Hope Skinner, founder Nanny Shecando

The Benefits Of Toddler Craft

Given our outdoors-based Australian lifestyle and fairly good weather, we can often see craft activities as being a great way to pass the time whilst stuck indoors on an unseasonably wet or cold day. And if you’re like me, the second the sun comes out – we down tools and hit the park, all summer long.

However, craft activities really are a great way to help your toddler engage in new ideas and build a foundation for future learning. If you haven’t delved elbow deep into the craft supplies before, you should know that toddler craft time can be extremely messy. You’ll also want to be ready to pluck the grubby toddler from the crime scene and deposit straight into an antibacterial bath.

Toddler craft is no place for the likes of Lego Movie’s “President Business” or neat freaks.

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Despite the mess, and the realisation that you might just have to forgo any preconceived ideas about the end result, toddler art and craft is important. You should still absolutely let your toddler in on the glitter glue action!

Craft activities encourage your toddler’s creativity and imagination. And by simply sticking some milk bottle tops to a toilet roll and calling it a car, your toddlers are honing their fine motor co-ordination, their social skills, and even the process of using colours to convey emotions.

Allowing your toddler time to craft is vital to their growth and development.

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Of course, when talking about babies and toddlers under the age of two getting their hands on things like paint, there are some concerns. Choking hazards, toxins, non-ingestables and harmful substances that will stain your freshly painted walls are worth thinking about beforehand. To minimise the risk, and to ensure that your toddler is maximizing their benefit without coming into harms way, there are a number of precautions you can take to ensure the craft activity is toddler approved.

For example, most store-bought paints, glue and play dough are not baby friendly. But you can very easily make your own baby-friendly, non-toxic edible paints and glue using simple pantry items such as corn starch, baby rice cereal and natural food dyes.

How To Make Edible Finger Paint For Your Toddler

Corn starch, baby rice cereal and natural food dyes make perfect toddler approved craft materials!

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The full article, complete with the 6 most crucial points for making the most out of this toddler approved art activity, and the edible finger paint recipe is over on SitterCycle; Crafts For Those Under 2.

**This post appeared first online at SitterCycle, written and contributed by Nanny Shecando

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At SitterCycle our mission is to improve the lives of families, nannies, and professional care givers through supportive education, resources and community. SitterCycle professional development classes certification programs are address the rigours of childcare and promote successful working relationships between nannies and the families who employ them.

How To Make A Nut Free Zone

Finding suitable alternatives for allergy free foods to send your child off to school with can be difficult. Especially if your child does not have any nut allergies, and you must simply comply with the school’s rules (even if they are with the rest of the children’s best interests in mind).

Being sensitive to the allergy risk of the other students, there are a number of great ways to ensure the lunchbox is nut and allergy free. When schools become a “nut free zone” this means that snacks must not be made with nuts or manufactured in a plant with nuts. Whilst most of the products made with nuts are fairly obvious, usually featuring the word “nuts” within the name, there are others that may be a bit more sneaky and fly under the radar.

Fruit + vegetables, dips + rice crackers are perfect nut free lunchbox options

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To Make A Nut Free Zone:

The best way to be sure that your products don’t contain any nuts is to read the labels and packaging information. Most brands will mark their packaging with a specific allergen list, or will issue a warning such as “may contain traces of nuts” or “made in a plant that contains traces of nuts” or “process shared equipment with nuts.”

However, it’s important to remember that not all manufacturers will be so cautious and transparent with their labels and packaging. Labelling requirements will be determined by the specific health regulatory systems within your area.

For ideas to pack into your child’s lunch box, you can always be safe with fruit and other grains. To help you create a complete Nut Free Zone, here’s a list of nut free alternatives for your school lunch box.

Fruit & Vegetables
apples, bananas, baby carrots, oranges, watermelons, cucumber, bell peppers grapes, strawberries, peaches, plums, blueberries, raspberries, blackberries, cherries and cantaloupe

Other Snack Options
cheese cubes + graham crackers, cheese + fruit kabobs, ham + cottage cheese lettuce wraps, yoghurt squeezes and frozen yoghurt tubs, raisins and dried fruit mixes, cereal and snacks, teddy grahams, fruit smoothies and protein shakes, carrot + celery sticks with hummus or tahini dips, homemade savoury muffins or fresh fruit mixed muffins, rice cakes with apple butter, kale hips and corn + tortilla chips with salsa.

> For alternatives when baking, you can explore grains such as quinoa and quinoa flour, pumpkin seeds, ground black beans, flax grain and chia seed flour and even organic tapioca starch.

> And if like me, you have kids that manage to only eat peanut butter, a great alternative is Sunbutter Sunflower Seed Butter. It has a thick, creamy, peanut buttery taste that will spread perfectly onto apple slices or onto crackers and keep your little ones satisfied.

Your guide to a healthy school lunchbox – this is a nut free zone!

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>>How do you make a “nut free zone” for your lunch boxes?

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**This article was originally published in the September print issue of NYAN Magazine, c/o Nanny Shecando.

SitterCycle: Kids + Imaginative Play

Do your kids love playing dress ups, or with dolls? Do you find they’ll play for hours with the cardboard box, and push cartons around the kitchen floor under your feet all afternoon? Yet give them a structured play set and they’ll soon look to you for guidance? Maybe you find yourself becoming the “mummy” cat whilst they run around the yard mewling and enacting strange animal behaviours?

Yep? Oh wait, me too!

Here in the nanny life, we love imaginative play. We love it so much that evening bath times turn into ritual-like sessions so indulgent that little fingers turn into shrivelled prunes and the bath water becomes freezing ice water before we can make our way into bed.

Imaginative play is some of the best play that children can experience.

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So why does this happen?

Because your kids, and my nanny kids, are indulging in the true form of beautiful, unadulterated free-play. And in terms of childhood development, this is pure gold.

Children & Imaginative Play + Why Is It Important?

Imaginative play first begins to occur from around the age of two onwards. Although we do know that kids tend to grow and develop at varying stages.

You’re probably already familiar with imaginative play; you’ll often see it in the form of “pretend” play. Or when kids answer, “it’s just pretend” after you’ve attempted to stop them from feeding their dinner to the doll.

As adults, this “playing pretend” can sometimes grate on us. I know that if I’m not in the right mood, scooting around on the floor purring and meowing because Miss 5 is the “owner” and I’m the “baby kitten” can get old very quickly – about the time it takes for my knees to start protesting!

But it’s the process that’s important. It’s your child taking control of a situation, experimenting with cause and effect, and dealing with outcomes based on decision-making.

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7 Ideas For Kids + Imaginative Play

We love imaginative play because it’s the time for little minds to engage their creativity, to explore their surroundings, to try on new experiences, and even better, to wind down a little.

Imaginative play is a stepping-stone along the path of a child’s early learning & self discovery.

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So support and encourage imaginative play in your children, it’s best to start simple. To create a great environment to allow this precious process, dedicate a purpose area and construct together a series of “offerings” to kick start the process. To see some examples for fostering imaginative play, and to read the complete article, click here to find 7 ideas for offering ‘invitations to play.’

Loving this article? Want to see more ideas on imaginative play? Jump over to SitterCycle, to see the full list of ideas: 7 Ideas To Foster Imaginative Play In Your Kids.

**This article appeared first online at SitterCycle.com, contributed by Nanny SheCanDo.

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Nanny Mag: The Diaper Bag Checklist

What’s In Your Diaper Bag?

The baby I nanny for started daycare recently. It was an emotional ordeal for both myself and BossMum as we prepared to leave her in the care of almost strangers within a daycare facility. Strangely enough (although most fortunately), Baby Viv was not at all perturbed by the turn of events. Excited at the sight of colourful new toys and new friends to play with, she leapt from our arms the moment we arrived and barely gave us a backwards glance. So whilst BossMum and I were a little unsure about how events were going to unfold, we were glad the introduction of a day each week spent at daycare was going to allow her the opportunity to explore her social skills and surroundings.

The morning of the new daycare routine we rushed out the door like any other; in a disorganised chaos.

We arrived at daycare to realise that Boss Mum had left her laptop at home along with the seven-year old’s homework folder, and that the baby was still wearing her breakfast all over her ‘clean’ outfit. So much for making a good impression.

What we did remember to bring however, was the carry-all diaper bag!

The ultimate diaper bag checklist

To be honest, the diaper bag is one of my favourite possessions. I simply can’t leave without it. Yes the older kids use it as an excuse to discard items they no longer wish to carry, and yes sometimes it gets heavy to lug around. But it’s also my saving grace.

As a nanny for small children, this bag has become my best friend. At any point of time, I can guarantee that at least one child will want something, or need something. Someone will be hungry. Someone will be thirsty. Someone needs spare batteries for their toy. Someone is cold and wants the spare jacket I packed for them when they refused to dress properly. And of course when you’ve got a baby, wipes, diapers, dummies and blankets are essentials.

Everyday I look after my carry-all diaper bag. I re-stock it. I clean it. I protect it from the elements. I also tote it with me across all kinds of distances. My saving grace has accompanied us to the Zoo, the Aquarium, on long-haul plane flights, trudged through mud in the countryside and had sand all through it during summer beach vacations. It has rescued me in times when I’ve been caught out without tampons, or spare snacks for the kids. It’s always got a clean grow suit to change a sick-up covered baby and has even on occasion been to the gym.

Over the years I’ve used many different diaper bags. One was frustratingly tough and rigid and difficult to manoeuvre into the storage below the pram. One was so heavy and long-handled that it tipped the pram right over (with the baby still strapped in). One bag failed the waterproof test and saw the demise of an iPod. And embarrassingly, one sported the stench of mouldy tuna sandwich for longer than I care to admit to.

Over time I’ve come to develop a preference. These days it’s my old faithful, the Longchamp Canvas bag. It’s hardy and durable, waterproof, malleable, and squishy enough to fit into small spaces. Plus, it’s got plenty of inside storage to compartmentalize the various toiletry essentials, baby items, spare clothes, kids toys and ‘busy bags’.

So like any other day, the carry-all diaper bag came with us that morning to daycare. Because even though daycare has all the necessary things like spare diapers and dummies, blankets and extra baby bottles, I’ve grown a little attached. The diaper bag has become my best friend and saviour in desperate times of need. That morning, the diaper bag was reassurance. It was my safety blanket. For even though the baby was old enough, and self-assured enough, and socially adjusted enough to go to daycare for the morning, I wanted to feel as though I were still needed. Having been a part of our lives since as long as we can remember, and so on such a momentous day, it was only natural that the bag should accompany us.

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Tips To Packing Your Carry-All Bag:

To ensure your diaper bag becomes part of your family, and your saving grace in desperate times of need, make sure you pack the essential items. You’ll need to cover snacks and food supplies, spare clothes, a travel first aid kit, sunscreen and activities to keep kids occupied (such as colouring books, pencils and ‘busy bags’). You’ll also need to pack some items that may not be used as regularly, but come in handy, such as spare batteries, portable phone chargers, an emergency credit card and a road map.

The nanny life; it pays to be organised.

Do you have a carry-all bag loaded with the kid’s essentials? Do you ever take a gamble & leave the house without it?

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A version of this post appeared first in the September/October issue of Nanny Magazine, contributed by Nanny Shecando. Nanny Magazine covers everything from from a nanny’s relationship with their charges to their complex relationship with the parents. The magazine offers provoking features on hot topics such as gun control and obesity, advice for nannies who experiencing ethical dilemma on the job, and even the nanny’s personal life.

Holidays + Sydney Children’s Festival

Well it’s that time again – school holidays are upon us!

Is it just me, or do you find they come around so quickly? Although, ask the kids and they’ve been counting down for the last 20 days!

School holidays can be a bit of a whirl wind. With your days spent ferrying kids across town to activities, fitting in play dates and sleepovers, trips to special places and long “are we there yet” type road trips. But they’re also jam-packed with plenty of fun. And if like me, you’re a little bit tired from the school term, from the early morning battle to get the kids out the door in time, and the impossibly early afternoon school pick ups in car park like traffic, they’re a blissful reprieve from ordinary life.

“I think we’re all after a little bit of a break, and to have some of the hard work (the planning and the organising) done for us!”

These school holidays, the Sydney Seymour Centre is host to the Sydney Children’s Festival. Over 6 days, from Tuesday 23rd September to Sunday 28th September, they’ve put together a festival guide to suit your child’s every desire. And with the tag line shake it, make it, see it, and star in it, it’s bound to be a winner with the kids.

If you’re in Sydney these school holidays and looking to fill in some time this week with a great array of fun kid friendly activities, the Sydney Seymour Centre has it all! To help make the most of your holidays, they’ve got some daily festival guides filled with activities for the kids. And guess what, there’s a big chunk of these that are free too. Because we all know how expensive school holidays can be!