LangfordB次元官网网址檚 modern-day Mary Poppins says the secret to raising happy kids is to stop saying B次元官网网址渘o.B次元官网网址�

Sarah-Jane West started out as a British nanny more than 25 years ago tending to children with ties to the Royal Family.

Now she works as a nanny in Langford and is hosting two seminars next week to share her secrets.

B次元官网网址淭oddlers are a particularly difficult age, they donB次元官网网址檛 have the emotional stability,B次元官网网址� West said explaining the word B次元官网网址渘oB次元官网网址� can damage a child emotionally and cause their self-esteem to spiral down.

She also insists saying B次元官网网址測ouB次元官网网址� singles out the child and to say B次元官网网址渨eB次元官网网址� instead.

For example, if a child is fiddling with an electrical socket, instead of saying B次元官网网址淣o! DonB次元官网网址檛 do that,B次元官网网址� West would say, B次元官网网址淲e donB次元官网网址檛 play with that. ItB次元官网网址檚 not a toy.B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址淧arents need to change their language and save (no) for emergencies,B次元官网网址� West said, explaining a sharp B次元官网网址渘oB次元官网网址� could be used when a child runs in the road.

When West said B次元官网网址淣oB次元官网网址� to a little girl sheB次元官网网址檚 nannying in Langford, B次元官网网址淪he stopped right in her tracks because I never say that word.B次元官网网址�

West began training to be a nanny in Britain in the late 1960s, and now bills herself as a B次元官网网址済enuine Mary Poppins,B次元官网网址� after the classic 1964 film.

Instead of telling a child what not to do, West simply explains what they can do.

If a child is kicking a table, she will redirect them to kick a soccer ball.

B次元官网网址淵ou are not stopping the child from doing what heB次元官网网址檚 doing, you are changing what heB次元官网网址檚 doing,B次元官网网址� West said.

The technique, which West has used for years, has its place says an expert in childrenB次元官网网址檚 behaviour who works in Greater Victoria.

B次元官网网址淚 wouldnB次元官网网址檛 say that saying B次元官网网址榥oB次元官网网址� is harmful, but I would advise to not have that as your main strategy,B次元官网网址� said Kim Ceurstemont, who holds a PhD in child clinical psychology.

Saying B次元官网网址渘oB次元官网网址� and being overly negative isnB次元官网网址檛 the best idea, she says. But children do need limits.

B次元官网网址淏oundaries are extremely important,B次元官网网址� Ceurstemont explains. B次元官网网址淏ut, being too negative can be destructive to the relationship between the parent and child.B次元官网网址�

A parent who has trouble saying B次元官网网址渘oB次元官网网址� is simply a permissive parent, while choosing redirection is a good thing.

B次元官网网址淐hildren have so many needs and we canB次元官网网址檛 say no to them without knowing the needs before hand,B次元官网网址�

Ceurstemont said.

One suggestion Ceurstemont makes is to ignore certain behaviours instead of saying B次元官网网址渘o.B次元官网网址�

She suggests ignoring irritating behaviour such as whining, but says to never ignore aggressive behaviour.

For parents who want to learn more about WestB次元官网网址檚 strategy, her seminars range in cost from $35 per person per seminar to $100 for a couple for both seminars.

How To Bring Up a Toddler Without Saying B次元官网网址楴o,B次元官网网址� seminars start at 7 p.m., June 25 and 26, at Tumblebums, 735 Goldstream Ave. To register call 250-474-7529.

reporter@goldstreamgazette.com