skills4teaching

Being a nanny of twins, I know that children learn at a different pace. They were 2 years old at the time, just pointing and making an “Eh eh,” sound for what they wanted. Their parents work long hours. I would spend 10 hours a day with them, except on the weekend. I found that getting them back into the routine of things was tough on Monday’s. Eventually, they grew accustomed to the routine I set up for them. I would regularly read books to them. Quickly the boy caught on to one of the counting books, he could soon count to 10. I reassured his father he could count to ten now. Of course, though, he didn’t really believe me until one morning he counted for him. Every day at lunch time they would both demand their food with an “Eh Eh.” I surely was not going to accept that kind of behavior. I felt like I was alone in my efforts, especially when the girl twin screamed and cried, the father just gave her a cookie. Same thing with the mother, I came in from moving my car for them to find the boy twin eating a chocolate chip cookie for lunch because that’s what he wanted, and the mother walking away saying “I spoil him.” It really wasn’t fair to me at all. So, please try to work with whoever is taking care of your child, make sure your all on the same page, for the best interest of the children.

Every day at lunch time, they would have a sippy cup of milk. Oh, the twin girl absolutely loved milk, she drank it like she was dehydrated. She would again demand with an “Eh eh.” I would say “Milk” “You want milk.” She would shake her head yes. I said “Yes” “OK.” I got it for her, put it down and said “That’s Milk, say Milk please.” She would say “Miwlk Pwease.” I praised her like crazy I gave her I high five and had a great big smile on my face and said “Good.” The boy twin caught on much faster and that’s okay. As long as I would work with them everyday, they began talking more and more.

They were evaluated by a speech therapist. The speech therapist gave them a good report, that they are fine and don’t need any such services. They perform well in other areas and their speech didn’t seem to be a concern.

For some reason, the alphabet didn’t really interest them at all. I thought that was kind of strange since children usually get a kick out of it. However, I would play an alphabet song from the computer and they loved it. They would try to sing along and danced to the music.

I would show them letters and numbers. I would go over it with them constantly. If I wore a shirt that day with letters on it, I would ask them, and they would tell me what letters they were. Sometimes I would help them, but many times they did it all on their own. They even said the letters without me asking. I didn’t put on the TV much, but when I did, it would be so they could watch “Super why” which goes over many of the letters in a fun way. I would point out the letters and they would mostly do it on their own. They eventually caught on and started talking more and more each day. Each day, there was something new, a new word, a new letter, a new number or a new object. I noticed the, “Eh Eh’s”  became less and less and was replaced by actual words.

The bottom line is, you have to read, read, read to your children! Make sure you read to them every day, a couple times, and before bed. Children like to see visual pictures, and books help them correlate words with the pictures they belong to and letters and objects that belong together. They begin to learn the meaning behind words and the depth of their character. Teach them what your handing them (milk for example), praise them when they learn it. Encourage them and support them along the way. Consistently work with them a couple or more hours a day, when you are repetitive and consistent, children will learn. Don’t be upset if they don’t catch on right away, if they don’t get it today, maybe they’ll get it tomorrow or the next day, but keep working with them. Don’t just give in to their gibberish because it’s easier, it’s not easier, you want them to be able to communicate. You need them to communicate with you. You need to be able to understand your children and meet their needs. Otherwise it’s just frustrating for all of you!  

Children can sometimes feel like their not good at anything. It is up to you to be aware of their strengths and build on them. Find out what they are good at and expand on that. Make it a positive and successful experience for them. We want our children to feel good about ourselves and one of the ways we can build their self-esteem is by acknowledging their strengths. For example, maybe the child is not so active, but he can sure grasp a spoon well and mix his food, you can have him help you bake something. Children sometimes won’t want to try something because they are afraid to fail. You can help that process by setting up materials, or puzzles for example, that are age appropriate. Also, set up activities that set them up to succeed. Don’t set out puzzles that are too difficult. Encourage your child with “Look again, you can do it!” When they complete the activity let them know your so proud of them and that they did a great job, it will make them feel great inside. You can even help them along the away step by step if they need it, and encourage them when needed. 

Encourage children to tie their shoes, zip their jackets up (if they need you to get it started, that is absolutely fine), serve themselves food and pour their own drink. You are not making things easier by doing things for them, they need to learn to be independent.

Here is a list of possible responsibilities to encourage:

Hang up coat

Set the table

Clear the table

Water plants

Feed pets

Help cook

Turn on/off computer

Help with clean up

Use the bathroom on their own

Wash hands

brush teeth and hair

Make bed

Put on pj’s

Put on shoes

Put away books where they belong

Put away all toys where they belong (You can say “I’ll help you,” if they give you a hard time and if it’s alot to put away).

When you give children successful opportunities they will develop a great sense of self. Make it a point to make your child feel good about themselves. Let them know you accept them with verbal and nonverbal cues.

When you tell a child “Stop” or “Don’t do that,” there reaction will most likely be to keep doing it. What you have to do is redirect their behavior. You could do this by calling their attention to something else. Give the child something else to do, give them another challenge, but one that is safe. Don’t shout out their name and point somewhere else for them to go. Simply go up to them and tell them what they can do in an enthusiastic voice, make that other challenge seem more fun, interesting and challenging. Look out for unsafe conditions, rearrange the enviroment to avoid any accidents, and be alert and aware to prevent any you can.  

Children imitate everything you do. So, be sure to model safe behavior, demonstrate safe behavior. Children will be more likely to copy your safe behavior, than doing it because you told them to.

At lunch time, when your cutting chicken, for example, you can say “See, when I cut your chicken, I point the knife away from me, so I don’t get cut.” Identify what your doing and explain you are doing it to be safe.

Teach children how to use the scissors, model to them how you hold them at the bottom. When you see them holding them the right way, say “(child’s name) I like how you are being safe with the scissors, good job!”

Consistency is key when it comes to teaching children. With consistency, you must be VERY patient. Children need consistency in their lives. They need the rules and guidelines you set for them to remain consistent,  as well as their daily schedules. Children need to know what’s going to happen next. Consistency helps children to feel safe, secure and prepared in their enviroment. Stay consistent, don’t give in one time and then try to reinforce the rule again, are you kidding, your child will take you as a joke!

Give them choices: Yes that’s right “You can either take a nap or read a book quietly, those are your choices.” When you give them choices it makes them feel independent and responsible.

You as the parent need to model good behavior: If he or she says “NO!, I don’t want to.”
For example: putting away toys: You could say: “Here, I can help you.” (Maybe it is ALOT of toys to put away and he/she is overwhelmed..plus you are modeling good behavior.) I call it the “Helping Technique.” It really does work. 

Whatever you do, PLEASE do NOT yell, scream or hit. It will get you absolutely no where-I dont care how you were raised. Instead of losing your cool, get down to your child’s level, make eye contact and in a FIRM voice say “That is NOT okay.” 

Example: Michael hit Max

Teacher: (in an empathetic/caring voice)”Max,That must have really hurt, turn and look at Michael, tell him how that made you feel”

Max: “That really HURT!” then you could say “He said that really hurt him, so please don’t hurt my friends, that is not okay.”

Michael: “Ok”

 It ((acknowledges)) the hurt child’s feelings and helps him to express his feelings …and…. the other child learns it’s not okay to hit and how it effects his friends.

Your child WILL learn that he gets more praise and attention with good behavior….. and negative behavior gains him nothing! So you must always stay consistent when enforcing the rules.

Whatever you do, no matter how loud they’re screaming and kicking and how long they do it for…ignore it. Ignore the negative behavior. The more attention you give to it, the worse it gets and the harder it is for you.

YOU are your child’s NUMBER 1 ROLE MODEL….so when you get heated scream your head off and/or hit…you are showing him it is okay to do those things…he/she will only feed off your reaction. Your child need’s a positive role model not someone to be scared of.

Every chance you get PRAISE your child for good behavior, through high 5’s, a great big hug, A”Great job” “Im so proud of you, you really worked hard today!” It really makes them feel good about themselves……

With LOTS of patience and consistency with rules and guidelines, praise and choices,  these techniques CAN work.
Children will test your limits, no doubt, but with consistency and patience it can be done!  

Welcome to my Today.com blog! I am an experienced teacher assistant and nanny of twins. I am also a student in an early childhood program and would like to share with my readers techniques I have learned in the classroom. I have alot of on site experience and have learned many new skills involving the Developmentally Appropriate Practice. My main goal is to provide you with the techniques, to enable you to make a difference in the lives of children, whether it be your own children or the children in your classroom. Please come back and visit, subscribe and happy learning!