Are More Au Pairs Taking Much Needed Nanny Jobs? Since the au pair program was created to alleviate a shortage of eligible workers in the United States, is the au pair program necessary today given the condition of the economy? Last week we asked if the demand and pay for nannies is declining as the […]
How Hot Did it Get This Week Where You Live?
July 23, 2011 5 Comments
What Are You Doing to Keep Cool? I am just one of thousands of New Jersey residents that lost power during the heat wave. We reached record high temperatures already this week, as did much of the country. Here are some quick and easy tips from my local electric company on saving power during the […]
Benefits of Teaching Babies to Swim
July 23, 2011 3 Comments
Weekly Trip to the Library for Nannies and Au Pairs An important part of summer fun with children is swimming. But, researchers from Britain and Norway have found that swimming is much more than fun — they found developmental benefits of having children learn to swim when they are babies. Research from the Norwegian University […]
Do Parents Care More About Their Checkbook Than Quality Care?
July 22, 2011 21 Comments
Do You Think More Parents are Hiring Inexperienced Nannies for Less Money, or Spending More for Experienced, Quality Care? With the Unemployment Rate for 16-to 24-Age Group the Highest Since World War II are Younger, Cheaper Nannies Taking All the Nanny Jobs? Yesterday we explained that the Bureau of Labor Statistics confirms that in 2010, childcare workers averaged $19,300 […]
Is the Demand and Pay for Nannies Growing, Slowing, or Staying the Same?
July 21, 2011 17 Comments
How Much Do Others Earn and Where Do They Earn It? In 2010, childcare workers averaged $19,300 per year compared to a national mean for all workers of $44,410. Analyzing data tables from the Bureau of Labor Statistics can reveal interesting statistics regarding childcare workers. The term “childcare workers” refers to those who provide care whether in-home […]
Are You Taking the Kids to Any Museums This Summer?
July 20, 2011 6 Comments
Keep Learning this Summer Keep the kids learning all summer long by visitng the library and taking field trips.Together, you and the child can decide on weekly themes and try these ideas. Borrow a library book about the child’s favorite topics such as oceans or outer space. For example, you might read The Ocean Alphabet […]
Should Boys Be Allowed to Play with the Breastfeeding Baby Doll?
July 19, 2011 10 Comments
Would You Be Comfortable Having Your Charges Use the Breastfeeding Baby Doll? Bebé Glotón is a infant doll made by Berjuan, a toy maker in Spain, for the express purpose of promoting breastfeeding. The idea is to impress upon kids that breastfeeding is natural. The child wears a colorful bra-like halter-top featuring flowers over the nipple […]
Tell Children to Find a Woman to Help them if They Get Lost!
July 19, 2011 2 Comments
Gavin de Becker’s Best Advice for a Lost Child Last week an eight-year old boy was murdered in Brooklyn when he was allowed to walk home for the first time alone. Notable author Gavin de Becker explains there is no magic age that children are ready to walk home alone, but rather they should take […]
Have You Told Children Not to Talk to Strangers? Why You Must Change That!
July 18, 2011 2 Comments
When a Child is Lost They Must Find One of the Millions of Strangers That Will Help Them For every stranger who would harm a child, there are millions who will not. After years of telling children not to talk to strangers, Gavin de Becker recommends teaching children how to find a safe stranger for help. The goal is […]
Cell Phones That Keep Kids Safe!
July 17, 2011 16 Comments
Do Your Charges Have Cell Phones? With the murder of an eight-year old boy last week in Brooklyn we have been discussing how to know if a child is mature enough to walk home alone and books about child safety. My friends and I have been questioning whether the boy had a cell phone on […]
