Anonymous wrote:Should I be expecting more of my nanny? She takes child to classes or activities usually in the morning, then home for lunch/nap. No real organized activities or play during the day at other times that I can see (we have nanny cams, which she knows about) or hear about. Sometimes she takes her to the park or for a walk or something.

Do other people's nannies plan activities - art projects, etc.? Sensory learning? I have asked/offered/suggested some activities to nanny in the past to do with child.

My child is 18 months.

At 18 months, your child needs to be doing fine motor activities (coloring, picking up small items with fingers or a tool), gross motor activities (running, climbing, crawling, scooting, hopping, jumping), experiencing cause/effect (watching water run through a tube after pouring it in the top) and different sensations (especially cold/hot and wet/dry, that way potty training is earlier and smoother). Children at that age can have letters, numbers, shapes, colors and body parts incorporated into play. Your child should be listening to stories every day. Art projects aren't necessary for an 18-month-old child, because they don't have the comprehension of the full project, nor do they have the attention span.

However, your nanny is taking your child to classes or activities in the morning, then it's lunch and a nap. How much time does she realistically have to use for other activities? If the class is a 15 minute walk away and class is 30 minutes, it really takes about an hour and 5-30 minutes, depending on the time of year (5-25 minutes to get ready, 15 minutes to walk, 30 minute class, 15 minutes walk, 5 minutes to put things away). Lunch is usually 20-30 minutes at that age, but some children take up to an hour. Naptime is usually 1.5-3.5 hours at that age. I can see where 6 hours might already be allotted on some days. However, she should still be using the other hours to do age-appropriate activities and reading.

By the way, are you accounting for the class in the daily plan? If I take a child to storytime, we do less reading that day. If we go to the park, we do less gross motor movement at the house. If we go to an art class, we do less fine motor movement at the house. And if we go to a movement class, we do much less gross motor movement and naptime is usually longer.

Anonymous wrote:Yes, our nanny does plan both play dates and activities for 19 month old DD aside from her daily class or story time. In fact, nanny set up a whole sensory and play area on an unused patio complete with safety padding around the pergola posts and a shade cover. Nanny got an inexpensive swimming pool and several under-bed storage bins that she has filled with sand, water beads, rice and has also made an area for finger paints with a roll of white butcher paper and a tub to rinse off DD and her friends! Both SAHMs and other nannies love my DD's nanny so she is invited to their homes for play dates often as well as hosting here.

Nanny just asked if she could order a Kitchen Helper thingy so that DD can stand with her and bake in the kitchen.

Wow!

You scored solid gold in the Nanny lotto.

The bar is now set.

Yes, our nanny does plan both play dates and activities for 19 month old DD aside from her daily class or story time. In fact, nanny set up a whole sensory and play area on an unused patio complete with safety padding around the pergola posts and a shade cover. Nanny got an inexpensive swimming pool and several under-bed storage bins that she has filled with sand, water beads, rice and has also made an area for finger paints with a roll of white butcher paper and a tub to rinse off DD and her friends! Both SAHMs and other nannies love my DD's nanny so she is invited to their homes for play dates often as well as hosting here.

Nanny just asked if she could order a Kitchen Helper thingy so that DD can stand with her and bake in the kitchen.

Do you provide what you'd like her to do?

We pay our nanny the same. They don't go to classes.
8am Breakfast
8:20-9 Books, music while digesting
9-11 Long walk to multiple playgrounds and the park
11-12 water table if not too uncomfortable outside, inside play with a latch board, yoga ball, etc while nanny puts in laundry and makes lunch
12- lunch
12:30-3 nap
3:30 snack
4-4:30/5 books and puzzles and back yard if not too hot

Depends on the age of the child. A 4 month old doesn't need more stimulation.

My nanny does a morning activity and an afternoon activity. There's "free" time before lunch and book time after naps.

OP - she gets $18/hr plus time and a half overtime, 47.5 hours a week.

Depends on what you're paying her.

OP - even just reading more or playing some kind of game (we have plenty of interactive toys)

Should I be expecting more of my nanny? She takes child to classes or activities usually in the morning, then home for lunch/nap. No real organized activities or play during the day at other times that I can see (we have nanny cams, which she knows about) or hear about. Sometimes she takes her to the park or for a walk or something.

Do other people's nannies plan activities - art projects, etc.? Sensory learning? I have asked/offered/suggested some activities to nanny in the past to do with child.

My child is 18 months.