Quick Tip Tuesday: Meal Time Tot Talk
By: Nanny Beth
I was a nanny in Connecticut; it was my first professional nanny position. I was so eager! Katie was 18 months old and wise beyond her years. I purchased placemats with a colorful map of the United States. One was at each child’s seat, one for Katie and one for Max (her 3 year old brother ). Each evening I would pre set the table with the breakfast items…a bowl, a glass, silverware and some of the things we might eat like fruit, etc… but on each child’s placemat I would place the vitamin on a different state. In the morning as they were eating I would ask them on what state they found their vitamin. It was a fun and educational game. In a few months time Katie, only 18 months old, knew so many states AND their capitals! Each week we went to the local Dunkin Donuts for a treat – coffee for nanny and juice and a bagel for baby. Katie would proudly tell the ladies at Dunkin Donuts the capital of Connecticut and then each week they would ask her to tell them the states and their capitals. I am confident no other 18 month old could recite the capitals of the United States! This is one educational tool I used to turn a meal into an event!
I was a nanny in Connecticut; it was my first professional nanny position. I was so eager! Katie was 18 months old and wise beyond her years. I purchased placemats with a colorful map of the United States. One was at each child’s seat, one for Katie and one for Max (her 3 year old brother ). Each evening I would pre set the table with the breakfast items…a bowl, a glass, silverware and some of the things we might eat like fruit, etc… but on each child’s placemat I would place the vitamin on a different state. In the morning as they were eating I would ask them on what state they found their vitamin. It was a fun and educational game. In a few months time Katie, only 18 months old, knew so many states AND their capitals! Each week we went to the local Dunkin Donuts for a treat – coffee for nanny and juice and a bagel for baby. Katie would proudly tell the ladies at Dunkin Donuts the capital of Connecticut and then each week they would ask her to tell them the states and their capitals. I am confident no other 18 month old could recite the capitals of the United States! This is one educational tool I used to turn a meal into an event!
Nanny Beth Barnes was first a nanny in Connecticut in 1998. She’s worked with many kinds of families: single fathers with surrogate babies, double doctor families, families with multiples and high profile families. She finds great joy with families and my position is that of watching the children grow and learn from my help and examples. Beth states, “My joy is provided by Baby M who is a delight in every way! She has learned basic sign language and excels at most everything. I have been blessed to have a family that works as a team with me in the adventures of their child.”
Thanks so much for sharing your experience and that fun tip! If you are looking to purchase your own placement to use for learning, check out Tot Talk Placemats! Then have some tools you might like. We are always open to CincyNannies sharing their tips! ~ CincyNanny Greta