Monogramed Gift Mugs

Homemade Holiday Gifts You don’t have to spend a lot of money to give personalized handmade gifts this holiday season. You can find nice mugs at the dollar store and oil based Sharpie markers and large monogram stickers at any craft store. Older school-aged children can help make these gift mugs using the first letter […]

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Popsicle Stick Menorah

Creative Wednesdays The religious celebration of Hanukkah begins Sunday at sundown. The center of the celebration is the candelabra called a menorah. Hanukkah celebrates a miracle. After the Seleucid desecration of the Jewish Temple in Jerusalem, there was only enough sealed consecrated olive oil left to fuel the eternal flame in the Temple for one […]

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Pumpkin Roll Cake

Cooking for Kids Autumn is definitely pumpkin season. Pumpkin roll cake is a thin cake that is rolled up with a yummy cream cheese filling inside. I found this recipe that makes a great treat for Thanksgiving or Christmas in a family recipe book but possibly came from a McCormick spice recipe originally. It’s not […]

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Layered Water: Science Fun

Creative Project Wednesday Density is a measure of how tightly stuff is packed together. In this project the liquids that weigh more (have a higher density) will sink below the liquids that weigh less (have a lower density). Lighter liquids like water or rubbing alcohol are less dense or have less “stuff” packed into them. […]

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Thanksgiving Day Parade Book and Activities

Balloons Over Broadway The kids I care for are going to the Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade on Thanksgiving morning so I borrowed “Balloons over Broadway” by Melissa Sweet from the library to prepare them for the fun and festivities. But if your charges aren’t goingto the parade they will still love watching the parade on television […]

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Green Bean Casserole

 Cooking for Kids There are just a few traditional dishes that always remind people of the holidays and a French-fried onion green bean casserole is one of them. The family I cook for doesn’t really like onions so I simply deleted the onions. Kids don’t notice mushrooms in the soup. This casserole is easy and […]

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Caring for Parents of Newborns

Nannies are typically excited to start caring for newborns immediately when they arrive home from the hospital. But instead of just helping provide care for newborns, nannies can help parents tremendously by caring for the older siblings, pitching in around the home, running errands, and giving the parents some space for just a few weeks while they […]

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Ghost Halloween Cookies

Cooking with Kids Each year I play “You Have Been Ghosted” with the children in my care. But, more and more kids are allergic to peanut butter so I didn’t want to risk getting friends sick by making my annual ghost cookies out of Nutter Butter cookies. Instead, I simply replaced Nutter Butter cookies with […]

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Mr. Milker: Helpful or Hype?

Milk Feeding Garment I don’t breastfeed the infants left in my care. The mother that hires me typical expresses her milk and I bottle feed babies. I feel holding the baby and feeding them without other distractions allows me to bond just fine with little ones. I always assumed fathers, grandparents, and other caregivers all feel […]

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“Autumn Leaves” by Ken Robbins

Prepare kids for fall nature walks by reading “Autumn Leaves,” with this bright, informative celebration of leaves by Ken Robbins. In “Autumn Leaves” by acclaimed photographer Ken Robbins lets the blazing colors of 13 North American deciduous trees shine without technical assistance. Robbins provides life-sized reproductions of leaves, shown clearly against a white background, making […]

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