How do you respond to a toddler’s temper tantrum?
Tantrums occur for many reasons. It is the role of the caregiver to understand why the child is beginning to get emotional. Sometimes the child simply does not like to be told no and in turn throws a fit. In this case, I calmly let the child know that “no is my final answer” and then I give the child an option; they can calm down and we can go do an activity, or if they need to cry they may go to their room (or other designated area) to cry and then return when they are done.
With that said, there are other cases where children may be going through something much deeper and simply cannot gain control of their emotions; for example the loss of a parent, the addition of a sibling, or a change in school. It has been my experience that in these cases, the tantrum is not about “wanting what they want” it is instead a deeper emotional issue. During this time, I still remain firm that my no means no and my yes means yes, however I do my best to comfort with hugs, rocking, or providing a comforting distraction such as cuddling up and reading a book together. I often will make a point to acknowledge the emotion and encourage conversation... for example I was recently watching a child who was trying to comprehend the separation of his parents. He was bottling everything up and as a result we had a day where he was snapping at everyone and crying over the tiniest infractions. I explained to him that if he needed to cry he could, but he could not treat myself or his siblings rudely. He ended up going behind the couch and crying. I let him cry for about a minute and then went over and sat on the floor with him. I asked him what was bothering him, he said he didn't know, so we played a game that i often play with kids -I simply asked him to say the first word that came to his mind. He did and we were able to talk a little bit. He calmed down. I then asked if he wanted a hug, he said no, but I could tell that he needed one so I said "you sure you look like you need one". I gave him a great big hug and invited him to come back and bake holiday treats with his siblings and I. His entire demeanor changed, he became happy and peaceful. ... this child of course was slightly older (7) but I have even had this same type of experience with his 3 year old sibling.
How would you respond to a child who refuses to eat the meal you have prepared?
I believe that in everything in a child’s life there should be freedom within boundaries. With that said, I make it a point to include children in meal planning while still keeping things healthy. For example “Do you want soup or a sandwich?”, “Do you want cheese or yogurt?”, or “Which fruit do you want, an apple or a banana?” Giving children choices within boundaries removes the power struggle and helps children develop the ability to make decisions for themselves.
How would you help a school-aged child who is easily distracted from completing her homework?
I completely understand the school aged child who just wants to go outside and play! Despite this, I know that homework is a necessity for academic success. I have dealt with this issue before in the following ways:
*First and foremost - having daily schedules alleviates this - as the child simply knows that homework is part of what they do after they arrive home and have a snack.
*Offer a reward. For example, when you finish your homework we can bake together, or you can watch your favorite show.
*Give the child a break. For example, as I see the child getting frustrated or distracted I may say “let’s take a 5 minute break”. During this time we may have a running race, play a game of tic-tac-toe, or read a short book before returning to the project.
*Split the homework between nanny and parents. Having parental involvement in a child’s education is so vital for success. Children thrive on the pride and recognition of their parents, especially those that work outside of the home. Leaving a math sheet or a reading review for the parents to do with their child may help the child look forward to doing their homework. As a nanny, I could say “If we finish up your reading homework, then we can take a break and go play for a little while and then you can do your math homework with mommy/daddy and show them what a great job you’re doing!”. Kids get very excited over the prospect of being able to show their parents the progress they're making.
What do you do if the infant in your care has cried for thirty minutes and can’t seem to be comforted?
In one of my previous nanny-families, the youngest as an infant would cry for 45 minutes every evening. She’d be fed, changed, played with, well rested…etc. but would still proceed to cry during the same 45 minutes every day. I would swaddle her and do the “mommy walk” around the house while talking to her until she’d calm down. In other instances of infants I’ve cared for, long periods of crying have indicated gas, illness, or being overly tired. Each instance was treated accordingly and effectively, whether it was through gas drops, rocking/comfort, laying the child down for a nap, or providing the parent with the information so that they could make an informed decision about possibly taking the infant to the doctor. (Note: In any case where an infant cries for a long period of time, I always let the parents know)
What would you do if the four-year-old in your care falls off a patio chair and splits open his chin?
I would first assess the situation. Is it a simple cut? If so I would clean up any blood and then apply ice and a bandage. If I cannot get the bleeding to stop or it appears to need stitches, then I would call one or both of the parents and explain what happened and ask them to meet me at the Emergency Room. I would then proceed to take the child to the local E.R. and comfort the child until the parents can arrive and take over.
(Note: I like to keep a notebook for communications. This allows parents to leave notes for me and it also allows me to leave note for parents. Instances such as a child getting hurt or health concerns, as well as small milestones and achievements are recorded in the notebook so that parents can keep up with what is going on)
How would you handle a six-year-old who refuses to pick up his toys when you ask him a second and third time?
At the age of 6, a child is fully capable of cleaning up after themselves. I encourage children as young as 1 and 2 years old to help clean up and expect that a healthy child of age six could easily clean up after themselves. If the child has pulled out more toys than they can emotionally cope with picking up on their own I may provide a mental trick of sorts. For example instead of saying “Clean up this entire room”, I would say something like “Can you please pick up your building blocks?” After that area of the room is cleaned, we can move on to the next task. Another thing I like to do is to make it into a game. Boys especially seem to love this. I call it “15 minute clean up”. As a nanny I often have household duties that I have to complete too. So I set an alarm on my phone to go off in 15 minutes. We then “race” to see who can clean up the most in 15 minutes. Not only does it make cleaning up fun for the child, but I get a few things done as well! (Note: The child always wins this game!)
How would you handle the situation if the parents of the children you are caring for arrived home later than usual and caused you to be late for a special event that you were planning to attend?
A parent arriving home 30 minutes early or late is actually very common and although I appreciate a phone call it normally doesn’t bother me one way or another. However in certain circumstances, communication is key! If I have a special event to attend, then it is my responsibility to let the family know as soon as possible. If I know a week in advance, then I should let them know a week in advance, as well as give them a reminder the day of the event. If the parents agreed to this, then it is their responsibility to either be home by the designated time, or make other child care plans. For example a relief babysitter can come in at the nanny’s normal time off to cover the gap.
If the three-year-old child you are caring should be napping but gets out of bed repeatedly, what do you do?
For children of 3-5 who are home with me all day, I designate set times during the day for nap/rest time, and do my best to stick to the schedule. So if naptime is from 1:00-3:00 and the child keeps getting up, I simply keep walking them back to bed. I cannot force a child to sleep, but rest time is important not only for them but for me as well. First time: Walk back to bed and say something along the lines of “it is naptime I will come in and get you when naptime is over”. Second Time: walk them back to bed and say something along the lines of “you do not have to go to sleep but you do have to stay in bed until rest time is over”. Surprisingly that line often removes the power struggle and the child will actually stay in bed and eventually fall asleep. If it doesn’t work, I simply continue by quietly walking them back to bed when they get up. I always wake the child up at the designated time whether they’ve slept or not; this encourages their bodies to get into a schedule. Usually after a few days of this we have no problems and they are napping without issue; it’s often simply a test to see if they can get out of their naptime. Consistency is key!
Would you feel comfortable working with parents whose child discipline style and morals are very different from yours? If so, how would you make this
work?
I do not ever push my personal beliefs on my nanny-family or the children I care for. I think the larger issue would be a massively different parenting style. For example, parents who overindulge their children and never provide them with boundaries or discipline are very difficult to work for. In the same respect, parents who are very harsh on their children, using excessive physical punishment and shame to mold their children, are also very difficult to work for. I am a firm believer of freedom within boundaries set by parents/caregivers, however I respect other’s beliefs on raising children and I always do my personal best to accomodate the needs and expectations of the families that I workfor.
Tell about a challenging child care situation where you had to creatively solve a problem.
I recently had a situation with a child that I babysit on a fairly regular basis. This child is a truly sweet little boy but he has ADHD as well as a few other behavioral/emotional medical issues. His doctor had recently changed his medication and he was being extremely difficult. He kept running out of bed, attempting to hit me with a stick, and yelled at me. I started by treating it as I would any child, by removing the stick, speaking sternly to him, and simply walking him back to bed, but his behavior escalated. Eventually he was crying “Traci it’s not fair, I don’t want you to win!” It was then that I realized that he was having an internal battle far deeper than simply not wanting to go to bed. When I realized this I told him that he didn’t have to go to sleep just then. Instead we put on an episode of Blues Clues so that he could calm down. After the episode, I said “It’s time to go to bed, would you like me to sit with you and rub your back and tell you a cool Curious George story, or would you like me to let you go to sleep on your own?”. He was calm, but still somewhat mad with me for “winning” so he told me he wanted to go to sleep on his own. I turned his music on, tucked him in, and left the room. Ten minutes later, he came into the living room, sat on my lap, told me he loved me, and asked me to come in and tell him a story. So I went and climbed in bed with him and made up a wacky story about Curious George meeting a princess, and he quickly fell asleep.
Describe a nutritious lunch you might prepare for a three-year-old and a five-year old.
Sandwich: Ham & Cheese (cut into a fun shape using a cookie cutter)
Fruit (Children’s choice)
Yogurt or cheese
Juice or Milk (Water if it’s summer time)
You are a nanny for a three-year-old, a six-year-old, and an eight-year old. It’s a cold, rainy day and the children are home from school. They are bored with their
usual toys, etc.. What kinds of activities might you involve them in?
Crafts: craft ideas are endless.
*Play a game such as hide n’ go seek or flash light tag
*Use couch pillows, sheets, blankets…etc. to make forts/tents
*Have an indoor picnic (let children help prepare the picnic)
*Have a movie-themed morning/afternoon (*Make popcorn trail mix together *Read books about movies, popcorn, or the movie we will watch later *Watch a movie together)
*If the rain lets up a bit, I am an advocate for child-puddle jumping! We can go for a short walk and the children can splash in puddles! (We’ll of course clean up and change when we get back home)
Provide a sample schedule for an infant
I am a huge fan of the Baby Wise technique....this technique is simple... Eat, Play, Sleep. Step one: Feed the infant (formula or breast milk as per the parents wishes). Step two: Play! For infants this may include tummy time, tummy time with toys, reading books to the baby, holding baby (facing me) and talking to the baby, going for a walk...etc. And finally Step Three: Sleep. Laying baby down in the crib awake and letting them fall asleep (if baby prefers to be swaddled, swaddle first!, monitor should be on and no toys or loose blankets in the crib). I have used this technique ... it is tried and true! Having also been a nanny/care-taker who rocked children and let them sleep where they lay, I now swear by this routine. I have found that babies who are on the eat, play, sleep routine (or a similar one) are confident in themselves, fall asleep peacefully, and take fuller naps and sleep better through the night. Babies who sleep well tend to be happier, social, and easy-going.
Tantrums occur for many reasons. It is the role of the caregiver to understand why the child is beginning to get emotional. Sometimes the child simply does not like to be told no and in turn throws a fit. In this case, I calmly let the child know that “no is my final answer” and then I give the child an option; they can calm down and we can go do an activity, or if they need to cry they may go to their room (or other designated area) to cry and then return when they are done.
With that said, there are other cases where children may be going through something much deeper and simply cannot gain control of their emotions; for example the loss of a parent, the addition of a sibling, or a change in school. It has been my experience that in these cases, the tantrum is not about “wanting what they want” it is instead a deeper emotional issue. During this time, I still remain firm that my no means no and my yes means yes, however I do my best to comfort with hugs, rocking, or providing a comforting distraction such as cuddling up and reading a book together. I often will make a point to acknowledge the emotion and encourage conversation... for example I was recently watching a child who was trying to comprehend the separation of his parents. He was bottling everything up and as a result we had a day where he was snapping at everyone and crying over the tiniest infractions. I explained to him that if he needed to cry he could, but he could not treat myself or his siblings rudely. He ended up going behind the couch and crying. I let him cry for about a minute and then went over and sat on the floor with him. I asked him what was bothering him, he said he didn't know, so we played a game that i often play with kids -I simply asked him to say the first word that came to his mind. He did and we were able to talk a little bit. He calmed down. I then asked if he wanted a hug, he said no, but I could tell that he needed one so I said "you sure you look like you need one". I gave him a great big hug and invited him to come back and bake holiday treats with his siblings and I. His entire demeanor changed, he became happy and peaceful. ... this child of course was slightly older (7) but I have even had this same type of experience with his 3 year old sibling.
How would you respond to a child who refuses to eat the meal you have prepared?
I believe that in everything in a child’s life there should be freedom within boundaries. With that said, I make it a point to include children in meal planning while still keeping things healthy. For example “Do you want soup or a sandwich?”, “Do you want cheese or yogurt?”, or “Which fruit do you want, an apple or a banana?” Giving children choices within boundaries removes the power struggle and helps children develop the ability to make decisions for themselves.
How would you help a school-aged child who is easily distracted from completing her homework?
I completely understand the school aged child who just wants to go outside and play! Despite this, I know that homework is a necessity for academic success. I have dealt with this issue before in the following ways:
*First and foremost - having daily schedules alleviates this - as the child simply knows that homework is part of what they do after they arrive home and have a snack.
*Offer a reward. For example, when you finish your homework we can bake together, or you can watch your favorite show.
*Give the child a break. For example, as I see the child getting frustrated or distracted I may say “let’s take a 5 minute break”. During this time we may have a running race, play a game of tic-tac-toe, or read a short book before returning to the project.
*Split the homework between nanny and parents. Having parental involvement in a child’s education is so vital for success. Children thrive on the pride and recognition of their parents, especially those that work outside of the home. Leaving a math sheet or a reading review for the parents to do with their child may help the child look forward to doing their homework. As a nanny, I could say “If we finish up your reading homework, then we can take a break and go play for a little while and then you can do your math homework with mommy/daddy and show them what a great job you’re doing!”. Kids get very excited over the prospect of being able to show their parents the progress they're making.
What do you do if the infant in your care has cried for thirty minutes and can’t seem to be comforted?
In one of my previous nanny-families, the youngest as an infant would cry for 45 minutes every evening. She’d be fed, changed, played with, well rested…etc. but would still proceed to cry during the same 45 minutes every day. I would swaddle her and do the “mommy walk” around the house while talking to her until she’d calm down. In other instances of infants I’ve cared for, long periods of crying have indicated gas, illness, or being overly tired. Each instance was treated accordingly and effectively, whether it was through gas drops, rocking/comfort, laying the child down for a nap, or providing the parent with the information so that they could make an informed decision about possibly taking the infant to the doctor. (Note: In any case where an infant cries for a long period of time, I always let the parents know)
What would you do if the four-year-old in your care falls off a patio chair and splits open his chin?
I would first assess the situation. Is it a simple cut? If so I would clean up any blood and then apply ice and a bandage. If I cannot get the bleeding to stop or it appears to need stitches, then I would call one or both of the parents and explain what happened and ask them to meet me at the Emergency Room. I would then proceed to take the child to the local E.R. and comfort the child until the parents can arrive and take over.
(Note: I like to keep a notebook for communications. This allows parents to leave notes for me and it also allows me to leave note for parents. Instances such as a child getting hurt or health concerns, as well as small milestones and achievements are recorded in the notebook so that parents can keep up with what is going on)
How would you handle a six-year-old who refuses to pick up his toys when you ask him a second and third time?
At the age of 6, a child is fully capable of cleaning up after themselves. I encourage children as young as 1 and 2 years old to help clean up and expect that a healthy child of age six could easily clean up after themselves. If the child has pulled out more toys than they can emotionally cope with picking up on their own I may provide a mental trick of sorts. For example instead of saying “Clean up this entire room”, I would say something like “Can you please pick up your building blocks?” After that area of the room is cleaned, we can move on to the next task. Another thing I like to do is to make it into a game. Boys especially seem to love this. I call it “15 minute clean up”. As a nanny I often have household duties that I have to complete too. So I set an alarm on my phone to go off in 15 minutes. We then “race” to see who can clean up the most in 15 minutes. Not only does it make cleaning up fun for the child, but I get a few things done as well! (Note: The child always wins this game!)
How would you handle the situation if the parents of the children you are caring for arrived home later than usual and caused you to be late for a special event that you were planning to attend?
A parent arriving home 30 minutes early or late is actually very common and although I appreciate a phone call it normally doesn’t bother me one way or another. However in certain circumstances, communication is key! If I have a special event to attend, then it is my responsibility to let the family know as soon as possible. If I know a week in advance, then I should let them know a week in advance, as well as give them a reminder the day of the event. If the parents agreed to this, then it is their responsibility to either be home by the designated time, or make other child care plans. For example a relief babysitter can come in at the nanny’s normal time off to cover the gap.
If the three-year-old child you are caring should be napping but gets out of bed repeatedly, what do you do?
For children of 3-5 who are home with me all day, I designate set times during the day for nap/rest time, and do my best to stick to the schedule. So if naptime is from 1:00-3:00 and the child keeps getting up, I simply keep walking them back to bed. I cannot force a child to sleep, but rest time is important not only for them but for me as well. First time: Walk back to bed and say something along the lines of “it is naptime I will come in and get you when naptime is over”. Second Time: walk them back to bed and say something along the lines of “you do not have to go to sleep but you do have to stay in bed until rest time is over”. Surprisingly that line often removes the power struggle and the child will actually stay in bed and eventually fall asleep. If it doesn’t work, I simply continue by quietly walking them back to bed when they get up. I always wake the child up at the designated time whether they’ve slept or not; this encourages their bodies to get into a schedule. Usually after a few days of this we have no problems and they are napping without issue; it’s often simply a test to see if they can get out of their naptime. Consistency is key!
Would you feel comfortable working with parents whose child discipline style and morals are very different from yours? If so, how would you make this
work?
I do not ever push my personal beliefs on my nanny-family or the children I care for. I think the larger issue would be a massively different parenting style. For example, parents who overindulge their children and never provide them with boundaries or discipline are very difficult to work for. In the same respect, parents who are very harsh on their children, using excessive physical punishment and shame to mold their children, are also very difficult to work for. I am a firm believer of freedom within boundaries set by parents/caregivers, however I respect other’s beliefs on raising children and I always do my personal best to accomodate the needs and expectations of the families that I workfor.
Tell about a challenging child care situation where you had to creatively solve a problem.
I recently had a situation with a child that I babysit on a fairly regular basis. This child is a truly sweet little boy but he has ADHD as well as a few other behavioral/emotional medical issues. His doctor had recently changed his medication and he was being extremely difficult. He kept running out of bed, attempting to hit me with a stick, and yelled at me. I started by treating it as I would any child, by removing the stick, speaking sternly to him, and simply walking him back to bed, but his behavior escalated. Eventually he was crying “Traci it’s not fair, I don’t want you to win!” It was then that I realized that he was having an internal battle far deeper than simply not wanting to go to bed. When I realized this I told him that he didn’t have to go to sleep just then. Instead we put on an episode of Blues Clues so that he could calm down. After the episode, I said “It’s time to go to bed, would you like me to sit with you and rub your back and tell you a cool Curious George story, or would you like me to let you go to sleep on your own?”. He was calm, but still somewhat mad with me for “winning” so he told me he wanted to go to sleep on his own. I turned his music on, tucked him in, and left the room. Ten minutes later, he came into the living room, sat on my lap, told me he loved me, and asked me to come in and tell him a story. So I went and climbed in bed with him and made up a wacky story about Curious George meeting a princess, and he quickly fell asleep.
Describe a nutritious lunch you might prepare for a three-year-old and a five-year old.
Sandwich: Ham & Cheese (cut into a fun shape using a cookie cutter)
Fruit (Children’s choice)
Yogurt or cheese
Juice or Milk (Water if it’s summer time)
You are a nanny for a three-year-old, a six-year-old, and an eight-year old. It’s a cold, rainy day and the children are home from school. They are bored with their
usual toys, etc.. What kinds of activities might you involve them in?
Crafts: craft ideas are endless.
*Play a game such as hide n’ go seek or flash light tag
*Use couch pillows, sheets, blankets…etc. to make forts/tents
*Have an indoor picnic (let children help prepare the picnic)
*Have a movie-themed morning/afternoon (*Make popcorn trail mix together *Read books about movies, popcorn, or the movie we will watch later *Watch a movie together)
*If the rain lets up a bit, I am an advocate for child-puddle jumping! We can go for a short walk and the children can splash in puddles! (We’ll of course clean up and change when we get back home)
Provide a sample schedule for an infant
I am a huge fan of the Baby Wise technique....this technique is simple... Eat, Play, Sleep. Step one: Feed the infant (formula or breast milk as per the parents wishes). Step two: Play! For infants this may include tummy time, tummy time with toys, reading books to the baby, holding baby (facing me) and talking to the baby, going for a walk...etc. And finally Step Three: Sleep. Laying baby down in the crib awake and letting them fall asleep (if baby prefers to be swaddled, swaddle first!, monitor should be on and no toys or loose blankets in the crib). I have used this technique ... it is tried and true! Having also been a nanny/care-taker who rocked children and let them sleep where they lay, I now swear by this routine. I have found that babies who are on the eat, play, sleep routine (or a similar one) are confident in themselves, fall asleep peacefully, and take fuller naps and sleep better through the night. Babies who sleep well tend to be happier, social, and easy-going.