What are the duties of an au pair caring for toddlers?
In order to work as a toddler/preschooler care specialist in addition to our minimum requirements you need to:
- Have 1 or more years of experience working with toddlers and preschoolers
- Have completed a SETA approved first aid course (minimum of level 1, valid for 3 years) and regularly update this.
- It is not a requirement, however if you have completed an early childhood development course, Montessori or Educare course, Bachelor of Education , psychology, language, art, sport or music related degree it will be a huge bonus.
- You must have a real passion for working with toddlers as well a loving, patient and nurturing personality.
- You need to be highly active. This is the most active age group and it is important to be in good shape to keep up.
- You need to be organised and able to handle a very busy schedule as well as plan educational activities.
Duties you can expect when caring for toddlers and preschoolers:
- Toddler/preschooler care specialists can be requested to work full day or half day dependant on the client’s needs. It is your choice to apply for a position or not
You can be expected to:
- Dress children and change diapers.
- Assist in potty training
- Ensure the child/children’s safety watching at all times for choking hazards and other safety concerns.
- Prepare foods and feed the child/children
- Teach personal hygiene and cleanliness
- Wash and sterilise bottles and prepare formula.
- Bathing of the child/children.
- Wash the child/children's clothing.
- Organize and teach the child/children to participate in packing away of toys and materials in play areas.
- Washing the children's dishes, change their bedding, sanitising of toys and play equipment.
- Keeping records of the days activities, meals served, medications administered and milestones, observe and monitor a child’s development.
- Accompany children to group activities and classes, play dates, go on outings, and to medical appointments.
- Creation, management and implementation of a child’s schedule including planning age appropriate, stimulating recreational activities, eating times and sleeping times.
- Identify signs of emotional or developmental problems in children and bring them to parent’s or guardian’s attention.
- Reading, imaginative play, social play, puzzles, ball games, painting, drawing, teaching recognition of colours, shapes, alphabet , pole playing, building sandcastles and so much more.
- To work with this age group you should be able to have fun and learn with the child while exploring and introducing the child/children to the world around them on a cognitive and behavioural level. You need to be able to set boundaries and provide constant guidance and truly enjoy yourself at the same time.
