Nanny Diaries

Nanny Diaries

Happy New Year!

I missed my nanny babies while I was off for Christmas but I got regular updates in the form of videos and messages. I’m VERY lucky that I have great relationships with the parents I work with, and that they are so appreciative. We work together well. Our common goal being the same, to raise happy and successful children.

Norland, the worlds most elite nanny college, have recently published a paper on home based childcare and how it could and should work. They focus on the old proverb “it takes a village to raise a child”. Working with the “significance of evidence-based approaches to childcare alongside explorations of loving interactions and attuned relationships with caregivers across communities and generations”.

Which means in a nutshell, the more loving interactions a child has in their life the better!

Care givers who are not the parents are referred to as “Alloparents”. These can include nursery workers, childminders, grandparents, aunties..They all offer love and education, nurturing and support to the child. They state that in the past, without Alloparents humans would simply not have been able to flourish as a species.

Children still need positive and varied adult input, for attachment development and for social skills.

From other adults children learn how to trust, howto behave and conduct themselves. They learn communication and language, critical thinking and gain a better understanding of themselves. Other adults act as role models, showing alternative thinking.

Of course we mustn’t forget environment. These positive interactions can only happen in a safe and suitable environment. I’m not suggesting you bring your 2 year old to meet your pals in a nightclub!

In these ever isolating times it’s more important than ever to surround your child with the right sort of people. Both for your support and theirs.