Course Curriculum

You will spend about two-thirds of  your time in class and one third on supervised work placement. This is where you get to practice the skills you have learned  alongside staff in early childhood centres, and in different nannying situations. These include work with babies, residential nannying and helping children with special needs. We have a wide range of families who offer our students work placement, including one or two famous TV personalities!

Early Childhood Education

• Art, music and movement, imaginative, dramatic and creative play

• Childrens' literature

• Science and maths, constructive, manipulative

• Sand and water play carpentry

• Te Whariki, The Early Childhood Curriculum

• Structure/Roles of Helping Agencies

• Directing behaviour

• Changing parenting and child raising patterns

• Programme planning

Infant Care

• Care of the newborn baby to 36 months

• Breastfeeding management, bottle feeding,  Introducing solids

• Baby bathing, Teething, Supervision

• Nutrition, Immunization

• Pregnancy, Post Natal Depression, Monitors for at-risk babies

• Weekly visiting babies to tutorials for practical demonstrations

• Settling young children Responsive caregiving  

Child Development

• A comprehensive understanding of the child from birth to adolescence.

• Conception and birth, 

• Physical, intellectual, social moral and emotional development 

• Vygotsky, Bronfrenbrenner, Piaget, Erikson theories

• Guiding childrens' behaviour  

• Special needs children

• Child observations and running records

Home Management

• Food hygiene

• Cleaning routines and home maintenance

• Laundry, ironing, stain removal

• Professional conduct in the home

• Appropriate use and understanding of home appliances

• Car Safety

Safety

• Water safety and survival, Home safety and security

• First Aid Certificate (pediatric)

• Traffic safety, children's car seats

• Fire safety, Burns awareness

• Playground safety, Toys and baby equipment

Professional Development

• Role of nanny, Professional ethics

• Interview skills, Employment Contracts, Job Descriptions

• Employer/employee relationships, C.Vs

• Self employment, Taxation

• NZ & Overseas Nanny Agencies

• Visas passports and work permits

• Travel, working holidays, Camp America

• Deportment and grooming

• Self-defence, Self-assessments

• Bi-culturalism Multicultural issues

Nutrition

• Selection, planning, preparation and presentation of children's and family meals.

• Menu planning, Food sensitivities, Allergies

• Food processing

• Good food habits for children

• Nutrition for babies, children of different ages, pregnant and lactating women  New Zealand nutritional goals

Health

• Communicable diseases, Childhood illnesses and conditions

• Caring for the sick child, baby massage

• Role of health professionals, Holistic health.

• Hospitalisation of children

• Child protection

• Recognition of child abuse

• Dental Health, Cot death, Grief issues  

Note: Students studying the New Zealand Certificate in Nanny Education (Level 5) cover the topics above in greater depth.