Anonymous wrote:Seems like you need a new nanny

I'm a nanny and I agree - your nanny sounds like she is burned-out and may need a less involved position. I am assuming that your current nanny has been adequately compensated for the second charge in her care and that her other child-related chores have been taken into consideration and have been altered to reflect the new reality.

I've generally always started my nanny positions with newborns and stay with them until they are in school and the shift from one child to two children along different needs at each stage of development can be daunting for a less experienced/educated nanny.

Seems like you need a new nanny

OP I am a nanny for a four year old and a one year old. We do one activity and one field trip every sngle day, wheather permitting, and on the train no less as my family doesn't have an extra car. I use lesson plans I research online. The family gives me a preloaded metro card each month and makes sure to buy lots of snacks that can be eaten on the go. That is all it takes: a proactive nanny and adequate supplies.


My current position will end in two weeks. If you are ready to start searching for a replacement, I would be happy to send my references.

Anonymous wrote:Perhaps she is a little nervous driving around w/an infant in her car. It could be a little more nerve-wrecking for her.

Is there any way you can directly address this issue w/her OP?

I think at 2 yrs. of age, your child will get bored of the same park and will want to venture out and explore his horizons.

Are you willing to provide a 2nd car seat for the baby? Is her car big enough to seat 2 car seats?

I provide her with our car that has car seats in it. I've never seen her put together a craft and the times that I've encouraged coloring or finger painting (with the Crayola finger paint that only appears on the special paper), she seems less than enthused. I've asked her if she feels comfortable driving with both of them and she very hesitantly said that she could try. I said I would go with her a few times and she still seemed very quiet. I have tried to get to the bottom of what's going on -- is this burn out, is she overwhelmed, is she just not wanting to be a nanny to two kids so close in age and so little. But I can't seem to get a straight answer. I am willing to do a little bit of encouragement like provide supplies and a few ideas, but if I'm going to be directing everything that seems like ....well it seems like that's why I hired her. So I'll get some ideas and some materials and then I'll make a list of activities and I'll go with her a couple of times and see if it improves. But yes I'd have preferred she be a self starter. And my older child will start preschool two days a week in the fall. so maybe I just need to get through this summer and things will improve.

Perhaps she is a little nervous driving around w/an infant in her car. It could be a little more nerve-wrecking for her.

Is there any way you can directly address this issue w/her OP?

I think at 2 yrs. of age, your child will get bored of the same park and will want to venture out and explore his horizons.

Are you willing to provide a 2nd car seat for the baby? Is her car big enough to seat 2 car seats?

I'm the nanny of three. Crafts are tons of fun and there are great ideas on Pinterest like the other pp mentioned. Get a much of supplies and tell her to plan some. I'm sorry but a nanny who doesn't go to activities or plan crafts/games is just plan lazy. She can at the very least set up a sensory table with soapy water and measuring cups. If she doesn't want to clean up a mess, she can do them outside.

Easy crafts:

Homemade playdough
Sensory bags
Sensory bags
Water table filled with dirt and trucks
A race track outline on the floor with tape
Finger paints
Stickers

We have a 2.5 yr old and a newborn who is 5 weeks old. She'll be starting preschool in the fall a few days a week which should help give her more stimulation w/ other kids her age and new teachers while the younger one gets some one on one time w/ the nanny. By this fall, he'll be 6 months old and we plan to enroll both of them in the music together classes (offered through arlington). we did this w/ our first kid and also signed up our nanny and kid. For siblings under 9 months they are free if you pay for the older one. Also, by then he should be old enough to go to story hour at the local library which is what our nanny did w/ our older one, who loves books.

OP provided you are compensating her appropriately for the two then she needs to understand how important it is for the children's development to have those experiences.

- Check out websites such as Pinterest fro activities that require less setup and cleanup but are still fun for kids. Crafts are great but can be a lot of work.

- Be sure you supply lots of creative art materials.

- My charge loves zoo days and in the afternoon after his lunch and nap I set out paints for him to paint his favorite zoo animal. I make sure to give him only as much supplies as I am willing to clean up. We have also done sidewalk chalk pictures.

- A soccer ball has been the best toy because we can step out of the museum and kick it around in the courtyard to mix things up. He can barely kick it a few inches so little danger of hurting anyone.

- Sometimes I just let him decide what he would like to do. Last week he wanted to fill a bottle with glitter, water, and rubber toy animals. Basically a homemade snow-globe. Works for me.

- Finally, I try to sync our activities with his learning goals. So on zoo day, we might learn the word elephant, the color gray, and a body part such as ear. Depending on age, its also good to through in letters of the alphabet or shapes. Sometimes our entire day is themed based on an animal or letter or number, etc.

Anonymous wrote:I take two toddlers under 3 and an infant to an activity EVERY day, unless the weather is bad. We go to museums, parks, story times, zoos etc with no problem. It takes longer to pack and get in/out of the car but it's not that difficult. When we can't go out I plan art projects, sensory table, games etc to do at home. She sounds lazy or overwhelmed, neither are good. Make a list of places she can take them, give petty cash and gas money than explain she most take them out every other day to one of theses places. The day she stays home she should plan a craft or game.

Are you paying gas or providing a car? If not she may not be taking them because of the cost out of her pocket.

OP here. I think she is overwhelmed and I'm not sure how best to handle it. She uses our car. I think you're right -- I need to list places, times, directions and give her money. And I'm going to offer to go with her a few times. And I'm not sure what to do about the lack of games or crafts....

I take two toddlers under 3 and an infant to an activity EVERY day, unless the weather is bad. We go to museums, parks, story times, zoos etc with no problem. It takes longer to pack and get in/out of the car but it's not that difficult. When we can't go out I plan art projects, sensory table, games etc to do at home. She sounds lazy or overwhelmed, neither are good. Make a list of places she can take them, give petty cash and gas money than explain she most take them out every other day to one of theses places. The day she stays home she should plan a craft or game.

Are you paying gas or providing a car? If not she may not be taking them because of the cost out of her pocket.

Tot time at the falls church community center on Fridays from 10-12. Local story time at libraries, lots of different parks clemyjontri is my fav. Play area at Tyson's mall. PB& jack in fairfax, local indoor pools and the outdoor pools open this weekend ! Play dates are also fun

My charge is 14 months, I take him to indoor play centers like Monkey Joe's and Jumparoos (not sure where you are located but you can Google indoor play centers and find something similar probably). Also check local swim instruction centers for classes and events, the one near us has a free water play event for toddlers every Thursday morning where they can splash and play for free and it's a blast. Also check local libraries, many have activities and storytimes. Our local mall has a nice play area and mini train rides. You could also search for childrens museums or sign her up for some mommy and me classes.

I'm not sure what her hesitation is, but I will say two hours at the park is a loooong time. I take one child to park for about an hour and that's enough for both of us to be exhausted. If she's required to do laundry or other tasks she probably can't spare more time away from the house and also get everything done.

I don't understand why your nanny won't take the kids in the car anymore. That is the first question I would ask her!

And a good nanny can come with games even if she is stuck in the house.

I am looking for ideas or a source for ideas of activities for my very energetic 2 year old. We also have an 8 month old. Our nanny takes them to the park every morning for about 2 hours -- it's a small, basic playground with a trail and creek near by -- but I think our 2 year old needs more activity. Our nanny doesn't seem to be very proactive about coming up with ideas. I've asked her about driving both kids somewhere (she used to do this with our 2 year old before the 8 month old was born) like the library or a better park, and I can't figure out if she's just overwhelmed at the idea of taking both kids or what. I've also mentioned a couple of other general ideas and gotten sort of a luke warm response. So I thought if I could come up with some specific places and/or events and maybe even go with her the first few times, that might help her get out more.