Last week, we began discussing the importance of being a positive role model for the children in your life and gave you 5 tips to help you on your way to being a better role model for your nanny children. If you missed last week’s posts How to Be a Good Role Model for Your Nanny Children – Part One, be sure to check it out.
Since this is such an important topic and we couldn’t fit everything into just one post, we decided to carry it over to this week to give you another 5 tips:
1. Volunteering/Community Involvement – Instead of just talking about why it’s important to be a good person, someone who helps others; show them. Spend time volunteering at your local food bank, animal shelter or children’s hospice etc. Whilst it’s a good idea to try to find volunteering opportunities that both you and your nanny children can do, this may not always be possible, so instead open a discussion about it. Talk about what you do, why you do it and who it helps.
If volunteering isn’t an option, why not get involved in a community project? There are usually plenty to choose from, or you could start your own. You could build a community garden or opt for something more manageable, like litter picking your local area/park. It’s also a great way to make new friends!
2. Healthy Relationships – Children can be strongly affected by negative relationships and part of being a good role model, is keeping any negative relationships that you might have away from your nanny children. If there’s any tension between you and someone your nanny child sees on a regular basis, such as the child’s parent, or their friend’s parent, you need to work this out. Talk about the situation with the other adult and work out your issues.
3. Setting Goals & Celebrating Achievements – As much as you would celebrate a child’s milestones, it’s important to celebrate your own and show them that learning and achievement are things that carry through your entire life. When setting your own personal goals, be they for health, learning etc, encourage your nanny children to do the same and then celebrate your achievements together. Doing this will help children to learn commitment and organisational skills that will benefit them in the long-term.
4. Be Open – Don’t be afraid to talk about yourself and your life. Your nanny children will want to get to know who you are, so tell them. Share your past victories and mistakes to help them learn from you. Let them see how you interact with the world so that they can learn from your example.
5. Practice Self-Control – Suffice it to say that spending the entire day dealing with children’s tempers, tantrums, and mood swings can leave your own emotions feeling a little bruised and wound up. We all have bad days, and whilst releasing your emotions can help you to work through the stresses of the day, it’s important to be mindful of how you do this around children. Try to control your emotions and work them out in your free time be it via yoga, walking, a session at the gym or a soak in the tub. The last thing you want is for your nanny children to copy or be upset by your emotional outburst.
Looking back over our 10 tips, are there any areas that you could improve upon in your life and with your nanny children?
Think about all the things you do and the lasting effect that they could have on your life and the lives of those around you.
Remember that, “Children are like wet cement, whatever falls on them makes an impression.” – Dr. Hiam Ginnot.
Strive to make a good impression that will lead your nanny children to become well-rounded individuals.