Archive for July, 2012

The 10 Sins that Sabotage the Nanny / Employer Relationship

Sunday, July 29th, 2012

By Michelle LaRowe
Editor-in –Chief

For many parents, once they hire a nanny they enter into one of the most complex employer/employee relationships that exist. In addition to the personal dynamics that drive the parent and nanny relationship, the business aspect of the relationship can’t be ignored.

As parents adjust to their role as household employers, they should beware of committing the top 10 sins that sabotage nanny and employer relationships.

1. Forgetting to leave your nanny’s paycheck. At the end of a busy week it’s not surprising that many nanny employers check into weekend mode before their nanny’s workday ends. Forgetting to leave your nanny’s check is a faux pas that you don’t want to commit. When you fail to pay your nanny you’re sending the message that her work is not important. Consider using a household payroll company, like Breedlove & Associates or HomeWork Solutions, or enroll in direct deposit through your bank to ensure your nanny is always paid on time.

2. Adding additional duties. Prior to starting work, you’ve likely discussed the duties and responsibilities you expect your nanny to take on. Adding additional duties that were not agreed upon, like doing the family’s laundry or running errands, can pose a real problem to the nanny and employer relationship. If there are additional duties you’d like your nanny to take on, speak to her about them and adjust her compensation, if necessary.

3. Coming home late, without notice. It is common courtesy to let your nanny know if you’re running late. While it can be tempting to tell her you’ll be home in 15 minutes, don’t underestimate your time frame. Instead, pad it by 15 minutes and be sure to compensate her for any additional time she’s worked.

4. Flipping out about non childcare related concerns. It’s not atypical for a nanny employer’s feelings of frustration, guilt, or nanny envy to emerge in bizarre ways. Sometimes when a nanny doesn’t load the dishwasher the exact way her employer does or forgets to empty the lint trap in the dryer, an employer will overreact and harshly scold the nanny. Outbursts can be prevented by discussing issues as they arise and avoiding the urge to take out any unmerited negative feelings you’re having on your nanny.

5. Altering the schedule, without notice. While most nannies understand that a fair amount of flexibility is required on the job, changing your nanny’s schedule without discussion or notice is likely to cause problems. Working as a nanny can be a tiring and isolating job. Nannies need time to recharge, reconnect with friends and family, and fulfill their own personal and professional commitments and obligations.

6. Changing the rules, midgame. Once the relationship has become established, changing the governing principles of it can be a real challenge. For example, if your nanny has always been allowed to take your children on outings and two years later you decide you’d no longer like her to do that, expect resentment to follow. Before making game changes, have an open and honest discussion with your nanny.

7. Volunteering your nanny without asking. While many nanny employers innocently volunteer their nanny to drive the carpool or to care for their friend’s children during a “playdate,” it’s best to discuss these additional responsibilities with your nanny first. While most nannies are glad to accommodate such requests, they could have real concerns that need to be addressed prior. Concerns could include having the appropriate car seats for all of the children or meeting the children prior to having responsibility for them.

8. Neglecting the work agreement. If you’ve established a work agreement with your nanny, adhering to it always best. If you’re unable to keep a commitment, perhaps honoring a specific holiday you’ve promised her off, discuss the possibility of altering the agreement and be ready to make a fair compromise and to offer any necessary additional compensation. It’s also a good idea to have a backup plan in place and to let your nanny know that you’re prepared to make alternative arrangements, but wanted to explore the possibility of altering the agreement with her first. Many nannies will agree to help you out, sacrificing their own plans or commitments to do so. Having a backup plan can take the pressure to say yes off.

9. Failing to sign an updated agreement. After your nanny completes her first year of service, signing an updated agreement is more than a mere formality. Doing so allows you to revisit the agreement, to make mutually agreeable adjustments, and to have an annual review. The typical nanny annual salary increase is 3-7% or more.

10. Ignoring your nanny. Open communication is the key to a successful nanny and employer relationship. Facilitate an environment that welcomes and respects your nanny’s advice, guidance, questions, compliments, and concerns. Remember, many nannies have years of childcare experience under their belt and often have solid strategies that can solve many of the most common parenting dilemmas.

While one of the most complex relationships, the nanny and employer relationship can also be one of the most rewarding. Mutual respect and open communication will pave the way for a long-term and successful working relationship.

Posted in Nanny Employer | Comments Off

Traveling nannies support the U.S. Women’s Olympic Soccer Team

Wednesday, July 25th, 2012

One day will there be an Olympic Gold for Nannying?

The U.S. Olympic Women’s Soccer team, which just won its first match against France in its bid to win the gold medal at the 2012 Summer Games in London, has a secret weapon: Nannies.

The Los Angeles Times recently revealed that U.S. Soccer, America’s governing organization for the sport, fully finances nanny services so players can bring their children on the road. The Times notes that several star players and key coaching personnel may have ended their careers earlier if there had not been family-friendly accommodations.

The policy is not a public relations gesture — it’s been going on for the past 16 years.

“U.S. Soccer considers this an important element to help those players with children to continue to contribute,” national team spokesman Neil Buethe tells the Times. “It allows the players to concentrate on their job of playing soccer without having to be away from their kids for a long period of time or worry about how they’re going to be able to balance their family and career while being on the road during training camp.”

Similar programs have been adopted by the golfers on the LPGA Tour and by the 2008 U.S. Women’s Olympic Softball Team, who competed in Beijing.  Despite the success of the program, unfortunately no other U.S. Olympic teams have official nannies on the payroll.

The 2012 U.S. Women’s Olympic Soccer Team is favored to contend for the gold medal this summer.

Soccer star Abby Wambach, who is the team’s second highest scorer, considers herself the squad’s “best babysitter,” as she often will volunteer to give the nannies a break.

“You spend so much time away from home, there’s only so many TV shows you can watch. There’s only so many conversations you can have. The added component of having kids around, it just is entertainment. It’s just such a great dynamic to bring into a team environment that can sometimes get monotonous,” she says.

Along with Brazil, the U.S. soccer team is heavily favored to be in the mix for the gold medal this year. As a fascinating aside, this is the first Olympic Games in which the amount of women athletes on the American team outnumbers men. The U.S. team is comprised of 269 women and 261 men competing in 25 different sports.

It’s refreshing to see a potential world champion team publicly praise its nannies for giving its players the peace of mind that their children are thriving even under the most intense training schedules.

Of course, you don’t need to be a world class athlete — or an athlete at all — to realize the family benefits of hiring a traveling nanny. For advice on finding the perfect nanny candidates to meet the demands of YOUR schedule, visit eNannySource’s free Learning Center!

Tags: , , , , , , , ,
Posted in Nannies in the News | Comments Off

Top Positive Discipline Tools

Wednesday, July 18th, 2012

Positive Discipline is an approach to discipline that is designed to teach children to become responsible, respectful, and resourceful members of their families and communities. It’s based on the popular book, Positive Discipline, by Dr. Jane Nelsen.

Positive Discipline offers effective tools for parents, teachers, nannies, and anyone else who wants to teach life skills to children in a respectful and encouraging way. Here are a few of Positive Discipline’s more popular discipline tools:

Take time for training. Before expecting your child to act in a certain way, take the time to offer training. Training is communicating your expectations clearly and respectfully and giving your child the opportunity to practice and learn the new skills. If your child is younger than 6-years old, the best way to offer training is by doing tasks with him. If you want your toddler to pick up his toys after playing with them, pick up the toys together. Detail what you’re doing while you’re doing it (e.g. we’re putting the trucks in the wheels bin; we’re putting the crayons into the craft cabinet). This helps your child make the connection between your expectations, your actions, and the end result. If your child is over age 6, it’s helpful to break the job down into smaller, more manageable tasks. This helps him avoid being overwhelmed and gives him a workable to-do list.

Give limited choices that you can live with. Choices are one of the simplest and most effective tools in your parenting toolbox. The key is to only offer choices that you’re comfortable with.

You can offer choices around things you want your child to have power over, but you also need to make sure he makes an appropriate and safe choice. Clothes, food, and activities are all great examples of times when you can empower your child through choices. For example you can ask, “Would you like to wear your rain coat, your spring jacket, or your poncho to school today?” when you’re struggling with your child about what to wear, or “Would you like apple slices, watermelon, or grapes for lunch today?” rather than simply asking “What kind of fruit do you want?”

So what about when your child has to do something and there’s not an obvious choice? You can still allow your child to choose how or when something happens. For example, if you need to get a dawdling child to put his shoes on, you can ask, “Would you like to put your shoes on by yourself or would you like me to help you do it?” If you need your child to clean his room before bedtime, you can ask, “Do you want to clean your room now or when we get back from the park?”

Use positive time outs. When kids are having a meltdown or are not taking the right action in a difficult situation, many parents turn to the traditional time out. Positive Discipline suggests you take a different approach and instead give your child a positive time out. Jane Nelsen writes, “A positive time out can help children learn many important life skills, such as the importance of taking time to calm down until they can think more clearly and act more thoughtfully.” Positive time outs helps your child think through how his behavior affects other people and learn to accept responsibility and make amends for hurting others.

Create routines. Outlining routines means you can make the decision about how to do something one time and then simply refer back to the routine in future conversations. Because your child has a voice in developing the routine, he’s much more likely to corporate with you when the issue comes up. So when your child complains that he doesn’t want to brush his teeth before reading the next chapter in his bedtime story, you can simply refer back to the bedtime routine which clearly outlines the things we do before going to bed.

Hold regular family meetings. Children naturally want to contribute. That’s why they’re such great helpers. Family meetings are the perfect opportunity to let your child contribute to your family in a meaningful way that makes him feel like an important and valued part of the team. These meetings give each family member the chance to share problems or challenges they’re facing. You can talk with your child about your frustration with how long it takes him to get ready in the morning, your child can talk with you about his anger at being nagged, and then you can work together to find a solution that works for both of you.

Positive Discipline offers great discipline tools for parents and nannies alike. If you’re looking for respectful ways to teach your child valuable life skills, check out the entire Positive Discipline series.

Posted in Parenting | Comments Off

Nanny of the Year Series: Marni Kent inspired by Mary Poppins

Wednesday, July 18th, 2012

Former "Nanny of the Year" Marni Kent

INA “Nanny of the Year” Profile

Name: Marni Kent
Location: San Francisco, California
Year Honored: 2002
Experience: 26 years
Past Jobs: Baby nurse, tutor.
Hobbies: Cycling, cooking, kickboxing, keeping up with the nanny industry, donating platelets, taking stand-up comedy classes.
Fun Fact: Collects Mary Poppins memorabilia and designed her own Poppins-themed tattoo.
Nannying In a Nutshell: “As I hold their little hands, I stand tall and proud knowing that my job is both of value and important. At the end of every day, I know I have done my best despite their tantrums, crying, or not feeling well. I would not trade my job for any other profession.”

When you’re a nanny, you never know what surprises each day will bring — like an impromptu biology lesson and stand-up comedy act.

A few years ago, nanny Marni Kent took fourth grader Sammy to the Hobby Lobby to pick up all the raw materials for her class project on the human ear: papier mâché head, Silly Putty for the outer ear, and pipe cleaners for the inner ear.  During the girl’s presentation, she meticulously explained each part of the ear and how it contributes to processing sound and sending signals to the brain. With a deadpan delivery, the student later showed her classmates where the brain was located.  It was represented by a pea — as in “pea brain” — a gag inspired by her brother.

“I was sitting with Sammy’s parents and siblings and the crowd went wild with laughter,” Marni says. “At that moment, I was so proud not only how she used all those big words, but that she had put so much work into this project and was able to entertain and explain this in front of a large crowd.”

It’s natural for nannies to experience parenting-like moments such as these. Although the public often assumes that a nanny is merely a full-time babysitter, the truth is that they are constantly switching roles as trusted guardian, teacher, and friend.

“Some people see the career of a nanny as simply unchallenging, yet where else can one take credit in playing an integral part in the way a young person will become an adult amongst society?” asks Marni, the 2002 recipient of the International Nanny Association‘s “Nanny of the Year” award. “We get to mold the content of a child’s character face to face and see the results first hand.”

“I’ve learned that you can’t learn how to be a professional nanny from a book,” she adds. “Each family has a specific blueprint of needs and expectations. The nanny has to be able to morph into those needs, be flexible and accept different parenting styles, temperament and personalities. Child development is about playing and modeling, exploring the world around them. And a little praise means a lot to a child — it helps with building their independence and self worth.”

Current employers Kim and Chris (with Baby Gabi) are thrilled with Marni's approach to nannying.

Marni’s childcare philosophy and openness to adapt to each family’s unique situation has paid off with intangible dividends.

Last year, she was hired by two Stanford University professors for a brief stint as an overnight nanny. The mother, feeling overcommitted at work, felt conflicted about sleeping through her newborn’s cries. But she also knew she needed to be fully awake during the day.

“Marni changed our lives by supporting and nurturing our whole family unit at a very trying time,” the professor recalls. “She has a deep humane interest in people, young or old, novice or experienced, and helping them to craft their best lives.  She is imaginative, inquisitive, professional, and dynamic in everything she does. I felt immediately at ease with her.”

Those sentiments are echoed by her current employers, Kim and Chris, another two-career family in the San Francisco area who are new to juggling the demands of parenthood.

“Having the right nanny means that our baby is happy, healthy and thriving,” Kim says. “Because of the great support Marni provides, we are able to spend more high quality time focused on our baby and enjoying our time as a family.”

“Marni is wonderful with our daughter – she is upbeat, engaging, affectionate and focused on helping the baby develop and thrive. She takes the time to observe and ask about our preferences and she honors those preferences. She has established a strong connection with our daughter and at the same time, has completely reinforced and supported our primary roles as the baby’s parents,” she adds.

According to Marni, "Parents come from a heart-centered place, and nannies use their heart with logic. When the two combine, it makes for a great relationship and excellent child development."

Marni likes to occasionally dress in a Mary Poppins costume, but it’s not just to entertain children. It’s also to amuse herself. She’s been collecting Mary Poppins memorabilia for the past 20 years. Her collection includes books, movies, Broadway tickets/programs, figurines, mugs, pens, pins, a carpetbag necklace, an umbrella and even a Mary Poppins-themed tattoo that she designed herself.

“There is even a new super nanny on ‘Sesame Street’ who resembles and acts like Mary Poppins. She’s named Penny Pipkins! ‘She is faster than a speeding Mommy, nicer than friendly doggy…’ Her unrelenting niceness is her chief power, she has super hearing, and carries a carpetbag and a powerful feather duster — used for tickling.”

[/caption]Marni is also striving for “unrelenting niceness.”

“Children have such a profound effect on you whether you realize it or not,” she says. “When you get down on their level, you are forced to think and learn about patience. Your tone of voice can affect a child so greatly, and most importantly, children teach you how to be happier, and more positive about yourself when you are the one who is supposed to be teaching them.”

Marni’s Nannying Advice

1. Every nanny should think of herself as a “wife to the wife.” The parent-nanny relationship is about discipline, development, and rearing that will allow for long lasting relationships.

2. Growing with a family requires great commitment, dedication, and desire — even when things get rough.

3. Nanny resources and support are key for self care, personal growth and creating new opportunities to advance further in this career.

**

Tags: , , , , , ,
Posted in Nanny of the Year, Nanny Tips, Real Nanny Stories | Comments Off

Expert Insights: Questions and Answers with Tonya Sakowicz

Saturday, July 14th, 2012

By Michelle LaRowe
Editor-in-Chief

I am always thrilled when I can call on my peers to share insight and information about childcare and the nanny world. Today is no different. Recently, I had a had a chance to catch up with Tonya Sakowicz, nanny turned mom, turned newborn care specialist, turned owner of Baby Go Green, a company dedicated to helping new moms and moms-to-be lower their toxic exposure. As a credentialed nanny and certified eco-maternity consultant, greenproofer and green birth educator, Tonya provides parents and parents-to-be with personalized consultations and recommendations to help them make healthier choices for their families.

eNannySource: What does going green mean with regards to baby care?

Tonya: Going green in regards to baby care is looking at a product and evaluating if it has been produced from non-toxic ingredients and/or in an earth-friendly manner. This is really dependent on the goals of the parents. For some parents, they are concerned with the environment. They are concerned with how the things they use are produced and how they impact the world around them. These parents, for example, may only products that are ‘fair-trade’. But for most parents, their greater concern is for whether or not the products used on and around their baby are organic and non-toxic.  Since so many things that are available and marketed for the care of babies, particularly in the US, contain ingredients that are toxic and are linked to endocrine disruption, neurological disorders and cancer, parents are right to be aware and concerned about the products they use.

eNannySource: What are the most toxic things in our baby’s environment?

Tonya: Nearly everything in our environment *can* be toxic, but one of the first two things we consider is air quality and products for consumption because these are things going INTO our babies bodies and because they are so small, their hearts beat faster and they breathe faster than adults, their exposure risk is much greater.  So we look at the air they breathe in the home and in their nursery and we look at what things are going into their mouth–either via mother’s milk, formula or foods, depending on their age.  Directly related are those things that are regularly put into or can be put into babies’ mouths, since that is what babies do with nearly everything, right?

eNannySource: Right. So what are the easiest things parents and caregivers can change?

Tonya: Some of the simplest things you can do to make your life greener is to improve air quality (open a window!), reduce what you bring in from the outside (take off your shoes at the door–your shoes carry toxins, animal feces, pesticides and other contaminants into the home) and consider the foods you eat (switching to organic dairy alone makes a HUGE difference; add in organic produce by following the www.ewg.org ‘dirty dozen’ recommendations and you are making a tremendous impact on the amount of toxins you and your baby are exposed to).

eNannySource: What about fruits and first foods?

Tonya: Look up the “dirty dozen” list provided by the Environmental Working Group–www.ewg.org– and at the very least, keep those foods organic to minimize toxic exposure.  Ideally, of course, as much of your food (dairy, produce, meats, grains and eggs) would be organic, but that is not always practical or affordable for everyone.  I always tell my clients if you can only make one change, make it dairy.  However, for babies, I also strongly recommend organic produce for their first foods–particularly those on the “dirty dozen” list, since many baby “firsts” (like apples) are on that list.

Remember that going green does not have to be an all or nothing proposition– you do not have to turn into a ‘crunchy’ mom (or nanny) to make a significant impact.  Even small changes make a big difference in reducing a child’s toxic exposure and those changes are worth the effort.  Each family and nanny should evaluate what their personal goals are, seek help if they need it and then move forward towards those goals, one practical step at a time.

Parents and nannies are always welcome to contact Tonya at tonya@babygogreeninc.com for a personal consultation.

Posted in Expert Insights | Comments Off

What can we learn from Award Winning Nannies?

Friday, July 13th, 2012

Marcia Hall, the International Nanny Association's 2011 "Nanny of the Year," applies her wealth of nannying experience to raising her own two daughters.

Doctors have the American Medical Association (AMA). Media personalities have the Society for Professional Journalists (SPJ). Engineers have the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE).  It’s not just alphabet soup. Belonging to a career trade association is perhaps the best way to keep abreast of the latest developments in your profession, and nannying is no exception.

Since 1985, the International Nanny Association (INA) has vigilantly strived to set professional standards for the in-home childcare industry, covering nannies, nanny employers, nanny agencies and educators. The INA’s Annual Conference is the benchmark for training and professional development.

Thanks to the INA, nannies now have their own Oscar, or Grammy or Emmy (pick your favorite gleaming trophy).  The Nanny of the Year (NOTY) Award represents the pinnacle of career achievement. Nominated by their employers, peers or placement agency, and chosen from the field by special committee, the Nanny of the Year award recipient ultimately becomes a role model and public goodwill ambassador for the profession.

At eNannySource.com, we’re always eager to hear about the life experiences of professional nannies — women with whom you can identify with or would be proud to employ in your home (please share your stories here). No matter how many years a nanny has been in the field, she can always increase her knowledge base as she learns from the successes and mistakes of others.

With that goal in mind, over the next few months we’ll be occasionally profiling some of INA’s past “Nanny of the Year” recipients and asking them to share some personal and professional wisdom.
“Child care or child development books are great as general theory,” says INA Co-President Becky Kavanagh, who received the NOTY award in 2006. “But each child is an individual who fits into a mold of their own making. They will be the one who teaches you about them!”

“Children are the most amazing people. If we could all retain the same imagination, open thinking, curiosity, and zest for living that children have, I think the world would be a lot better,” she adds.

Nannies become an inseparable part of family memories, as Becky Kavanagh (at far right), the 2006 "Nanny of the Year," can attest with this Disney cruise.

Becky notes that nannying can sometimes feel like an isolating job — as you don’t have the constant feedback or office banter from co-workers — but suggests that keeping in touch with other nannies can offset this dynamic.

“Burnout certainly can happen,” she acknowledges. “Nannies who feel they are stuck in a rut or aren’t appreciated by their employers can begin to question their effectiveness or even desire to continue as a nanny. I believe having a network to call upon is a great help. Participating — not just belonging –  to professional organizations that provide networking as well as continuing education is a huge plus.”

Stay tuned to this space as some recent Nanny of the Year award recipients kindly share their candid advice about the profession. Coming Soon: A profile on Marni Kent, the 2002 Nanny of the Year.

Here’s a sneak peek at some of Marni’s advice:

1. Have confidence in yourself.
2. Leave your problems at the door.
3. Form good work habits.
4. Keep yourself happy.
5. Embrace the place where you are.
6. Develop your own life.
7. Deal with a problem’s root issues. Avoid planning for defeat.
8. Develop a habit of smiling on purpose.

 

Tags: , , , , ,
Posted in Nanny of the Year, Real Nanny Stories | Comments Off

Expert Insights: Questions and Answers with Stephanie Breedlove

Sunday, July 8th, 2012

By Michelle LaRowe
Editor-in-Chief

Recently, I had a chance to ask Stephanie Breedlove, founder and partner of Breedlove & Associates, which is a payroll, tax & HR firm dedicated exclusively to serving the household employment industry, some questions about retirement savings for nannies. She shared with me some great insight into a new savings solution they’ve discovered. Here’s how our interview went.

eNannySource: For years nannies have struggled to find retirement savings options. Can you tell us about what you’ve found out?

Stephanie: There are a lot of retirement savings vehicles available, but most of the tax-advantaged plans are extremely difficult to administer, are expensive, or both.  Families don’t have time to administer complex retirement plans.  And the cost to have someone else do the administrative work for them (usually $200-$500 per year plus investment management fees) is money that should be going – directly or indirectly – into the nanny’s retirement account. After a lot of research, we found a solution that we believe fits the nanny industry extremely well.  It’s a Roth IRA from Vanguard.  Vanguard is among the most respected financial institutions in the country.  They have created a simple retirement product that has no start-up costs, no annual administrative fees, and an investment management fee of only 0.2%, which is one-fifth the national average. The Roth IRA is owned and controlled by the employee so it’s not dependent on an employer.  It uses after-tax dollars so the employee or employer may contribute to the account – up to $5,000 per year ($6,000 per year if the employee is 50 or older).  Then all growth is tax-free and there are no taxes upon withdrawal at retirement age. The cost, flexibility, portability, and control are all perfect for the nanny industry – giving nannies the ability to supplement their retirement income if they desire without any cost or administrative burdens.

eNannySource: Why is it important for nannies to plan for retirement?

Stephanie: Social Security and Medicare taxes (paid by employees and matched by their employers) provide a critically-important base of income and medical insurance for retirees.  But it’s really just a base.  For most Americans, it will cover the necessities – but it won’t afford the lifestyle that most people want in their golden years. That’s where tax-advantaged retirement savings plans come in.  They make it possible to amass a significant nest egg – especially if you start early.  The compounding effect of tax-free growth over many years means you don’t have to sacrifice a lot of current earnings to have significant savings 25-30 years down the road. The latest stats show that 10,000 people retire each day.  About 9,999 wish they’d saved more and started earlier!

eNannySource: How can nannies present the opportunity to families they work for?

Stephanie: Nannies can let their families know that they want to save for retirement.  The family will understand since they’re almost certainly doing the same thing.  If they have apprehension, it will probably be in not knowing what kind of plan makes sense, how to set it up, how to administer it, how it should be handled with payroll, what happens if you leave and how much will it cost. The beauty of the Roth IRA from Vanguard is it takes all those questions/burdens off of the family’s plate.  The employee can set up the account and manage the investments on their own with no work or cost for the family.  If the employer wants to contribute, they can.  But the account is not contingent upon the employer making contributions.  The employee can take bonus dollars or any other after-tax income/savings and do it themselves.

eNannySource: Do you think retirement contributions will become a standard benefit for nannies?

Stephanie: We think it will become more and more common.  People are living longer and need larger retirement nest eggs.  In addition, there will be a lot of media attention on the possibility of Social Security and Medicare benefit reductions in the future – all the discussion will raise awareness and prompt more people to take matters in their own hands and save for retirement themselves.  Those socio-economic factors, combined with the ever-increasing professionalism of the nanny industry, will encourage more employees and employers to discuss retirement benefits as a part of the compensation package.

eNannySource:com: What else should we know about the Vanguard Roth IRA?

Stepahnie: Breedlove & Associates decided to look for a better retirement savings solution simply as a service to the nanny industry.  We do not derive any commissions or income of any kind from Vanguard – we want to make sure all the money goes directly into each nanny’s account so their golden years will be more golden.

If you are interested in the tax-advantaged retirement savings plans or the Vanguard solution, please don’t hesitate to call.

Nannies interested in the Vanguard Roth IRA can contact Vanguard directly by visiting Vanguard Online or by calling 800-551-8631. 

Stephanie Breedlove has an undergraduate degree in Finance from the University of Texas and an MBA with a concentration in accounting.  She developed an expertise in accounting and information technology during her 6 years with Accenture before founding Breedlove & Associates in 1992, an entrepreneurial company born from her own frustration with paying her nanny professionally.  Over the years, Stephanie and Breedlove & Associates have helped over 22,000 families with their No-Work, No-Worry service.  www.myBreedlove.com

Posted in Expert Insights | 2 Comments »

5 Things You Should Really Rate Your Nanny On

Wednesday, July 4th, 2012

By Michelle LaRowe
Editor-in-Chief

Beverly Hills Nannies, an ABC Family reality series that will make its debut on Wednesday, July 11 at 9/8 central hasn’t even premiered, yet the promos alone are enough to make me cringe with concern.

If you’ve just watched the promo video for season 1, episode 1, yes, you heard correctly. Nanny Amber is rated on a scale of 1 to 10 by her potential employers on 5 things during her interview.

These included:

1. Personality. Dad gave her an 8 and mom gave her a 9.

2. Discipline.  Dad gave her a 7 and mom gave her a 7, because she was late.

3. Friendliness.  Both dad and mom gave her a generous 9.

4. Capability. Dad gave her a 7 and mom gave her a 9.

5. Cute appeal. Dad gave her a 6 and mom… with jaw dropped the video cut out here.

If that’s the top 5 criteria parents are using when evaluating their potential nanny, we have a real problem.

Nannies are childcare specialists who are employed by parents to provide high-quality, personalized and customized childcare. Nannies partner with parents to meet the children’s physical, emotional, social and intellectual needs.

For years, nannies and those who educate, support and place them in homes with families, have been working to educate the public about the importance of quality in-home childcare. Since 1985, the International Nanny Association has been providing recommended practices for nannies and holding annual conferences to educate nannies and those within in the in-home childcare industry on how to do their jobs well.

When choosing a nanny for their children, indeed the nanny has to fit into the family dynamics and lifestyle, but more importantly, the nanny must be qualified to do the job well.

When interviewing a nanny for your family, here are my top 5 things you should rate your nanny on:

1. Experience. When leaving your children in the care of a nanny for 40 to 60 hours per week, it’s vital that the caregiver have previous childcare experience. Experienced nannies have a working knowledge of children and are confident in their care giving abilities. They’ve seen the good, bad and the ugly when it comes to family dynamics and have learned to effectively do their job in a private home environment. If your child has special needs or if your family has multiples, seeking a nanny with experience in those areas can be beneficial.

2. Education. Many nannies have educational backgrounds in early childhood development or education, but at minimum, a nanny should have basic safety training, including current CPR and first aid certification. Many nannies attend educational conferences to hone their childcare skills and keep up on current childcare trends through reading books, networking with other nannies and by taking online classes.

3. Reliability. When giving a caregiver sole charge of your children while you are away, it’s imperative that you can count on her. More than showing up on time, you should be able to count on your nanny to be truthful and honest, to follow through with your wishes, to protect your family’s privacy and to make the children’s needs her priority while on the clock.

4. Ability to communicate. When job issues arise, they are typically due to a breakdown in communication among the adults. It’s important that you and your nanny can communicate effectively, that you’re both willing to keep the lines of communication open and that you feel comfortable discussing child related concerns with each other.

5. A genuine love for children. A nanny’s work can be isolating. A nanny must truly enjoy spending a majority her day alone with the children. Successful nannies view their work as valuable and take enormous pride in providing the highest level of childcare. Nannies strive to build lasting relationships with the children and don’t take for granted the trust that is given to them by the children and parents.

While there have been nanny reality shows in the past, like SuperNanny and Nanny 911 who give a more accurate glimpse of work nannies do, from the promo clips, Beverly Hills Nannies leaves lots to be desired.

Posted in Pop Culture Nannies | 2 Comments »

10 Ways to Organize Toys

Wednesday, July 4th, 2012

Do you feel like your house has been overrun by toys?  Does it look like you run a daycare out of your home?  If so, it’s time to take control of the toy clutter in your home! Check out these 10 different ways you can organize toys:

  1. Over-the-door shoe holders work well for organizing small toys.  There are many shoe organizers on the market, but you should lean toward the ones where the pockets are clear so that the toys or craft items can be seen at a glance.  If she can’t see what’s in the pockets then she will never play with those items.
  2. Use clear shoe boxes to organize like toys.  The point of using clear boxes is that it allows her to see what’s in each box so she won’t have to tear everything out to find something, or she won’t ignore it because she doesn’t know what’s in the box.  Organize similar items like matchbox cars, kid’s meal toys, blocks, and action figures by putting them into separate boxes.  Print out picture labels or word labels so that she can match the toy to the box it goes in.  This will also help during clean-up.
  3. Open baskets on the floor provide a place for bigger toys.  By placing baskets on the floor or near the floor they will be low enough for her to reach.  Label the baskets just like the shoe boxes so that she will know where to put away her toys.  Open baskets are roomy enough for dolls, doll clothes, stuffed animals, bigger plastic toys, and the like.  To get the baskets up off the floor you can hang a shelf about a foot off the floor and place the baskets there.  Try to avoid heavy toy boxes with lids that can smash little fingers. 
  4. Keep outside toys outside or in the garage.  By moving the bigger toys that kids can ride on or other outside toys to the garage you will free up a lot of space in her room.  Toys that fall into this category might be balls, hula hoops, roller skates, bike helmets, and ride-on toys.
  5. Bath toys belong in the bathroom.  Keep a limited number of bath toys in the bathroom, either in the tub itself or under the sink in a box.  Bathtub toys should be near the bathtub and not left all over the house.  If the toys aren’t close to the tub when it’s bath time they won’t get played with.
  6. Reduce the number of books on display.  Bookcases are great for storing books, but it’s very easy to pull out 20 books when trying to decide what story you want for bedtime and then not put them back.  By choosing 15 to 20 books and displaying them on a shelf where the front cover can be seen it will reduce the number of books that are out, and as you rotate through the books your child may see books they haven’t seen in a while.  There also won’t be an overwhelming decision of what to read that is common when there is a bookcase full of books.
  7. Get rid of what you don’t need.  While you are organizing be aware of toys that are no longer age appropriate, no longer played with, or are broken.  Donate or sell the toys that you can and trash the toys that are broken or have missing pieces.  There’s no reason to keep toys around if they aren’t being played with anymore.
  8. Put hooks on the wall.  Many things can be hung on the wall.  Dress up clothes can be hung on hooks.  Some toys with handles can be hung on the wall.  If it can go up on the wall that will ease the clutter on the floor.
  9. Use a toy hammock to corral stuffed animals.  Many times it’s hard for children to part with stuffed animals, especially ones they’ve had since infancy.  Choose a couple of favorites to stay on the bed and then put the rest to sleep in a hammock.  She can still see them, but they won’t be taking over her whole bed or end up all over the floor every morning.
  10. Stay organized by getting rid of one thing for everything that comes in. Don’t over buy toys.  Kids love simple things like paper and crayons, boxes, and tissue paper.  To avoid having too many toys again, make sure that for every new toy that comes in you get rid of an old toy.

Posted in Nanny Tips, Parenting | Comments Off

Navigating a Culture of Bullying: Nannies help shape our children’s character

Sunday, July 1st, 2012

Internet Empathy -- The generosity of strangers outraged over the abuse of a 68-year-old school bus chaperone raised more than enough money for a retirement fund.

By now, many of you may have heard about the horrific behavior on middle school bus #784 in Greece, New York.  A viral video, “Making the Bus Monitor Cry” opened up viewers’ eyes to what happens when kids are put on the bus, parents wave goodbye and they disappear behind those yellow doors.

The video captures kids mercilessly harassing and taunting bus chaperone Karen Klein, 68, and ultimately breaking her down to tears. The crying doesn’t end the incident — it only motivates the four middle school boys to increase the tormenting.

The boys call Karen fat, ugly, old and sweaty. And those are the nicest things they say, drowned out in a sea of profanity you’d expect to hear from much older boys in a locker room. When she can’t tune the insults out, her tears prompt this gleeful response from the kids: “She probably misses her box of Twinkies!”

When you watch this video, it first comes across as the heartless emotional abuse of an elderly woman. But the irony makes it much worse.  Karen’s job is to keep the bus safe. Karen’s role is to ensure a bully-free environment.

Do these kids represent America’s future?  Why didn’t any other kids on the bus stand up for their chaperone? Surely, you can’t say all these kids don’t know the difference between right and wrong.

This story has a (somewhat) happy ending as an Internet fundraising campaign raised more than a half-million dollars for Karen’s vacation and retirement fund. She will never have to step foot on Bus 784 again.

But the bigger problem isn’t going away.  How did these kids become heartless monsters?  Where are the parents?  According to media reports, none of the offending children have given a face-to-face apology. Yet that wouldn’t resolve the issue either.

There is a clip in the video where Karen attempts to professionally handle the situation by telling the foulmouthed children that if they “don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say it all.”  It’s traditional and worthwhile advice that gets passed down from generation to generation in many families. The children’s response: “Shut the (expletive) up!”

No commentary needed.

Both parents and nannies assume a huge role in our children’s social and moral development.  Every day is a learning opportunity and how children respect their elders, respect authority and express empathy toward others is ultimately a reflection on parents and caregivers alike.

So when you are searching for and screening nanny candidates, finding someone who shares your values is just as important as their experience and knowledge about child care. Parents certainly can’t depend on the schools to make sure their kids are kind and thoughtful “little adults.”  And if they did, by then, it might be too late.

(For more information about preparing for your nanny search, visit the free eNannySource Learning Center).

Tags: , , , , , , , , ,
Posted in Parenting | Comments Off