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Nanny and structure

michelle_1221michelle_1221 member
in Working Moms
My DD is 16 months and we generally like our nanny.  While she is more limited on experience, she is clearly very attentive and tries to teach her new skills.  My concern is she seems to focus on what she thinks is important (like using the flash cards) and meanwhile not as much focus on skills I want to develop (like eating with a spoon).  I am planning to request we begin to have a more formal development meeting every other month, but was wondering what book or resource might be good for us to use in terms of helping to develop a curriculum (and I use that term loosely).  I know we don't get as much structure in home as in a daycare, but I think the daycares do better teaching the right things at the right age so looking to encourage that.  Would welcome any suggestions of what's worked for you.  Thanks!
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Re: Nanny and structure

  • honeybee111honeybee111 member
    Our nanny had experience in assorted rooms in daycares, so she knew about milestones and development.  She was really proactive in that she would read online about milestones for different ages, discuss it with me, and then she would work on those things with DD.  Maybe you could look up milestone checklists and print out some for her to work with your LO.  We never did meetings or curriculum.  It was pretty obvious that our nanny was working on eating with a spoon because we could tell that DD was getting better at it.
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  • BE2008BE2008
    Ceck into Montessori principles, some great beginner books and blogs are available. By focus on that age is on practical life skills I.e. doing basic things yourself like eating, dressing, wiping a table, etc.
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  • IblamethebeerIblamethebeer member

    lol nanny with flashcards not teaching her to use a spoon.

    maybe talking about in terms of teaching and curriculum is putting her in a flash card-y place.  Could you just say "we don't want to push academics, please just work on gross and fine motor skills"?

    I love the idea of printing out milestone checklists, as long as that isn't seen as an invitation to drill baby on any areas where she's "behind."

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  • 2chatter2chatter member

    I would keep this more informal.  It sounds like the issue is really communication and expectations.  You have in  your head what is key to you, but the nanny doesn't fully know that.  I would just work into your normal hand off routine getting nanny onto the same page you are.  If spoon work is important now, I would mention, thanks for doing the flashcards, those are super cute.  Could you also start to work with her on using a spoon?  Some good ideas for spoon feeding are (list foods). 

    I would take the initiative to drive my child's development in the way I want it to go and start the milestone activities/skill building with DD myself to see what does/does not work where possible, then loop nanny in.  Would that work?  Maybe I am oversimplifying it?

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  • shivNYshivNY
    image2chatter:

    I would keep this more informal.  It sounds like the issue is really communication and expectations.  You have in  your head what is key to you, but the nanny doesn't fully know that.  I would just work into your normal hand off routine getting nanny onto the same page you are.  If spoon work is important now, I would mention, thanks for doing the flashcards, those are super cute.  Could you also start to work with her on using a spoon?  Some good ideas for spoon feeding are (list foods). 

    I would take the initiative to drive my child's development in the way I want it to go and start the milestone activities/skill building with DD myself to see what does/does not work where possible, then loop nanny in.  Would that work?  Maybe I am oversimplifying it?

    ITA I keep things more informal- like oh you can give them the sippy cup with meals now or give her a spoon with meals, etc.  BTW- yougurt is the best way to learn how to use a spoon cause it sticks to the spoon. Messy but they get the hang of it!

    For educational stuff I never did the flashcards- but my 3 years knows so much and its all from reading books!  Just tell you don't need to worry about flashcards but read 2 or 3 books a day and point out all the colors, etc.

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  • rockychryslerb2010rockychryslerb2010 member

    I agree with others and that you should keep this informal.  I have a very good relationship with my nanny, she pretty much does whatever, as long as I ask.  I think any good nanny would have no problem taking direction from the parents.  I agree with replacing flashcards with books.  Are the flashcards yours or hers?  Could the flashcards just 'disappear' one morning and in their place be a stack of books?  E has his own library, and they will sit for long periods of time just reading and talking about the story.  I think that is more valuable that flashcards at this age (E is 17 months).

    ETA: by library I mean a corner in our family room with his huge stack of books!

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