In my first week at my second ever nanny job I had to entertain the kids at a first birthday party. “So we’ll have the kids area here,” my new employer informed me, “The adults will be over there and you can just entertain all the kids for 2 hours.”
I guess they just assumed that because I knew kids {after having been a nanny for a whopping 9 months} that I could entertain groups of them. Inside I was freaking out.
Those 2 hours were some of the longest of my life. I spent the first hour entertaining the kids as the adults watched on {with their champagne flutes filled}. I spent a good part of the second hour wiping yoghurt from my jeans, after accidentally sitting on a stray tub that someone had left laying on the rug.
Yesterday we went to a launch party for Magical Tales featuring Sparkles & William. I dragged Hubby along for the cupcakes, glitter and sparkles, but as soon as everyone started dancing he declared he was out and headed outside for some fresh air.
Sparkles and William headed down to meet the kids at the start of the tea party. For the whole party they stayed in character {exactly like they are on their TV show}, talked nonsense and kept the kids entertained. Like really entertained. They even sung and danced in unison. They stayed enthusiastic the whole time and made each child feel super special. Kids can be hard work, and I should know. Sparkles and William made it look like a breeze.
I couldn’t do it. Apart from the fact that I wouldn’t look quite as cute in the tutu, being a children’s entertainer is just one job that I couldn’t possibly do. Whenever I was playing silly-buggers with the kids that I nannied, I rarely mustered the enthusiasm up when the parents were around. In the presence of adults, I just felt… weird.
Sorry I just have to comiserate about what a rude bunch of parents to assume that one nanny can look after a huge group of kids while they boozed the arvo away! I'm being retrospectively indignant on your behalf! If only choosing a child was as easy as choosing a handbag!
Sorry, I know that you're not mean spirited and nor did you mean your post to be.
I can't even entertain my 2.5 year old on some days, I defnitely couldn't cope with a huge bunch of kids! Although I used to host parties when I worked at Pizza Hut years ago, but we just fed them lots of food! Did the trick…
Never. I couldn't. Makes me cringe on every level.
I entertain my own children (just) by doing stuff with them. I may dance occasionally. That is my limit.
no, and they are always creepy.
When I was a nanny it was a lot easier to be enthusiastic and over the top for the kids when the parents weren't around. I agree – it feels weird to be so silly when adults are present.
Oh totally! I live for my own kids' parties where I get to be the entertainment. They seem to find it amusing. I haven't asked the adults (which is probably just as well!!) x
Wow, You have no idea how much this article helped me out, it would have taken me hours to figure out what you explained in a few sentences. I honestly appreciate what you do, keep up the good work.
being a playschool presenter is my ideal job, even tho i am ridiculously self conscious… it is my dream! i think i would even love to do the play school concerts! justine clarke style 😉
nope…couldn't do it…no way! i'm no good at random (deliberate) silly, i only do good silly if i'm actually feeling a bit silly….there are plenty of jobs that i don't think i could do (mostly ones that don't involve being around people) and lots that I would love to try my hand at (mostly they are creative)…despite having 4 kids of my own i'm not sure I'd make a very good nanny lol. tatum xx PS thankyou for the divine pics from papier d'amore…glorious!
I was a kid's party hostess at a place called 'Dollicious' from the age of 18 to 21. It was a weekend job and VERY well paid… or it seemed so back then! I used to do 3 parties of 2 hours each, every Sat… and sometimes Sun as well… this would be after some rather big night's out on the town too! Playing characters such as Pocahontas/The Little Mermaid/Fairy. When I wasn't in character, I had to wear a shirt that stated “I'm a Dollicious person” across it. As tough as that job was, dealing with anywhere up to 20 kids per party, I found dealing with the parents WAY tougher.
Maybe even some like the charmers you had to deal with while you were a nanny/party hostess! (shockers to do that to you!)
But no, my party hostessing days are over… unless it's for my own little ones.
P.S. Such a gorgeous pic of Lacey with S & W :o)