If you wanted to hire a playmate for your child...

[Anonymous]

...you would have better luck with a 20something. I'm an adult, not the constant 3 yr old's playmate.

[Anonymous]

I am an adult, a former preschool teacher, and I play with my 2.5 and 5 year old charges all the time. Scaffolding in play is an important component in learning. If that is something you don’t want to do, simply explain it to your employers and do housework.

It has nothing to do with your age, OP.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am an adult, a former preschool teacher, and I play with my 2.5 and 5 year old charges all the time. Scaffolding in play is an important component in learning. If that is something you don’t want to do, simply explain it to your employers and do housework.

It has nothing to do with your age, OP.

And I should note that I am far from a twenty-something! I am 58.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:...you would have better luck with a 20something. I'm an adult, not the constant 3 yr old's playmate.

Play is an important component of the teacher/nanny, OP. Your age has nothing to do with it. Maybe you are more comfortable in the housekeeper/nanny role - and there is nothing wrong with that if that is what you were hired as.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am an adult, a former preschool teacher, and I play with my 2.5 and 5 year old charges all the time. Scaffolding in play is an important component in learning. If that is something you don’t want to do, simply explain it to your employers and do housework.

It has nothing to do with your age, OP.

If you're a constant playmate, how is that scaffolding?

[Anonymous]

I’m 23 and I have a 4 year old charge and a 10 month old. Many times I let the 4 year old play alone while I’m with baby. I also let baby play alone in play pen for short times. With 4 yo we play a lot together. Making puzzles, painting, imaginary play, playing in backyard throwing ball etc. I love doing it and it’s part of me being a nanny. However, I also allow for alone time. He is very good at self entertaining. I make sure he gets both. Doesn’t matter the age. If you don’t like it then don’t be a nanny. Simple as that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am an adult, a former preschool teacher, and I play with my 2.5 and 5 year old charges all the time. Scaffolding in play is an important component in learning. If that is something you don’t want to do, simply explain it to your employers and do housework.

It has nothing to do with your age, OP.

If you're a constant playmate, how is that scaffolding?

Look up scaffolding, OP. It is a method of expanding play. As a nanny, my charges play independently when I am not around.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am an adult, a former preschool teacher, and I play with my 2.5 and 5 year old charges all the time. Scaffolding in play is an important component in learning. If that is something you don’t want to do, simply explain it to your employers and do housework.

It has nothing to do with your age, OP.

If you're a constant playmate, how is that scaffolding?

What nanny is with any child constantly? Even live-in nannies have days off and set working hours.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m 23 and I have a 4 year old charge and a 10 month old. Many times I let the 4 year old play alone while I’m with baby. I also let baby play alone in play pen for short times. With 4 yo we play a lot together. Making puzzles, painting, imaginary play, playing in backyard throwing ball etc. I love doing it and it’s part of me being a nanny. However, I also allow for alone time. He is very good at self entertaining. I make sure he gets both. Doesn’t matter the age. If you don’t like it then don’t be a nanny. Simple as that.

+1. I don’t think that being a nanny is the right job for you, OP.

[Anonymous]

So, OP, what happened? Did someone see you sitting on your phone while you were at the park?

[Anonymous]

48 yr old nanny here. If you don’t want to play with kids, find another profession. I love playing with my 3 yr old charge and feel it is an important part of my job.

[Anonymous]

Unanimity on DCUM!!!

I'm with the crowd OP, play is how kids learn, how they socialize, how they try out different ways of interacting in the world, how they process emotions, how they make friends and bond, etc...

I would never hire a nanny who didn't enjoy playing with my kids, and the nanny who understands how much can be accomplished through play is the stand out.

[Anonymous]

What did you think a nanny job entailed, OP?

[Anonymous]

Lots of parents also like being the playmate whenever time permits.

[Anonymous]

Play is an important part of the job, OP. It has nothing to do with your age.