‘Super Nanny' Training Program Introduced by Medcare to Up-Skill and Empower Nannies in the UAE

 

One in four low-income female workers in the UAE is a nanny, with kids spending an average of 55 hours a week with them.  

Less than 5% nannies in the UAE have any formal training in childcare. i

The program will commence in January 2018

 

Dubai, UAE, 19 December 2017:  Medcare today launched a new ‘Super Nanny’ Training Program which will train, equip and empower nannies across the UAE, using assisted-parenting tools, in an effort to bridge the current gap in skills required for optimal childcare.

 

Taking care of children can be very challenging for parents. Children, especially those under the age of five, can be extremely demanding. A nanny is expected to be with the child all through the day to ensure that his or her needs are fulfilled.  Most often, housemaids double as nannies, and consider taking care of children a part of their household chores. Without proper training and understanding of childcare, the child’s emotional and physical needs may get neglected. In turn, this could lead to problems like aggressive behavior, excessive tantrums, childhood depression, learning issues, technology addiction, poor social and communication skills and eating disorders. 

 

The foundations of character, behavior, learning, social skills and health are laid during the formative years of a child’s life. They learn these life-defining skills by observing and emulating their parents and caregivers. Therefore, like in every other profession, a nanny needs the right kind of training to do her job effectively.

 

Offering a solution to address these needs, Medcare Paediatrics has designed the ‘Super Nanny’ Training Program. It will build the knowledge and skills of nannies to ensure that children get adequate emotional and physical support to grow into healthy, self-respecting, balanced human beings. 

 

The program will comprise of eight modules that will cover baby care, childcare – physical, emotional and behavioral development, hygiene and safety, child nutrition and emergency care. These modules will be taught by childcare experts including Psychologists, Nutritionists, Educationists, Doctors and Nurses, through lectures, group activities, role playing and shared experiences. One module called ‘Understanding Your Child’ is dedicated only for parents. This will help parents learn about concepts such as, the ‘power of touch’ and ‘attachment parenting’. The duration of the training is one and a half days.

 

“Today, most households have both the parents working full time. This creates a big need for external help for childcare. The architecture of a child’s brain is shaped during the first five years, and early life experiences set the foundation for its organisational development and functioning. Therefore, having a trained nanny is very important, as they have significant influence on the children. The Medcare ‘Super Nanny’ program modules have been designed to provide a full model of care for babies, toddlers and kids,” explained Dr. Syed Mohamad Anees, Head of Pediatric Specialty Center at Medcare.

 

Ms. Alisha Moopen, Executive Director and CEO of Hospitals and Clinics, GCC, at Aster DM Healthcare said, “We are delighted to launch the Super Nanny Program. We believe that this first-of-its kind initiative will bring about a huge difference in the way our children are nurtured. As a mother of two, I fully understand how it feels when parents have to entrust their child with another person from morning to evening. At Medcare, we strive to identify and address real challenges faced by people and communities. The deficits we found in assisted parenting were a cause for concern. Providing a solution, our program will make nannies more confident about their work and help parents understand the role of nannies in their children’s lives. This will also improve mutual trust, and in turn build healthier nanny-child-parent relationships. The first training program will take place in January 2018. Children are the future of the nation and we want them to be best equipped to become leaders and healthy citizens of the community.”

 

Interested parents can register and enroll their nanny in the program for a small fee, and also customize the program elements based on their needs.