Received Wednesday, September 3, 2008. - Rant
Im a loving nanny of 2 girls and its so sad when nannies I see do not pay attention to the children in their care. In Lafayette Colorado public library the nanny of these 2 beautiful dark skinned children just read her book and let the children just wander around the library. The kids seemed used to the nanny not paying attention to them, it seemed like the 5 yr old girl was more the nanny then the actual nanny was. The 5 yr old girl was the one taking care of her 2 yr old brother as the nanny just sat there and read her book. The nanny seemed like she could care less of what the kids were doing. I also see this at the park, nannies chatting away on the cell phones.
I once saved a 1 yr old from a terrible fall when he was on the playground up high on top of the play structure, the nanny was too busy taking to her boyfriend. If I wasnt there that baby wouldve had a bad fall!
Nannies, take time and effort to really engage the children you are caring for or find another job! I chose to be a nanny because I enjoy spending time with children and it makes me so sad to see these children being neglected all the time.
23 comments:
I totally agree. I was at the park with my charges yesterday and this little girl was basically sitting on my lap because she was so starved for attention! She had a very dirty (and smelly) diaper and was just wandering around talking to herself. She seemed so happy when my charges and I included her in our game.
Kate, that is so sad! I'm glad you included the child, but where was the nanny or mom at? Didn't she say anything?
Poor kids.
A ONE year old up high on top a play structure??
How on earth did a ONE year old get up there anyway??
The last family I nannied for had a one year old (15 months) who, I swear, learned to climb the jungle gym type thing in their backyard in two days. And he was fast!!
OK random, where is UMASS?? She had an odd posting on her blog, deleted it and she's not posting anymore... Im concerned.
That is very sad Kate. How old was the child???
The little girl is probably around 2.5-she was wearing a pull up but I overheard her nanny say she is starting some sort of school part time. I saw them again today. The nanny was a bit better but spent the majority of her time chatting with other nannies. She did have a younger child with her so I understand it can be difficult to watch an older child and baby but come on! If anything more happens I will post about it.
Marissa...Maybe she ran away with Michael Pitt or Draco Malfoy turned her into a newt.
God I am so SICK of these children throwing threads off topic!
Wow, Who Cares, PMSing or something? That was rude and completley uncalled for!
So I read Marissa's comment and went to Umass' blog.
I wouldn't worry Marissa, she's probably off writing a sequel to that stellar literary piece on there now, that's all.
op, what you say is very true. i do agree with you and i cannot argue what you posted. but i also want to add that there is nothing wrong with quiet time for the nanny and children. while i don't think that a library or any public place is appropriate for the nanny to be preoccupied from the kids, i do think the nanny needs her quiet time at SOME point in the day. this is why sometimes it's important for parents to allow nannies to have freedom to plan their days, and to take rests and even tv breaks at home. when we work 10 hours a day, it's only human to need down time.
That is sad. It's these nannies that give us a bad name. If your heart's not in your job then get out!
Hey I'm here and I'm ok thanks guys and to the person who doesn't care, well, I don't freaking blame you.
And to OP: I agree with Yaya, it is so sad. These children need love and affection, attention. If you hate the job, get out and work with papers or clothes or computers: not kids. :(
Umass
We love you and hope you're doing o.k. Don't pay any attention to the pathetic trolls that have nothing better to do than behave like blathering idiots.
"Who cares" it must be hard to be loved for you.
Hey Umass :), happy you are back. How could this blog go on without your opinions and presence?
Anyways, it is pretty sad when you see these people who just view kids as their paychecks. It's refreshing though to see that some people still care :)
Hey marissa..we love you, too!
Glad to see you doing alright.
And might I add that my 15 mo was climbing all over things, including the counters to get to the treats.
These kids can be pretty smart..watch them grab some chairs, or toys, and use them to climb up to get to stuff. Kind of cool, but you have to watch them closely!
could be an american thing. over here (in europe), it's very important for kids to learn to be independent. i've noticed american nannies and parents tend to shadow and actively engage their kids all the time. this does not happen here-kids learn how to socialise with each other (which they will more likely do if they're not busy playing with a guardian) and how to fill up their time.
of course if the child can't find anyone to play with at the park and is just walking boredly around, the parent or nanny should (and will) play with them.
I totally agree with macaroniandcheese.
It seems like ppl these days do shadow their children and there are benches at parks for a reason.
Kids need to learn to play with other kids. You need to learn to trust your kids when they aren't an armreach away.
I'm a nanny from Minnesota and I honestly think its not wrong to sit on a bench and read a book if you know your charges are playing with other kids or with eachother and are safe. Now, if they ask you to play or for a drink or a snack or to go to the bathroom or something and you say no, then that would be neglecting.
I guess its all in the eye of the beholder, but I think a lot of the time this site really reads too much into things.
although, regarding this post...I do think that at the library the nanny should have been focusing on the children, like reading to them or something, but at a park, I really think it depends on the ages of the kids and if the park is empty or jam packed with kids.
The more kids, the more rest time for nanny I think! and nannies are superpeople, they are human and they too, need breaks.
Thank you, I'm done.
aren't*
haha. I fail.
hey there, i love jason castro,
(loved him too by the way)
i liked the way you put that and i totally agree! for the first time, someone has put into words how i really feel about supervision vs. interaction.
as a nanny, only I know how much i interact with the child all day long and when it's okay for us to take a break from the interaction. i too feel that it IS unnecessary, and even harmful to follow a child or provide such close interaction at a public place when the child needs to be learning to interact with other children. you CANNOT be the sole friend for the child his whole life. sometimes it IS okay to sit back and just watch him play with the other kids.
i know that most of us good nannies know our children well enough to know how closely we need to watch them and when. and i also know that we as nannies know when to let them interact with other children and occupy themselves, and when to intervene.
i myself will sit in the shade on a hot day at the park and will NOT run around in the heat or push swings. i kindly explain to the kids that it's too hot for me to push them in 90 degree weather and i will get too tired. i offer the kids water and remind them to come sit in the shade when hot. if anyone has a problem with that, that's TOO BAD.
to hot to handle, I'm glad you agree!!
for the record, i'm not saying that I never play with my charges, I do. But I just feel like its more important for them to learn how to approach other children to make friends and be socialable then to feel like they have to ask to do that.
I was at the park the other day with my two charges and there was only one other little boy there so I did play with them, tag and even pretended the jungle gym was a pirate ship but thats not the point i was getting to, the other little boy there was being followed by what I could tell was their aunt and he kept going "stop following me!" and it was kind of sad, felt bad for the adult cuz she wanted to play with the kid, but it just proves that kids need freedom to choose whether or not they want to play with you or not. I usually know to play with my charges if the park isn't packed full of kids, if it is I know to find a nice bench and watch them have a blast with every other kid on the park.
I'm glad I'm not alone at thinking this! I was seriously worried I was doing something wrong cuz I don't follow them around the park, but I strongly feel like kids need to learn how to be their own people so when they grow up they will be confident in their decisions.
:)
hehe when we're at the park, my little girl tells me to sit down while she plays lol
macaroniandcheese, lol thats what the little kid at the park kept telling his auntie!
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