My Top 7 Favorite Nanny Activities

I love being a nanny. Long before I became a nanny, though, I was first a big sister. I loved teaching my younger siblings new things, reading to them, bringing them alongside me and showing them how things work. I would sit and read to them, teach them math and how to read, cook with them, and play with them.

Now I get to do that for another generation of little ones and I love it. Here are some of the things I enjoy doing with my nanny kiddos!

Baking

In the last several years I have baked a lot more than I have ever before! That is because I have the best baking buddy. We love to make muffins, cookies, and banana bread together. Oh, and no bake cookies!

She is an excellent helper and though there are messes, it’s worth it because of the time we spend together. And we can clean up together as well! We put on music and sing along, giggle together, and make the most special memories!

Cooking

I love to cook delicious food. I was cooking at such a young age, so teaching these younger ones to have confidence in the kitchen is so important to me. I love to spend the time with them and build their cooking skills. My favorite is having them smell the spices and teach them how to use each one. So far, one of my mini chefs has successfully flavored potatoes on his own! I love it when they ask to help with the cutting of the vegetables and assembling the meal.

My favorite and easiest recipes to teach right now are taco meat for taco night, roasted veggies, and spaghetti.

Exploring

I love visiting new places with these kiddos! Both my nanny families and I have explored some new parks, indoor playgrounds, science centers, and children’s museums. Learn more about the places we have visited here.

We usually make an afternoon of it and bring lunch and chill. Having someone up front with me, we get to chatting about all sorts of things. I really love these full days!

Learning & Teaching

Teaching is in my blood. I love teaching these precious souls. Showing them the easy way to learn math, giving them little tips, and reminding them that they’ve got this! AND saying YES, we can do our math under the trampoline! Why not?

Also, every day I am learning alongside them! Yes, I am a teacher, but I am also learning. I love when we discover something new together and I admit I never knew that. I’m always being told one cool fact or another! Everyone is growing and learning every day!

Playing

These kids keep me young. They put smiles on my faces and help me to just release and be me. Playing together on the trampoline or running through the woods and climbing trees reminds me of my childhood. I have been told that I am half kid and half adult many times by my kids which I have to say is a complement for me at this age!

Playing dress up, having tea parties together, or playing store are all so special to me. Days like this will forever be cherished. I know I am making a lasting impression on these children to stay young at heart as well.

We also have our favorite board games we can play together or a card game we sometimes squeeze in for some special one-on-one time.

Crafting

Time together spent crafting and creating is super important. I have taught many crafts now and yes, I have had to grow my skills as I teach. It is amazing to me to see how fast these kids catch on to a new craft and then grow their own skills.

I will say my favorite crafts are crocheting, cross stitch, and latch hook. They are easy for beginners and are so rewarding! Need some more craft ideas for kids? Read this blog post for inspiration.

Reading

Storytime is our favorite part of our afternoon when we get the chance. I have read books aloud and we have listened to audiobooks or audiodramas. These stories are so full of life and lessons and we enjoy talking about them afterwards.

When I get to sit with the littlest ones who are beginning to read and listen to them, it is forever special. Watching them fall in love with words and books is such a blessing.

Movie nights

I love a good movie night with the children. With a big age difference, it can be hard to find movies that are fun for both the big kids and the littles. But we have had many enjoyable movie nights together where each child liked the movie I found. If you need some suggestions, check out my post here on great family films as well as my post on family tv series.

Snuggling up with popcorn and a great movie are some of our favorite times. The kids even beg mom and dad to go on a date night so that I can stay and watch a movie with them!

Special Days

Sometimes I get a full day with the kiddos and we go have a grand adventure. Sometimes I surprise them with something small but super special. Sometimes we just go out into the woods and have a picnic!

One time, I surprised a birthday boy with his very own science party. I will never forget this special science day. It was so much fun to surprise him with all these easy science experiments. We had a blast with a vinegar and baking soda volcano made out of mud, a lava lamp, tornado tube, and slime…lots and lots of slime!

These are some of the many activities that we love to do together – my nanny kids and I. There are so many more like karaoke night, trampoline games, impromptu dance parties…. You get the idea! We have so much fun!

Have you ever been a nanny or a babysitter? What were the most fun times you had with your nanny kiddos. As a mom what are your current favorite things to do with your children?