How nannies can handle sick days, protect their health, and keep kids engaged from a safe distance.
If you’re a nanny, you’re no stranger to the fact that children can be germ magnets, frequently under the weather with mild illnesses picked up in daycare or school. While parents may choose to take sick days, nannies often don’t have that option. So, what’s a caregiver to do when confronted with the sniffles, mild fevers, or a cough?
Strong Communication with Parents
It’s important to establish a clear communication line with the parents. Before flu season hits, discuss and agree upon the expectations for when the children are sick.
Primarily, it’s important to establish a protocol for being notified prior to your shift if the children are unwell. Express how such advanced notice is crucial for you to brace yourself against potential illness with necessary precautions like immunity supplements, wearing a mask, and preparing activities that are conducive to a “sick day.” These activities should be designed to keep the children calm yet occupied. Additionally, having this information beforehand gives you the mental space to gear up for a potentially more demanding day ahead.
Secondly, it’s vital to specify in your Nanny Contract and Nanny Working Agreement what constitutes ‘too sick to work.’ Establish a clear protocol for handling more severe health concerns. By clearly articulating the kinds of symptoms you are comfortable being exposed to and potentially taking back to your household and family, you pave the way for hassle-free scheduling in the future.
Should you encounter situations where your employers consistently minimize their child’s symptoms to guarantee your attendance, having a detailed contract provides you with a safeguard. This contractual agreement serves as your shield, ensuring your rights and health are defended when the expectations set for illness scenarios are not being respected.
Keep in mind, that open communication fosters trust, and ensuring all parties are informed is crucial for prioritizing the child’s (and your) health and well-being.
Preparing for Sickness Proximity
When it comes to safeguarding your health, following basic hygiene practices is crucial.
Regular hand washing, especially before eating or after contact with the child, remains your first line of defense. Keep a sanitizer handy for those in-between moments. Ensure that both you and the children cover mouths during coughs or sneezes, using a tissue or the crook of the elbow, followed by hand washing. It’s also wise to keep your vaccinations, including the annual flu shot, up to date.
Maintaining a clean environment can also work wonders. Disinfect frequently touched surfaces and toys at least once a day to keep germs at bay. Encourage the children to use disposable tissues and dispose of them properly. Make sure all sick-day linens are constantly swapped out and laundered.
Materials your employers should provide:
- Antibacterial Soap
- Mobile Hand Sanitizer
- Aloe Kleenex (childrens’ skin is very sensitive)
- A Face Mask (for you)
- Lotion – constantly washing your hands is tough on skin
- Antibacterial Wipes: surfaces, toys, etc.
Sick Day Activities
When it comes to activities, creativity is key while maintaining distance. Focus on low-energy activities that can be done from the comfort of a bed or sofa. This is all dependent on the age of the children.
Screentime
While I’m typically not an advocate for screen time, I recognize its invaluable role when the top priority is to maintain engagement during periods of rest.
In this light, I initiate discussions with parents regarding the allowance of digital devices, seeking consensus on if and how screen time can be used to promote rest and aid healing. The key is to transform screen time from a passive activity into an active, creative learning process.
Older Children
When older children are under the weather, it’s important to balance rest and engagement while maintaining a safe distance to protect everyone’s health.
Here’s a list of activities that can keep older kids occupied and at ease during these times:
- Audiobooks and Podcasts: Provide a selection of interesting audiobooks or kid-friendly podcasts. This allows children to relax and even close their eyes while listening, reducing screen time and promoting rest.
- They can also engage in passive activities while they listen like adult coloring books, puzzling, or a chill art project.
- Virtual Museum Tours: Many museums around the world offer virtual tours. Kids can explore new places and learn, all while comfortably tucked in bed.
- Creative Writing: Encourage them to start a journal or write a short story or poetry. This quiet activity doesn’t require physical exertion but keeps the mind active.
- Art and Craft: Set up a tray of simple art supplies for drawing, coloring, or making collages. They can create get-well cards for themselves or others, fostering a sense of empathy and connection.
- Puzzle Books: Sudoku, crosswords, or word search books can keep them engaged without requiring physical activity or screen interaction.
- Educational Apps and Games: There are numerous educational apps and games available that can challenge their minds and ensure learning isn’t paused. Opt for ones that enhance critical thinking or creative skills.
- DIY Science Experiments: Provide instructions for simple, safe DIY science experiments that they can conduct from the comfort of their room, using materials that are readily available at home.
- Build a Vision Board: Kids can create a vision board using magazine cutouts or printed pictures, focusing on their plans for when they’re feeling better or goals for the future.
- Music Exploration: Introduce them to different genres of music or various instruments online. They could even create their own simple tunes if they have an instrument at hand.
- Online Learning Platforms: Enroll them in an online course they show interest in – it could be coding, painting, a new language, or even cooking classes that offer simple recipes they can try out from bed, with ingredients a parent or the nanny can easily set up for them.
Younger Children
Caring for younger children and toddlers when they’re sick can be particularly challenging, as they require activities that are not only engaging and restful but also suitable for their age and energy levels. Keeping a safe distance as a nanny while ensuring they are comfortably engaged calls for a creative approach. Also be ready to sanitize everything frequently.
Here’s a list of activities tailored for younger children:
- Storytime: Hold a story session using colorful picture books. You can either read from a safe distance or use audio recordings. Change your voice for different characters to make it more engaging.
- Puppet Shows: Create a simple puppet show with hand puppets. You can maintain distance while entertaining the children with a fun, gentle story.
- Drawing and Coloring: Set up a space with crayons and paper for drawing and coloring. Ask them to draw their dreams, favorite foods, or friends.
- Building Blocks: Encourage play with building blocks or simple construction toys. This can be calming and doesn’t require much movement.
- Sing-Along Sessions: Play soft music and sing along, especially with songs that involve hand motions. This can be done while sitting down and encourages calm participation.
- Sticker Books: Children love stickers, and placing them in themed sticker books can be a quiet and engaging activity.
- Simple Puzzles: For toddlers, large-piece puzzles are engaging and encourage problem-solving, and they can be done while sitting in one place.
- Picture Bingo: Play a game of picture bingo with them. Use a set with pictures of animals, shapes, or everyday items.
- Sensory Bins: Create a simple sensory bin with items like rice, beans, or soft fabric. Children can sit and explore the textures with their hands while staying in one spot.
- Flashcards: Use flashcards to make a game of identifying colors, shapes, or simple words. It’s both educational and doesn’t require much physical effort.
- Bathtime: I advocate for a soothing yet enjoyable bathtime routine, which cleverly accomplishes three things simultaneously — maintaining a safe distance, ensuring the child’s cleanliness, and providing a comforting, engaging experience during illness. This supervised activity is not only about hygiene but also about infusing a sense of security and distraction when they’re feeling under the weather.
When dealing with younger children and toddlers, remember that the attention span is often shorter. It might be necessary to switch between activities more frequently to keep them engaged. Always ensure the safety of the activities and that they are in line with the parents’ guidelines and expectations. And importantly, even though you’re maintaining a distance, your warm presence and soothing voice can provide the comfort that younger children need, especially when they’re not feeling their best.
In summary, a nanny’s role is challenging yet rewarding, especially on the days when the children are unwell. By taking preventative measures, maintaining open communication, and being inventive with activities, you can ensure that these sick days pass by as smoothly and healthily as possible for everyone involved.
