Friday, December 3, 2010

The Rainy Day Basket

I'm writing during the kids nap time today to distract myself from the pain in my mouth (dentist yesterday) and the painful truth that I do not have Taylor Swift/Needtobreath tickets for July.

Most of the little monsters are sleeping...yes, they deserve to be called monsters today.
With the holidays around the corner many of us find ourselves surrounded with children, so I thought I'd share one of my favorite nanny secrets/tips with you!

The Rainy Day Basket!
I'll share a photo of mine at some point, promise!

When: For a nanny the rainy day basket/box/tote is not solely for rainy days. It's for any bored, rainy, restless, fill in the blank kind of day.
** I keep my basket hidden, so the kids never know whats there!**

What: It should contain a variety of things. Sometimes I keep actual gifts in it. A little book I can give a child to add to their collection. The chance to pick something independently is so valuable to children. I also recommend games- cards, puzzles small board games. Having at least a couple arts and crafts projects is ideal. In the past I've had beads for key chain making, make your own picture frame kits, etc. New crayons/color pencils and coloring pages are always a hit too.

Where: The dollar spot at target is a gold mine (& the seasonal themed items are fabulous). Also check places like hobby lobby for crafts. Finally, a trip through the dollar store will likely get you all the essentials. The most important thing to remember is to match the things you buy with the childrens interests.

Who: My nanny basket has transformed into a teacher basket with some minor modifications. I recommend everyone have a rainy day basket. Nanny or not! It's great for family gatherings with kids or the lat minute gift you want to give to a child you know.

Happy shopping!

xoxo,
April

P.S. You could decorate your basket/box with your favorite children as one of your projects!

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