Activities to do After Reading “Harold and the Purple Crayon”

Weekly Trip to the Library Harold and the Purple Crayon is a timeless classic that has delighted readers of all ages for over 50-years. In the book, Harold goes on a moonlight walk and draws himself a landscape of wonder and excitement with an over sized purple crayon. Like Harold in the book, all children begin […]

[Continue reading...]

Easy Banana “Cupcakes”

Cooking With Kids Call anything a “cupcake” and my three-year-old charge will eat it. Instead of throwing out a few over ripe bananas, use the extra sweet fruit to make banana muffins. Over ripe bananas are extra sweet so there is no need to add much sugar to our simple banana muffin recipe below. Just make […]

[Continue reading...]

What is the Hardest Topic to Discuss with Kids?

When I first became a nanny I thought the most difficult question a child could ask me was “Where do babies come from?” But, after working as a nanny for 20-years I realize that telling the kids about the birds and the bees is one of the easier topics to discuss with the children left […]

[Continue reading...]

Making a Birthday Book of Knowledge

Wednesdays with Whitney: Celebrating Knowledge In their book, Playwise, Denise Chapman Weston and Mark S. Weston explain that children have a natural appetite for information and that their caregivers must nurture their curiosity in order for them to enjoy acquiring knowledge. After reading their book it is clear that nannies help parents prepare the ground […]

[Continue reading...]

How Have You Helped the Parents Out When Not Expected?

Nanny Confessions: Random Acts of Kindness Go a Long Way in Maintaining Nanny and Parent Relationships Anne Merchant Geissler, author of The Child Care Textbook explains that random acts of kindness in a nanny and parent relationship are essential in maintaining a great working relationship. From letting an employee have paid time-off when not expected, to saying […]

[Continue reading...]

When Nannies Are Asked to Travel with the Family

Respecting Professional Boundaries for Nannies and Parents Families are making their travel plans for the summer and asking their nannies to travel with them. Many nannies see traveling with their employers as an opportunity to see new destinations they might not be able to visit otherwise. But, while the family is on vacation nannies must […]

[Continue reading...]

Monthly To-Do List

Monitoring Kids in the Month of June Here in America, some kids are off from school for the summer already. Summer is a great time to have fun with the kids on a more relaxed schedule. But, nannies still need to work hard and monitor the activities of the kids in their care. Here are […]

[Continue reading...]

Slip! Slop! Slap! Protects Kids from the Sun

Living Color by Nina G. Jablonski Minimizing risk of skin cancer while retaining benefits of Vitamin D In her book Living Color: The Biological and Social Meaning of Skin Color Nina G. Jablonski extols the virtues of the Australian government program called “Slip! Slop! Slap!” “Slip! Slop! Slap!” is a campaign to encourage Australians to protect […]

[Continue reading...]

Quick, Kid-Friendly Quesadillas

Easy Mexican Snack or Meal Kids love quesadillas. Here is how to make simple cheese quesadillas. It is vital to heat the tortillas in a pan on the stove, rather than in the microwave. Start with just three basic ingredients but be sure to add any other ingredients the kids in your care love including chicken, steak, and vegetables to add nutrition. You Will […]

[Continue reading...]

Do Caregivers That are Parents Make Better Nannies?

The Controversy: Who Makes a Better Nanny? A parent contacted me this week asking for advice about making a hiring decision between two qualified nanny candidates. It’s a controversial problem that has plagued some of my nanny friends in their attempts to find nanny jobs in the past. The parent looking to hire a nanny […]

[Continue reading...]