Having a young child who won’t or can’t sleep can have a knock-on effect for the entire family.
Sleep problems for babies and young children are becoming more commonplace and routines can be extremely difficult to stick to, especially when you’re not around your child 24/7. That’s where a nanny can step in and help to keep the routine running smoothly so that everyone in the family stays fully rested.
Continue reading “Sleep Difficulties with Children – How a Nanny Can Help”
Life as a nanny can be hectic and exhausting. You spend all day taking care of the family you work for, but who takes care of you?
If you want to do your job well, and more importantly, live a healthy life, it’s important that you take good care of your health and well-being to avoid getting ill or simply burning out.
Follow these 5 tips to help keep your health in tip top condition:
Live in child carers, such as live in nannies, maternity nurses and au pairs, have to not only get to grips with demands of the job but also balance the dynamic of living in someone else’s house. The exact relationship depends on the job – for example au pairs are expected to be part of the family whereas nannies are more independent – but there are some things which almost every live in child carer experiences.
Live in child carers, such as live in nannies, maternity nurses and au pairs, have to not only get to grips with demands of the job but also balance the dynamic of living in someone else’s house. The exact relationship depends on the job – for example au pairs are expected to be part of the family whereas nannies are more independent – but there are some things which almost every live in child carer experiences.
Household rhythms
Initially aligning times of meals and going to bed can be tough. Going to bed early, or being the last one up at night, may mean you feel a bit apart from the family you’re living with. If you don’t function until your second cup of coffee then negotiating the kitchen in the morning can be a challenge too.
Eating different food
Even when you come from the same culture every family has their preferred meals and cooking methods. Food is so important that not having your favourite meals can have a bigger impact than you would think, or even grilled bacon instead of fried.
Knowing where to go when your employers are having a private conversation
When you live with people it can be hard to have privacy, and conversations can’t always be schedule. Almost every nanny has walked into the kitchen only to have their employers stop talking. Nine times out of ten it’s nothing bad, just something your bosses may not want you to know (yet) such as their plans for another baby. Worse still is knowing where to put yourself when your employers have an argument.
Negotiating bathroom time, and hot water usage
If you don’t have your own bathroom there may be peak times to avoid, and even when you do the sound of running water may disturb others. A greater crime is using all the hot water. Nobody likes a cold shower, so be mindful of how much you use, especially when you have guests, and find out how to put on the immersion heater or boost the heating.
Hearing children in your time off
Whether it’s the middle of the night or the crack of dawn on a Saturday morning, if your bedroom is within earshot of the children you’ll probably get disturbed. Much as you may love them, if you’ve planned to sleep, their noise is a nuisance you could do without. Even in the middle of the day if you’re trying to read, watch TV or skype a friend those noises can be a disturbance.
Remember that it can take time to adapt to your new housemates, and communication is really important not just about your working hours but regarding living arrangements too. Before taking a job it’s a good idea to ask about household routines and how much they expect you to be around vs in your room so you can decide whether you’ll fit in comfortably.
Small world play in the Early Years is a style of imaginative play which uses toys or props. It encourages children to use these small props and their imaginations to create detailed and playful worlds. They can use a range of tools to inspire their play, including toys you can make together.
There are few things which make a child feel more powerful than small world play. As well as working their fine motor skills it’s also a great opportunity to learn about the world around them and control what happens.
Small world play in the Early Years is a style of imaginative play which uses toys or props. It encourages children to use these small props and their imaginations to create detailed and playful worlds. They can use a range of tools to inspire their play, including toys you can make together.
Here are 5 ways to make small world play even more fascinating:
Choosing a private tutor can be a daunting task. It can be difficult to find a private tutor initially that is within your budget, and that offers the level of tuition you need, so once you have found one you will want to ask them the right questions to make sure they can deliver.
When you meet a prospective private tutor, you will want to ask them the following questions:
Choosing a private tutor can be a daunting task. It can be difficult to find a private tutor initially that is within your budget, and that offers the level of tuition you need, so once you have found one you will want to ask them the right questions to make sure they can deliver.
When you meet a prospective private tutor, you will want to ask them the following questions:
Are you DBS checked?
Your prospective private tutor may already have an enhanced disclosure, as many work with children or vulnerable adults in their ‘day jobs’. However, there are many that won’t have one. It is of course important to remember that DBS checks are not a guarantee of somebody’s safety to be around others in this way, but it’s a very important thing to look out for – especially if the private tutor is for a child or vulnerable adult.
How qualified are you?
There are no legal requirements for whom can provide private tuition. However, most agencies require that any private tutor on their books must be qualified to at least degree (or HND) level in the subject they wish to teach. Who you hire is of course down to you, and it may be cheaper to hire a private tutor who is in the final year or two of their degree – they will almost certainly have the knowledge and skills to teach to GCSE level, and they will be more affordable. In every case it is important to be sure that they are familiar with the current syllabus, too.
How much experience do you have?
Plenty of years of experience don’t always guarantee that a private tutor will provide a better service. However, as a general rule, the more years of experience they have, the better. Make sure you ask for references to see what their previous clients had to say about their tutoring skills, reliability, and results.
Do you have any teaching experience?
Being a master at your chosen subject is quite a different thing to being a good teacher. However, this does not mean that a private tutor without a PGCE will be a poor tutor altogether. It is better to look at their references and successes to judge what kind of a tutor they will be.
What are your terms?
You will need to know what the private tutor’s terms are for situations like missed sessions and lateness. Most private tutors will charge their full rate for sessions that are cancelled without very much notice, simply because they will likely not be able to fill the slot if not given enough forewarning. Also, you will want to find out what their policies are on keeping up with the student’s progress. The private tutor may wish to set up regular meetings, either in person or on the telephone, to let you know how things are going (this is of course assuming that the private tutor is for a child).
Finding babysitter jobs can seem like a daunting task when you’re first starting out. Babysitter jobs aren’t generally advertised on social media or in newspapers and other publications, so it may seem like a challenge to begin with.
However, there are many ways that you can take the initiative in finding babysitter jobs. It may take some time to build a reputation locally, but we all have to start somewhere!
Advertise locally
Finding babysitter jobs can seem like a daunting task when you’re first starting out. Babysitter jobs aren’t generally advertised on social media or in newspapers and other publications, so it may seem like a challenge to begin with.
However, there are many ways that you can take the initiative in finding babysitter jobs. It may take some time to build a reputation locally, but we all have to start somewhere!
Babysitter jobs may not be advertised in local papers but babysitters offering their services certainly are! It usually costs very little to put a small ad in a local rag, and although you may not get a great deal of business immediately, people will soon get to recognise your name and ask around about you. Keep your ad short and snappy, and be sure to provide at least two methods of contacting you (phone and email, for example). You could also advertise in shop windows – many newsagents will only charge a small monthly (or annual) fee. With so many local social media sites it’s a great way of getting your business out there and making contacts and it’s generally free! It’s also good for people who are happy to recommend you as well.
Business cards are very cheap nowadays, and some websites will have offers periodically where you can get a number of basic business cards for free. These can come in very handy if you want to share your contact details quickly – you may bump into an old family friend in the street who mentions that she’s been let down by her babysitter, for example, and you’ll need to be able to pass on your information easily and quickly. Business cards will also give you a more professional image, if they’re well-designed.
Helping out a family who are looking for a babysitter on New Year’s Eve, for example, can be a great way to get new, long-term clients. People are often desperate for babysitters on special nights, which would give you more chance of finding work – and the pay will be great too! Yes, it does mean sacrificing your own night out, but it may well be worth it when you gain long-term job prospects.
Nothing is more effective than word of mouth for spreading news of your services. Be sure to conduct yourself in a professional manner, offer a fair rate (if you are just starting out you wouldn’t charge as much as somebody who had been babysitting for years) and tell as many people as possible that you’re babysitting now and always looking for babysitting jobs. Happy parents will be eager to let others know how responsible you are and how much their children love you.
Many night schools offer cheap first aid courses, and you may even be able to attend a basic one for free. Having a first aid qualification – especially paediatric first aid – is something that will put you above any other babysitters a family may be considering. After all, the number one priority of parents is to make sure their children are safe, and knowing that they’re leaving their precious ones in the hands of someone who can deal with an emergency is often a deal-breaker. Check out some of the ones we have suggested Training for Nannies – Nannyjob
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