Crafts and Activities While Nannying
Camille Ho / Friday, February 25th, 2011 / No Comments »
For many nannies, trying to keep up with the daily schedule of their charges can be rather difficult, and not leave them with a lot of empty time to fill. But every so often, circumstances change—one of the kids is sick, an after school event is canceled, the weather forces you to stay inside—and the nanny is left scrambling for something to keep the kids occupied. This is where a nanny toolkit can come in handy, as it ensures that you will never find yourself in a situation where the kids look at you and say, “I’m bored!”
Although there are plenty of things that you can use to keep kids occupied, some of the best toys are the most simple, as they leave plenty of room for the imagination to kick in. A tub of play-doh can bring hours of endless enjoyment to kids across the age spectrum, and with a little help from you, this can keep the kids occupied for hours. A few words of caution however: make sure that the kids you sit for are not allergic to anything in the play-doh. If so, see if you can locate an easy homemade dough recipe that omits that ingredient. Also, make sure that the kids don’t try and eat any of it. Toddlers love playing with it, but they are also prone to putting everything in their mouths. Make sure that you observe them closely during playtime.
Another excellent idea is to make holiday- or season-themed crafts. A lot of things can be made simply from construction paper and glue, and all you need to do is find an outline on the internet that you can print out and bring with you. Kids who are old enough can cut out their own shapes and glue them together to form a turkey for Thanksgiving, or a tulip for spring, while you help the younger ones work on their fine motor skills. Not only that, but parents love displaying their children’s artwork, as it lets them know what you have been up to at home.
Don’t be afraid to use your imagination as well—kids have a way of turning the simplest items into something that adults could never have seen! In fact, most kids enjoy doing this more than being led in a very specific activity. When you let your kids go with their imaginations, you’ll often find yourself being drawn into their world and having just as much fun playing make-believe as they do!