Tips for Taking Your Nanny on a Family Outing

Summer is a wonderful time to make new memories with your kids, and that doesn’t have to involve a week-long vacation. Simple day trips or family outings can be just as memorable and fun experiences for your family, like going to an amusement park or a water park, spending a day at the zoo, exploring a national park, or visiting another attraction. Of course, these outings come with their challenges too, and that’s where it’s helpful to bring your nanny or sitter.

Have a fun family outing on the calendar? Our experts at Tried and True Nannies and Sitters are here to explain why you might want to bring your nanny or a sitter with you and offer tips for making it a smooth experience.

Why Take Your Nanny on a Family Outing or Day Trip?

Family outings are opportunities to spend quality time with your kids, but they aren’t easy to coordinate. A nanny or sitter can offer an extra set of hands which is a game-changer for safety because they can help you keep an eye or hand on all the kids so everyone stays safe.

A nanny or sitter gives you flexibility too. For example, your kids might each have different rides they want to ride or things they want to do. If you have more kids than parents in your family, having a nanny makes it easier for you to split up for part of the day so each child can do their favorite activity while still having an adult by their side.

Tips for Bringing Your Nanny on a Family Day Trip

A family outing or day trip is very different from your usual arrangement of your nanny caring for your kids at your home. How can you make sure it goes smoothly for everyone? Follow these tips.

Talk About Safety Strategies in Advance

Safety is a key reason why parents bring their nannies on family outings, and it’s an important consideration to discuss. Particularly at busy places like amusement parks, it’s easy for kids to get separated from their families, and your nanny can be an extra set of eyes and hands to prevent this.

Still, talk about safety with your nanny and what strategies you can use during your trip. For instance, you might bring a first aid kit if you’re going to a park, or if you’re going to a busy place like an amusement park, you might choose a meet-up point for the family to go to if you get separated. It’s also important to take a picture that morning of each child in the clothes they’re wearing for the day and make sure each adult has these pictures.

Be Prepared to Pay for All Expenses

You might be going somewhere fun but your nanny is still working – this is free time for your family but not for your nanny. You’ll need to pay them for all the hours they’re working including travel time. You’ll also need to pay for all their expenses for the day, like their ticket to the attraction, food and beverages throughout the day, gas and/or a mileage fee if they’re driving, and so on.

Discuss Plans and Expectations Ahead of Time

This family outing is very different from your nanny’s usual work environment and work circumstances. To make sure everyone is on the same page, have a talk about expectations and plans in advance. Talk about what you expect from the nanny throughout the day, specific activities you have planned, and other details.

Want Extra Services? Offer Additional Pay

If you’re paying your nanny their hourly rate for the hours they’re coming on your outing, remember that this rate is based on the number of kids they usually care for and the duties they usually perform – it doesn’t mean that you’re free to ask them to do anything you wish during those hours. For example, if you want your nanny to take pictures of your family throughout the trip while they’re caring for your kids, pay them extra for this service. You should also pay them more if your kids are bringing friends along and you expect the nanny to care for these children too.

Enjoying Extra Help During Your Family Outings

The idea of taking the family somewhere special is stressful for many parents because they worry about keeping tabs on their kids and keeping everyone safe throughout the trip. A nanny or sitter can be a tremendous help for these outings. For help looking for the ideal nanny or sitter for your family’s needs, contact Tried and True Nannies and Sitters in Nashville.