, but as soon as it's 8 and breakfast is served (have a visible clock or a timer nearby, so they can see exactly what time it is), they have to turn everything off without questions.

Then if they have cooperated well, they have another half an hour or how long you think is good at strictly 4pm and until 4.30pm. If they fight you, they lose the afternoon screentime.

This is what I do with my 7, 11, 11 and 14yo, and it's worked really well since we implemented this during their last school break. It also helps that I have the full support of the mother who reiterates the rules before she leaves for work every morning. We also keep all the portable gadgets in a big basket on the computer desk, and they're very good about forgetting it's there - out of sight out of mind.

Your key to success is of course, parental support.
OP doesn't have that, so she's destined for continued failure. So sad.

[Anonymous]

It isn't clear if the parents are aware of the problem though. I worked for a family who preferred the children not to be on screens throughout the day, but allowed them screen time at the end of the day when they got home, because they both worked demanding jobs with gruelling schedules. Having the kids on gadgets allowed them time to relax and regroup. Perhaps this is a similar situation?

Say to MB/DB: 'You wanted the kids to spend time doing things, but I am having a hard time prising them off their gadgets. Do you have any suggestions?... Here are some of mine'. Chances are they'd be willing to go on board with your suggestions, as there's little work left for them to do but say 'listen to the nanny'.

Good luck!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It isn't clear if the parents are aware of the problem though. I worked for a family who preferred the children not to be on screens throughout the day, but allowed them screen time at the end of the day when they got home, because they both worked demanding jobs with gruelling schedules. Having the kids on gadgets allowed them time to relax and regroup. Perhaps this is a similar situation?

Say to MB/DB: 'You wanted the kids to spend time doing things, but I am having a hard time prising them off their gadgets. Do you have any suggestions?... Here are some of mine'. Chances are they'd be willing to go on board with your suggestions, as there's little work left for them to do but say 'listen to the nanny'.

Good luck!

This! And the PP's suggestion about set times for screens and losing the later turn if there's any arguing about it prior. Talk to the parents, let them know you're on board with limited screen time (honestly, kids adapt to different rules with different people so long as YOU are consistent when you're there) but that you've been having a hard time with it and how would they feel about you implementing the system outlined above. Then ask if they have other suggestions or ideas for how to manage this. I'll bet they're on board as soon as you tell them the plan.

Good luck!

[Anonymous]

Thanks everyone! I'm planning on chatting with Mb this after noon. Hopefully it goes well!