Nannies spend years taking care of children, learning valuable tips and tricks along the way. How to get them to eat their vegetables, how to keep them entertained — these are all questions nannies can answer. So why not learn from their collective wisdom?
Here are 12 parenting skills that you can learn from your nanny:
- Be Involved
Even if you’re having a hectic, stressful week, it’s important that you make time to connect with your kids on a daily basis. All it takes is 15 minutes and a good book or puzzle, says Aminah Shahnarad, a nanny who lives in Katy, Texas.“Kids want to know their parents are invested in them and may act out when they lose that connection,” says Shahnarad, who has three decades of child-care experience. “Give them your undivided attention for a short time each day as a way to let them know they have you.” You might even want to let your child decide what you’ll do during this special time together.
- Life Is Meant to Be Flexible
If you’re often out and about with your little one, it can be difficult to stick to a strict 1 p.m. nap time. Instead, Shahnarad suggests that you work off of your child’s cues and have a set routine that takes place before nap time. According to Shahnarad, it’s the pre-nap routine — made up of things like lunch and story time — that truly helps your child unwind.
- Meal Time Can Be Fun
For some, presentation is everything, which is why Shahnarad suggests that you try serving your child colorful foods on fun plates. But if your little one still refuses food, you may want to have her checked for allergies. “If [your child] avoid[s] eating in the beginning and at an age when children are typically excited about food, it may be because the food is upsetting [her] stomach,” she says.
- Teach Your Kids About Responsibility
Kids can pick up after themselves from a young age, says Shahnarad, but they need some help. “You can’t have a toy box or book shelf so high they can’t put anything away,” she explains. Encouraging your child to try to clean up his own messes is a great way to teach him about being responsible.
- Make Reading Enjoyable
Going to the library should be fun, says Shahnarad. By taking advantage of all of the workshops and activities that your local facility has to offer, you can encourage your child to develop a love for reading early on. You should check to see if your library has a free story time for babies or toddlers as well.
- Put on Your Acting Shoes
Being the authority figure can be tiresome. According to Shahnarad, you should try reversing roles with your kids every once in a while, so that they can learn to think through a situation themselves. “If your child refuses to put on her seatbelt, [you] can act like you’re not putting yours on and have [her] tell you why it’s not safe,” she suggests.
- Try Not to Get Stressed Out
Babies and kids pick up on stress easily, says Shahnarad. If you act stressed out about mealtime or bedtime, they’ll feel it, which might lead to a battle of wills.
- Make Sure That No Means No
“If you use [the word ‘no’] too often, [your kids will] rebel,” says Shahnarad. “But when it’s something important and you say ‘no,’ then they should listen.” So be sure to watch your use of the two-letter word, even when you’re not speaking directly to your kids.
- Use Positive Reinforcement
Don’t forget to praise your child when she does wonderful things throughout the day! For more information, check out Positive Discipline — 9 Tips to Practice More Positive Parenting.
- Know When to Tell Your Kids About Your Plans for the Day
How many times have you handled a tantrum resulting from a canceled play date or event? In an effort to avoid these types of incidents, Shahnarad says that she often doesn’t tell kids about an activity until they are ready to head out the door.
- Teach Your Kids to Sleep Just About Anywhere
Many newborn babies can only sleep well in dark, quiet rooms. But, as Shahnarad points out, it’s important to let children learn to sleep with background noise. “It depends on your lifestyle, but I’ve found it’s helpful to have a child adapt to your routine to a certain extent,” she says.
- Live Simply
No one likes a cluttered home. Instead of hitting the toy store, you should try to find ways to make new games out of the toys and supplies you already have. Who doesn’t love a good game of laundry basketball?
Have you learned any parenting skills from caregivers over the years? Let us know in the comments below!
Bayan Raji is a freelance writer and mother of two.
