Please, PPs, let's remember that every situation is different. My 21-mo charge helps clean up well, but I've been with him 40hr/wk since he was 4-mo...and his parents encourage it too. But someone who starts with a child later, doesn't work as many hours, and/or doesn't have the support of the child's parents might have a tougher time getting the kids invested in cleaning up.

PP- I must be one of the "delusional" people you are referring to. Every child I've nannied for over the past 13 years has been able to help clean up by age 3 at the latest. My current guys are 6. By the time they were 3 I was able to leave the playroom to make lunch and by the time lunch was ready they would have the playroom cleaned up...everything put back where it belonged rather than stuffed in random bins. This was also the case when I had three under age 5.

And yes, I did have other responsibilities around the house other than just straight childcare (although I didn't mop daily and only vacuumed the kitchen floor).

Awesome thread so far-I'm a nanny who works from 8:30-4 and despite my best efforts to keep the house clean, the house usually is trashed around 2-2:30! I care for an 18 mon old and 3 yr old, and anyone who says the children can "help" is delusional. I would not be able to have the house looking nice by 2:00. I agree 100% with the previous post- "a good routine needs to be in place." Because granted, I do laundry here and there, and vaccuum, sweep and mop daily. If I didn't have those things to do, I'd maybe be able to have the house clean by 2:00, it really depends. Honesty is always the best policy, talk with her about how the chores can be completed, and how you both can find a win-win so you are both not stressed out.

OP, I can see both sides here.

I am not sure the ages of your kids.

If they are under 3, then she probably is too invested in them to clean up much.

As nannies, we are always held more liable for other's children more than our own.
In other words, for me, I could pee with the bathroom door open when my kids were crawling nearby, but in my current position, the mother instructed me to put her baby in the saucer even if I have to run to the bathroom for a minute. She doesn't want her baby unsupervised for a second and I follow those instructions because Lord knows if anything happens to that child I am held to a higher standard since I am the caregiver!!

So your nanny has to be careful not to take her eyes away from her charges even for a second since in a blink of an eye...anything can happen.

Unless you have a saucer, pack 'n play or other restricted item to put the kids in briefly, it would be very unrealistic to expect her to do the dishes and clean up the house with two small children running around.

when I have kids in preschool and know I have to pick them up at lunch/nap time, I'll have lunch ready to go before I pick them up, or else do something super fast like sandwiches and a banana or something.