Dried Flower Valentine’s Sun Catcher

Over the summer a child I care for and I used a microwave flower press to dry flowers quickly and efficiently to make crafts during the year. This week we used some of the pink and red flowers to make a heart-shaped sun catcher as a Valentine’s craft.  You Will Need: Small FlowersMicrowave Flower PressConstruction […]

Valentine’s Gifts on a Budget

Heart-Shaped Roasted Potatoes for Valentine’s Day

Heart-Shaped Roasted Potatoes are a total win for nannies to make for children for Valentine’s Day. The kiddos will love the cute shape and the crispy edges, while nannies love how easy and hands-on the potatoes are. This is a yummy, feel-good way to celebrate Valentine’s Day with smiles at the table with very few […]

Thumbprint Heart Salt Dough Necklaces for Valentine’s Day

Thumbprint Heart Salt Dough Necklaces are the perfect Valentine’s Day craft. Kids love mixing the ingredients, rolling the dough, cutting out the shapes with cookie cutters, using their fingers to make hearts, painting their pendants, and creating a heartfelt gift that their friends and family can wear all in one sweet activity. Check out how […]

Groundhog Day Puppets

Today is Groundhog Day. The celebration derives from the Pennsylvania Dutch superstition that if a groundhog emerges from its burrow and sees its shadow, it will retreat to its den and winter will go on for six more weeks. If the groundhog does not see its shadow, spring will arrive early. The kids love making […]

Best Humidifiers for Babies and Children

Dry winter air, central heat, and low humidity can often leave tiny noses congested and skin feeling dry, cracked, and itchy. A cool-mist humidifier adds back moisture to the air, helping keep babies’ and children’s’ nasal passages clear, skin soft, and sleep deeper by easing irritation from colds and dry air. Choosing a cool mist […]

Pappardelle with Beef Bolognese

When dinner is Pappardelle with Beef Bolognese on a cold winter evening, it’s not just a meal, it’s comfort in a bowl. The wide, silky pasta is fun to twirl, the rich sauce is cozy and familiar, and the hearty flavors make even picky eaters feel at home. It’s the kind of dinner that brings […]

Heart-Shaped Bird Feeders

The children in my care loved making pinecone bird feeders so much this winter that I couldn’t resist finding a heart-shaped bird feeder activity to pair their love of feeding local birds with Valentine’s Day. I discovered this sweet idea on The Purposeful You web site, and it was a perfect fit. Watching winter birds […]

Soak and Seal: A Child’s Eczema Care Routine

Eczema is one of the most common and most frustrating skin challenges little ones face. As nannies we see firsthand how uncomfortable itchy, dry patches can make babies and children feel. While every child’s skin is unique and severe cases may need a pediatrician’s guidance, there are many gentle over-the-counter (OTC) products that can provide […]

Making the Perfect Grilled Cheese for Kids

Grilled cheese is a timeless comfort food that’s perfect for busy nanny days. It’s been my go-to side to soup all winter long for my Nanny Kids. Grilled cheese sandwiches are quick to make, kid-approved, and endlessly customizable by adding a protein like an egg, sliced turkey, beans, or bacon or a veggie like tomato […]