toddlers Archives - A Caring Nanny

March 8, 2014 Blog By admin No Comments

MUSICAL TRAINING AND BRAIN DEVELOPMENT

CHILDRN ARE BORN MUSIC-MAKERS: Hard Wired for Music

Research shows that musical training affects brain development in young children. Children are hard wired from birth for many things: language, physical development, social-emotional skills and . . . music.

Children are born music makers! Children are born to sing and move; infants even as young as a few months of age can show rhythmic and tonal responses to music. Babies will often coo or sound on the resting tone of a song (usually the last note). Toddlers can bounce to the beat and preschool age children can learn entire songs. If this is so, why do we have such a large amount of adults who do not feel comfortable singing “Happy Birthday” or dancing in public? The answer lies in a child’s early childhood years.

Little musicians need to be musically nurtured to develop their potential. Musical training to benefit the brain later in life

It is true that a child who is exposed to many languages will gain the phonemes of the many languages and conversely, a child who is not given adequate verbal stimulation will grow up with a limited vocabulary. Similarly, to develop musically, a child needs to be in an environment with a wide variety of musical experiences. The easiest and most natural time for a child to gain their basic music competence is between birth and age five. During these years, the window for developing accurate rhythm and singing in-tune is wide open. If a child’s musical atmosphere in their early years is filled with rich music experiences, a child will be fortunate to grow up with all the music potential they are born with!

Children get their disposition for being a music-maker from their parents.

How do I nurture this inborn music in my child? Many parents are worried that they themselves are not musical and might destroy their little one’s possibilities of being a confident music maker. Actually the very opposite is true. A child gets his disposition to be a music maker by seeing the grown ups in his life joyously make music. If your child sees you having a blast singing and cutting up the rug, they will see it is safe and they may even imitate you. Parents are the best music models for their children!

Ways to nurture your child musically.

There are many easy ways to incorporate music into your child’s life:

Sing, sing, sing! Sing in the car with the radio, make up songs (or change the words to familiar songs) about whatever you are doing with your little one, changing diaper, going to the store, eating some broccoli. Lullaby time can be the most precious time, singing your child off to sleep with love.
Dance, dance, dance! Put on your favorite dance music and move your bodies. It’s fun to invite friends over and dance together. While playing a CD in the car is a good, your child is buckled in tight and can’t get the large movement experience that is important for rhythm development.
Play, play, play! Get out the pots and pans and have a jam session to some fun and inspiring music that you enjoy. Wooden spoons on plastic bowls and shakers of dried beans in a sealed up water bottle can make some interesting sounds for children experiment with. Children benefit by having different sensory experiences of tapping, shaking and scraping.

If you find yourself wishing for more ways to play with your child with music, join one of the great early-childhood music programs in town. Children learn best when they are in a relaxed atmosphere that is non-performance oriented, developmentally appropriate and lots of fun for both the children and the adults.

Active music making is a whole brain experience. It helps children regulate their emotions; it can soothe the soul and sometimes bring peace to an over-cranky toddler. Lastly, music is a meaningful way to bond with your child.

Kathy Rowe from Phoenix Music Together

With a MA in music education, Kathy plays flute and has joyfully taught over 20 years of music in a wide variety of settings: K-8 general-vocal education, private lessons, as well as band and choir. She discovered the joys and importance of early childhood music while working with kindergarteners in the Chicago area and noticing how so many children enter school unable to find their singing voice or move with accurate rhythm. As the founder and director of an early childhood music and movement program in Phoenix since 1999, Kathy has immersed herself in the world of music for families with young children. She is continuously learning more about the benefits of music for young children and the most recent findings on best practices in the field. Kathy has developed Drum Sing Dance, an Orff-Kodaly program for 7 to 11 yr. olds. She has completed both the Level I and the Level II Certification from Music Together LLC, studied classical guitar under Gabriel Cornella and really loves to tend her small flock of chickens, dig in her garden, and play in a mother-daughter ska band on the weekends!

Kathy will hold a Music Workshop at our National Nanny Training Day April 12. Kathy’s told us that our Caring Nannies are consistently interactive, attentive, and involved when they bring children to her classes!!!!! We’re so proud of all of our hardworking nannies!

Kathy Rowe from Phoenix Music Together

Kathy Rowe, Music Together, Phoenix

Tags: Brain Development, children, infants, kathy rowe, music, Music Together, musical training, Phoenix, toddlers

July 11, 2013 Blog, Uncategorized By admin No Comments

7 MID-SUMMER POOL SAFETY TIPS TO KEEP YOUR FAMILY SAFE THIS SUMMER

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kxSXAECbV64[/youtube]

The leading cause of death for children four and under after birth defects is accidents. After auto accidents, drowning is the leading cause of death for young children.Being at the pool or the beach in the summer sun is definitely fun, but it comes with some risks. We’ve made it through half of the summer and there have been several toddler pool-related deaths already.

Here are 7 key safety tips to take into the last weeks of summer.

1. Like the amazing 16 month toddler in the video, teach your children water safety as early as possible. Some gyms have indoor pools and teach lessons year round.
2. Take a CPR class.
3. The main cause of adult distraction is needing to run into the house for food, sunscreen, a towel, answer the phone or door. Always insist that the child come out of the pool and take them with you into the house.
4. Assign one person to be the lifeguard, who has no phone or magazine, and is preferably in the pool with the child. In 46 percent of drownings, a child was under supervision of both parents.
5. Don’t depend on floaties. They give a false sense of security, but can pop or slip off. Use them sparingly.
6. Clean up all floating toys every time you’re done swimming and do not use chlorine floating dispensers that look like toys. Children are attracted to them.
7. Emphasize pool risks to the babysitter and remind her of the need for continual watchfulness

Beth Weise

Tags: accidental deaths, accidents, babysitter, pool safety, toddlers

June 15, 2013 Blog, Uncategorized By admin No Comments

READING TO BABIES AND TODDLERS: OUR FAMILY’S FAVORITE BOOKS

In our family, we started reading to our children from the time they were babies. It created strong bonds, sped them towards academic excellence, accelerated their speech and communications skills, logical thinking, and increased concentration and discipline. NPR recently reported that high school student’s reading levels are stuck in 5th and 6th grade levels and older students are not tackling more difficult material. Reading to children is by far the best way to help children be successful in school and in life.

Why do some books stay popular for generations? George McDonald, the 19th Century Scottish storyteller, said that the best children’s books are the ones where parents are looking over their kids shoulders.

When your toddler is at the stage when they want the same book read 12 times a day, it had better be fun for you to read!

Here are a few of our all time family favorites that met that test.

PAT THE BUNNY

This classic book is so interactive that neither babies nor their parents ever tire of touching the bunny, feeling Daddy’s beard or trying on Mommy’s ring.

GOODNIGHT MOON
This classic book delights every child and they never tire of it’s sparse words at the end of the day. It becomes their cue that it’s bedtime and they settle down and easily slip into sleep and parents enjoy it just as much as the babies.

WHERE IS BABY’S BELLY BUTTON?

This is newer than the books I enjoyed with my own children, but my grandchildren love it.

Babies and toddlers don’t realize that things exist when they’re hidden, so they are surprised every time you uncover a hidden belly button or toes.

THE VERY HUNGRY CATEPILLAR

After finding a huge green hornworm as big as my finger, eating our pepper plants last Spring, I brought him in a jar to show my two year old grandaughter. We made a green catterpillar and fruits and vegetables out of playdoh and re-enacted the story.

GREEN EGGS AND HAM

The wonderful Dr Seuss rhymes and outrageous stories and pictures is one most parents were raised on and continue to enchant toddlers today.

CORDUROY

The lonely teddy bear that had to live in a department store until a young girl was able to save up her allowance and bring him home is endearing to parents and children alike and makes children feel loved and cared for.

WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE

Maurice Sendak died just last year and he left a wonderful legacy of his love for children with this book. We read this book over and over as our children were growing up and they love the wildness of it and that it was all peaceful by the time bedtime came.

THE SNOWY DAY

Great for reading this summer-Kids get out of school for a day of frolicking in the snow. Another Caldecott Award winning treasure.

CARS, TRUCKS AND THINGS THAT GO.

All of Richard Scarey’ books are favorites. Children enjoy the detailed pictures with so many interesting things going on.

THE SNOWY DAY

Great for reading this summer-Kids get out of school for a day of frolicking in the snow. Another Caldecott Award winning treasure.

THE LITTLE HOUSE

This wonderful book is by the same author, Virginia Lee Burton, and shows how a lovely farm home becomes encircled by the big city. The granddaughter finds it and rescues it and moves it out to the country. The detailed pictures show the seasons changing as well and the countryside, families growing up. Another award-winning book.

Our family spent many hours reading books together, and now they are buying these favorites for their children. All five of them have loved reading and are lifetime learners.

Beth

June 8, 2013 Blog, Uncategorized By admin No Comments

3 VITAL AREAS OF EDUCATION YOUR NANNY MUST SUCCEED AT

Education deeply impacts the personality of a young child and is a much broader subject than we normally realize.

Education affects personality.

Your nanny has enormous influence on the personality and academic achievement of your child by creating the right educational environment for them. The intelligence environment that you and she cultivate will make all the difference in the world for your toddler.

Speaking Broadly About Education

I’m speaking in the broadest sense that goes way beyond workbooks or organized learning or classrooms. Most of her time will be spent educating your toddlers in three vital areas of life until they develop mastery themselves:

1. Morals, health and safety and life skills.
Your child’s personality is greatly shaped by her focused, continual, passionate attention to these goals. She will be teaching your child to be patient, thoughtful, caring, goodhearted, respectful, unselfish, generous and responsible.

2. Healthy Habits
Her second goal is to help her develop healthy habits like washing hands, brushing teeth, picking up toys after playing with them, making his bed, helping with simple chores, like folding clothes, matching socks, putting away the silverware in the dishwasher, clearing the table.

3. How To Think
Along with these skills and mindsets, she must teach the child how to think, how to make sound judgements, how to apply logic and reason to her life.

Encouraging Strengths
Neither you nor your nanny can change your child’s genes or basic makeup, but you can recognize and work with them. You can minimize the negative traits, encourage strengths, and maximize natural gifts.

May 28, 2013 News By admin No Comments

May 30 – FREE Seminar for Parents on ‘How to Hire a Nanny’ at The Play Factory at Desert Ridge

Caring Nanny article in the East Valley Tribune on May 28th, 2013

Thursday, May 30th starting at 7:00 PM and ending at 8:00 PM MST

May 30 – FREE Seminar for Parents on ‘How to Hire a Summer Nanny’ at The Play Factory
For parents of babies, toddlers, and young children who are considering hiring a professional nanny, or a temporary “Summer Nanny” for their children this summer, The Play Factory at Desert Ridge Marketplace will host a helpful and free information seminar on Thursday, May 30, from 7 to 8 p.m. Guest speaker will be Beth Weise, owner of Caring Nannies staffing agency in Scottsdale. Weise will teach parents how to hire a nanny and explain what the most important questions to ask are.
Nannies are paid $13-$15/hour or an average of $400 to $500 per week, depending on the number of hours and job duties. Advanced registration is required by May 29. All attendees will also get a chance to win a $100 gift basket that includes: a certificate for a free nanny for up to four hours, two Harkins movie tickets with popcorn, a bottle of wine and two wine glasses.
The Play Factory is located at 21001 N. Tatum Blvd., Phoenix. To register, call Caring Nannies at (480) 946-3423.

Tags: $100 Gift Basket, Babies, Beth Weise, Deset Rigge, East Valley Tribune News, Free Seminar, How to hire a nanny, Most Important Questions to ask, parents, Play Factorey, professional nanny, toddlers

May 20, 2013 News By admin No Comments

Caring Nannies in the Arizona Republic News!

The Arizona Republic posted this article about Summer Nannies and how they can contribute to your child’s having a creative, fun, educational summer and develop individualized interests that could make a lifelong difference!

For parents of babies, toddlers, and young children who are considering hiring a professional nanny, or a temporary “Summer Nanny” for their children this summer, The Play Factory at Desert Ridge Marketplace will host a helpful and FREE information seminar on Thursday, May 30, from 7 to 8 p.m. Guest speaker will be Beth Weise, owner of Caring Nannies staffing agency in Scottsdale. Weise will teach parents how to hire a nanny and explain what the most important questions to ask are.

Advanced registration is required by May 29. All attendees will also get a chance to win a $100 gift basket that includes: a certificate for a free nanny for up to four hours, two Harkins movie tickets with popcorn, a bottle of wine and two wine glasses.

The Play Factory is located at 21001 N. Tatum Blvd., Phoenix. To register, call Caring Nannies at (480) 946-3423. For more information, visit www.acaringnanny.com

Summer Nannies Do Much More Than Just Supervise Children at Home

Summer Nannies do much more than just supervise children. They can plan and implement daily curriculum, monitor your child’s development, and plan fun games and activities at home. During the school year, many children certainly have hectic, busy schedules outside of the home, and the summer heat is a natural cue to slow down, give them time to swim, dream, think, read, draw and paint in the quiet comfort of their own home.

Children are in large groups of 20 to 30 children during the school year so sometimes it’s very refreshing to give them some quiet “alone time” just to relax and slow down. A Summer Nanny allows children to safely be at home and also gives kids time to play with their siblings and simply enjoy being home.

Summer nannies can also help children to write and illustrate their own books, create and record their own music, make movies, grocery shop, and then cook together. A summer nanny can take children to the local museums, the zoo, field trips to the candy factory and fire station, and get them involved in the local library reading program.

Nannies Can Also Help Run the Summer Household More Smoothly

A Summer Nanny can help take an older child to a summer sports camp, and then allow the child to be home the rest of the day. During down time, she can keep up with the laundry, shopping and dinner preparation, or organize the pantry, so when parents come home at the end of the day, they can relax knowing that the day’s most pressing needs have been met.

Cost: Summer Nannies are paid $15/hour or an average of $400 to $500 per week, depending on the number of hours and job duties.

Also, in addition to sending out year-round nannies and Summer Nannies, the renowned Caring Nannies staffing agency – which has been in business for 30 years now – also employs the following:Baby Nurses, Newborn Specialists, Sleep Trainers, Mother’s Helpers, Nanny/Managers, Post-surgery Assistance, Housekeepers, Executive Housekeepers, Chefs, Personal Assistants, Estate Managers, Couples, Butlers, Event Care, Party Childcare, Corporate Backup Care and more. Candidates can be live-in or out, full or part-time or temporary.

MUSICAL TRAINING AND BRAIN DEVELOPMENT

7 MID-SUMMER POOL SAFETY TIPS TO KEEP YOUR FAMILY SAFE THIS SUMMER

READING TO BABIES AND TODDLERS: OUR FAMILY’S FAVORITE BOOKS

3 VITAL AREAS OF EDUCATION YOUR NANNY MUST SUCCEED AT

May 30 – FREE Seminar for Parents on ‘How to Hire a Nanny’ at The Play Factory at Desert Ridge

Caring Nannies in the Arizona Republic News!

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