Anonymous wrote:I would be interested in what other employers ask their nanny to do while children are sleeping or out of the house for camp, for example. I find that my nanny has several hours of time some days.

Smart parents are happy when the nanny is happy, and taking excellent care of their child.

Anonymous wrote:For a nap, I wouldn't stick her with any chores.

Let her eat a peaceful lunch and rest so when your child wakes up, she will feel rejuvenated + refreshed for the latter part of her shift.

As for when your child is away @camp, perhaps some laundry, ironing duties, grocery shopping or errand runs.

How refreshed does she need to be to sit on her phone at the park, push a stroller, or put baby in a bouncer? That's all I ever see these nannies doing.

Having chores that need to be completed daily only adds extra stress to your nanny which will only compromise the quality of care offered to your child.

Why can't parents understand this....??!

If the parents expect me to have all their child's laundry folded & put away before they get home and the nanny tends to fall a little behind, the chore then becomes a "dark cloud" that follows her all day until she completes her duties.

This can definitely affect the quality of care she can provide for your child w/out the added stresses + pressure to get everything done by the deadline.

Nannies are not maids/house cleaners/ chefs. Stop treating them like they are

I think If a nanny is a good fit and you discussed her responsibilities and expectation when hiring she should be able to manage her time and do what needs to be done when the kids are away. Would not need you to micromanage every hour and minute of the day. If your needs have changed because your kids are going to camp and you need her to chip in some "chores" having a discussion of your expectations would do. Good luck OP

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, and other nanny employers, please imagine what it would feel like/what you would do if your boss came to you one day at said "Larla, here's a list of CHORES (because you are 10 years old) I'd like you to start doing in your downtime". I doubt that would fly at your job, why should it for your nanny?

Huh? I don't have downtime at work.

I was more commenting on the wording choice of "chores". You are a mommy martyr aren't you?

I'm no longer a nanny and I, gasp, still have downtime at my job (which usually involves literally saving peoples lives...) that I am free to use as I see fit. My manager doesn't just come up with a list of tasks they want done so they feel like they are getting their money's worth.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, and other nanny employers, please imagine what it would feel like/what you would do if your boss came to you one day at said "Larla, here's a list of CHORES (because you are 10 years old) I'd like you to start doing in your downtime". I doubt that would fly at your job, why should it for your nanny?

Huh? I don't have downtime at work.

Huh? That's suck!

And is totally normal. Welcome to real life.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, and other nanny employers, please imagine what it would feel like/what you would do if your boss came to you one day at said "Larla, here's a list of CHORES (because you are 10 years old) I'd like you to start doing in your downtime". I doubt that would fly at your job, why should it for your nanny?

Huh? I don't have downtime at work.

Huh? That's suck!

If you are a good employer with a good nanny, then she will already be filling her time with productive child-related tasks (outside of a reasonable break of course). If you are a bad employer, no amount of chores will be enough for you. If she is a bad nanny, no matter how hard you try to assign her tasks, she will still slack off. Which category are you in?

Ours has child related activities assigned, many of which can be accomplished while our littles are awake. Toddlers and older can help pick up a play room, collect toys to run through the dishwasher, take plates from the table to the dishwasher, pick up clothes to put in the laundry. Folding laundry is probably the only thing I know she does during nap time, and I am happy that she engages the children in learning routine household maintenance. She will start dinner for us probably once a week - it is usually a crock pot recipe she starts in the morning, or something easy like putting a chicken in the oven to start roasting a half hour before I get home. Nothing complicated.

She does make lunches, which can vary from assembly of sandwiches, cleaning and cutting fruit, to minor cooking like grilled cheese sandwiches or reheating leftovers.

Anonymous wrote:OP, and other nanny employers, please imagine what it would feel like/what you would do if your boss came to you one day at said "Larla, here's a list of CHORES (because you are 10 years old) I'd like you to start doing in your downtime". I doubt that would fly at your job, why should it for your nanny?

Huh? I don't have downtime at work.

OP, and other nanny employers, please imagine what it would feel like/what you would do if your boss came to you one day at said "Larla, here's a list of CHORES (because you are 10 years old) I'd like you to start doing in your downtime". I doubt that would fly at your job, why should it for your nanny?

- laundering all kid-related stuff - sheets, towels, clothes
- food for lunch/snack, sometimes minimal prep for dinner
- fixing broken toys, organizing toys
- researching toys for their next stage, putting aside things they've grown out of
- researching places to go, hours, cost, etc.
- we simply put in our contract that we can ask for X number of non-child related errands per week. dry cleaners, pharmacy, farmer's market, post office, etc.

For a nap, I wouldn't stick her with any chores.

Let her eat a peaceful lunch and rest so when your child wakes up, she will feel rejuvenated + refreshed for the latter part of her shift.

As for when your child is away @camp, perhaps some laundry, ironing duties, grocery shopping or errand runs.

I would be interested in what other employers ask their nanny to do while children are sleeping or out of the house for camp, for example. I find that my nanny has several hours of time some days.