Working Moms
dizzycooks
member
Schedule for Nanny
dizzycooks
member
in Working Moms
We are considering a nanny or au pair for next school year so I have some time to figure this out. I am wondering how different people handle having a nanny. We are planning on paying above board, labeling a calendar in advance with vacation time (paid and unpaid) as well as giving her 4 additional sick days if we go with a nanny. She would be working about 9 months total.
My bigger question is do you ask the nanny to provide a schedule of activities she has planned for the week ahead or to recap at the end of each day in a note? Do you not worry about it at all? I would expect the nanny to take the kids to storytime once a week, early childhood playtime weekly, and DD1 to preK once a week. We also have a zoo pass she would be free to use as well. I am considering that I might lay out a weekly schedule for her to follow and identify a handful of activities I want her to do with DD1 while the baby sleeps. I would provide the supplies and directions for these activities so it would just be a half hour lesson she would do with DD.
Do you do anything like this for your nanny or do you expect her to do these things on her own? If so, how do you make sure you have what she needs or that your child is meeting developmental milestones as expected?
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Re: Schedule for Nanny
I think the level of preparation/schedule will depend on the nanny. If she is experienced and has a degree in EC, then you will have to do less. I would recommend a middle of the road approach for the first few weeks and then re-evaluate.
So maybe sign your children up for 1-2 weekly classes (Gymboree, music, etc) where there will be a structured environment. Then just make your expectations clear about other activities you expect her to do.
For example, my contract specifies I want her reading at least 30 minutes per day, they should be working on age appropriate lessons (colors, numbers, etc) in their playtime. I ask if she needs any materials/supplies and purchase them. I think when kids are little, the best way to learn is through play. My nanny doesn't necessarily have a planned craft each day or a lesson but she is using every day activities as a chance to learn. Even when I send them to the grocery, they are learning. You will know if your child is meeting milestones in your interactions. I also provide memberships to children's museum and zoo. If it sounds like they haven't been in a while, I'll suggest an outing.
I don't ask or provide a weekly schedule. We just talk at the beginning of the day and debrief at the end of the day. I've never asked for a written account. I want my nanny focus on the child, not filling out forms. I also like to treat her as the 44-year old adult she is and let her direct her time. Maybe I'm too laid back?
I think making a VERY set schedule is very stressful, I don't want them running around all day, and what I have in my head for a good schedule of when do go where might not work, because I'm not home. I ask what the kids did that day and if gong out side wasn't mentioned, I'll usually ask why (at this point our nanny will tell us right off the bat if they didn't go out and why). Nanny does arts and crafts when there is time and does some things that I had never thought of, which I think all nanny's should be able to do.
Yes, to clarify, the grocery shopping is the "mid-week we're out of stuff" type. I still do the full shopping on the weekends. Our contract is written that focus on the kids is priority, but that we also expect her to do their laundry, keep the house tidy (teaching the kids how to do it along the way), run errands, prep food, etc.
As to the classes, I can't comment on the challenge of having an older and younger. When our younger came along, our older was already in PS3 5 mornings/week. However, they do struggle with it in the summer. We do less structured activities then.