Is it unreasonable to expect our nanny to actively play with kids instead of just supervising activities?
We have a 3yo and 6yo. 6yo is in school and with nanny only part of the day, and 3yo is with our nanny all day. Nanny is in her mid 20s. I WFH and do try my best to stay out of their way but this is something I’ve noticed that bothers me.
Both kids are very active and love arts and crafts, games, dancing, sports that kind of thing. They’ll ask nanny to play with them, draw with them, kick the ball around with them and she constantly tells them no thanks and she just watches them. I don’t think I’ve ever seen her actually participating in an activity they are doing. I know kids have way more energy than adults and I don’t expect her to exhaust herself playing sports and running around with them but I feel like it’s reasonable to expect a nanny to play hide and seek or a ball game or something. And from talking to nanny casually she sounds like a very athletic hobbyist outside of work so I’m not sure why she seems so against activities with the kids.
If she were just a babysitter I’d be content that she’s just keeping the kids alive but I feel like the rate and benefits we offer kind of warrant these expectations. When interviewing with her we did say we wanted someone who’s active and will play and have fun with the kids and she said that was her. This issue is something I’ve talked to her about and her response is usually that she’ll improve but it doesn’t happen. Which is making me wonder if it’s an unreasonable expectation that she actually participates in activities with the kids?