Solution: When a kid is old enough to be learning to push themselves, you DO NOT do it for them.

OP here:
Yes a 5 year old on the swing is totally fine, usually they are playing make believe games and the swing is the rocket ship or something! I totally encourage that, but if they want under ducks and pushes they can have them right before they go home. My youngest charge is 13 months so She goes in the swing often but I'm not pushing my 3 year old charge til christmas.. She can play with friends/go on her tummy and wait til before we go home!

If we are in the store I don't allow my charges to touch things. If its a toy store or something maybe a few things but if we are in the store getting groceries or dollar store getting craft supplies its a no touching rule... too many broken things for my liking... and I despise the "can you buy this for my birthday??" (8 months away...)

I don't allow my 2 y.o. charge to hit me. He recently started this when he didn't get his way while we were playing. I simply put away whatever we were playing with, and try to tell him how sad it makes me when he hits. Not a huge deal, typical for the age. I wrote it in the daily log, and mom later told me she let's him hot her, bit she doesn't expect me to be hit. What?!

Like others, I am probably slightly more safety comserned in general. For example, I don't allow dog-petting of strange dogs under any circumstances. Even when someone invites us to pet their cute, well-behaved dog, the parents can make that call.

Anonymous wrote:Have you been on the swings yourself recently? Because I have, and I must say, swinging is hard work! I always feel like I've gotten a great ab work out afterwards, so to compare it to sitting in a stroller seems a bit extreme.

And why would swinging not be playing? I'm sorry but I just don't understand where you're coming from. It's one thing if you're worried about charges hogging the swings (though I'd use that as an opportunity to take turns) or if pushing them for an hour is unsustainable. But criticizing the way they choose to play seems a bit...mean.

I think the miscommunication may be the age of the child. A 5-year-old kickig and pushing themselves as high as they can go for an hour is very different from a toddler sitting in a bucket swing enjoying the breeze. My charges are 1.

Have you been on the swings yourself recently? Because I have, and I must say, swinging is hard work! I always feel like I've gotten a great ab work out afterwards, so to compare it to sitting in a stroller seems a bit extreme.

And why would swinging not be playing? I'm sorry but I just don't understand where you're coming from. It's one thing if you're worried about charges hogging the swings (though I'd use that as an opportunity to take turns) or if pushing them for an hour is unsustainable. But criticizing the way they choose to play seems a bit...mean.

Not true... The reason for my swing rule is that they must play first. If they really want to swing they can for a few mins but we come to the park to play not swing...

Anonymous wrote:What's wrong with being on the swings for an hour?

I'm not the one who posted this, but I am forced this rule with my charges as well. The entire point of going to the park is for them to run around and get energy out. If they sit in a stroller for 15 minutes getting there, then sit in a swing for an hour, then sit in a stroller for 15 minutes on the way back, then they have spent an hour and a half strapped into a chair of some kind. That is not a healthy habit, and it defeats the purpose of the park. I would much rather they run around for 45 minutes and then swing for the last 15.

Anonymous wrote:What's wrong with being on the swings for an hour?

Nanny doesn't want to push for an hour.

What's wrong with being on the swings for an hour?

Yes, usually it comes down to there are things that are OK for a kid to do around their parents but not around others. For example, one of my charges always wants to swim in the backyard pool without a swim suit on, but the rule is get dressed or don't swim.

I hear the argument a fairly regularly from my charges. My response is always the same, that I understand you may do those things with mom and dad, but I have my own rules and you already know the answer.

I am always more strict then parents are. If a parent makes a mistake, its a sad story. If a nanny makes a mistake then it CNN prime-time material. Therefore, I don't allow DC to play with any toy that could pose a safety hazard even if its probably safe with supervision Those little marbles you bought for DC? They go straight to the back of the closet when you leave the house. You let DC sit in a regular chair even though DC can barely see over the table? Well, that is nice but on my watch DC will be in that high chair where there is no chance of falling. You want to let DC hold a potentially hazardous item while explaining that "it is ok to hold but not ok to drink/run with/put on another person's body? Fine, I guess DC will learn the intricate nuances of safety from you because when I am around anything that could hurt DC is strictly off limits, no discussion had. Why? Because this is not my child and I will not take the risks that parents are comfortable with.

Yes. The rules I have are mostly safety related. For instance, I wouldn't take my non-swimming 3 yo charge in the big pool when I also had his 6 month old sister. I find in general I tend to be more cautious with kids than parents are. Which makes sense, as these are not my kids to take risks with.

Reasonable rules except for the swing rule.

Saving the swings for last is really dumb. In theory, sure it makes some sense.

But geez OP, it is after all a PLAYground.

Your strict rules are taking all of the fun out of it.

For example. We have a playground rule. No climbing up the slides. DB doesn't enforce with the kids which is fine but my charge will start climbing up the slide as soon as DB comes to pick him up from the park.
My other charge (nanny share) asks why she can't so that and I said well you know the rules. I've asked the charge climbing up the slide to go down only please but he smirks and says your not in charge. My dad is.

They also must give hugs and say sorry when they hurt thier sibling.
No jumping on the bed or couch
Swings are saved until the end of the park or else they are on the swing for the whole time!