childminders – Page 12 – Nannyjob blog

Special Needs Nannying – Helpful Hints

During a full and rewarding career as a nanny, situations will inevitably arise that provide a real challenge to you, and as we all know, from day to day the job is always varied and can be very interesting!

One situation you may find yourself in is becoming a nanny for a child who has special needs or learning difficulties. This can be one of the most rewarding challenges you can face in your career, and making a difference to a child in this situation is something you’ll take with you, and ultimately give you job satisfaction.

Of course, each child is different in any situation, and special needs vary in severity, but here we have compiled some general helpful pointers:

Clarity from parents Before you start, you’ll need to know as much as possible about the child, his current care plan, what makes him tick and what his limitations and frustrations are. The parents should provide this information before you start, but you’d be amazed at how many parents let you find things out for yourself. Ask for a comprehensive written care plan from them, and if you feel it necessary ask for time to chat to them every so often about how the care is going.

Network If the needs of the child have already been picked up on and you are going into this role with knowledge that the child has special needs, It is very likely that you will be working alongside other professionals; speech, physio, and occupational therapists, teachers etc. It will make your life easier if you have contact with these professionals, so that you’re in the know about what care is already taking place, and they may be able to shed some light on anything particular to the child that will help your role.

Build up trust Again, managing this all depends on the severity of the child’s needs, but (as with all children you nanny for) building up trust is vital if you are going to make it a long term, happy arrangement. Many children with special needs will need more time than usual to get a trusting relationship built up, and their frustrations can show before this happens, however over time you’ll hopefully find that you strike up a really good bond between you both, which will lead to a really satisfying role for you in the child’s life.

Encourage capabilities One of the best ways of helping a child with special needs, is to make them feel capable. Getting a heads up from parents on capabilities and limitations is important, but as time goes on you will realise for yourself what these are. Providing developmentally appropriate activities that will help the child feel capable, whilst avoiding activities that can be done only a certain way is the best way to go about this.

At the end of the day, the most important thing is to not get phased, and to remember what you’re there for! No doubt you’re already a fairly experienced nanny, meaning you know a bit about how to get the best out of a child in your care, and have a proven track record in doing this. Don’t lose sight of this role, and don’t be phased by this new situation. A good nanny will be aware of a child with special needs’ limitations, but also help them reach their full potential. First and foremost the child you are looking after is a child. It is secondary that they have additional needs.

Be sure to let us know if you have any experience or feedback on this issue, via our Facebook page..

Private to State: Making The Move When Private Education Is No Longer An Option

Let’s face it, if you have a child in private education and money has become tight, the last thing you want to have to consider is moving them into a state school. Unless the child is happier doing this, most of us would consider altering our finances in all other areas before we have to consider this one. But with the middle classes being the hardest hit by the covid and Brexit, more parents than ever are now having to make this change.

If you’ve found yourself in this situation, it’s really important not to see it as the end of your child’s future, it may even be a good thing, there are some amazing state schools and the old argument that as she private education is the only ticket to Oxbridge and a wonderful career is no longer true.

Here are our tips for dealing with this kind of change:

Commit

If you’ve made the decision, stick to it, and wholeheartedly commit to it. There are so many positives to state education. Cast your mind across all the successful and happy people you know – chances are many of them had a state education. Once you’ve made the decision, be upfront and positive with your children, friends and family.

Positivity

This is NOT something to be ashamed of – and for goodness sake don’t let your children think it is. If they sense that you feel this way then they will feel bad too, so make it into an exciting adventure for them as much as you can – something new where they will meet lots of new friends.

Apply the savings

Work out what you’ll be saving on school fees, and mentally dedicate the money to an area where it needs to be. In doing this, you’ll realise that paying for the necessary things will have just as much benefit to your child. It may be paying for household bills, running two cars, or being able to have holidays. Don’t lose sight of how these things benefit the family, and explain to the child that this money is going to help them just as much in different ways.

Getting it right

If proximity to the school is a factor in whether or not your child gets a place there, check out how long the waiting list is. It may be that you have to wait a couple more terms before they can start, however, if you appear to be an involved parent who will play a part in fundraising for the school then the chances are that the head teacher will push you up the list.

Friends

Your child will no doubt make friends very quickly in a new situation, but if it’s at all possible it’s a good idea to find out if you know anyone who has a child at the new school, even better of the same age / in the same class. You’ll feel happier, and your child won’t be walking in cold.

Timing

This may seem obvious, but if you realise you need to make this move, it’s not always at a convenient time (I.e the end of one term ready to start the next). It’s always better for a child to start a new school at the start of a new school year, or a new term if that’s not possible. Try, if you can, to plan it around this.

Let us know your thoughts on this blog post on our Facebook page….

Starting School – Five Tips For Dealing With Your Own Anxiety

You’ve been waiting for the day for over four years, knowing that you will be immensely proud and excited but also feel a certain sadness that toddler days are officially over. The chances are that your little champ will be raring to go and excited, so how do you deal with the nerves and anxiety that all parents go through leading up to that all important day in September – your little one’s first day at school?

Don’t let it show!

If your little one picks up on your anxiety and relates it to their new situation, they will think its something to worry about, so show them only how exciting and fun it will be, so they only see it as a good thing.

Talk it through

It’s always a good idea to get to know mums of other children starting the same school. The chances are that you already do, if your little one is moving up from a nursery with some chums. If this isn’t the case and you don’t know anyone at the new school, then do your best to find out of any neighbours or associates know anyone at the same school. Making friends with fellow parents and chatting to them about any concerns will help.

Become active!

Becoming an active member of any group or activity that the school has will help you to feel secure and happy about your child attending. If there is a PTA (Parent and Teacher Association) or simply a group of people who help with Summer and Christmas fairs, become a part of things and you will no doubt see that there is no need to feel anxious about the starting school step for your child.

Be prepared!

The last thing your child needs is you rushing him or her around the day before buying new shoes and P.E kits. Make sure you have things in order, tagged up, and ready for school at least a week before the first day. That way you (and your little one) can have a calm few days before hand, and any unnecessary stresses won’t be there.

Role play

You will feel much happier if you feel that your child knows what to expect. Even if he or she has been for mornings or half days to get to know the school, it will help put your mind at rest if you do some role play with your tot before his first day. Things like running through him putting his hand up if he needs the toilet, or showing him the things that you’ll pack into his lunchbox will all help. This will reduce some of the unfamiliar aspects, and if you make this a fun thing (I.e don’t show him your anxiety!) then it will ease your mind that he sees this new challenge as an exciting one.

Do you think we’ve got this one right?! Let us have your comments on our Facebook page…

How to Find a Good Nanny?

In this day and age, knowing how to find a good nanny is both essential and challenging. In fact, hiring the ideal nanny feels impossible for most parents. The thought of hiring someone who screams at your children when you’re not around is frightful, isn’t it? So how do you distinguish a good nanny from a bad one? In general, employing a good nanny starts with a thorough screening process.

Search For A Nanny Yourself

If you don’t want to use the services of a nanny agency, you could search for a nanny on your own, but how do you find a good nanny by yourself?

Nannyjob.co.uk is the best place to start, with literally thousands of nannies searching every month for suitable positions. You could also choose to post an ad in your local paper or in a magazines like The Lady and ask applicants to submit their applications in writing. This ensures that you will only be screening eager and committed candidates.

Churches, the local preschool, and your neighbourhood can also be great resources of trustworthy nannies. You could also ask your family and friends for referrals. You may find that you can trust their recommendations better than anyone else.

Contact a Nanny Agency

One advantage of contacting a nanny agency is that the agency will readily provide you with pre-screened applicants. All you have to do is simply discuss your nanny job description and specific requirements. These agencies will take care of all the initial formalities to help you find a good nanny, safely and efficiently.

A nanny agency service will usually perform background checks along with checking police records for any history of criminal offenses. In the UK, the Criminal Records Bureau provides more extensive access to criminal record information through its Disclosing and Barring service. While you can often rely on a friend’s recommendation, contacting a nanny agency is probably the safest way to find a good, reliable nanny.

Set Up Face to Face Interviews

Once you start receiving applications, immediately read the applications and start identifying potential candidates. Eliminate resumes that reveal negative distinctions about the person. Once you’ve done that you may want to schedule separate interviews with at least two to three candidates. Do not hesitate to ask as many questions as time allows. The interview will help you decide whether the applicant is likely to be a good nanny for your children.

Provide a Trial Run

A trial run gives you time to consider hiring the nanny for long-term employment. The trial period gives both of you the chance to become familiar with each other and decide whether you are a good fit. You will never uncover someone’s true identity until you live with them. More than appraising chemistry, the trial period gives you the opportunity to assess the nanny’s character and level of expertise. If you are comfortable with the candidate, make sure to draft a work agreement before hiring them, and list the terms of your agreement in detail.

Now that you know how to go about finding a good nanny, you can productively focus on your work whilst having peace of mind knowing that you have a reliable nanny taking good care of your children back home.

Future Olympians!

Well, what an incredible buzz the Olympic Games brought with it! They claimed 22 golds, 21 silvers and 22 bronze medals in Japan. With towns and cities across Great Britain welcoming back their hero’s, it’s no wonder that many of us heard a daily announcement from our little ones “I want to do that!”.

So, if you have a child who would like to be the next Laura Kenny, Sky Brown or Tom Daly how do you get started to help them on their way to being the next big thing?

PMA!

Ok, it may sound cliche, but how do you expect a child to believe in itself if you don’t plant seeds of positivity? If they announce they want to learn a sport or event that they’ve seen on the Olympics, then there should be very little reason why they can’t. Make them feel like they can do anything they want, with the right attitude and commitment.

Don’t be a pushy parent

There is nothing worse for a child than feeling pressurised to do something they don’t really want to. Remember that this is their dream, not yours! There is no quicker way to put a child off something than to push them into it if they aren’t interested. Also, if they are not physically or emotionally ready to compete, then starting them too early can end up being frustrating for everyone, and can turn kids off from sports for good.

Local clubs

Ask around or search online for your local clubs that specialise in the area the child is interested in. You’re sure to find something in most towns and cities, and even if you have to travel a little way, it may all be worth it in the end.

Create balance

Ok, so we’ve all heard how many hours a day the best swimmers spend in the pool to become the best, and just how totally dedicated the lives of world class athletes are. When starting out though, children need to see the fun in the event, and not feel that it is simply a trial of endurance, or all consuming. They are not likely to become great at something that they don’t see as being fun and enjoyable, especially in the beginning, so make sure you help create balance, and not expect them to start dedicating their lives to their chosen sport or activity.

Nannyjob wishes you and your little one lots of fun and the best of luck in the shaping of the future Team GB! Keep us informed about how you get on at Facebook.

Rainy Day Play!

Rain rain go away, come again another day! Let’s go play in the rain!

Rain rain go away, come again another day! It seems like we’ve been saying this far too many times already this Summer. In the last few days the sun has decided to make an appearance, but just in case the rain clouds return and your plans for picnics and sunshine walks go out of the window – there are many fun things to do to keeps little ones occupied whilst it’s pouring down (and there won’t need to be a games console in sight, you’ll be pleased to know!).

We automatically think that we have to stay indoors when it’s raining, but if you nanny for toddlers or children, splashing around in puddles and mud can be lots of fun! Make sure everyone is well wrapped up in raincoats and wellies, and go out and create a splash in the woods or park, allowing the kids to get as wet and muddy as they like (if you’re brave!). The chances are the children will be so used to staying in while it’s rainy that this will be a welcome alternative and loads of fun!

So, if you’re not quite as game as that, do not fear – as always we’re here for you with our top tips and activities:

Show time! Get your little ones to put on a show. Make one end of the room the stage area, and teach them a little dance, or help them to come up with an idea for a short play (depending on age!). Once they’ve rehearsed and know what they’re doing, help them to make some nice colourful tickets, and they can ‘sell’ them to mummy and daddy later on.
Den making – we’ve never met a child yet who doesn’t love building a good old den. Probably something you did as a child (we love the old school activities!), use your imagination and get some old sheets, a duvet, or the big cardboard box that the new telly came in, and make a special den with the kids. Once it’s made, have a secret code word to get in, and put teddies and toys in there – a wonderful way of creating a new little pad for the day!
Scrap booking – with the permission of parents, encourage the children to start a personal scrapbook. It’s a great activity which will fill a rainy day, as you dig out old photos, postcards, drawings, and items that reflect who the child is and who they want to be. If they’re old enough, get the children to write next to each item they place in the scrapbook, and they can update it over time, pulling it out on more rainy days to come!
Indoor Olympics – what better a year than now to do this?! Get into the Olympic spirit and create your own games indoors. Get the kids to choose a country they’d like to represent, and to wear a comfy outfit as their uniform. For the actual activities, make sure you’re not doing anything too risky (you don’t want a smashed ornament on your hands!). Things like a slither race on the rug, or a knee race (each child going as quick as they can on their knees!) are perfect. Set up a leader board, and help the children to fill it in as they go.
Indoor beach party! Well, if we can’t have a Summer outside, why not have one inside?! Set up a tropical themed ‘beach’ party in the living room. Get the children to choose and put on their most summer-ish clothes, sunglasses, and flip flops, and make some palm tree, beach and fish paintings to decorate the walls. Find some music that fits the theme, and get the kids to help you make them some fruity ‘cocktails’ with umbrellas and straws. You’ll all forget about the rain outside before you know it!

If you have any other good ideas for indoor activities, don’t forget to share them with us on our Facebook page!

What are parents looking for when they are interviewing for a Nanny?

One thing every family wants when looking for a Nanny is that extra special person to take care of their precious children so whilst they are looking for someone with experience and energy there is so much more to it.
Want to present your best self at your next interview, check out these tips on how to be the best Nanny ever!

Want to present your best self at your next interview, check out these tips on how to be the best Nanny ever!

Act professional, calm, and always mature when in contact with the family, whether it’s face to face, phone calls or emails, the family will be scrutinising every thing you say and do for signs that you are / or aren’t the right person for them.
Be Honest – Parents are looking to ensure that their standards and idles are mirrored with yours, that you can handle situations with their children and that you are available when they need you to be. However, much you want a job, if it doesn’t fit with you then don’t take it thinking that you will make changes when you are working for the family. Trust is hugely important between a nanny and their employer and if you aren’t completely honest at interview or in communications prior to being offered the role then it might mean that the relationship gets off on the wrong foot.
Talk about your upbringing and your previous roles, show how it has moulded your beliefs and morals and made you the dependable, patient and person of good character that you have now become. Nannying is all about personality and interacting with the children and parents need to be reassured that you will take care of them in the same way they would.
Share your wisdom, new parents, in particular, are probably worried about some issue or other with their child by offering helpful suggestions they will see you as a team player and font of knowledge. By showing an interest and demonstrating that you are knowledgeable and can show initiative this will reassure the parents that you are good at your job. A good example of how to do this with parents of slightly older children is to present examples of how you turn activities into learning opportunities without children even realising, parents will love this!
Show respect and compassion, parents may want things done in a certain way because it allows them to be involved, for example bedtimes or routines around meals, if they work long hours make suggestions as to how you can help with maintaining good, healthy routines for their children whilst ensuring they spend quality time with Mum and Dad.
Whilst it’s important to be as communicative as possible for both the Nanny and the family about expectations it’s also important to recognise that things change over time and particularly as children get older, suggest ways of communicating with each other that shows you want to be involved in changes and that you know that regular communication is important.
You must be you; you are a Nanny because you love children, make sure that shines through, showing enthusiasm for your job will endear you to all families, at the end of the day they want someone who is happy to be around their children and for that happiness to reflect in their family life!

As we say @Nannyjob there is nothing more important than finding the nanny who will make a child happy. Highlighting these qualities will show any potential new family just how you’ll fit into their everyday life

Targeting Tantrums

Supernanny Jo Frost used to make it look easy, and nannies usually know that the ‘naughty step’ and ‘time out’ techniques can be sanity savers in dealing with the most frustrated or badly behaved of toddlers, but nobody wants to actually let it get to that stage. So, how do we go about avoiding tantrum situations altogether?

If a child is prone to tantrums, making sure that frustration is kept within the limits of a child’s tolerance can be tough, but it is possible. Of course avoiding tantrums depends on each individual child, so there are no quick fixes that work for all.

Some of the the best ways to avoid toddler tantrums:

Give Leeway. Don’t back the child into a corner when you see them getting upset or angry about something. Instead of insisting on absolute “do’s” or “dont’s”, leave a bit of an escape route for them, and coax them to meet you half way if they really don’t want to do something.
Explain. Understand that tantrums often occur when a child simply doesn’t understand something, and their frustration grows as they try to get it. Try to explain things thoroughly before a situation is entered into which you think might cause this to happen. The child will feel calmer and more prepared, and less anxious about not fully understanding a situation or task.
Expression. One of the reasons toddlers have tantrums is because they are beginning to learn how to grasp speech and language. They often understand much more than they can express, which is fuel to the fire of a tantrum. Calmly listening and picking up on what you feel the child is trying to express will help the toddler feel less frustrated.
Enough food and sleep! It may sound like a no-brainier, but think about how you feel if you had a poor nights sleep and are hungry. It isn’t pleasant for anyone, let alone a toddler who doesn’t understand that this is the case. Make sure the child has had enough of both, and they will be far less likely to get frustrated over the small things with a clear head and a full belly.
Avoid negative attention. When a toddler has a tantrum and gets a reaction, this may actually be satisfying their need for attention in general, and in turn make them more likely to have tantrums. To avoid this behaviour, try to pick up on the good things that the toddler does and reward them with positive attention, even if it seems small, it will make a difference. This will make them less likely to need the negative kind, and less likely to demand it with tantrums.
Choose the right tasks – make sure you’re not trying to push the child to advance before they are able to. Offer age-appropriate tasks and games, so that you are more likely to have a situation where you praise them for doing something right. Once a more simple task has been completed and the child feels good, only then move on to slightly trickier things.
Set the stage – make sure you set boundaries to try toavoid tantrum situations. If you know you don’t want the child to have a certain item, make sure it’s hidden and out of sight to avoid the battle even starting. Of course this is not always possible when a child decides they want something that they can see when you’re out of the house!
Give control – work out what little things you think the child can handle being in control of. If they feel in control of some things, they are less likely to throw a tantrum about something they are not in control of. If a tantrum does arise, give them a subtle reminder of what they can control, to distract them from what they can’t.

Stick to these tactics and you might just save yourself some difficult situations dealing with tantrums! Do you agree with our ideas? Have you got any tactics that work to avoid tantrums? If so why don’t you add a comment or post them on our Facebook page…

Extra-curricular Activities – How Much Is Too Much?

There now seems to be an after school or weekend club for anything you can think of, from foreign languages for kids as young as 3 years old, to learning how to fathom out the latest dance routines or synchronised swimming moves seen on TV talent shows. Gone are the days when kids would be happy just attending Cubs or Brownies one night a week, and maybe an hour of football or dancing on a Saturday. Parents and nannies are now literally shuttling from group to club almost every evening. With a world full of new concepts, and more and more parents quietly competing for their child to be the best at everything, it brings about the question – just how much extra learning and activity is good for a child, and how can we make sure they don’t get overwhelmed?

Of course, if your child seems to be happy with their activities, and is keeping up with their homework, then there may not be any need to think that they are being over-extended. The learning curves which come from such activities can be really valuable, and kids attending these groups are far less likely to spend hours on computer games or in front of the TV. Extra curricular activities can promote:

initiative
team work
self esteem and confidence
a sense of belonging
fair play with others
a boost in academic achievement

Of course, striking the right balance is key, and making sure that your kids are enjoying themselves, also having enough ‘down time’ where they can just chill out at home, and are eating and sleeping properly, and that the groups they attend are through their choice and not yours, are all really important.

Tips to make sure your child doesn’t get overwhelmed by extra curricular activity:

Clear boundaries – when the new term comes, set boundaries on the amount of activities that your child is allowed to participate in, and stick to them!
Family matters – realise the importance of family time, and never let this take a backseat to extra curricular activities. You want your child to have great, memorable family experiences, even if it means missing their club once in a while.
School comes first – ensure that your child understands that school takes priority over activities – even most of the best athletes and musicians had to take their GCSEs! Unless your child is training to be a professional, and as such is being educated outside of school, never let them miss school to do their activities.
Homework – make sure you factor in set times for your child to do homework, or encourage them to plan and manage their own time to do this.
Communicate – is your child really happy with all of the groups he or she attends? You never know, he could be attending one or more of them because he thinks you want him to. It’s key that these groups are enjoyed – otherwise what is the point?
It’s for them, not you! Did you want to be a professional ballerina or actor as a child, and never felt you had the chance?! Don’t let this be a reason for you to push your child into a certain activity. Remember that not all kids are cut out for all activities, so make sure your child is doing something because they actually want to, and if they tell you they don’t like it, listen to them!

So if you stick to the above, you never know – you might have the next David Beckham or Jessica Ennis on your hands, without the petrol bills of carting him or her to every single group under the sun in the mean time!

Do you agree that our kids may be in danger of activity overload? Or is the opposite true?! Tell us your thoughts by leaving a comment on the blog or on our Facebook page….

Top Tips from Nannies

When you have a child, no one teaches you how to parent, you might be lucky and have family and friends with children or you may have read books on parenting tips, but it can still be a minefield of trial and error! One of the great things if you employ a nanny is that they have years of practice and are experts in childcare. They have tried and tested methods to help establish positive behaviour, excellent manners, and good routines.

We asked some of our nannies what their top tips were to help parents from those early years:

It’s okay to let your baby cry.

If you are a first-time parent you can feel anxious and unsure when your baby cries. Particularly in the early days when you aren’t sure why they are crying, and you are tired and feeling out of your depth. But a crying baby is normal, they are also feeling anxious and unsure, and a lot of the time just want to be held close and feel safe. Nannies recommend you trust your instinct, if you feel they need feeding, changing, cuddling, or rocking to sleep go with it, you will soon learn, it just takes a little while.

You Don’t Need to Buy All of the Baby Products

You’ve just found out you are expecting, you are excited and the first thing you want to do is rush out and buy every baby product you can from Activity mats to Cuddly Zebras! All and hug expense and often just left to be forgotten in a cupboard somewhere. Stick to the basics, if you have friends or family who have had children see what they might be getting rid of and ask them what their must have item was and what was a waste of money. In the first few months your baby really will sleep and feed, so they don’t need much!

What happens when it comes to weaning?

When your baby is ready to wean you need to give them a varied, healthy diet. Just because they don’t like bananas on the first try doesn’t mean they won’t like it on the second or third try. As their taste buds develop and change they will almost certainly learn to love foods they initially rejected.

When you have been out at work all day and you and your child are tired, mealtimes can become a bit of a battle ground and are often rushed to get bath and bedtimes out of the way. However, this doesn’t give a healthy message around food and it’s important that children learn to sit the table and enjoy their meal and allow them time to relax and digest it before they must get on with the next activity. Think about when you most enjoy food, it almost certainly is when you are relaxed and able to really think about what you are eating and not when you are rushing about and eating on the go.

Routines

Routines don’t need to be regimented and should have some flexibility in them. Children need some guidance and structure to their day as it provides security and a good foundation for them to build on, but it doesn’t need to be so strict that there isn’t room for fun, or changes to help an exhausted parent or child feel life is a drag!

Talk and Listen to each other

This applies to parents as well as children. As we have said before, life can be busy and them seems little time to sit and chat or really listen to what the other person is saying. How often are you multi-tasking as your child tells you about their day or an issue they are having? You might miss something important that they are saying. Find time to sit down and really talk to them and if you find yourself have a shouting match with your child or partner, stop, take time out and then return to the conversation when you are both calm and can have a constructive conversation.

Don’t jump through hoops to make you child happy.

Parental Guilt is rife, many parents work long hours to pay the bills and keep a roof over their family’s head and they feel guilty because they can’t always be there for their children so they shower them with gifts and agree to things (like getting a dog!) when it’s not really what they can afford or cope with. It’s important for children to learn early on that No means No and that throwing a tantrum and being rude will not get them any further. Establishing the difference between a child’s needs and a child’s wants is hugely important and will help teach your child the difference top. Also picking up after your child because it’s easier and quicker and saves an argument does not help them develop and grow. They need to learn to be independent and do things for themselves as they reach the appropriate stages/.

Parenting is tough, whether you are a staying at home parent or go out to work, it comes with its challenges. No two families are the same and what is important to one may be less important to another. Following your instincts, doing what works for your family and your household is the most important thing and trusting your ability as a parent and if all else fails ask the Nanny!