Nannies are the ultimate specialists in childcare, which means that they are wonderful resources for new parents who aren’t exactly sure how to plan ongoing activities with their children. For example, nannies specialize in organizing age-appropriate activities for kids that keep them engaged, learning, and having lots of fun.
Here are some examples of nanny activities for infants and great activities for a nanny to do with a toddler to give parents a better idea of how these household professionals expertly interact with young children.
Nanny Activities for Infants (Age 0-12 months)
The best activities for infants are ones that are engaging and include lots of communication, play, and repetition. Children that are under a year old tend to respond to repetitive phrases because they reinforce learning. Experienced nannies know that the best activities for babies are simple and encourage sensory exploration. This is because infants are particularly receptive to stimuli and are naturally curious about the world.
These are some of the many activities that a nanny can do with an infant during the day:
- Listening to music while moving or clapping along to the beat
- Build towers with blocks and then knock them down
- Reading books to the infant using fun character voices
- Play with water in buckets, bowls, and cups in the backyard
- Push baby in a stroller around a neighborhood to engage the senses
- Put on a puppet show with plush stuffed animals for baby
- Play with non-toxic bubbles and encourage baby to catch them
- Look at pictures or family photographs together to improve visual perception
Activities for Nanny to Do with Toddler (Age 12-36 months)
The toddler years are a particularly fun and creative time, as well as a wonderful time to explore the world with a nanny. Toddlers are so different from one another during this age, with regard to their developmental abilities, natural skills, and interests. This is an ideal opportunity for a nanny to introduce children to a wide variety of interests so that these may eventually turn into long-term hobbies and inspire a lifelong interest in learning.
These are some toddler activities that a nanny may arrange for your little one:
- Try art projects with paints, crayons, and clay
- Practice saying and identifying basic numbers and letters
- Matching games to develop pre-math skills
- Fun sports with balls in the backyard for exercise and fresh air
- Sing songs and nursery rhymes together
- Play a game of hide-and-go-seek
- Put together an age-appropriate puzzle together
- Play a game of charades with kid-friendly trivia topics (cartoons, food, etc.)
- Draw outside with sidewalk chalk
- Organize a scavenger hunt for the toddler with objects that are easy to find
Hire a Great Nanny for Any Age
Whether your child is an infant, toddler, or even a school-age child, a nanny is a valuable asset to any family. Busy parents may not always have time to think of and plan these types of activities on a daily basis, so this is where nannies step in to help the child have fun and always keep learning.
At Household Staffing International, we pride ourselves in working with only the very best nannies in the industry who know how to care for and play with specific age groups of children. We can connect you with a reliable, trustworthy, and engaging nanny to spend quality time with your little ones and prepare them for academic, social, and emotional success in the future.
If you are interested in hiring a nanny for your home, you can fill out our application or simply browse candidates in your area to learn more about what local nannies have to offer.