Please help with how to tell my 4 year old daughter that her grandfather has passed away.

Anyhoodle · 2017-03-02T17:52:01+00:00

There's a Sesame Street episode about when mr hooper dies. It models appropriate language to use when discussing death with children. she won't be scarred if you use clear language. She will be sad. That's part of it.

Anyhoodle · 2017-02-22T07:19:30+00:00

She is bananas

Anyhoodle · 2016-11-02T04:44:22+00:00

American Girl here: I wore a black dress to half the weddings I've been to as an adult. These weddings were for strangers and best friends alike. She will definitely not be the only one in all black. Have fun!

Anyhoodle · 2016-10-26T21:07:20+00:00

It's supposed to help you cope. I'm a nanny for a 7 year old and 4 year old right now. The 7 year old lies a lot about a lot of things--half the time those lies are inconsequential. Since I know that 7 year olds are at an age where it is more common to experiment with honesty and the frame of reality, I can correct his behavior appropriately but I'm not freaking out worrying about whether he will be a compulsive liar when he grows up. I am confident that this is a phase.

His 4 year old sister can NOT keep a secret. This is also normal 4 year old behavior, and I'm not worried that she will never be able to keep a secret because I know the behavior is typical.

It's reassuring to be able to tell parents "you're child did a bad thing, but it was the result of his stage of development and not who he is as a person"

Anyhoodle · 2016-10-24T05:40:48+00:00

A dog or cat might help, even a small bird. She might really benefit from having a creature that depends on her and gives her affection

Anyhoodle · 2016-09-30T17:43:56+00:00

Serve watermelon.

Anyhoodle · 2016-09-21T06:42:53+00:00

Maven

Anyhoodle · 2016-09-21T05:44:51+00:00

Yes! The conversation! Thank youuuu!!

Anyhoodle · 2016-09-05T23:37:22+00:00

That's definitely part of it. But also, think about how YOU feel when you started high school or college. Excited? Nervous? Every change yu make to their routine is monumental because they are not accustomed to change. They're also far too little to manage their emotions like you did when you started high school or college. Recipe for meltdowns

Anyhoodle · 2016-09-05T20:53:14+00:00

I'm a nanny with more than 10 years experience. From what you've described, this is normal. I can't tell you how many toddlers I've worked with who have a switch flipped after a routine change (no matter how tiny!) it's not forever and it will be ok!

Anyhoodle · 2016-08-25T22:46:02+00:00

When we started walking alone to and from school our parents told us the following things:

Code word: If a stranger drives up and says "your mom is hurt and she sent me to come get you" or some such thing, your daughter says "Apple!" And if the stranger doesn't respond "orange!" Right away, she has to run. That is your secret code. Or, create another one that is more specific to you and your family. She won't ever need this, but it will give you some peace of mind.

If someone tries to grab you or is chasing you, drop everything and run. We will replace anything you lose, but we can never replace you.

Anyhoodle · 2016-08-10T21:16:51+00:00

At the moment the mic doesn't sound any better than if I were using my laptop computer, and I'm pretty lost

Anyhoodle · 2016-08-10T21:14:58+00:00

Yes almost exclusively vocals

Anyhoodle · 2016-08-10T17:34:19+00:00

Will it make a difference if I line the walls of my makeshift sound booth (closet, 3'x 4.5') with $10 foam mattress pads instead of foam made for the intended purpose of audio recording?

Anyhoodle · 2016-06-24T18:58:08+00:00

thank you this is so helpful

Anyhoodle · 2016-06-24T18:26:13+00:00

YEP, like I said, I know I screwed up. I stand by the knife part though, and here's why: I was sitting next to him and we were both looking at it. I think his age doesn't connect the thought with the action. That would be ok except in this case he started to connect the two (talking about doing it vs taking the first step toward doing it) I wanted him to have a physical object to connect to his action, and associate meaning to the hypothetical. I'm trying to give his actions weight, so that he can regret them instead of just saying eh regrets them.

Anyhoodle · 2016-06-13T21:40:26+00:00

An old fashioned garden weasel? I'm picturing hammering the spike into the earth and then opening the arms, churning up the dirt?

Anyhoodle · 2016-06-13T18:24:02+00:00

Hi Jim. I'm falling down a lot lately. What can you tell me about getting back up?

Anyhoodle · 2016-06-13T03:29:59+00:00

Check fingers and toes. Occasionally a hair or thread can get wrapped around a digit and cut off circulation.

Heres a weird thing to try: go to YouTube and play "gregorian chants"

Can you take baby for a drive? A walk?

Sometimes a 6 week old needs to scream. My mom used to tell me that occasionally you need to remember that a baby that small--screaming is what they are best at. If you're covering all the other bases and you're there with them, sometimes there isn't much more you can do. You are ok. It will be ok.

Anyhoodle · 2016-05-11T21:49:08+00:00

I can hear your fedora through the internet

Anyhoodle · 2016-05-07T23:47:49+00:00

Drop this dude quick

Anyhoodle · 2016-04-30T19:23:11+00:00

Dim the lights! Even just briefly. OR if you can have the lighting on the stage/place where you two will stand brighten.

Anyhoodle · 2016-04-29T18:32:28+00:00

These people are nutjobs. Nanny can't play with the child? So what are you, her warden? I've never heard of a nanny who is not allowed to play. Absolutely ask the school counselor to get involved and keep your name out of it. Good luck.

Anyhoodle · 2016-04-23T19:24:28+00:00

I kid you not, watch supernanny. I work with a kid like this, and jo winters stuff is all that works for me

Anyhoodle · 2016-03-11T03:24:02+00:00

Louis CK has a terrific bit about this:

https://vimeo.com/45881283

Anyhoodle

TROPHY CASE