Irish Mulligan Stew

Cooking for Families Each year I cook corned beef, cabbage, and scones with the children I care for on St. Patrick’s Day. But this year I wanted to try a new Irish dish. This speedy stew simmers in less than an hour, is named for the Irish, and can be enjoyed all year round. Mulligan […]

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Easy Shamrock Necklace

Saint Patrick’s Day Project This is an easy project to make with your Nanny Kids for Saint Patrick’s Day. I had the kids trace cookie cutters onto construction paper but you can Google and print out clover shapes to use as well. You Will Need: Green and White Construction Paper or Poster Board Safety Scissors […]

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St. Patrick’s Day Scavenger Hunt for Nannies and Au Pairs

Pot of Gold Scavenger Hunt from familyeducation.com Scavenger hunts are so much fun. Have the children help you make a treasure chest. Then the nanny or au pair can make the clues to lead the children to their pot of gold. You Will Need: Newspaper Unfinished wooden or cardboard treasure chest (You can buy a […]

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The Help by Kathryn Stockett

Weekly Trip to the Library for Nannies and Au Pairs “They say it’s like true love, good help. You only get one in a lifetime.” — Kathryn Stockett Talk about a page-turner! I have never had more trouble putting down a book than the novel The Help by Kathryn Stockett. Anyone who gravitates towards the […]

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Children with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

In the March 2010 Be the Best Nanny Newsletter we discussed both common childhood fears and more serious anxiety disorders. The essential features of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) are obsessions and compulsions that are time consuming and cause impairment in daily functioning. Obsessions are persistent ideas, thoughts, or impulses that are experienced as intrusive and […]

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Children with Social Phobia

How Do Nannies and Au Pairs Help Children with Social Phobia? In the March 2010 Be the Best Nanny Newsletter we discussed common childhood fears and more serious anxiety disorders that require physician care. Social phobia is an intense fear of becoming humiliated or embarrassed in social situations. Children who suffer from social phobia might […]

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Selective Mutism

Have you ever worked for a child that won’t talk at school? Although this is not classified as a child anxiety disorder, selective mutism is often seen around the time that children enter school for the first time, and can be accompanied by anxiety. The essential symptom of selective mutism is the failure to speak […]

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Coping with Panic Attacks in Children

Nannies and Au Pairs: Have Your Charges Suffered from Panic Disorder? Yesterday we asked if nannies and au pairs have cared for children with Generalized Anxiety Disorder. Today we ask if in-home childcare providers have ever cared for children with panic disorder. The key characteristic of panic disorder is recurring panic attacks. A panic attack […]

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Generalized Anxiety Disorder in Children

Nannies and Au Pairs: Have You Cared for a Child with Anxiety? In the March 2010 Be the Best Nanny newsletter we discussed common childhood and more anxiety disorders that might require the care of a physician. Generalized Anxiety Disorder is characterized by excessive worrying about a variety of events, occurring more days than not […]

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Children’s Books About Coping with Common Childhood Fears

Weekly Trip to the Library for Nannies and Au Pairs In the March 2010 issue of Be the Best Nanny Newsletter we discussed coping with common childhood fears. Separation Anxiety: Do any of your charges suffer from separation anxiety? If so, they are not alone. Separation anxiety is completely normal and actually a developmental milestone. […]

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