Nanny engaging with children/ Activities
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Anonymous
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Parent of (or nannies who watch) 2 kids (a toddler and an infant), can you share some of the activities you (have the nanny) do at home with your children besides taking them to classes or the library? Or how does your nanny engage with both children? Toys? Singing? Reading?
Parents or nannies, do you have a sample schedule you can share? Thank you! |
Anonymous
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How old is the infant? If they're very young, they probably don't need any more engagement than being in the room with the nanny and the toddler, being talked to and cuddled/given toys every few minutes.
For 10-12mo+ and toddler: Art and sensory, etc: - sit them in empty bath with finger paints - give them pans with 2 inch deep water, baby to feel the water, toddler with some cups and measuring spoons - pots, pans, wooden spoons and spatulas - assorted musical instruments - toddler with playdough, baby in a rocker with a cup from playdough - toddler does a cut and paste picture at the table, baby rips paper nearby Open-ended play: - toddler cooks and gives baby food to eat - toddler builds with Duplo, baby chews on Duplo - toddler plays cars/babies/doctors, baby has a two or three of the same things Reading - toddler in lap reading a big book, baby nearby with board books (also a good trick is to hold two books at the same time when you're reading to both because babies inevitably try to steal the book - this way the baby gets the book and the toddler get the story - win/win) I think the key is to address both of the children and fake include the little on the game. |
Anonymous
| Thank you so much for these ideas! They are great. The infant is 3 months and the toddler is 2years so will have her start incorporating these very soon. Right now, most activities are toddler centered and the infant is nearby in the rocker. |
Anonymous
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I just did something with my 3yo today that a young toddler or even older baby might enjoy. You let them squirt some paint onto paper ( or you do it) then put in in a gallon size see through bag or cover it with plastic wrap then let the child smush the paint around from on top. They dont get any paint on their hands and when he painting is done you can just throw the bag away or plastic wrap away.
Great sensory activity. We also have lots of kids music CD's. Sometimes I will put them on while I am doing something else liking putting clothes away and DD will dance. Sometimes I have to dance to get her going but then she will keep going freeing me up to do whatever I need to do. Nanny can hold baby to dance while toddler dances next to them. |
AnnaStray
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| Two year olds are such a joy! You can play with your food. Any small thing, whether it’s grape pieces or goldfish crackers can be fun to count or place into and pour out of a small bowl. If you don’t want to encourage playing with food at the kitchen table, have an occassional food fight day where you take the meal outside, go crazy, and hose off afterwards. |