This week marks the National Association for the Education of Young Children’s (NAEYC) Week of the Young Child (WOYC). It’s a week to celebrate all things young children, and there are plenty of ways to get involved. One fun way is to celebrate with not only your nanny children but your nanny community! In this blog, we’ll share some ideas on how you can make this WOYC a memorable one. And before we jump into that, we want to take a moment to recognize all those amazing nannies who participated in interNational Nanny Training Day (iNNTD) on Saturday! Congratulations!
Music Monday
This day is all about celebrating music, dance, and creative expression. Kids love music, so why not fill your home or backyard with some upbeat tunes and let them run around? You can also turn it into a crafty activity by letting them make their own instruments out of recycled materials like empty water bottles, spoons, or straws.
Tasty Tuesday
This day is all about exploring the world of food with your nanny children. Take them on a journey around the world by introducing them to different cuisines and cultures. You can also turn it into a fun activity by creating a “little chef” competition, where each child can make their own dish using a specific set of ingredients. You can even invite other nannies in your community to join in and make it a friendly competition!
Work Together Wednesday
Working together is an important skill for kids to learn at an early age. Try setting up team activities where they have to work together to achieve a common goal. For example, you could assign each child different tasks that need to be completed in order for them to build something like a fort or a castle out of pillows.
Artsy Thursday
Turn your living room into an art gallery by having the kids display their favorite artwork from over the years. You can also have them create something special for that day, like a community collage or clay sculptures. Make sure you take lots of pictures throughout the day so they can look back on it later on.
Family Friday
The best way to end WOYC is by bringing everyone together for Family Friday! Ask each child what their favorite family recipe is, then spend time preparing a meal together. This is a perfect opportunity to teach children about the importance of cooking and create meaningful memories. As an added bonus, top off the day by creating a letter or art project for a family member that the children can gift – this will be a special reminder of their love and appreciation. Nobody can resist being appreciated with such thoughtfulness!
WOYC is an incredible opportunity for parents and childcare providers alike to recognize how important early childhood development is and how easy it is to incorporate age-appropriate development activities in our daily lives. We hope these ideas have been helpful as you plan your celebration with nanny children this week – enjoy every moment spent together, making memories that will last forever! Happy Week of The Young Child everyone!!
