Fun and Educational Activities for Nannies and Au Pairs

It’s Easy to Have Fun While Learning Keeping children active and engaged is an important responsibility for nannies. However, it can sometimes be challenging to come up with new and exciting activities that children will enjoy. When planning activities, it is always important to keep in mind the ages of the children as well as […]

Add Some Character to Your Pumpkins

Wednesdays With Whitney By Whitney Tang Fall is all about pumpkins. Pumpkin patches, pumpkin pie, and especially pumpkin carving! However, carving can be a little difficult for the little ones we care for. Let them get more involved with these cute character pumpkins, inspired by Parenting Magazine’s 2012 Halloween Edition. Supplies ·         Pumpkins ·         Glue […]

Creative Fall Painting

Wednesdays With Whitney Do you ever feel like painting can be monotonous with toddlers? Giant blobs here, tiny scribbles there. Young children get bored easily with the same old paintbrushes and the same old pictures. Change up your painting this fall with by adding some texture and creativity to your children’s masterpieces. Supplies • Apples […]

Fall Trees

Wednesdays with Whitney You know it’s fall when the leaves start changing colors. Why not celebrate this bright occasion with a simple entertaining craft for the little ones. Make these fall trees with the children you nanny and watch their creativity flow. Supplies • Thick construction paper • Markers or crayons • Scissors • Tape […]

Wednesdays With Whitney

Melted Crayon Pictures By Whitney Tang Broken crayons are the bane of every nanny’s existence. They’re difficult to color with, they get lodged in cracks, and they take up unnecessary room in the craft box. Instead of living with these obnoxious nubs, turn them into an afternoon craft which doubles as a bright decoration for […]

Colored Rice

Rainy Day Sensory Play By Whitney Tang The wind is growling, the rain is cascading, the children are whining. What is a nanny to do after puddle jumping, spontaneous dancing, and storytelling have all been exhausted? Brighten up your stormy afternoon by making colored rice. It’s fun to make and will give grubby little fingers […]

Painting With Colored Ice

colored ice finger paint Colors and Creativity Flow With Exciting New Art Materials By Scholastic Children use fine motor skills, eye-hand coordination, and creative expression as they paint with colorful ice cubes. Invite children to help you make frozen paint-brushes. Fill two to four ice-cube trays with warm water. Using different colors, add a teaspoon of powdered […]

The Power of Play Dough

Homemade Play Dough Young children love to play with play dough, and play dough play is a great way to support their learning. It benefits children socially, creatively, and physically while building language and literacy, science, and math skills — all at the same time! Homemade or out of the can, this preschool staple can […]

Spring Science at Home

How To Make People with Grass for Hair 1. Allow the child to decorate a rectangle of construction paper cut to fit a small milk container or Styrofoam cup. The child that made this cute plant holder is just two-years-old but I let her color the paper and then put stickers on the paper to make eyes since she’s isn’t capable […]

Snow Star Craft for Nannies and Au Pairs

Have You Had Snow Yet This Winter? With paper folded the right way and a little ‘cutting edge’ imagination, you can create something better than your typical paper snowflake — you can make Snow Stars! Younger kids may have a little trouble with this craft, but it’s like magic when they open them up. Well […]