Tags: international nanny

Practising Money Skills

Post date August 8, 2023

As a nanny, one of your essential responsibilities is to help children develop essential life skills. One of the most important skills is understanding money and financial literacy. By teaching children about money through games, activities, and real-world experiences, nannies can prepare them to make informed financial decisions and become financially responsible adults.

In this blog, we will explore the importance of teaching money skills to children, strategies for incorporating financial literacy into daily activities, and tips for nannies to help young children practise money skills.

Why is it important to teach money skills to young children?

Financial literacy is a crucial part of daily life that is often overlooked. Children need to learn how to manage money, set goals, save, and invest in their future. By teaching financial literacy skills at an early age, children can avoid financial missteps and begin building a solid financial future.

Furthermore, financial literacy skills can help children develop discipline, responsibility, and decision-making skills. When they manage an allowance or budget, children learn how to prioritise and make informed choices, which is an essential life skill.

Incorporating Financial Literacy in Daily Activities

One of the best ways to build children’s financial skills and ability to manage money is to approach it as part and parcel of everyday life, showing these skills in context and allowing children to learn from experience with a little- and-often approach. Here are some of the ways that nannies can help to achieve this.

Allowance and Budgeting

An allowance is a great way to teach children about money management. By providing an allowance and setting a budget, children learn how to allocate their money and make choices buying decisions. Nannies can assist in tracking expenses, helping children avoid overspending or impulse buying.

Playing Games

Games that involve money can teach children about budgeting, investing, borrowing, and saving money. Board games like Monopoly or The Game of Life or digital games, such as video games, apps, and online games, can teach financial concepts in an engaging, fun way.

Grocery Shopping

Grocery shopping is a great way to teach children about budgeting and money management. Nannies can involve children in creating a grocery list, comparing prices, understanding coupons, and making purchasing decisions based on quality and cost. It teaches children to think critically and prioritise their shopping needs.

Going to the Bank

Visiting a bank or credit union is an excellent way to teach children about various banking services, such as opening a savings account, understanding interest, and making deposits and withdrawals. Bank representatives can explain the benefits of savings and discuss the differences between checking and savings accounts, and the consequences of over drafting an account.

Setting Goals

Teaching children how to set financial goals like saving for a new toy or future expenses is a critical lesson in money management. Nannies can help children plan the steps required to attain these goals, developing a sense of financial responsibility and accountability.

Tips to Help Children Practice Money Skills

As in all things, with money, practice makes perfect! It is important to give children the opportunity to apply and practise the skills they have learnt about. Here are some of the ways to do that:

Encourage Savings

Nannies can encourage children to save money by setting a savings goal and providing a visual representation like a savings jar, chart or piggy bank. Encourage children to contribute to their savings regularly and suggest reward systems for reaching milestones.

Make Learning Fun

Incorporate gaming or activities that teach financial literacy concepts while making them fun and engaging. Create activities where children can pretend to buy things and interact with different financial situations. Role-play scenarios like shopping or running a business can help children learn concepts like budgeting and making informed decisions.

Set a Good Example

Children learn by mimicking their elders, so nannies need to lead by example. Parents and caregivers can set the stage by discussing money matters in front of their children, such as budgeting, bill-paying, or health care expenses.

Encourage Charity

It’s important to teach children that money is not only for personal use, but also for helping those in need. Encourage children to participate in charitable acts, such as donating part of their allowance to a worthy cause or volunteering at a non-profit organisation.

Teach Responsible Borrowing

Teaching children about responsible borrowing and credit management can help them make informed financial decisions in the future. Discussing the consequences of borrowing too much money and not paying it back on time can help children understand the importance of healthy borrowing habits.

In conclusion, teaching children about money and financial literacy is essential for their future financial success. Nannies can incorporate financial literacy activities in daily activities, such as playing games, grocery shopping, setting goals, and visiting banks. Additionally, encourage savings, practise good financial examples, and incorporate charitable giving. By providing children with financial education, nannies can help set the foundation for a successful future and lead them toward financial responsibility and independence.

If you’re interested in how nannies can integrate education on a range of subjects like this into their daily childcare role, then our course Integrating Education into Childcare may be for you! This course looks at how young children learn and how nannies can support this through play in their day-to-day roles.

Essential Qualifications for Becoming a Governess in a Private Household

Post date July 18, 2023

A career as a governess in a private household can offer exciting opportunities, intense challenges and requires a specific set of skills and qualifications. The unique blend of childcare, teaching, and administrative duties associated with the job makes it a rewarding yet challenging career choice. In this section, we will highlight the top essential qualifications that anyone desiring to become a governess must have.

Education Qualifications

Education qualifications are a fundamental requirement for anyone seeking to become a governess. Most private families prefer that their governess has a minimum of a Bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood or Education fields or similar. In specific cases, families seek governesses with degrees in Psychology, Language, and other related fields or postgraduate-level training.

Some families are open to considering those with vocational qualifications demonstrating excellence in their fields, specifically in music, sports or the arts. The idea is to ensure their children receive instruction from someone with skills and expertise that can be acquired through focused education or training.

Childcare Experience

Childcare experience is necessary for anyone aspiring to become a governess, and families prefer a working experience that can be backed up by references. Some families may specify a minimum year of working experience as a nanny, primary/secondary school teacher, education support officer or working as teaching assistant. The priority of the employer is to fill the post with someone who has had experience in how important it is to help children learn and grow, as well as someone who has provided outstanding care in the past.

Language Capabilities

Having a multilingual skill set is a wonderful advantage for anyone interested in becoming a governess. Being able to speak, read and write in multiple languages can be a key factor in ensuring that communication between the governess, children and family members is up-to-standard. Being able to communicate with children in their native language can help the children feel comfortable and support their educational and social growth.

Deportment and Etiquette

Governesses usually work in high-class private households where deportment and etiquette are essential. Hence, families prefer hiring someone who has impeccable manners, speaks correctly and eloquently, and is cognisant of social expectations. It is important to note that most families prefer a governess with some formal etiquette training and protocol to ensure these principles are passed down to the children they serve.

IT and Technology Proficiency

Technology is becoming more prevalent in education and childcare, making technology skills a crucial part of career development for governesses. Governesses must be competent in computer skills, able to operate multimedia teaching aids and programs that support online learning or assessments applicable to the children’s education. They may also be required to manage household and travel expenses or use apps to track children’s schedules and achievements.

Inoculations and Health Certificates

As governesses may be travelling to different locations, vaccination certificates are often required to ensure their health and that of the children are safeguarded. Hence, having updated medical reports with an excellent health track record is essential. Employers also require candidates to provide evidence that they are physically fit and can handle the responsibilities of caring for children.

While the list of essential qualifications for becoming a governess may seem extensive, individuals who meet these qualifications will thrive in a private household environment. With a bachelor’s degree in education, childcare experience, fluency in multiple languages, IT skills, excellent manners and protocols, and good health is a winning combination that will place you in high demand. Becoming a governess requires patience, flexibility, great communication skills, and a desire for continued educational and professional growth. However, for those who have a genuine passion for childcare and education, and are willing to invest their time and efforts, becoming a governess can be an immensely fulfilling, worthwhile and rewarding career option.

If you’re interested in exploring the different roles that are available in the home-based childcare sector then our course Working as a Nanny is for you, here you will learn more about the roles and responsibilities of different posts and develop the skills needed for looking for and securing a job, and for communicating with parents, so you can get your career off to a great start!

Volunteering

Post date July 11, 2023

Volunteering is a great way for children and teenagers to give back to their communities, learn new skills, gain valuable experience, and develop a sense of social responsibility. Getting children and teenagers involved in volunteering can be an excellent opportunity for them to connect with others and appreciate the benefits that come with helping others. In this article, we will discuss the benefits of volunteering and ways to get children and teenagers involved in volunteer activities with the help of professional nannies.

Benefits of Volunteering for Children and Teens

Most of us would agree that volunteering is an extremely worthwhile activity, and it also has a whole host of benefits for children and teenagers. Here we look at the ways that getting involved in voluntary work can benefit children and teens in various areas of their lives:

Develops a Sense of Purpose and Social Responsibility

Volunteering can be an essential catalyst for children and teens to develop a sense of social responsibility and purpose. By being a part of any volunteering activity, whether it is at a local food bank, animal shelter, or hospital, children and teenagers understand the benefits of giving back to the community, and in turn, it can give them a sense of fulfilment.

Helps Build Confidence and Self-Esteem

Children and teenagers who engage in volunteer activities learn new skills and gain valuable experience, which can help them build their confidence and develop a sense of self-esteem. As they work alongside other volunteers, they can develop positive relationships, which in turn can foster their social and interpersonal skills.

Provides Opportunities for Skill Development

Volunteering provides children and teenagers with many opportunities for skill development in areas like communication, leadership, teamwork, and time management. These skills can be extremely beneficial not only when they volunteer but also in future career opportunities.

Helps Foster an Open-Minded Approach

Volunteering can expose children and teenagers to new cultures, people, and experiences outside their immediate community. This exposure can help foster an open-minded approach to life and broaden their perspective of the world.

Promotes Physical and Mental Well-being

Volunteering can help promote physical and mental well-being, as it gives children and teenagers a sense of purpose and achievement, leading to better emotional health. When children and teenagers are involved in volunteering, it can also lead to physical activity, which can promote a healthy lifestyle. For example, many teenagers will take on the role of a junior sports coach, helping younger children in their chosen sports.

Ways to Get Children and Teens Involved in Volunteer Activities

You may be wondering where to begin with getting children and teenagers involved in volunteering opportunities. The first step should always be a discussion around what they would like to do, and then you can find opportunities that fit with this. Following this, these other tips can be applied:

Start Close to Home

Volunteering doesn’t always have to be far from home. Look around your community, and you’ll find a variety of organisations that need volunteers, such as charity shops, schools, and animal shelters. Reach out to these organisations and find out what opportunities they have available for children and teenagers to volunteer.

Use Online Search Tools

Online search tools are useful resources for finding volunteer opportunities near your area. There are many websites such as Volunteer Match, or Do-it.org which can help you find volunteer opportunities that suit children’s and teenagers’ interests, schedules and strengths. In the UK, 16 or 17 can take part in the National Citizen Service (NCS) or complete the Duke of Edinburgh Awards, and other countries may have similar schemes.

Encourage Volunteering With Friends

Encouraging children or teenagers to volunteer with their friends can make the experience more enjoyable and rewarding. Volunteering is an excellent activity for groups and can any day become a great bonding experience for friends who have common values and interests.

Get Involved in Environmental Conservation

Environmental conservation is an issue that affects everyone, and volunteering helps children and teenagers understand the importance of protecting the environment. There are several organisations working on environmental conservation like beach clean-ups or tree plantation, and participating in such events can offer enormous personal satisfaction and improve our surrounding environment.

Get Involved in Fundraising and Charitable Drives

Fundraising or charitable drives are an excellent opportunity for children and teenagers to volunteer their time, talent, and resources. Whether it is a food or clothing drive, children and teenagers will be actively involved in the organisation and planning of the event and can gain valuable experience as they work towards a common goal.

Whilst it is important that children and teenagers take ownership of their volunteering, adults play an important role in guiding them. This can be done by teachers and parents, but also by nannies, who have a great deal of influence in the families they are employed by.

How Nannies Can Encourage Children and Teens to Volunteer

Nannies play a central role in the lives of the children and teenagers they take responsibility for, making it essential for them to encourage their charges to volunteer, here are ways they can do so:

Highlight the Benefits of Volunteering

Nannies can highlight the many benefits of volunteering, such as skill development, community service, and personal fulfilment, to encourage their charges to engage in volunteer activities.

Match Volunteer Opportunities with Interests

Nannies can help their charges to identify volunteer activities that match their interests and passions. For example, if a child is interested in animals, nannies can research animal shelters in their area and suggest volunteering in such organisations.

Plan Volunteer Activities Together

Nannies can plan volunteer activities with their charges to help develop a sense of ownership and responsibility. By encouraging young volunteers to be proactive, they are more likely to stay committed and improve their chances of gaining maximum benefits from volunteering.

Celebrate Achievements and Success

Nannies can celebrate their children and teenagers’ achievements and successes by recognising their contributions and positive impact on the community. Such celebrations help to reinforce the value of volunteering and encourage a culture of service among children and teenagers.

Getting children and teenagers involved in volunteering not only benefits them as individuals, but it also helps in building an empathetic society where we routinely think of others, are socially responsible and community service and contributing to charitable causes becomes a part of everyday life. Nannies who encourage children and teenagers to volunteer will be setting them up for success in life by developing valuable skills, social consciousness, and a sense of responsibility towards their communities.

Parents should keep this in mind when they are hiring professional nannies, and aim to find someone who shares the same values and understands the importance of community development. Volunteering is a rewarding and fulfilling experience for children and teenagers, and by promoting this activity, we can build a better future for them and the society they live in.

Navigating Adolescence

Enrolling in our online course Navigating Adolescence could be the perfect way to take your career to the next level. With the knowledge and skills gained from this course, you could help guide children and teenagers through the challenging but rewarding journey of adolescence. By learning about the developmental stages, communication techniques, and problem-solving strategies, you will be able to provide crucial support to young people as they navigate the complexities of growing up. Whether you are a nanny or a teacher, this course will help you to become an even more effective caregiver and mentor. So, why not invest in your career and enrol in Navigating Adolescence today? Find out more at Navigating Adolescence or visit us at www.international-nanny.institute now!

Swimming Pool Safety

Post date July 5, 2023

Swimming pools are a great source of outdoor family fun, and young children enjoy splashing around in the water. However, as enjoyable as it is, the safety of young children around the pool cannot be overstated. As a nanny responsible for child care during summer, you must prioritise swimming pool safety to prevent drowning, and injuries and ensure that children have a safe and enjoyable swimming experience. In this blog post, we will discuss back garden pool safety tips designed to protect young children and ensure a secure poolside environment.

Pool Fencing

Installing pool fencing around the pool area should be a priority for parents and homeowners. This helps restrict access to the pool area, preventing young children from wandering unsupervised. A high fence of over four feet is recommended to prevent children from climbing over it, and the gate should be self-closing and self-latching mechanism that fastens securely when closed.

Install a Pool Cover

A pool cover is essential in ensuring the safety of young children around the pool. A sturdy hard-cover pull lid or mesh cover should be in place when the pool is not in use. This ensures that toddlers and young children are kept safe, even if they accidentally wander to the pool area unattended. A pool cover also helps to keep the pool cleaner, reducing debris and maintenance.

Use Pool Alarms

When it comes to pool safety, having an alarm in place is a step in the right direction. Pool alarms should be placed in the pool itself and on the fence gate, alerting adults when a child approaches the pool without supervision or if they accidentally fall into the pool. These alarms can be found in different forms and include motion sensors, sound alarms, and wave detection devices.

Invest in Swim Aids

Investing in swim aids such as swim vests, aid floats or armbands provides an extra layer of protection, especially for younger children. These swim aids hold children above water level, allowing them to move and swim independently of adults. They provide an additional level of security for young children in the pool, allowing them to play and splash around safely.

Supervision

The absolute most crucial aspect of pool safety is adult supervision. Toddlers and young children should always be accompanied by an adult when around the pool. This means constant supervision, avoiding phones and distractions. Adults should never leave young children unattended near a pool, regardless of how brief your leaving may seem.

Teach Swim Safety

It is essential to teach young children about water safety and the pool rules before allowing them to swim. Ensure that they are aware of the dangers around the pool and the rules around swimming. Communication is an essential tool in encouraging children to prioritise their safety while they swim.

CPR Training

Having CPR training is an essential skill for anyone supervising children around the pool area. Knowing how to perform CPR can be lifesaving, especially in the event of a pool accident. Nannies and parents should take the time to enrol in CPR classes to ensure they have this essential and lifesaving skill.

Remove Toys from Pool

It’s essential to avoid leaving toys in the pool after use, as they may attract young children or toddlers to the pool. These toys can also be a choking hazard to toddlers, and their presence can encourage small children, even those who cannot swim or stand, to enter the pool area. Always ensure that pool toys are removed and stored safely after use.

Check Water Quality

Maintaining a pool regularly involves testing and treating the pool water using the appropriate chemicals. However, pool owners should also ensure that the pool’s chemical balance is appropriate for swimming that can harm young children, such as high chlorine levels, can cause harm. Regularly testing the water’s cleanliness and maintaining the pool equipment will benefit young children and ensure a safer swimming experience.

Swimming in a back garden pool can be fun and enjoyable, and as nannies responsible for children, ensuring their safety around the pool is critical. Installing pool fencing, pool alarms, and covers, investing in swim aids, constant adult supervision, teaching swim safety, learning CPR, removing toys from the pool, and checking water quality are essential steps in ensuring peace of mind for parents and a safe and enjoyable swimming experience for young children. By following these tips, nannies can play an essential role in creating a pool-safe environment for young children. Regardless of the season, keeping children safe around the pool is an active and shared responsibility among adults.

For more safety tips, including safety around the home and safe driving practices, check out our Caring for Children course. This course will improve your knowledge and confidence in looking after children in a home-based role. If you’re looking to become a nanny or develop your skill set as a nanny, knowledge is power! Find out more about our Caring for Children course and our other offerings at www.international-nanny.institute today!

Helping Children Reduce Social Anxiety

Post date June 13, 2023

Social anxiety is a prevalent mental health condition that affects millions of children worldwide. It can be challenging for children to cope with social situations and interaction with other children, which can lead to negative outcomes such as avoiding social situations, low self-esteem, and a lack of confidence. Nannies can play a critical role in helping young children reduce social anxiety through various methods. This article aims to explore those methods, highlight the benefits of reducing social anxiety in children, and provide nannies with the tools and techniques they need to help their charges overcome their fears.

Understanding Social Anxiety in Children

Social anxiety is different from shyness, which is a mild and temporary form of social inhibition. Social anxiety is a persistent and intense fear of social situations that can severely impact a child’s quality of life, academic performance, and mental wellbeing. It can manifest itself in a variety of ways, including avoiding social events, clinging to parents, excessive shyness, and physical symptoms such as sweating or trembling.

Social anxiety in children can be caused by a variety of factors, including genetic predisposition, traumatic experiences, overprotective parenting, and bullying. It is essential to understand that social anxiety is a treatable condition, and early intervention is critical to successful treatment.

How Nannies Can Help

Nannies can be instrumental in helping children overcome their social anxiety by creating a safe and supportive environment, providing opportunities for social interaction, and teaching coping mechanisms.

Creating a Safe and Supportive Environment

Children with social anxiety can benefit from a predictable and stable routine. Nannies can help create a nurturing environment by maintaining a consistent daily routine, providing clear expectations and boundaries, and offering emotional support. Nannies can also help by providing encouragement and positive reinforcement, which can be powerful tools in building a child’s confidence.

Providing Opportunities for Social Interaction

Exposure therapy is a common treatment for social anxiety. Nannies can provide a safe and controlled environment for exposure therapy by providing opportunities for social interaction. This can be accomplished in a variety of ways, such as playdates with peers, outings to the park, or participating in group activities. It is important to start small and gradually increase the intensity of social exposure over time.

Teaching Coping Mechanisms

Nannies can teach children coping mechanisms that can help them manage their anxiety in social situations. This can include deep breathing techniques, positive self-talk, and mindfulness exercises. Nannies can also help children reframe negative thoughts and beliefs by challenging their negative self-talk and teaching them to focus on their strengths and positive attributes.

Benefits of Reducing Social Anxiety in Children

Reducing social anxiety in children can have significant benefits for their mental wellbeing, academic performance, and overall quality of life. Some of the benefits of reducing social anxiety in children include:

Improved Academic Performance

Social anxiety can impact a child’s ability to concentrate and learn effectively. By reducing social anxiety, children can focus better, participate more in class, and achieve higher academic success.

Increased Self-Esteem and Confidence

Children with social anxiety often struggle with low self-esteem and confidence. By reducing social anxiety, children can develop a stronger sense of self-worth and confidence in their interactions with others.

Improved Social Relationships

Children with social anxiety often struggle with making and maintaining friendships. By reducing social anxiety, children can develop stronger and more meaningful social relationships with their peers.

Reduced Risk of Developing Other Mental Health Conditions

Social anxiety can increase the risk of developing other mental health conditions such as depression, anxiety disorder, and substance abuse. By reducing social anxiety in children, the risk of developing these conditions can be reduced.

Social anxiety can be a challenging and debilitating condition for children. It is essential to identify social anxiety early and provide children with the tools and support they need to manage their anxiety effectively. Nannies can play a vital role in reducing social anxiety in children through creating a safe and supportive environment, providing opportunities for social interaction, and teaching coping mechanisms. By reducing social anxiety in children, they can improve their academic performance, increase their self-esteem and confidence, develop stronger social relationships, and reduce the risk of developing other mental health conditions. Nannies are critical in ensuring that children have the best opportunity to live their lives to their fullest, and the reduction of social anxiety is an important part of that mission.

To find out more about supporting children experiencing issues like anxiety or depression, you can check out our course, Dealing with a Crisis, which explores a range of more complicated issues. It also discusses and guides nannies on how to navigate these complicated situations in a safe and effective way. Do you want to be prepared to support your charges through any event that could come your way? If so, visit us at www.international-nanny.institute to find out more.

Teaching Toddlers to Dress Themselves

Post date June 6, 2023

One of the essential skills a toddler should learn in their early stages of life is how to dress themselves. This skill has numerous benefits, including fostering independence, developing fine motor skills, and relieving the burden for parents. The process of learning to dress can be challenging for some children, making it necessary for nannies to assist in developing this skill. In this blog post, we will explore different methods and techniques nannies can use to help toddlers learn how to dress themselves at their pace.

Start with Simple Clothing Items

The first step is to start with simple clothing items that are easy to put on and take-off. This may include t-shirts, shorts, and skirts, all of which can be quickly mastered by the toddler. Ensure that, initially, you select clothing items that are loose and easy to manipulate. Tight-fitting clothes will make it difficult for toddlers to dress themselves, and this may lead to frustration and disinterest.

Use Visuals to Show Steps

Visuals are an excellent tool to help toddlers learn how to dress themselves. You can use posters, pictures, or illustrations that show the steps of dressing, from identifying the clothing item to matching the top and bottom. These visuals should be hung on the wardrobe or dresser, where toddlers can view them easily. As they become more proficient, you can reduce the number of visuals or remove them altogether.

Teach Durable Clothes First

Start with durable clothes that won’t tear quickly or break easily. When toddlers are learning to dress themselves, they may accidentally pull, tug or twist the clothing items. This means that they must start with clothing items that are sturdy, as they will withstand regular handling. Examples of durable fabrics are jeans, sweatpants, and cotton dresses.

Let Them Pick Out Their Clothes

Allow toddlers to pick out their own clothes from the wardrobe. Giving toddlers the independence to select their clothing can foster their independence and encourage their preference for different styles. Having a choice of what to wear, enables the children to feel a sense of control over their dressing, making the dressing process enjoyable and exciting.

Breakdown the Task into Small Steps

It’s essential to break the task of dressing into smaller, simple to follow steps to help toddlers learn more efficiently. For example, you can start with teaching toddlers how to put on socks, then progress onto pants and so on. By breaking it down, toddlers can focus on the individual steps, thereby making the process less intimidating.

Use Colours and Labels

Colours are an excellent tool for teaching toddlers how to dress themselves. Encourage toddlers to match the colours of their clothing items, shirts and vests, socks, and trousers. You can use labels to identify the front and back of clothing items to remove confusion. This aids in their learning process and comprehension of clothing item functions.

Encourage Patience and Persistence

Learning to dress is a process that requires perseverance and patience. Encourage toddlers to practice and give them opportunities to try to accomplish the task independently. Praising and rewarding them for their efforts and progress can increase their motivation and confidence to continue trying.

Practice Makes Perfect

Like learning any other skill, practice makes perfect in the context of dressing oneself. Encourage toddlers to take off and put on their outfits multiple times a day. Also, tasks like fastening buttons, kippering and tying shoelaces should also be practised regularly to ensure proficiency.

Teaching toddlers how to dress themselves can be an exciting and fun activity. As nannies, by utilising these methods and techniques, parents look to you to ensure their toddlers achieve this fundamental step in their growth towards independence. Starting with simple and easy to put on clothing items, using visuals to educate them, teaching durable clothing items first, breaking down the task into manageable steps, allowing for colours and labels, focusing on persistence and practice, and encouraging their independence helps to create an enhanced learning process for toddlers.

Learning how to dress is an essential skill and an investment in their independence and esteem. Nannies play an essential role in introducing these skills to children during childhood, which can inspire their growth and development into adulthood. By encouraging and motivating toddlers to practice dressing themselves, nannies can assist them in mastering this milestone of independence.

Independence is a highly prized skill in many theories of early years’ education, and particularly in Montessori education. If you’d like to find out more about various approaches to early years care and education and what each approach believes and values then we have a whole course that tackles some of the most well-known theories; Alternative Approaches to Early Years Care and Education gives in depth teaching of several different approaches, and then teaches you how to practically apply some of these ideas in your work with families.

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How nannies can encourage children’s independence

Post date April 11, 2023

Maria Montessori encouraged adults to “never help a child with a task at which he feels he can succeed” as she had observed that often adults stifle children’s emerging independence by jumping in to ‘save the day’.

Unfortunately, not only does this rob children of the chance to try and to persevere, but it also gives children the message that they can’t do things and they need adults to help them with everything.

Whether the family you are working with has explicitly stated that they want you to use a Montessori-style approach with the children, or you just see value in promoting independence, there is plenty that you can do as a nanny that can help children to develop these self-help skills.

So, if you would like to encourage children’s independence at home, here are some good starting points;

Acknowledge children’s attempts at independence

Often we are in a hurry to get out of the door, and see the child having a tantrum about wanting to put on their own shoes as being “difficult” but if we step back and consider what is going on a little more carefully we will realise that the child is expressing a sense of frustration that we are preventing their attempt at independence.

Taking a step back, and acknowledging that this is what is going on is a great place to start thinking about how you can set up the home, and your routines with the children to allow for this growing sense of independence.

It is also worth noting here that most tantrums are a toddler or child’s manner of expressing frustration at boundaries, and lack of independence. This does not necessarily mean you should remove or reduce your boundaries; just that you should consider how you are acknowledging children’s feelings for what they are.

Creating a ‘yes’ space

Often we limit what children are allowed to do based on safety concerns, or worries about the mess and tidying up.

For example, you may tell a 3-year-old that no, they can’t play with their dolls in the lounge as it will make a mess, and no they can’t throw the frisbee inside the house as they may break something, and no they can’t jump around the house like a power ranger or a fairy or a superhero because they may hurt themselves.

Before you know it you’ve spent the morning telling them ‘no’, and if anything will frustrate a growing sense of independence it’s the word ‘no’.

As a nanny this can be a difficult line to tread when working with parents, as ultimately the house belongs to them, however, it is certainly something that could be discussed tactfully if you feel that too many rules are starting to affect a child’s growing sense of independence.

To combat this it may be a good idea to negotiate being able to set up a ‘yes’ space in the home; this might be a playroom, the child’s bedroom, or a play area.

The idea is to set the space up to be safe enough that you, as the caregiver, do not need to constantly say no. Montessori classrooms are largely yes spaces; somewhere that you can trust children to play independently and stay safe.

Encourage children’s independence with words

What we say and how we say it can make a huge difference to children.

As we already discussed most children want to be independent and become frustrated when they are not allowed to be.

When we verbally permit, encourage and celebrate children’s attempts at being independent we validate them, and when children feel validated in their attempts at independence, they are more likely to persevere with what they’re trying and eventually succeed.

As a nanny, you can try saying things like “You have a go” or “keep trying” to children.

You can praise the effort by saying “You’re working so hard at that” or “great trying” and acknowledge success with “well done, I knew you could do it!”

Use mealtimes as an opportunity

Meal times with little ones are a common source of stress, but they can be a great opportunity to build independence and self-help skills.

Even young babies (so long as they are over 6 months) can feed themselves at the table and using a baby-led weaning approach is a great way to promote that early independence, as a nanny this is something that can be discussed with parents.

For older children, encouraging children to serve or even help prepare their food, and pour water from a jug enhances their balance, dexterity and hand-eye coordination.

This also helps to divide responsibility at mealtimes which are perfect for promoting independence.

As a bonus, children tend to eat a wider variety of food when they select it themselves.

Avoid wardrobe battles

Children are often keen to select their own clothing and dress themselves, although their fashion choices can be questionable at times, allowing them to make attempts at dressing will pay off in the long run.

If a child’s choices are likely to be unsuitable for the day’s activities or the weather you could decide on an outfit together perhaps the night before and lay it out for them to put on themselves in the morning.

Younger toddlers and babies can be encouraged to lift their arms to put on a shirt or raise their feet to put on shoes and socks.

Use your best judgment as to when a child may be able to attempt dressing alone and remember, that wearing a tutu over a raincoat is not the end of the world.

Make sure children contribute

Involving children in running the household from a young age is great for promoting independence and also demonstrates their role in the family and enhances their sense of belonging.

It builds an understanding of working as a collective and is something that is highly emphasised in educational approaches like Montessori.

This is not to say that children need to be doing housework all day long, but small contributions add up and will help promote children’s independence too;

Little babies can be encouraged to help put their toys away in a box when they have finished playing, or wipe the highchair tray when they are done eating.

Toddlers generally love to help around the home and can use a small dustpan and brush or a handheld vacuum to clear up.

Matching socks and sorting laundry are also valuable learning opportunities for preschoolers and will help children to feel involved in the running of the home.

Encourage risk-taking

As nannies, it’s our job to keep children safe, but sometimes we can become overly worried about this responsibility and as a result, we can become very overprotective of our charges and actually hold their development back by doing so.

Healthy risk-taking is vital for children’s emerging sense of self because where there is a risk of failure, success is more valuable.

Allowing children to climb, run and jump and explore their limits is essential for the growth and development of independence, so we can consider ways to allow for healthy risk-taking that promotes children’s physical skills and sense of independence.

We hope that some of these ideas will help you consider how to approach encouraging children’s independence.

To find out more about the natural pattern of Children’s development and how and when to support their growing independence sign up for our Child Development course.

Not only will this boost your confidence in working with children in an age-appropriate manner, but it will reassure families that you have the expertise in childhood and early years.

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Great sleep tips for babies, toddlers and young children

Post date April 4, 2023

Sleep is one of the biggest concerns reported by parents with young children and one of the most common reasons that parents seek help and advice from their nanny.

It’s not hard to see why this might be; taking care of small children can be exhausting at the best of times but a lack of sleep or broken sleep makes it even harder and this can really begin to take its toll on families.

Many parents will turn to some of the countless books, sleep training programs and expensive products on the market in order to “train” a baby to sleep for longer stretches so that they can too.

The notion of Sleep Training can be controversial and something that we as nannies should encourage parents to research in-depth for themselves. Here are some tips that might help you to support families to get more sleep.

Have realistic expectations

First and foremost, we need to have realistic expectations! The fact that sleep “issues” are one of the most commonly reported concerns for parents with young children should give a bit of a clue!

Children who wake in the night are the rule, not the exception to it. In fact, most adults don’t “sleep through the night” in a solid 12-hour block, so it’s pretty unreasonable for us to expect children to.

Although it does not make it any easier to deal with a lack of sleep, sometimes reminding parents that night waking is perfectly normal can remove the emotional burden of the situation.

Just like adults, babies, toddlers, and young children wake at night for a wide variety of practical reasons.

They could be hungry, thirsty, need the toilet, be too hot, too cold, have had a bad dream, have a tummy ache, be uncomfortable and so on.

When adults wake for these reasons we are usually able to take some kind of action to fix the problem, for example getting ourselves a glass of water, going to the toilet or calming ourselves down. Babies and small children don’t always have these options so they call out to their caregivers for help.

Some of these problems can be remedied perhaps by leaving a drink near the bed that a toddler can help themselves to, providing extra blankets near the bed for an older child or using a nightlight for little ones who may be scared of the dark.

However, babies, toddlers and young children often need help to meet their needs in the daytime so at nighttime this is no different.

When we think about human history and consider sleep from an evolutionary perspective, it is quite normal for young children to need their parents at night; our ancestors slept communally and shared “watch” duties at night time in order to keep everyone, including babies, safe (Worthman and Melby 2002) Humans’ evolutionary past has left its mark on brain and so is natural and normal for human babies to want to be close to their parents.

With all this in mind, we can approach children’s sleep with a more realistic expectation. We can still try to improve sleep because it is important that parents are able to get the rest they need too, but our expectations may need to be adjusted.

Work with children’s circadian rhythms

Circadian rhythms or the ‘biological clock’ is designed to regulate the timings of sleepiness and wakefulness as we go through 24-hour periods. We looked more in-depth at this in our article on children’s natural sleep rhythms which may also help you to improve your understanding of children’s sleep.

The cycle of light and dark throughout the day and night has a profound effect on our circadian rhythm. In the darker, winter months many adults feel a bit lethargic and down, whilst longer summer daytimes often see children rising far too early. However, if we work with the effects of daylight we can help children and ourselves sleep better during the nighttime.

It is daylight that helps to set children’s natural circadian rhythms and sleep-wake schedules, so using this to our advantage is a way that nannies can support families with babies, toddlers and young children’s sleep.

Exposure to natural light in the daytime, particularly in the late afternoon can help to improve children’s sleep. Nannies can take children outdoors during these times, perhaps on a walk or to play at the park, and monitor whether this makes a difference to children’s sleep.

Avoiding artificial light before bedtime can also improve children’s sleep because blue light, such as that in most of our homes and electronic devices, signals to the body that it’s time to wake up, and it is disruptive to the production of hormones needed for sleep.

For children, many of the nightlights marketed use blue-light, so nannies can encourage parents to consider swapping to a nightlight using red tones of light instead.

Ensure rich, sensory input throughout the day

When we run around frantically from one activity to the next we are certainly in danger of overstimulating babies, toddlers and young children. Overstimulation gets a lot of press when thinking about children’s sleep.

However, it is also worth exploring whether babies, toddlers and young children are struggling to sleep because they have been under-stimulated. Young children need adequate rich, sensory input during the day in order for them to sleep well at night

Spend more time outdoors

Spending time outdoors is good for children and adults, and one of the ways that it benefits us is that it promotes good quality sleep.

Along with exposure to natural sunlight, spending time outdoors can help to burn off excess physical energy (even for babies who aren’t walking, as the body will work harder to regulate temperature and so on) and fresh air affects the types of hormones and chemicals in our brains, which in turn can lead to better sleep.

Use the senses

There are plenty of ways to use the senses to help children to fall asleep, and get back to sleep if they wake.

Nannies can help to educate parents on these, and depending on the extent of their role may be able to implement some of these techniques.

We’ve looked at ways to use light to help children fall asleep, but sound can be comforting too; many families have great success using white noise with babies, but toddlers and young children can benefit from white noise, nature sounds, lullabies or audiobooks too. These things can become a signal for children that it’s time to sleep.

Essential oils can be useful too, perhaps try baby massage, or a foot rub using relaxing essential oils like lavender.

The smell of certain oils can help to relax and calm children ready for bed.

Nannies can also consider the materials that children are sleeping in; pyjamas and bed sheets can make a big difference at this age so can the temperature and humidity in the room.

Here different things will suit different children so you may need to experiment.

Be their village

There is a lot of information available for parents and nannies to weigh up on the subject of children’s sleep. Reframing our expectations of sleep for young children and bringing it in line with what is biologically normal, rather than simply reflecting our cultural expectations can be especially helpful

When we do this, it becomes apparent that most children do not have a ‘sleep problem’, just that biologically normal infant sleep is culturally inconvenient.

In many homes, both parents are required to work outside of the home and run busy lives, so the focus shifts onto getting the baby to sleep so that normal family life can continue to function.

Humans were never meant to raise children alone, the well-quoted proverb “It takes a village to raise a child” is biologically true. Unfortunately, most parents now find themselves away from family, and lacking a village or tribe to share raising children with.

Nannies, therefore, find themselves acting as a crucial support to families struggling with children’s (albeit normal) sleep patterns and trying to juggle the rest of their busy lives.

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How nannies can support families to plan healthy, balanced meals

Post date March 28, 2023

Both nannies and parents want children to be happy and healthy. Most of us understand that nutrition and what we eat plays a crucial role in this.

However, feeding a family can be a difficult undertaking. Many parents are battling with time pressures, the rising cost of living and their own energy levels.

Employing a nanny can be a wonderful support in ensuring that healthy meals are put on the table every week. Sometimes though, lack of inspiration, picky eating or having allergies to deal with mean that it can be challenging to plan weekly menus.

It might be that making the grocery list, doing the grocery shopping or planning the menu is part of your role as a nanny or parents may ask for your input, ideas or support. Here we take a look at what should feature on a family’s weekly grocery list.

What is healthy eating?

The definition of ‘healthy eating’ is continually evolving in response to new research, as is what is considered to be a healthy diet or healthy eating.

One definition suggests that healthy eating is simply “eating a wide variety of foods in the right proportions, and consuming the right amount of food and drink to achieve and maintain a healthy body weight” but we should also consider that “healthy eating” is about more than just what we eat because how we eat is important too.

Humans naturally have a close relationship with food, not only is it our source of nutrition and therefore vital to life, but it is also part of most societies’ cultural identity and rituals.

Having a good relationship with food is to do with how and why you choose the foods you eat much more than what those foods are.

If you feel any type of shame, guilt, stress, or fear regarding the foods you eat, you may have an unhealthy relationship with food.

As nannies, it is often part of our job to help children to develop a healthy relationship with food.

What is healthy eating for children?

When we think about healthy eating it’s important to remember that nutritional needs will vary from person to person, and babies, toddlers and children have different nutritional needs to adults.

There are some similarities between the nutritional needs of adults and children as all humans need vitamins, minerals, proteins, carbohydrates and fat. However, these are needed in different amounts depending on age.

Younger children require fewer calories overall. For example, a 1-year-old child should consume about 900 calories per day, but a 14- to 18-year-old needs 1,800 to 2,200 calories, depending on activity level and gender.

Children need to get these calories from a variety of foods too; a child aged 2 to 3 years should get 30 to 35 percent of his calories from fat but by the time we reach adulthood we should only get 5 to 6 percent of our calories from fat.

What are the benefits of healthy eating?

The WHO states that “Unhealthy diet and lack of physical activity are leading global risks to health” Whilst “a healthy diet helps to protect against malnutrition in all its forms, as well as non-communicable diseases (NCDs), including diabetes, heart disease, stroke and cancer.”

Basically, healthy eating is important because it helps to maintain good physical health, which prevents costs to health services.

Eating a healthy, balanced diet and staying active can also help us to maintain a healthy weight, which in turn helps to prevent health issues!

Deficiencies in some key nutrients can weaken parts of the immune system, making it much easier for us to get ill, so healthy eating helps us to get all the nutrients we need for the immune system to function normally.

Healthy eating helps humans to feel physically and mentally well, and to perform well at school, work and contribute to our communities.

For young children, all of these are benefits in the long term, but in the short term too healthy eating can help small children to grow. Since the early years of childhood are a period of rapid growth this is especially important.

Meal planning

Meal planning can help to save time, money and disagreements about what to have for dinner, and it is a task that nannies are often assigned and it doesn’t need to be boring, strict or limiting.

Some families really struggle to cook from scratch every night because modern life is extremely busy with after-school activities and homework to complete too, so sometimes we do need shortcuts.

However, we can help to balance those nights where we need to cook a quick, but less nutritious meal with cooking a bigger batch on the days we do cook from scratch and saving a portion to put in the freezer.

This way, when families have a busy night, they can simply pull a healthy meal out of the freezer.

Ingredients to include in a healthy grocery list for families

If you are asked to put together a healthy grocery list for the family you are working for, you should be sure to include foods from the following categories:

Fruits and vegetables

Try to include a portion of veggies or salad as part of the main meals. Fruit can be used as a good alternative to dessert too. Nannies can encourage children to choose fruit or vegetables as a snack by having them prepared and ready to dish out quickly, for example, cucumber and carrot sticks, sliced peppers or prepared mango.

Dairy

Children need to get a bigger proportion of their energy from fats than adults and dairy is a good way for them to achieve this.

Under the age of 2 or 3 children should drink full-fat milk, but semi-skimmed or skimmed are okay once they are older and growing well.

Cheeses and yoghurts are another good way to get more fat into children’s diets along with plenty of calcium, which contributes to strong bones and teeth.

If the children you are caring for don’t tolerate dairy well or their parents choose not to give it, this is not normally a problem, but nannies should seek some advice on how to best ensure that dairy alternatives meet children’s needs.

Carbohydrates

Most western countries suggest basing meals around carbohydrate foods which give us energy, so you should ensure that you keep a stock of rice, pasta or potatoes as the base for meals.

Meat, fish or other protein

Protein foods like meat and fish are important for building muscle, try and choose lower fat cuts where possible as these will be better for the whole family. If the family you work for are vegetarian or vegan you can choose alternative protein sources like pulses, beans or soya and seek out some tasty recipes for these.

Pin Summary

Healthy Living Course. OCN-London and International Nanny Institute

When seeking work as a nanny, being able to provide a healthy, balanced set of meals and snacks is a very desirable skill and many families will include being able to cook nutritional meals as essential criteria for applying to their role.

If you need to learn more about nutrition, healthy eating and a balanced diet, our Healthy Living course can help you with this and ensure that you are a more attractive applicant when applying for new nanny roles.

Sign up today to improve your skills and your confidence in supporting healthy lifestyles for children and their families.

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A nanny’s guide to making a good first impression

Post date February 28, 2023

Making a good first impression is really important.

No matter what industry you are in, the way you carry yourself on the first day of work matters.

This is especially true of the nanny industry where your employer is trusting you with their most precious and irreplaceable possession, their children.

Being a nanny on his or her first day of work, you might be wondering if you are ready for your new job, and to work with a new boss.

You might have thoughts like “Do they still think I’m right for the job?” or “I hope they won’t change their mind” or suffer from imposter syndrome, where you feel out of your depth and hope that no one will find out! All of these things are common, understandable, and completely normal but it’s up to you to overcome them.

In spite of how you may be feeling on the inside, you still need to make the right first impression on the outside. Here are some of our tips for how to do just that:

Dress appropriately

This does not mean that you have to wear your Sunday best. Sure, you are dressing for a job; however, your job is likely to include physical activities especially if you will be taking care of a toddler.

You need to wear something that you can move comfortably in, think about how the clothes will feel and look as you run after a child, kneel down, and sit on the floor.

Some families like their nannies to be smart, while others prefer a much more casual approach, this is something that you could ask about ahead of time.

Even if your employers say that casual clothing is fine, remember to check that the imagery and language on any clothing are appropriate.

Take along some activities

Whilst you don’t necessarily want to go in with a school-style lesson plan, you may want to take a couple of activities along to help bring some structure to your day.

You could also prepare a list (it would be better if paired with colorful photos) of arts, crafts, or activities that you can show to the parents or the child. From this, they can help you to create a schedule of activities, and build anticipation for the coming days and weeks. This shows that you’re interested in the child and family as individuals and that you’re planning ahead!

Another good tip is to bring along your favourite children’s book on the first day and read it together with the child. This gives you the opportunity to spend some quiet time together, and get to know each other and is also a good way of gauging their ability to read if they’re at an appropriate age to do so.

Greeting the Child

Respect is vitally important in nannying and if you want to get respect from a child, often you have to give it first! Greet the child in the same way that you greeted his or her parents, showing that you value them too.

Introduce yourself to the child in a friendly way such as, “Hi (their name), my name is (your name). Nice meeting you!”

You will need to use your interpersonal skills to make a judgment as to the child’s personality.

If they seem confident or easygoing then get started with a game or a chat, asking them lots of questions to allow them to talk about themselves and their interests.

If the child is more introverted or shy, do not force interaction. If you do this, the child might further withdraw himself or herself from you.

Instead, just keep calm and place yourself in their shoes; strangers can be scary, intimidating, or confusing to young children. Don’t rush into trying to play with them instead stay nearby and maybe start an activity where they can see.

Most children will build up their confidence and come over and join in at their own pace. This shows that you are confident in your own ability as a nanny and that you’re able to be very caring and respectful of a child’s needs.

Ask Questions

Often on the first day or trial day parents or maybe even the previous nanny will be around. You can use this time to gather the information that you need to be able to do your job well and feel confident in your new role.

Ask open-ended questions like “tell me about your usual routine” or “can you talk me through your family’s values” and listen carefully to the answers.

You may want to ask specific questions about the children too so that you can get to know them better. Some nannies hesitate to ask questions because they feel like it is too forward or that it makes.

Most parents enjoy talking about their children, and they will appreciate that you are taking the role seriously and that you are interested in their family.

Take the initiative

This is not to say be bossy but you do want to show parents that you’re able to take the lead a little and get on with the day.

Perhaps after you have played at home in the morning, and been shown where everything is you can suggest taking the children to the park in the afternoon.

Perhaps if you’re taking care of a newborn you can mention that you have done some research and found local classes for when the baby is 3 months old.

All of this will boost the parents’ confidence that you are interested in and committed to the role and reassure them that you don’t need to have every detail spelled out to you because you are confident and capable.

A good first impression

When nannies think about making a good first impression they often focus on the parents and what the parents think of them which does make some sense since it is the parents who pay the nanny’s wage, but really most parents are happy when their children are happy so it’s vitally important to create a good, lasting impression on the child you will be taking care of.

Taking their wants, needs, and personality into consideration and thinking of them first, above anyone else, is how you make a good first impression and make the best start on your nanny career journey!

If you want to get off to a good start in your professional career as a nanny, you need to have experience, but also accreditation of your nanny skills.⁣

⁣If you want to know more about our programme, send us a direct message and we will help you make the best decision you can make.⁣

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