"I’ve always been the type to be prepared for every possibility, so packing essentials comes naturally. First aid kit? Always have one on me anyway. Umbrella? Check. Survival kit? Yes, believe it or not. Water bottle, phone charger, some form of identification, wet wipes, mask... none of these are optional when I leave my house.
A tougher challenge was keeping children’s attention without physical distractions. In a classroom, I prided myself on knowing what would work with each individual student. But not knowing my charge yet? Nerve-wracking! While I was initially stressed about this, I remembered I used to carry a small pot of playdoh in my purse - a dollar store distraction for anxiety. Side effect? I became a magnet for the kids/teenagers in the room.
Aha! This led me to a different strategy: rather than worrying about suiting everyone’s needs (which is impossible/stressful), I pack items that are easy, cheap and have multiple sensory elements. This list can be customized to your taste, but here’s a glimpse into my process of packing non-mandatory things for the job.
Bean bags are a personal favorite, so we’ll use this as an example! I made my favorite from a yellow microfibre duster covering because it has soft squiggly things (technical term, I know) and a ton of texture designed for getting dust out of corners. I change what I call it depending on the kid I’m working with. One day it’s a “focus toy” to help with homework, the next it’s a “bravery toy” to be squeezed when faced with a challenging situation. It’s super attention grabbing, so perfect for distracting!
A broader way to use this strategy (while not overpacking) is incorporating “fun” elements into my essentials. This can help kids be more comfortable with me from the get-go because curiosity often outweighs initial nerves, and we all know the best toys are not toys (as long as they're safe!). For example, my water bottle has a button on it that ‘pops’ the straw up and a locking mechanism that can prevent the pop. My bag has geometric reflective panels that change color depending on the angle of light. More traditionally, I do bring a marker set, but in a box that has some extra steps to open and stands up when opened a certain way. All of these tiny details are things I keep in mind when selecting new essentials.
While there's no "perfect" care kit, adding multi-sensory items provides extra toys without the weight. It can be helpful to you too! The more you feel like you have everything you need, the more comfortable the kids will be, and comfortable kids are happy kids. So go forth and have fun with your charges! Remember, sometimes the answer is a soft, squiggly beanbag you made from a dusting cloth."
Contributed by Faith B
Full-Time Caregiver in Massachusetts
MUSIC ARTIST SPOTLIGHT: Kira Wiley is an artist who introduces mindfulness techniques in her children’s songs. I love using breathing and music with kids and her songs are beautiful and simplistic. A personal favorite is How To Be a Cloud, which explores restfulness by imagining you’re floating. One of my regular little ones loves to lie on the grass and watch the clouds listening to this song.