Waiting

Patience is a hard thing to teach. This time of year especially, there is quite a bit to get ready for, things to wait for and look forward to! But there are teachable moments no matter what holidays your kids are celebrating! Counting down the days with an advent calendar is a time honored tradition for those who celebrate Christmas. Here are some ways to twist this tradition slightly to create some great memories and teach some lessons to your kids!

1. A waiting chain! We used paper strips cut about 1 1/2 inches wide in alternating colors (red and green, blue and white) to count the days until the holiday! It can also be used to count down days to a birthday or other big event. Make one strip for each day from now until the big day and make a simple paper chain. Each day you can rip off one of the links. This is a great visual way to show the passage of time and to build and manage excitement. Want to make it even more meaningful? Try writing a little something for the family to do on each link before connecting them. Things like:

• sing a carol or other happy song out loud
• clean your room to get ready
• clean out the toy room and donate old toys to a shelter
• make a bird feeder to give back to nature
• do something nice for someone today without being asked 
• tell someone today a nice compliment
• write a note to someone you have not seen in a long time
• bake cookies
• try a new holiday craft today
• jump up and down and yell hooray to celebrate another day closer
• hug someone every hour today
• call someone who lives far away from you and have a chat

You get the idea and you can modify and think of more things to do to get ready for the holidays! 

2. Have a jar of jobs. Want some things done around the house before the holidays. Create a job jar and have the kids choose a job from the jar each day. Fill a jar with slips of paper that have the jobs written on them- things like cleaning their rooms, helping with baking, wrapping gifts or whatever. On the other side of the jobs, you can write an amount that the job is worth. Then as the kids earn money they can make a gift list of family to buy for. They will really think very hard about what to give people when they are earning the money themselves! Or if you want have another treat on the other side of their job, things like watching a holiday video, getting computer time or having a holiday treat! 

3. Put a white piece of paper up on the wall in the kitchen- poster size! Grab some markers and each morning have the kids write something they are thankful for, or some achievement or moment from the last year that they want to highlight! Try to fill the paper up before January 1st! Then use the paper to cut up and make New Year's confetti! This is a great way to focus on accomplishments and celebrations from the past year! 

There are hundreds of ideas of activities for this time of year.... feel free to share your own ideas!!! 

Online Nanny Sites--Parents, what should you look for?

So you have decided as a parent to look for a nanny using an online site. What should you look for?

• Cost of information- make sure you know how much you will have to pay and what information you will get for your money. Some sites will offer you a free preview, but the important nanny resume info will cost you. Also pay attention to how you make contact with the nanny- phone, interview or do you go through the site?
• What information will you get? Will you be provided with references, work history, just the nuts and bolts of a standard job application? Or will you have access to statements from the nanny about their childcare philosophy, experiences, viewpoints and preferences?
• Does the site have a large database of nannies in your area? 
• Are there helpful resources available on the website? Do they have interview questions and tips, salary guidelines, nanny contracts, and other information that you can access for your membership fee? This information is SO valuable especially if you are hiring a nanny for the first time. 
• Do they provide background checking? This is almost always at an additional fee. No two background checks are the same so be sure to find out what is included. You will want to make sure you are checking things out nationally and not just in the current city or state the candidate is living in. 
• Watch out for the term "prescreening". This has vastly different meanings with each different site. Make sure you know what this term means for the specific sites you are using. You will have to do reference checking and background checking yourself when you use an online site to really screen a candidate.  
• Is the site a nanny site? Or does it post jobs for any types of employment? This can affect the amount of time it will take to identify qualified caregivers. 
• Is it easy to use? Can you post all the relevant information about your position including living arrangements, pets, complete job description and the kind of caregiver you are looking for? Are you able to include some personality information about you and your family? Remember a good nanny relationship is based on mutual fit. Both you and your nanny will be interviewing each other! 

The most important thing to remember when searching online for a nanny is that it is an active process. You will be doing the work of a whole agency yourself so be sure you have a plan and ask lots of questions, both of the websites and the nannies you interview!

Online Nanny Sites- Nannies, what should you look for?

Are you a nanny searching for a family? Perhaps you have registered with a traditional agency, but now want to expand your search. Online nanny sites have many benefits for nannies but be careful how you search! Some questions to ask:

• How big is the current family database in my area? Sites often have thousands of jobs but are they close to you? 
• What information are you required to give? What information will families have access to? Many sites require you to give references, personal info etc.. but will not allow families to see this info unless you give your permission. 
• What information will the site prescreen? Will they check your references or run a background check prior to putting your profile up on a site? 
• How will families be contacting you? via email or phone or through the site itself? 
• What information about families will you be given? Is it just nuts and bolts stuff like salary, hours, ages of kids or will there be more extensive info on family personality, job description and additional compensation? 
• Does the site have additional resources you can access such as interview tips, nanny contract information, etc..? Does the site seem nanny friendly and supportive? 
• Does the site belong to NANC or INA? Does the site seem nanny oriented or is it for all kinds of jobs? Do they support nannies by sponsoring training, conferences, support groups or any other means? 
• How long will your resume be posted? Do the family postings seem current and up to date? 
• Does the site give parents salary guidelines and do they fit into the salary range you are looking for? Does the site give parents advice and do you agree with what they are advising parents? Parents will view these sites as "experts" so what the sites tell employers will likely affect their opinions. 
• Finally is the site easy to use? Can you access the job database easily and search for jobs in ways that make sense to you (i.e. by geographic area, salary range, type of position)? Is the site organized in a way that makes sense to you? 

It is very important to remember that in any job search, but particularly when you are using online job sites, YOU MUST BE YOUR OWN ADVOCATE. Make sure you are following basic internet safety rules when contacting families and be super cautious about giving out your information. Searching for a job online takes a lot more time and requires that you really look at searching for a job as a job in itself. 

Online Nanny Sites -- Are they for you?

Online nanny search websites are here to stay. In this economy they seem to be experiencing a boom in business. There are so many new sites popping up every day it can be confusing. And more and more nannies seem to be flocking to these sites as parents look to them to save a little money in the nanny search process.

It is important to know that while these sites have become more popular, they are still not the same as a traditional brick and mortar agency. The reason these sites are less expensive is that they offer less service. If you are a parent and you are hiring from an online site, you are going to have to do much more of the legwork for your search yourself. This does not only mean a background search and interview, it also includes prescreening candidates, gathering and checking references, clearly defining the contract and job description and more. And you are doing this on your own, with few resources and no experienced person to hold your hand through the process. If you are uncomfortable with the thought of this, you should look into a traditional agency. However, if you are willing to make your nanny search your job for awhile, then online sites can provide you with all kinds of great candidates.

And nannies, online sites are booming with jobs these days. But just like parents, you will need to do more of the legwork yourself than if you had registered with brick and mortar agencies. You will have to make more calls to prospective families, screen out families with "dealbreakers" and search out families that are in your pay grade. Be sure to be safe! Be cautious about information you post online and make sure you are not visiting a family for the first time in their home. Meet in a public place first- or at least make sure you have people who know where you are.

Next post we will talk about what to look for in an online site and start the discussion on what the best practices of online sites should be!

Nanny Care Worth the Investment

The economy has changed things for nannies. Many nannies are finding it hard to find jobs, and especially higher paying jobs. But do you go into the interview and really identify why you are worth the higher salary? Do you know why nanny care is worth the investment?

Nanny care is worth the investment.

• Studies show that early attachments with a consistent caregiver provide children can positively affect kids later social/emotional development. Kids with consistent quality care have better relationships, find it easier to express their emotions and even can preform better in school.
• Kids in daycare have higher rates of childhood illnesses such as ear infections, colds and even the flu.
• Children's brain development is at its peak from ages 0-6. It is essential that kids get the proper stimulation at these ages. Neural pathways can be lost forever if not stimulated at early stages.
• Teenagers go through some of the same developmental struggles as toddlers- the search for independence, the struggle between what I want to do and what I can do, the need for lots of sleep and rapid growth spurts. It is essential to recognize and help children through both of these turbulent periods.
• Nanny care provides parents with an in house expert and support.
• Nanny care can also provide household support, help with errands, light housekeeping, laundry, management issues and scheduling. This frees parents to spend more quality time with their children. While hard to quantify, parent involvement does have a huge influence in raising a healthy, happy, successful child.

I found articles and proof for all of these statements and more in a few minutes with a google search. Make sure you are armed with your facts as you renegotiate your raise or search for a new job. Nanny care is worth the investment.

A nanny is a true innovator!

When you are on the front lines with kids you have to be able to keep thinking. It really brings new meanings to the term "be on your toes". There are thousands of books, hundreds of experts, and countless sources to find new solutions for kids. But the one thing I have learned in my 15 or so years is that no two kids, really no two families are alike which means you always have to be a creative problem solver.

Enter my current situation with a 10 year old charge. He is entering into that hormone induced, moody, pre teen stage that no one warns you about. Oh, I know teenagers can be rough, but I find the transition to be even tougher. I have been down this road before, the advantage of being a nanny is that you do see these things over and over, so I know the drill. I have read the advice and studied up on current theory. We try to set fair limits. We give him some space. We teach him alternatives. We reason with him. Still his grumpy, sassy, angry behavior was driving me crazy!

So I made him grumpy coupons this week. Simple pieces of paper that say "I am in a bad mood, please leave me alone" and I told him he could use these when he was angry for no good reason. I then gave him some parameters, like he had to still treat people with respect, he had to be ready to go on time to activities, and he could not use these coupons during holidays and family obligations. The piece of paper was just a different way for him to communicate how he was feeling, and gave him a nicer, and somewhat humorous way to to ask to be left alone.

I don't know if they will work, but he did say thanks for them. He now is thinking about how to solve the problem instead of fighting against me.

I know lots of nannies who are creative problem solvers like this. You have to constantly be thinking of new ways to approach the situations that crop up. It is the most exciting part of the job really, that there are always challenges to face.

The rollercoaster!

A friend of mine just posted to her facebook status....

Really need to get OFF the roller coaster.......I'm on the AAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH part......not the WWWEEEEEEEEEEE part!

How many of us feel like we are on the aahhh! part. With schedules and meetings, with temper tantrums and parent issues, with cooking and cleaning, life can often feel like an uphill climb with rapid descents into craziness. But we are so lucky! Nannies get to work with kids. And the beauty of that is that while they are often the cause of those AAHHH moments, they also can change things on a dime and get you to the WHEEEE. Kids can hug you, say something funny, or be unexpectedly sweet and change the whole course of the day. People who work in offices don't get that kind of quick turn. The unpredictable can be frustrating but it is never boring. EVER! If you are having a boring day with kids you are not really engaged.

To paraphrase the movie Parenthood- some people in life choose the merry go round, but if you are a parent (or a nanny) you have chosen the roller coaster. The roller coaster is more fun- you don't go anywhere on a merry go round.

The Wheee part will be coming. Just enjoy it as it happens.

Free training opportunity online!

Thanks to Lisa Werth for sharing this!

ChildCare Education Institute is committed to providing relevant and up-to date online coursework that enriches early childhood professionals and the care provided to children.

October 5 - 9, 2009 is Step Up for Kids Week, a nationwide event focused on bringing attention to the care and education of America's children. In honor of this event, CCEI is giving child care staff access to its professional development library at no cost*. (Promotion ends October 9, 2009 and applies to professional development courses only. Students with current, individual professional development subscriptions are not eligible. Courses are limited to 6 per day.)

CCEI's online professional development library includes over 100 courses, covering topics such as: Child Development, Classroom Management, Curriculum, Guidance and Discipline, Health and Safety, and other topics pertinent to the child care industry. Each completed one hour course is awarded 0.1 IACET CEU and may articulate to college credit. Students can print their certificates of completion immediately following course completion.

"Step Up for Kids Week is an opportunity for CCEI to recognize and reward early childhood professionals, teachers, center directors and staff for the valuable role they play in the development of children. We hope educators will use this opportunity for continuing education to enhance their knowledge base, which enhances the quality of care given to children," said Maria C. Taylor, President and CEO.

Take advantage of this great opportunity to experience the benefits of online learning and gain valuable knowledge about early childhood education. To enroll, visit www.cceionline.com and select 'Click Here for Current Promotions' for detailed instructions on registering for the Step Up for Kids Week Promotion.

The most wonderful time of the year....

It's the most wonderful time of the year! Can you hear the song and see the commercial where the dad is dancing through Staples? Back to school time is great for some nannies and difficult for others whose work hours and responsibilities may change. Still other nannies have kids too young for school so all this excitement passes them by.

After living so many years in the school calendar though, the thing about September is that it really is the START of the year for me. I started my last 4 jobs in September. It just feels like the beginning for me, even when I have charges too young to go off to school.

Once school starts it is a great time to sit down and speak with your employers. See where they are with the way things are going. What goals do you share for the kids this school year? After the long days of summer it feels good to get back to a schedule, a routine and some structure.

September is a great time to re evaluate your goals. Look over those new year's resolutions and see if you have achieved what you set out to do. If not, you still have time. Do some self evaluation and figure out where you can improve and pat yourself on the back for the things you are doing well.

What is it really that you hope to accomplish in '09-'10 ?

AU Pair vs. Nanny Care

In today’s difficult economic climate, families choosing in-home childcare are taking a closer look at their nanny v. au pair option. Several recent articles have spotlighted the recent changes in-home care market, noting the tougher sell highly paid nannies are facing and the growing number of au pairs being placed in the United States.

It’s tempting to be swayed by the cost savings of hiring an au pair but families should do their homework and really think about what option will work best for their family.

Although nannies and au pairs are often portrayed as different sides of the same coin, with au pairs being a less expensive, foreign version of the American nanny, there are substantial differences between the two. Lora Brawley, President of the National Association for Nanny Care said, “Both nanny care and au pair care provide quality childcare. The big difference lies in the focus. Nanny care’s primary focus is childcare while au pair care’s primary focus is cultural exchange. Nannies take a nanny job to earn a living doing something they love and are passionate about. Au pairs take a placement because they want to experience the world and are happy to pay for that experience by providing childcare. One isn’t inherently better than the other. But these two different perspectives result in two very different experiences for the caregivers and the families they work with.”

Host families that participate in the au pair program are required to provide a home environment for their au pairs and treat them as a member of the family. Parents are required to provide au pairs with educational and cultural opportunities, private room and board, $500 educational stipend, 2 weeks paid vacation, at least one full weekend off per month and a weekly stipend of around $180 per week.

In exchange, au pairs provide up to 10 hours of childcare each day or 45 hours of childcare each week. Au pairs are not allowed to do family-related or household management tasks such as family laundry, family meal preparation or taking a family car in for service.

In contrast, families choosing nanny care are employers. They decide on the details of the job and then hire a caregiver able to fill those needs. There are no parameters placed on the length of employment, number of hours, the responsibilities or the type of relationship between caregiver

and parent. One of the biggest selling points of nanny care is that parents get to customize their childcare / household solution.

So which is the better choice? That depends upon your family’s personality, lifestyle, needs and offerings.

Au pair care might be a great choice for your family if you…

• are excited about opening up your home and lives to a young adult and happy to support their interest in cultural and educational opportunities.

• are committed to embracing the au pair as “part of the family”. Although au pair agencies do provide au pairs with some support and social interaction, it’s the host family’s responsibility to make the newcomer feel welcomed and supported throughout their time here. Host families are asked to share family meals, activities and vacations with their au pair as they would a visiting family member.

• simply need a “second pair of hands”. Since au pairs can only work up to 45 hours a week and can only be given limited tasks they are best suited for parents that work a part-time schedule, a light, flexible full-time schedule or who need before / after school help.

• want your children to be exposed to another language and culture through first-hand experiences with a foreign national.

• value the opportunity for your children to connect with many caregivers over the years.

However, nanny care would be the best choice for you if…

• you have an infant or toddler. Au pairs are not allowed to care for infants without a responsible adult present and must receive additional training to care for toddlers.

• your child has special needs. Au pairs are not allowed to work with even high functioning children with special needs.

• you need childcare more than 45 hour per week. Add up working hours,commute time and any additional time like date night or client dinners to get an accurate estimate of how much childcare you really need.

• you want long term, consistent care. While having a nanny doesn’t guarantee this, having an au pair guarantees against this. Effective screening can help you find a caregiver that’s in it for the long haul and will work well with your family as it changes over the years.

• you’re looking for a higher level of care. In general, a well trained au pair offers the same level of care an entry level nanny does. While this is a perfect match for some families, many other families are looking for a caregiver with more education, more experience or a stronger skill set.

• you’re looking for a household partner that will help you take care of the details of day to day life – grocery shopping, family laundry, errands, calling the repairman, fill-in-the-blank - leaving you the time and energy to enjoy your kids.

Whether you choose nanny care or au pair care, become an educated consumer before paying any fees or making any placement choices. The safety and well being of your children are well worth the time and energy needed to make the right choice.

- from our newsletter July 2009