snowy

Hey guys, I'm applying for a nanny position. One of the questions on the application is regarding what activities I would engage the kids in. The kids are 4 and 1 1/2 years old respectively--the 4 year old is a girl and the 18-month-old is a boy. I've come up with a few general activities, but I'm turning to you parents to help me come up with more specifics.

Things you should keep in mind:

I don't know these parents all that well, but Dad is an English professor.

I am interested in being creative with the kids and helping them to use their imaginations.

I am aware that 18-month-olds are developing language skills and want to include activities that play off that.

I like to get "down and dirty" with the kids.

Thanks so much!

__________________
If I am not better, at least I am different. --Jean-Jacques Rousseau

Willravel

Well educational stuff always goes over well with parents. When my wife and I were looking for a good sitter, we looked for teaching experience, espically with the appropriate age group. Phonics are very cool. We also looked to people with alternative to watching TV for 6 hours a day. Healthy kids are kids who are engaged by other people, not Blues Clues or Mr. Rodgers (relationships with TV characters are rather one sided, and our daughter is going to grow up in a society of other people that she needs to interact with). To those ends: phonics and other learning bases materials are a must. While that may not be appropriate for an 18 month old, the 4 year old is probably ready to start reading and writing (if she hasn't already, I mean the father is an English prof). Board games are also good for the 4 year old. As far as the 18 month old goes, classic reading materials like Goodnight Moon are excellent. Teaching the 18 month old the names of objects in his life will help him quite a bit. You might also want to have flash cards with pictures of things (a house, a bird, a plane) to assist in the verbal skills.

You might also bring elementary movement based games to the table. Hide and seek (not hide and go seek tag, mind you) is a very active and engaging sport for a 4 year old, and if the 4 year old hides in sight her little brother, all the better. Things like that tend to develope comrodary between siblings.

Just a few ideas, and I'm sure you'll do great!

snowy

Yeah, I was thinking of Pat the Bunny as a good book for the 18-month-old as they are usually interested in being able to touch things as well as see them.

Thanks for the great ideas, will. I'll definitely be putting them on the application.

__________________
If I am not better, at least I am different. --Jean-Jacques Rousseau

Elphaba

My step-daughter is doing marvelous teaching/playing exercises with her daughter (18 months). She is doing many of the things Will recommended. Also consider asking the parents if they have/approve of the Baby Einstein CD's. There is another addition for young children.

Discuss with the parents your intention to encourage interaction between the two siblings via various modalities. (Sorry, just read the last page editorial regarding overachieving parenting from my Time subscription.)

Taking that "various modalities" psychobabble seriously, consider this possibility that my step-daughter is using. She has been teaching her baby ASL (American Sign Language) and there is a baby version. I think you could engage both children in the "what is this" game that also allows them to "communicate" with each other.

Eh, no parent here, just a totally amazed grandma.

Your enthusiasm and interest in providing a quality play/learning experience may be all that you need. Your current education level, and the difficult role you are providing to a difficult group of teens may also have positives.

Best to you, Ms. Snowy. You have the qualifications the parents are looking for.

CaliLivChick

I second the baby sign language. I worked with my nephews for the time that I was around them on a few things, and they picked it up quickly, and it helped immensely in their communications with us. =)

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Don't trust anything that can bleed for a week and not die. Oh wait, that's me... nevermind... you can trust me.

sillygirl

I used to sit for a couple with a 4 year old and 6 year old. One of their favorite things to do was to go outside and find bugs, then look for those bugs in their books and learn what they were called. They had one of those little bug catcher things so they could sit and watch them easily. While a few critters did unintentionally get crushed, the girls learned a ton and loved playing outside. We did the same activity vice versa as well.. looked at bugs, birds, etc in their books and went in their backyard and looked for them there. The girls learned about flowers and plants the same way. It was fun. They had a huge backyard too, so it was pretty easy for them. //long winded

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Anyone can be passionate, but it takes real lovers to be silly-Rose Franken
....absence makes me miss him more...

analog

If you're not CPR certified, I would recommend you get certified. It's usually not very expensive (maybe $40 or $50, absolute tops), and it's only about an 8 hour class (and make sure you sign up for CPR training from the American Heart Association- it's good for two years instead of the other certification which is only good for one year. There is no reason for the difference that anyone knows about lol).

While we absolutely never want anything to happen, it is always a good idea to be professionally trained in CPR, which includes (perhaps more importantly for children) training on clearing foreign body airway obstructions (things that block your breathing) for people of all ages- infants and children as well as adults. It will also give you "extra credit" points on your resume. I know there are a lot of people who won't hire anyone to watch their kids (when shopping for "nannies") who don't hold a valid CPR card.

It's easy to get, and it just makes good sense to have it.

Ask at your local YMCA if you don't know where to get certified- people will regularly hold training meetings at them, or have information posted there on where to go for it. You may even try searching on the internet if that doesn't work.

snowy

I'm already certified in both adult CPR and infant/child CPR, and have my first aid certification, as well as some other certifications--epi-pen, biohazard training, etc.

__________________
If I am not better, at least I am different. --Jean-Jacques Rousseau

spindles

this may come in handy with the 18 month old's nappies

I would add painting/drawing to the list my 2yo loves paint/crayons/chalk - making a nice "picture" for mum and dad can be fun.

He also loves anything he can ride (trikes etc).

Read stories and looking at picture books are also pretty big on his favourite to do lists.

Good luck with the job application!

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who hid my keyboard's PANIC button?

robot_parade

We've never done the 'nanny' thing...my wife stays at home. So we've never intervied a nanny...but...

If we were looking for a nanny, I think we would look for someone who is enthusiastic, first and foremost...not fake or annoying enthusiastic, but geniune. I'm pretty sure that 99% of the parent's decision will be based upon first impressions. So, I would recommend that you try to relax and come across as genuine. The best way to come across as genuine is to be yourself.

I assume you like kids, or you wouldn't be trying to get a job as a nanny. ;-) Let that shine through, over everything else. You would love the opportunity to spend time with these children. I think mentioning the children by name would tend to go over well.

Anyway, I hope it works out well for you! Good luck!

snowy

Well, I got an interview, and I'm really really excited about it.

I should probably avoid caffeine for the rest of the day, as I am meeting with the parents at 7pm this evening.

After talking with the mom on the phone, they definitely sound like people I would want to work for. The mom said that the kids having fun is more important than a clean house--I can definitely work with that!

I am just hoping my enthusiasm communicates well this evening. Time to check my horoscope.

__________________
If I am not better, at least I am different. --Jean-Jacques Rousseau

Elphaba

Excellent! Please let us know how it goes.

snowy

I got the job! Now I'm just waiting to actually connect with the parents (we've been playing phone tag) to work out the details of when/where I have to be on Monday the 18th (when I start). The kids are adorable, by the way, and I'm really really excited to have the job.

__________________
If I am not better, at least I am different. --Jean-Jacques Rousseau

Elphaba

Congratulations!

robot_parade

Congratulations! Have fun with the kids!