Are You Working New Year’s Eve?

What Nannies and Au Pairs Should Charge for New Year’s Eve   A nanny can charge more when her services are likely to be in higher demand, such as on holidays. We recommend you charge more than your usual rate if asked to work on New Year’s Eve. First, check your work agreement to see […]

Making a Gingerbread House with Kids

We made the gingerbread house in the photo with a kit. The kit has the cookies already baked and in the shapes needed to make the house. The kit also includes icing, candies, and coconut to use to decorate the house. But, if you want to make a real gingerbread house from scratch here are […]

Make 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. […]

Is Your Charge Ready to Start Potty Training? By Lynn Wariara

Potty training takes effort, determination, positive reinforcement, and patience. This is one area of a child’s development that cannot be rushed and must be initiated in a delicate manner. A child must never feel intimidated during the potty training process. Ideally, potty training can be introduced to child that is between the ages of 18 […]

Casting Call for Nannies

The web site Reality Wanted has posted a casting call for nannies from Pink Sneakers Productions. Pink Sneakers Productions are seeking nannies who want to be on TV. Applicants will interview with an expecting couple who will be hiring a nanny. No gags, swapping families, or competitions – just parents-to-be who need a nanny. Applicants […]

Children’s Halloweeen Books

Weekly Trip to the Library for Nannies and Au PairsThe Legend of Spookley the Square PumpkinBy Joe Troiano I love books that come with a CD and so do children. Spookley the square pumpkin is different. He delivers a special message of tolerance and self-acceptance that’s just right for Halloween and every day of the […]

Age Appropriate Halloween DVD’s for Nannies and Au Pairs

Little tots are scared of the dark, haunted houses, and scary movies on Halloween. But, you can view fun Halloween movies with little kids too. Some great classic Halloween movies for little kids include: It’s the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown, Barney’s Halloween Party, and Arthur’s Scary Stories. We also found two NEW Halloween DVDs to […]

Halloween Fun

You’ve Been Ghosted! This is a fun game to play before Halloween. Have children help you fill up a gift bag or small paper lunch bag with Halloween treats. Add anything related to Halloween into the bags including: Halloween candy, little plastic spiders, and/or rubber Halloween characters. Each bag must include a paper ghost, so […]

Nanny Training Article Made it to NBC

Article about Nanny Training made it to NBC. Click here to see the article. Call it babysitter boot camp.Nannies are often the first line of defense when it comes to child rearing for working families. But they often lack any professional child-care training. “My biggest concern was really trusting the person I leave at home […]

Bill would require background checks on people who work inside other’s homes

Article from macon.comBy Amy Leigh Womack This summer we discussed that some nanny web sites have misleading advertisements claiming they have pre-screened nannies on their sites. Click here to see the beginning of the series about misleading advertising. The discussion lead us to share how parents must complete background checks on in-home childcare providers. Click […]