What to get your employers?

At this time of year many articles pop up online and spots on tv about holiday tipping and what parents should do for their children's caregivers. But a much trickier question (for me especially since I am a nanny!) is what to get for your employers! The first gifts are fairly easy. What parent doesn't love framed photos of their kids? However, how many framed photos can you give before it just seems unimaginative? And it is hard because let's face it- these families have more disposable income than us.

Creativity must then rule the gift process. And I have also found that it is wise to think of things that are a bit outside the box.

Here are a few suggestions...... but please feel free to add your own!
1. A calendar with the kids photos- make this one a tradition if you haven't already!
2. Coupons for babysitting time
3. Volunteer to do a favor around the house (like organize a closet or make back up disks of photos)
4. Write a letter sharing some of the reasons they are great parents and employers
5. Cook some dinners and put them in the freezer
6. A gift certificate to their favorite restaurant
7. Check out sites like Shutterfly.com or Snapfish.com for photo gifts like mugs, mouse pads etc..
8. A plant
9. A holiday centerpiece with place card holders
10. A family movie package (a dvd of a family favorite, with popcorn bowl, popcorn, candy etc..)
11. a kids growth chart they can hang on the wall

What are your best employer gift ideas?

A letter to our members

Dear NANC member:

We started NANC with one basic idea, that every child deserves a quality caregiver. We wanted to make sure that every nanny placed in a home has access to high quality continuing education, professional resources and that there is are standards to which we are all held accountable. We have been successful in many respects so far. We have held a professional conference, NANNYPALOOZA for 4 years which has drawn nannies and agency owners from all over the US. It offers high quality training- affordable for all. We have continued to put together a newsletter that informs nannies, parents, business owners and all who believe that in home care for a child doesn't just mean babysitting. We have developed resources for parents on choosing a nanny, an agency and the like. We are reaching out into the world to find nannies who are not connected, offering them support. Most importantly, we have developed the 3 tier nanny credential. This credential is based on childcare industry standards and is comprehensive in scope so that it will have a meaning far beyond our profession.

But we find we are at a bit of a crossroads. Like many volunteer organizations, the work we do is our passion. And we are searching for others who share this passion. There is much to do. 

In order to move forward, we must take a step back and reevaluate our goals and our immediate needs. It is essential to strengthen our organizational structure in order to support the credential and the other important work we do. We know there are many willing hands out there and we will be taking a new approach to putting those talented and passionate people to work for NANC. 

NANC will use 2010 to focus on leadership and membership development. We have streamlined our goals, focusing on the ones directly related to strengthening and growing our organization, to ensure that we have the foundation and leadership necessary to successfully develop and maintain our 3 tier credential.  We’ve created a list of actionable tasks so that we can use YOUR talents to achieve our collective objective. We will be announcing these priority goals and tasks along with some VERY EXCITING NEWS regarding Nannypalooza 2010 in a conference call presentation on Sunday, December 13th at 8:30 PM EST. At this time we will post information on the website to download and present the information over the computer or phone. You will be able to take some time over the holidays to consider our shared goals and decide how you’d like to support NANC.   This group is YOUR group and only YOUR commitment to share your time and talents will move us forward.  We will record the conference call so you can listen at your convenience.   

After the holidays we will have another follow up call where you can ask questions and get clarification on any points. And as always Lora and I are available via email for your input. 

We hope that by mid January we will be able to announce our new leadership, the details of our new direction and the specific tasks we’ll undertake in the new year.  This is your chance to make a difference and guide the direction our profession will take in the future.  There are a variety of levels of commitment and I urge everyone to dial into the call or download it after so that you can be involved. 

We look forward to speaking to you this Sunday, December 13th at 8:30 PM EST. Please call in to the following number- 206-701-8388 and input code # 600622. Again, this call will be taped and posted along with some printed material on our website on Monday, December 14th. 

Never underestimate the power of a few committed people to change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has. 
Margaret Mead

Lora Brawley

Sue Downey

Tis the season

Tis the season we think of others,

Mothers, daughters, daddies, brothers.

But what of the person who keeps us in line,

Who drives kids to school, and shows up on time. 

What of our friend who plays some fun games?

Who teaches us math and how to spell our names? 

A nanny is one who cares for us all

Is there a special gift for her at the mall? 

What gift could show her how much we care?

How important she is and would keep her aware,

That we appreciate her every single day,

As mom and dad often must be away!

We want to spoil her and show our affection

We just need a little direction. 

There are many options from which you can choose

Here is a list, chose one and you won’t lose! 

Enjoy your holidays, avoid all the stress

And remember your nanny because she is the best! 

**A cash bonus, for a full time nanny one week’s pay is a generally accepted norm 

(note: nannies like most employees look forward to a holiday bonus and nannies will discuss their bonuses with friends. If you love your nanny and want to keep her happy, this is an investment in your relationship.)

Gift nannies love to receive:

1. A day or a half day off 
2. A spa certificate
3. Frequent flier or credit card points for holiday travel
4. A letter of thanks from you
5. A letter of thanks from your kids
6. A framed photo of her and the kids
7. Membership to NANC, INA, NAEYC
8. Magazine subscription to her favorite magazine
9. I-tunes gift certificates
10.  Extra money in petty cash so she can do some fun things with the kids
11.  Supplies for her favorite craft
12.  A donation to her favorite charity
13.  A list of 25 or 50 reasons she is the best nanny
14.  A short video of the kids talking about all the things she does for them
15.  Visa or Mastercard gift cards 
16.  Extra time off at the holidays
17.  a percentage of your holiday bonus - you can’t succeed without her
18.  Massage or mani/pedi coupons
19.  Gas cards or gift cards to her favorite restaurant
20.   Money toward attending a conference  
21.  Pay her cell phone bill for a month or a year
22.  Gym memberships
23.  Something from their amazon.com wishlist
24.  Pay for a class for her hobby, i.e. a photography or cooking class
25.  A coupon for their birthday off work
26.  A t-shirt with the kids handprints on it
27.  Gift certificate to Starbucks or a favorite restaurant 
28.  An ipod 
29.  A calendar with the kids photos on it
30.  Notes from the kids about all the fun things they did with your nanny this year

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!!!