Thursday Thought: Dealing with dyslexia

This week is Dyslexia Awareness Week in the UK. Dyslexia is a processing issue in the brain relating to written language, and affects as many as 1 in 10 people. It’s not linked to intelligence, it’s just that the brain works a little differently and needs different strategies to process information, however children can end up feeling left behind and label themselves ‘stupid’ or ‘lazy’ because they cannot acquire reading, a skill which is necessary for future learning, as quickly as their peers. Struggling at school early on creates negative associations of learning and can make forming relationships with other children more difficult.

When we hear that someone has dyslexia we automatically associate that with difficult reading and writing, but this year’s Dyslexia Awareness Week is focusing on the theme Beyond Words. People with dyslexia might also have trouble with mental arithmetic, short-term memory, organisation, sequencing (for example ordering the days of the week), following directions, telling left from right or timekeeping, which can impact on many areas of their life even when they aren’t confronted with written language. If you care for a child with dyslexia you can have a really positive impact by helping them find ways to organise themselves and improve their memory.

These are some traits which might help identify dyslexia – it’s not a checklist but if you notice that a child has difficulty with several things on the list the British Dyslexia Association (BDA) recommends further investigation. Something which really helps dyslexic learners throughout their lives is early identification of problems which allows them to get targeted support from a young age. We’ve found a great document which contains helpful hints and tips for identifying dyslexic tendencies in preschoolers and activities you can do to help, as well as ideas to support children of all ages.

Dyslexic learners often struggle with their confidence so it’s just as important to find things they can do and enjoy. Dr Sears calls this the ‘carry-over principle’, the idea that being good at something will improve performance in all areas.  Do acknowledge that a child has dyslexia and might find some things more difficult but don’t label a child ‘dyslexic’ because that will encourage them to define themselves by a specific problem they face and not by all their other positive qualities. It’s also important to emphasise that dyslexia doesn’t need to hold them back in any way. There are lots of famous people with dyslexia: Lord Sugar, Richard Branson, Keira Knightley, Picasso and Einstein all are or were dyslexic!

If you’re reading this and thinking ‘hmmm that sounds like me’ then you should know that xyslexia doesn’t just affect children. Although you might not feel it’s worth getting a formal diagnosis as an adult you can still try to implement some strategies yourself and see if they help you.

Thursday Thought: Watch your back

This week is Back Care Awareness Week.

As nannies our backs are constantly put under stress and strain, and taking care of ourselves is vital to ensure our career isn’t cut short because we become physically unable to lift, bend and care for children.

If, like many nannies, you spend most of the day on your feet it’s vital to wear sensible, comfortable, well-fitting shoes. We all know high heels are bad for backs, and they’re not too practical for running around after children either, but flat shoes – especially ballerina styles and flip-flops – can be just as bad. The most supportive shoes have a well-cushioned sole and a slight heel. If you can’t bear to give up your flats then investigate inserts that will support your instep. Look after your shoes too, as over time shoes will wear out and stop supporting your foot properly, which can unbalance you and put stress on your back.

Carrying children is obviously a bit part of a nanny’s job, and many nannies will have a child who needs to be carried in their care throughout their entire career, which can be thirty years or more. When lifting a child make sure you employ proper lifting techniques:

Engage your stomach muscles
Bend from your knees
Don’t lift and twist at the same time

If you have a baby or toddler who likes to be carried a lot you should use baby carriers that are ergonomically designed for baby and adult. Avoid types which have very thing straps crossing high in your back and avoid carrying children on your hip for extended periods without some kind of support. You can get advice on different types of carrier here.

Pushing a pram is another daily event for most nannies, but few parents take the physiology of their nanny into account when they choose their pram. If you’re a short nanny working for very tall parents, or the other way round, you might encounter problems with an essential piece of equipment! Where a pram has adjustable handles then make sure you use that feature, but if you find using their pram impossible then do talk to them and try to come up with another solution. It’s also something worth considering at future interviews – if you know you have a problem with a specific model of pram then it should be a consideration on whether you accept the job. A good employer will be willing to work with you on this. After all, no-one wants a nanny going out on long term sick leave over an occupational health problem.

Bags can be another big culprit. An over-filled changing bag, especially if it’s a shoulder bag style rather than a backpack or cross body bag, will cause you to tilt to one side. You might also find yourself carrying several other bags on the school run with older children. Try to minimise the weight of their school bags (this will protect their backs too in the future) and encourage them to carry their own belongings. If necessary get a shopping trolley. They come in pretty funky designs now!

At any sign of discomfort stop what you’re doing and assess whether you can do the task a different way. If you start to notice a pattern raise the issue with your boss and if necessary make a doctor’s appointment. Looking after your back is looking after your career in the long run.

Thursday thought: Saying no

When it comes to charges, gently refusing is second nature. We accept they have to learn that certain behaviour is unacceptable, certain objects are out of bounds and that they are probably hungry because it’s nearly lunchtime and we aren’t going to let them have a biscuit.

Employers, on the other hand, are a totally different matter. For some reason we find ourselves saying ‘yes, of course’ when we really meant ‘it’s not terribly convenient’ or ‘I’d rather not’ or ‘I had something completely different planned for my evening’. Whether it’s coming in early, babysitting, running an extra errand or doing last night’s washing up we always seem to end up helping.

Of course this usually makes them grateful. It reflects well on us and references are peppered with ‘always will to go the extra mile’ and ‘really flexible’ but it also makes me personally feel like a bit of a mug.

I find it difficult to be assertive. I find it difficult to turn down an unreasonable request, let alone a reasonable one. I find it difficult to say ‘NO’ to anyone over the age of about 8.

And I’m realising that’s not terribly good for me.

So in future I’m going to think about myself before I say yes, and I’m going to practice saying no nicely. So next time we’re supposed to meet up and I’m asked to babysit at the last minute, I’ll see you at 8!