Make a booklet of babysitter safety. Include first aid tips and things to do if a child becomes ill, as well as a list of emergency phone numbers. Leave room to fill in specific family information, such as the doctor's name and number,or the number of an emergency contact person.
Find out what household items can be dangerous for a young child, including spiritual taboos. Make a list of those items and then find out how they are stored in your home. If possible, make a safety check in a home where there is a young child
Children love hearing a good story. Compile a list of 10 children's books about Yoruba culture and orisa lifestyle.
Read five Yoruba books that younger children really enjoy, and choose your favorite two or three to read to a young child. You can also write your own orisa stories to read to children.
Research Yoruba games and children's activities from West Africa. Make a "rainy day" activities box for younger children. Include supplies for at least four different types of activities. Make sure the activities are safe for younger children to do. (For example, there should be no small parts that they might put in their mouths.) Do the activities with a child or a group of children.
Invite a health-care professional who works with infants to come to your spiritual community. Have him or her demonstrate the proper way to hold, feed, and dress an infant. Practice each of these skills. Note: A lifelike doll can be used for this purpose.
Plan to spend time with a young child or infant on different days. Keep a written or taped record of your observations of the child's behaviors and moods. How much may be related to the child's ancestral connections, orisa affiliation or specific odu Ifa?
Decide what eight supplies you would need if you were taking a preschooler on an all-day outing. Check with an adult who supervises or is the parent of young children to see i f your ideas were right.
What are three healthy (organic, sugar free) snacks you can make for younger children? Prepare and serve a healthy snack to a group of younger children.
Research and catalog indigenous West African toys. Where do they come from? What are they called? How are they used?
Children go through different stages. At each age children develop different skills and interests and are capable of different things. Create a chart that shows what children can do at each of the following ages: newborn through six months; six through 12 months; 12 through 18 months; 18 months through two years, two years through four years. Use parenting books, websites, and conversations with parents and professional care-givers to get your information. Then add a section on what types of things you can do with children at each age. Share it with members of your spiritual community as a standard for Orisa Babysitting.
