A lot of today’s working parents have no choice but to leave their kids under the care of a nanny, or yaya, as they are mostly called. Since your children will be spending a lot of their waking hours with Yaya, why not make the most out of their time together and make Yaya one of your kids’ “homeschool” teachers?Here are a few tips to help you out: (But remember, PARENTS are the child’s FIRST and BEST teachers. Don’t use yaya’s willingness to “teach” as an excuse to not spend time with your kids.)
1. Basics of Safety and Hygiene. Teaching our children, especially the younger ones, about basic safety rules at home helps lay the foundation for them to be safety-savvy even when outside the home. Remind your nanny to remind your kids about the basics – no holding or walking around with sharp objects, stay away from electrical outlets, no picking up food after it has fallen on to the floor, no running up the stairs, no handling of hot drinks, etc. This kind of practical education will go a long way in keeping your precious kids safe and healthy.
Basic personal hygiene is also something that yaya can teach the kids, like washing one’s hands before and after meals, after playing outdoors and using the toilet, covering one’s nose and mouth when sneezing or coughing with the inner side of one’s elbow (see picture below), etc.
Needless to say though, Yaya herself should practice good hygiene and the basic safety rules. This will help your family be healthier and happier in the long run.
2. Play and Learn. If you are blessed to have a nanny who is fulltime in caring for your kids (i.e. she does not have any other housework to do), encourage her to play games with your children. Classic Filipino games like “Eat.. Bulaga!” (“Peekaboo!” for those who prefer the English version ?), “Nanay, Tatay, Gusto Kong Tinapay” and “Sawsaw Suka” are simple games that stimulate the learning of language and movement of body parts (mostly the hands). If Yaya is willing to learn some English games, songs and fingerplays, this site is a good source: http://www.songsforteaching.com/fingerplays/index.htm.
Click here to read more tips on how to get yaya to teach your kids.
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Read on for more tips on how to get yaya to teach your kids.
Learn the songs and fingerplays yourself first, then take time to teach the nanny. It may help to print out the lyrics and words to the rhymes and songs as well, to be placed where Yaya and the kids can easily see them. Don’t be shy to teach yaya and encourage her to make the most out of learning these new things. She may be uncomfortable at first, but these little lessons may prove to be beneficial to her later on. Some schools have the practice of hiring teacher’s aides and your yaya may find that being familiar with preschool games, activities and songs may actually help her to be hired as one.
3. Sing While You Work. Singing is a great way for children, especially the very little ones, to learn. Ask Yaya what children’s songs she knows and if she could sing them to your child – even if these are in her own dialect! Of course, the best thing here would be to teach her again the specific songs you’d like Baby or the older kids to know. Teach her how to properly use the CD player so that she can play the music you wish your kids to learn by. Classic nursery rhymes, children’s Bible songs and Disney animated movie soundtracks are a good place to start. If you can, search the Internet for song lyrics and print out a copy for Yaya to memorize.
If your nanny is quick to catch on, you can encourage her to inject the songs she’s learned to sing in her daily routine of caring for your child (and balancing other chores as well, if needed). Songs like “This Is The Way We Wash Our Hands”, “Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes” are good ones to try during bathtime, or when changing baby’s clothes. Encourage yaya to touch the corresponding body parts or do the corresponding actions while singing. It can prove to be beneficial to both baby and yaya, since this will strengthen their caregiver-child bond. When a nanny is more endeared to a child, there is less chance that she (or in some rare cases, he) will hurt her (his) ward.
Click here to see more tips on how to get yaya to teach your kids.
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Read on to see more tips on how to get yaya to teach your kids.
4. Manners Matter. Remind your nanny to model basic good manners so that your child will follow in turn. Remember that children learn most by following what they SEE, rather than what they hear. This is true of course not just of yaya, but for everyone in the home. Encourage the appropriate use of basic courteous expressions such as “please,” “thank you”, “excuse me”, “I’m sorry” and the nowadays often ignored Filipino terms “po” and “opo” among all members of the household, including all the helpers. If we start teaching our children manners at home, this will help them become more polite and sensitive to others’ feelings even when they are outside the house.
You could also teach yaya how to teach your little ones to take turns, wait patiently, and help with simple chores like carrying their used dishes to the sink after eating (our preschooler loves doing this!), packing away their toys and, if their little hands are dexterous enough, washing their own plates and cups (just make sure these aren’t breakable!)
5. Yaya the Explorer! If you live in a place that allows the children to play outside, whether in your front yard or backyard, or at the nearby clubhouse, park or playground, by all means, get Yaya to set a regular time in the afternoon to “explore the great outdoors” with the kids. Children, especially during the younger years, need time for physical activity every day.
Tell yaya to keep the television off, get the kids “mosquito-bite protected” and bring them outside to play with a ball, or their bikes, or just for a simple walk. The exercise and change of environment will do both nanny and kids good. Just make sure that Yaya remembers to lock up the house properly, make sure that all the electrical appliances are switched off and unplugged, and that the stove is off. It may be a good idea for her to bring extra shirts or towels (to wipe the kids’ sweat) and a bottle of drinking water each for the kids (physical activity and play can make one thirsty). Of course, if they will be leaving the house, it would also be best for Yaya to inform you by text or call that they will be doing so.
It also goes to say that yaya should be super trustworthy if she will be bringing the kids out to play beyond your front or back yard. If she is NOT, then don’t put your kids at the risk of getting lost or injured just yet, and let the kids play inside the house first.
These are just a few ways to get Yaya more involved in your kids’ “education.” Before implementing them, take the time to sit down with your helper/nanny, and thoroughly explain why you want her to “teach” your kids and get her to agree to your terms. If she seems uncomfortable or unwilling, don’t force the issue and try again at another time. More often than not though, most nannies will be willing to follow your instructions and, if you’re super blessed to have found a good yaya who genuinely cares for your children, she will even be happy to help you teach the kids while you’re away working.
Happy teaching everyone!
Photo from flickr.com
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