Nanny/Daycare Activities for 1 year old?

[scorpioscuba]

So...those of you with a nanny or baby in daycare, what kinds of activities are they doing or do you expect them to do with your kiddo? Or if you stay at home, what are you doing with them for activities?

I have various things available: puzzles, shape sorters, little people playsets, balls, swing in the backyard, water table for warmer days, kitchen, books, etc.

I know I can't expect the nanny to interact with her constantly but I do want to have her engage her in certain structured activities and then allow for plenty of free independent play. But I know if I don't make my expectations clear, it probably won't happen.

Should I set up a schedule of some sorts? Or just not worry about it at this age?

[silverspoon]

Everything you have sounds good. I don't really know what I would expect for this age.

I know my daycare has a set schedule for the day with rotating activities, but I think that's probably a bit more necessary because they are dealing with 8 toddlers.

Maybe feel your nanny out a bit? I don't know how experienced she is, but she might already have an idea for a schedule or activities in mind.

[kcrkcs]

On the day my mom watches her they play together, read books and come down to the barn or outside and spend a bit of time getting out the energy.
My mom is probably better about doing activities with her than I am most days because usually my attention is split between baby and work. I try to take a bit every couple hours and focus in on her and what she is doing. But most days that's the best I can do. Thankfully she is very independent and plays on her own or just sits/cruises/wears and watches the barn goings on quite happily.

[reagan1010]

I stay at home and we have a schedule as far as napping, eating and things like that, but nothing to much as far as play. They normally play in the kitchen while I am cleaning up from breakfast and then I move them to a playroom off our living room. I use this time for laundry, cleaning and all of that fun stuff. We also spend time after lunch playing in the basement where we have a tent, ball pit, tunnels, slide, balls, that sort of thing. It's usually too cold to play outside right now, but if we get a random warm day we will go out for a little bit also. They have really started playing together and interacting more so it's a little easier on me because they don't rely on me to entertain them as much.

[dizzycooks]

We have a routine we follow and it's not centered on the baby. When I had just one, it was obviously more about her.
Currently it looks something like this (insert age appropriate activities):
7am breakfast
7:30am chores/playtime
845am library story time/prek drop off/open gym/swim lessons
If it's a prek day we come home and paint/draw/play in the playroom
11/12pm pick up independent play while I make lunch and clean up (outside play if summer)
12:15 lunch
12:45 story time
1pm nap
3pm outdoor play/play date/project (typically baking or helping with dinner)
5pm dinner
5:30 playroom, we join after dinner is cleaned up and we usually play a game together.
6:45 bedtime routine
7:00-7:30pm lights out if it all went well.

[NellieOleson]

I would not set up an activity schedule for a nanny in your situation. I think a routine as far as what time to have meals, snacks, and naps would be a good, and I think it would be perfectly reasonable to ask her to do certain things like have outdoor playtime or take a walk every day. As far as really structuring playtime, though, I think it would come across as a bit overbearing.

Are you concerned she's not doing enough with your dd? Or is this more of a trying to be proactive thing? Have you asked her how she structures her day while she's there? What does she say when you ask what they did all day?

[scorpioscuba]

Yes, NellieOleson, you are right. It would be overbearing and I definitely don't want to do that. I have suggested walks, water table and swing. She does do the walks regularly because DD will fall asleep and she can get an easy nap that way. Otherwise, it's a lot of independent play and yes I'm concerned there is not enough 1 on 1 interaction. I have provided lots of suggestions. Today I left some books out on ideas of things to do that I bought when DS was this age.

I don't expect her to interact/engage with her 1 on 1 all day for 8 hours straight but I expect more than spending (IMO) too much time on her phone. I have security cameras and I check in when I can at work. I never mentioned the cameras to her directly but they are not hidden and she knows we have an overall security system. So I'm hesitant to say, "hey, I've seen you on your phone a lot." I'm trying to encourage her in different ways to engage more. When she is with DS they do activities non-stop, crafts, playing with toys, etc. So I think it's more that she's just not sure what to do with DD at this age so I thought a schedule might help? But don't want to micromanage either.

All this to say I do really like her. I think we just need to work out the kinks and I need to do better at making my expectations clear.

[reagan1010]

scorpioscuba does she help with housework? What did you guys discuss about what she would do during naps? I hired a mother's helper for the first 4 months after the twins were born. When the babies were awake, she was hands on, but when they napped She helped with dishes and laundry. I had to have a discussion with her about being proactive though. I came home one day from picking up my oldest from school and she was napping on the couch because the babies were napping and the dishes were done. Being as sleep deprived as I was, I was really not happy to be paying her to nap. I had to leave a list of things to do if she had any free time. I know she's different from a mothers helper though.

If your nanny is solely to watch and interact with your lo, I would talk with her about using any down time to plan activities, pick up toys, etc. I know daycare settings don't allow phones in classrooms. I know that she deserves some downtime, but if you feel like she is on it too much, I would definitely address it! C will play peek a boo for an annoyingly long time and J will play ball with anyone for a long time. If she is doing independent play time for most of the day, a schedule breaking down how much independent play might be a great idea!

[tinydancer]

Chiming in late - I'm sure things will improve as you continue to work together. I do suggest activities for my nanny, but I usually just give her ideas, like, LO just discovered bubbles this weekend and he loves chasing them, or we just got LO these crayons and he might like to try them out.

My nanny is pretty good about interacting with my LO but they don't do a lot of project type things because his attention span is pretty short. Sometimes I think their "play" mostly involves her chasing after him or collecting the various toys he brings to her. I think their day is structured pretty much like play with his toys and books, nap, lunch, walk, play outside, nap, snack, play with his toys.