Every child care provider knows that taking care of children can call for some serious acting skills. (How many times have you put on a fake smile today?) Luckily for Paige M., it comes naturally: When the 29-year-old nanny and babysitter isn’t watching children, she performs as a part-time actress and performing artist.
It doesn’t come as a surprise that she’s learned to leverage her singing and dancing skills in just about everything she does with children — from teaching manners to putting them to bed. “It’s my secret sauce,” she says. “Through music, I’ve learned that it calms them down and we can engage with each other.”
The Oakland, California-based nanny shared a few more of her child care tips.
What’s your favorite trick for taking care of children?
I love to sing. With my first family, we made songs to everything. We’d write songs together and it’d help them learn things. I had to teach them to brush their teeth, so we made up a song for that. We wrote songs to work on manners. It helped them become aware of how to treat other people, or how to do things on their own. It’s worked for me throughout the years.
How about tips for handling temper tantrums?
Any time a child gets upset, I separate them from the issue. I put them in a quiet place and make them be alone first. Then I talk and ask them how they’re feeling. I hear them out and listen to them. Children like it when they can have a voice and an adult isn’t always overpowering them. Letting them stand up for themselves is extremely important.
What’s a favorite moment from your career as a nanny?
The first family I nannied for, I fell deeply in love with them. There were four children and there was lots of trust. We loved to dance. When homework and dinner and showers were done, we’d put on some music and dance our hearts out. It sounds simple, but when you gain trust from a child and allow them to be themselves, it’s so magical.
What’s the toughest part of your job?
Can I be honest with you? The parents. It’s really challenging when you’ve established a relationship with the kids and then the parents come and change that. I might have figured something out — like eating vegetables — and it’s working. And then the parents want another route. It can be hard to have to just listen and abide by the rules. Sometimes there isn’t trust, and the parents overlook you and think you’re just this figure there that does what they want you to do — even though you’re the one with the child nine hours a day. But you learn to not take it personally.
What do you think makes you stand out as a caregiver?
I am extremely patient. I’m patient in regards to dealing with people and even in my sense of humor. I also tell the truth. I ask a question if I don’t understand something: What would you prefer? What makes you more comfortable? I don’t mind saying, “I don’t understand what you mean.” Questions — they’re important.
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