Latkes for Hanukkah

Cooking with Kids: Everyone Loves Potato Pancakes Many families are still celebrating Hanukkah. Latkes, or potato pancakes, are the traditional Hanukkah dish for Eastern European Jews. But, all children like latkes so all nannies and au pairs should consider making the children latkes during Hanukkah, even if the kids in their care don’t celebrate Hanukkah. […]

Au Pair Learns the Spirit of Thanksgiving

Why a Japanese Au Pair Loves an American Thanksgiving By Nanami A few years ago I came to America from Japan to work as an au pair for a family with two girls in Morristown, NJ. It was a difficult adjustment. Not only was there a language barrier, but I owned just a few non-Western […]

Thanksgiving Cornucopias

Cooking With Kids Cornucopias, sometimes called Horn of Plenties, are a common symbol of Thanksgiving. Typically cornucopias are filled with the produce, flowers, and foods of the harvest. Here’s a quick and easy cornucopia made with ice cream cones for the kids for Thanksgiving. What You Need: Waffle Cones or Large Sugar Ice Cream Cones Favorite […]

Children’s Books that Teach the Spirit of Thanksgiving

Trip to the Library In the spirit of Thanksgiving (coming up on Thursday) I borrowed some books from the library about thankfulness and the many blessings we have, rather than specifically about the holiday of Thanksgiving. I think these are great choices for children to share the spirit of Thanksgiving. Of course if you prefer […]

Headbanz

Product Review Sunday HedBanz Game is a guessing game that takes the classic game of 20 questions to a sillier level. Two to six players can play at a time, and each is equipped with three plastic chips and an adjustable headband. Each player selects a picture card from the deck and attaches it to […]

Sarah, Plain and Tall

Book Reviews for Kids by Kids By Alanna 10-Years-Old Sarah, Plain and Tall is a realistic fiction book written for children. This story takes place on a farm, in a prairie, in the United States in the 1800’s. In the story Caleb and Anna’s mom dies. So, their father Jacob puts an ad in the […]

Apple Dumpling Dessert

Cooking With Kids Kids love this easy apple dumpling dessert found on Food Network because it tastes like apple pie but they each can enjoy their own individual dessert. Simply core and peel apples and wrap them in their own pastry shell before baking. What You Need: 4 cups flour 2 cups shortening 1 cup […]

Starting a New Nanny Job

What You Need to Know When Starting a New Nanny Job Before starting a new nanny position caregivers and parents should sign a work agreement, fill out necessary tax paperwork such as Form W-4, and fill out and submit any applications for benefits being offered to the new employee. Most nanny placement agencies should be […]

Games to Play with Kids to Help Them Listen

How Do You Get Kids to Listen? Listening skills can be practiced in fun ways in the home. Since kids learn through play, here are fun ways to teach your charges to listen better. Story Chain Play a story game with the child or with the whole family. The Babycenter web site suggests that one […]

Changing Jobs Doesn’t Change You

Simple Secrets of Successful People In his book 100 Simple Secrets of Successful People David Niven, Ph. D. explains that transitions intimidate us because everything seems so different. But, even though our work environment changes when we switch jobs, we don’t. In his book the author states that we all need some stability in our lives […]