Anonymous wrote:Free play is teaching them something. They can do all of the teaching activities at home or when it's raining etc.

+1. Kids under 3 learn/absorb the most from just watching/engaging in the world around them, without the direction/interjection of an adult. They need to try new things and make connections on their own.
An adult's job an outside park or locale is simply to keep the child safe.

and for the moms who go down the slide with their tot-
Just stop! It is dangerous and stupid (I mistakenly did it myself as a new mom)
Slides are not for babies- your baby does not want/need to go on the slide. Kids age 2+ are perfectly capable of going down the slide themselves.
- mom of 4

Parks are for kids to play and to play with other kids. Not for moms to follow their kid around and bump into other kids. (Unless your kid is under 2 and truly needs assistance, and then should stay at the tot park with other toddlers)
Adults should stay on the sidelines.
- Mom of 4

My dd is still tiny but my nanny is like this. She's a grandma type and they walk around the yard and the park with the nanny showing her flowers and plants and they talk all day. She doesn't have many people she knows here except her kids and they work all day so no one to chat with on the phone and plus she genuinely loves the tiny kids and doesn't find it boring to talk to/at them all day. She manages to get a ton done at the house during naps too (not that I asked for anything beyond baby bottles and nanny laundry).

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Wow. I didn't think I'd get that response. I understand needing a break -- that's what I expect they'd do while my kid is napping for a couple hours. I guess I'm looking for someone who will not just care for his basic needs, but actually engage and teach him something. Do those nannies exist? So I guess, more, "teacher like" nannies as opposed to "make sure my kid doesn't die" like nannies? Are they out there?

Playgrounds are for kids to explore and have some independence. They dont need someone over the top of them. You sound like a helicopter Mom.

My nanny is like this as are her nanny friends - they are career nannies and take their jobs extremely seriously - they go to twice a year nanny conferences even! I would look into the DC nanny association (adcan) or the INA international nanny association.

*So sad.

Anonymous wrote:I don't get a break when my charges are napping. I have a list of things they want me to do. I have to catch up the kitchen, tidy up toys, kids laundry, vaccuum and if I'm lucky I'll be able to eat something. They only sleep about an hour and a half.

So since you are still technically "on-the-clock," your employers feel the need to assign you various household duties to stretch out their dollar more.

They sound like terrible employers to me.

If they truly cared about their children, they would let you use the time to rest up since a burned out nanny is never a good thing.

That way, once the children awaken the nanny will be well-rested + rejuvenated for the rest of her shift.

It's such simple logic.
Yet some parents just HAVE to get every penny's worth in spite of how it negatively impacts their child(ren.)


S

Anonymous wrote:When I'm at the playground with my son I'm walking around with him, encouraging him, laughing and playing. If he sees a friend and is socializing with them I step back and let them play. When I look around at the nannies they're socializing with each other or on their phones, only engaging with the kids to correct bad behavior or if someone gets hurt. It seems like the norm across the board. Honestly are there other nannies out there that don't fall into this mold? And how do I find them?

Hire mature nanny ,they are more responsble,young nanny ,love to talking on the phone.

I don't get a break when my charges are napping. I have a list of things they want me to do. I have to catch up the kitchen, tidy up toys, kids laundry, vaccuum and if I'm lucky I'll be able to eat something. They only sleep about an hour and a half.