Summer Learning with Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day by Judith Viorst

Weekly Trip to the Library for Nannies and Au Pairs Read Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day. This story describes a day in which everything goes wrong for a boy named Alexander. When Alexander got up in the morning, he found gum in his hair, tripped on his skateboard, and accidentally […]

Summer Science: Making Floam

Creative Wednesdays Incorporating learning into the summer benefits the children. If done properly, the kids will will be having so much fun they won’t know they are having lessons at home. Making Floam is a great science lesson and is a great medium for kids to create with when they are tired of the same […]

Summer Learning: The Rainbow Fish by Marcus Pfister

 Weekly Trip to the Library With the extra time you have to spend caring for the kids this summer don’t just read books to the kids — do projects and activities that relate to the books you read to them. The Rainbow Fish by Marcus Pfister has shimmering illustrations of a beautiful fish, who is very […]

How to Make Silly Putty

Creative Projects Recipe By James Clinard for About.com, Photos by Stephanie Felzenberg One of my charges loves doing science experiments at home and asked if we would make Silly Putty last week. Since Whitney is still on her honeymoon I decided to share this project with our readers today. Whenever making arts and crafts or science experiments […]

Forsythia Blossoms

Spring Project One of the first blossoms in spring in New Jersey are the yellow forsythia bush blossoms. In California and other warm-winter areas, forsythia may bloom in January, while here in New Jersey it typically blooms in March. The three-year-old I care for loves all flowers and squeals with joy when she sees the […]

Making Christmas Ornaments

Wednesdays with Whitney Christmas time is here!  That means trees are going up and you finally have the perfect spot to display all of those Christmas crafts. This year, make a craft with the kiddos that will last through the years by baking up some salt dough ornaments. You Will Need: ½ cup salt ½ […]

10 Gifts Nannies Can Help Kids Make for their Parents

Inexpensive Gift Giving By part-time Nanny Kids typically love to give their parents gifts, but they often lack the money needed to buy them, and it can seem silly to spend mom and dad’s money to buy them a gift. Instead of buying a gift, there are many things that kids can make for their […]

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 […]

What Are Your Favorite Fingerplays?

Fingerplays to Use With Preschoolers A fingerplay is a rhyme to sing using our fingers or hands with the words of the song. Preschool songs and rhymes offer many life-long benefits to children. Fingerplays develop fine-motor co-ordination, sequential memory, and body awareness.  Be sure to teach the young children you care for preschool fingerplays, action rhymes, […]

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 […]