by Michelle LaRowe
Editor in Chief

Anyone who has tried to capture a photo of their infant or toddler knows what a challenge that can be; never mind trying to get one decent family photo, which can prove to be both an all-day and very frustrating affair. So I reached out to Becca DuVal, a lifestyle photographer who makes capturing kids and families look easy, and picked her brain about what makes a good photo and what tips work best for capturing kids on go. Here’s what she had to share.

eNannySource: What makes a great family photo?

Becca DuVal: I would describe the perfect family photo with one word: genuine. Each person’s personality should shine through – what they’re wearing, how they’re posed, how they’re interacting with the rest of the subjects. You want to look back at these photos years from now and see it as a true representation of how your family was at this point in time.

eNannySource: How can you get kids to cooperate during a photo shoot?

Becca DuVal: Sorry moms – toss out that stash of candy! I’ve never known a bribe to work. Even if the kid is cooperative, the best shot I get out of a promise of a sleepover or dinner at a favorite restaurant is the pained, over-enthusiastic smiles. If you’ve tried it at home, you know exactly the type I mean!

My “secret” is to keep things light and have fun with it. Let the kids do the directing. You want to spin in your pretty dress now? Fantastic! Is it time to play with your action figures in the mud? That’s ok too! If a photo session feels like playtime, kids last much longer and fill the time with real genuine smiles.

Meltdown-mode anyway? Distract, distract, distract. It works with my toddler screaming in the grocery store aisles (Singing broccoli!? Whoever saw such a thing?) and it will work with even the most fussy of children in front of the camera (start perfecting those ridiculous animal impersonations now!)

eNannySource: What’s your best tips for moms and nannies trying to capture the perfect shot?

Becca DuVal: It’s great to go into a photo session with a “perfect shot” in mind. But if your kids are anything like mine, they won’t always cooperate with your Pinterest-inspired vision. Get creative and work with what you’ve got! My favorite photos are almost always “Plan B”s.

eNannySource: What’s the best background for family photos?

Becca DuVal: There is no one-size-fits-all approach to family photos. Your setting should be a representation of your family – are you country folk? Beach bums? City slickers? Pick accordingly!

If your options are limited – don’t stress! I’ve taken fantastic photos feet from a dumpster. Just be aware of your background, and find a perspective that offers the fewest distractions. (Sand dunes are prettier than that stranger’s tan lines. And a tree scape makes a better background than all those cars in the parking lot.)

eNannySource: Is it easier to capture indoor or outdoor photos?

Becca DuVal: Outdoors! Natural light (from the sun) is always more flattering than artificial light. Pop outside, turn off your flash, keep your subjects’ backs to the sun and snap away!

eNannSource: Any other words of wisdom you’d like to share?

Becca DuVal: Don’t forget to get in the photo, too! Maybe your hair appointment isn’t until next week, or your favorite outfit is in the wash – but I promise the kids won’t care when they’re grown and flipping through albums in search of memories with you in them.

Becca DuVal is a lifestyle photographer in Richmond, Virginia. She shares her love of natural-light photography with local families between playtime with her toddler and date nights with her husband. Follow her personal and professional journey on her Facebook page and find more helpful photography tips on her blog. To learn more about Becca visit www.beccaduvalphotography.com. 

When it comes to helping young children reach their fullest potential, Bambi Rosario-Wyatt does just that. Serving as a certified Early Invention Specialist, Bambi supports families and helps enhance the development of the children she works with by providing specialized services.

Recently I had a chance to connect with Bambi and pick her brain on how parents and caregivers can support the healthy growth and development of children. Here’s what she had to share.

eNannySource: How important are developmental milestones?  Where can parents find a quality list of them?

Bambi: Developmental milestones help parents and caregivers in understanding when and how development takes place.  Knowing approximately when a child will begin to learn a new skill and how other children their age are mastering it helps to know if your child is on track with their development or if they might need some support.

There are three websites that I use when sharing information about milestones and to get answers to parent’s questions.  They are: www.cdc.gov, www.kidshealth.org and www.zerotothree.org.  The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has great lists of milestones starting from 1 month up to 5 years of age, as well as a checklist for a parent to use to see if their child is doing what is expected for their age.  Just type “developmental milestones” in their search engine and you’ll be able to click on the age you need and see what your child should be doing.  You can also look at the next age range to see what comes next in your child’s development.  The KidsHealth website is a great place to visit when you have questions about how your child is developing or how they are acting. The Zero to Three website is run by a non-profit organization and they publish a journal bi-monthly.  They promote the mental and developmental health of infants and toddlers.  They have great information, but their site isn’t as easy to navigate.

eNannySource: What should parents do if they realize their children aren’t meeting them and how can they get the help that may be needed?

Bambi: If you believe that your child isn’t meeting his/her milestones, don’t worry.  Talk to your pediatrician about your concerns.  If your pediatrician tells you not to worry, but you are still concerned, you can contact your local Early Intervention program for a child from birth to 3 or your local school department for children over 3.

You do not need to be referred to Early Intervention.  Early Intervention is available in all 50 states because it is a mandated service by the Federal government.  However, the way it is handled differs from state to state.  The program should be listed in your local phone book or you can look them up on the web.  You can call your local school department and discuss your concerns with the early childhood personnel.  After your discussion, follow up with a written letter with your concerns and request a screening for your child.

eNannySource:  I’ve heard mixed things on crawling? Is that still an important milestone?

Bambi: Crawling is an important milestone because the physical movement of crawling leads to so many other areas of development that could be effected if a child doesn’t crawl.  When an infant learns to crawl they develop coordination between their upper body and lower body.  They build up the strength in their upper body so that they can create breath control for talking, wrist rotation for feeding and writing and most of all they teach their brain to communicate with both sides of their body equally.

eNannySource: What can parents and caregivers do to help children reach their milestones?

Bambi: Parents and caregivers can be aware of the milestones and when children typically reach them.  Play and have fun with your child.  Spend time with the child reading and talking; offer a variety of stimulation such as playing outside in all kinds of weather (appropriately dressed of course); going to the grocery store (talk about what you are going to get, what things you see, etc); participate in community playgroups with children of similar ages (mixed age groups work well too); visit your local library (children begin to learn the rules if they are exposed to them early); play and enjoy your child.

eNannySource: What are the best types of activities parents can do with babies? With toddlers? With preschoolers?

Bambi: Wow, this question could be a whole column by itself.  But I will try and be selective with the ones I think are most important.

My first advice for babies would be let them play on the floor.  They need time on their tummy in order for motor developmental progressions to occur.  But first an infant must like being put on their tummy before they are interested in crawling (usually between 6 and 9 months of age).  Many people report that their infant doesn’t like being on their tummy.  And that could be true, but it is so important for them to spend time there.  It helps to build up their upper body strength so they can lift up and support their head.  The infant works on raising their upper body and being able to move (pivoting, inching forward, crawling, creeping, etc.).  So, in order to achieve this, caregivers need to encourage more and longer time on their tummy.  It could be done in increments over the course of a day, 1 to 2 minutes at a time, several times during the day, trying to build up to longer periods of time.  It can be laying on top of the caregiver, face-to-face so that it is combined with social time; it can be laying on the couch while someone is sitting on the floor talking to them or entertaining them with a toy; it can be laying on the bed while the caregiver lays next to them or placing a mirror so the baby can see themselves; or it could be on the floor, with toys that interest them or a person entertaining them.  Read to them.  It can be your magazine; read it out loud for him/her to hear.  It can be the local paper, an instruction manual, anything. Use a sing song style voice and have fun.

For toddlers, let them explore.  Textures are important to them as they move from mouthing everything they get their hands on to using their eyes and other senses to learn about their environment.  It is okay to play with your food at the high chair.  Usually once a child is finished eating they stop putting the food into their mouth and begin to explore.  There could be a mess at the end, but think about all the learning that is going on.  Look at books; at first just point to pictures and talk about what is going on in the picture on each page (or every couple of pages); don’t read the words (yet).  You can label items, animals, people names, etc.  Enjoy the time with them on your lap, sitting on the couch together, or where ever you can get them to sit.  It will be a short burst of time to start, but will increase over time.  As they start using more and more words you can talk about where you are going in the car, who you will be seeing, what you will do when you get there, etc.  Give toddlers information: this age range is dependent upon routines.  They do not understand the concept of time, but do remember orders of things.  Try and give warnings when things may be different.  If you have a child who has trouble with transitions (moving from one thing/activity to the next) then give warnings (5 minutes, then 2 minutes, then 1 minute).  Make sure that you have their attention before giving information.  If they aren’t looking at you there is a good chance that they aren’t hearing you.

For preschoolers; Play.  Provide a variety of materials for children to make things from.  Let their imaginations develop and mature.  Find toys that increase their creative play.  If all of the child’s toys talk for them, then why do they need to talk?  If you have a farm and animals that makes all the noise for them, take the batteries out.  Encourage narrated play.  Vehicles make noises, people make noises, animals make noises, etc.  A language rich environment helps vocabulary to grow and children learn how to make language work if their vocabulary is big enough.  Socialization with peers is important too, but not too much structure.  Let the children play and learn how to work things out for themselves.  If things begin to get too out of hand, then it’s time for an adult to step in and help them work things out.  Give them options and create the words that they need to use.  Read with them.  At this age they enjoy simple words on the pages of the books.  They will choose a favorite one and you’ll be reading it over and over again.  This is great.  Soon they will be “reading” it to you.  You can read the words and leave off the last one before turning the page and let them finish the word.  Once they know the book you can begin to substitute new words and see their reaction.  It will become fun for you both.

eNannySource: Is there anything else you’d like to share?

Bambi: Children are fun.  Enjoy them while they are little in whatever way you are able.  Many families have to send their children to child care or have a care taker come to their home to care for their children.  Visit several child care facilities before making a decision.  Make sure to interview several people before making that final choice.  It will take time, but will be worth the effort when you find the caring place or individual that fits your child’s and your needs.  Being cared for by someone other than a parent isn’t a bad thing.  Children develop relationships with all kinds of people and understand who their parents are from a very early age.  When you are with your child just remember to enjoy him.  Be silly and have fun.

And lastly, please let those babies play on the floor.  There are many pieces of equipment out there now that keep a baby upright when what they really need is to be down on the floor.  The walkers, ExerSaucers and jumpers are not needed and can lead to a baby developing their lower muscles more than their uppers.  This is usually why they don’t like time on their tummy or skip crawling and go right to walking.  If you need 10 to 15 minutes for your child to occupy themselves so you can start preparation of dinner or dry your hair, then use one to keep your child safe, but please don’t keep them in there for longer periods of time throughout the day.  It does not help with their typically developing bodies.  When working in the kitchen, place the infant in their high chair and give them a toy to play with instead.  The suction cup toys will stay on the tray and keep them entertained and you can still watch them, talk to them and be “with” them.

Bambi Rosario-Wyatt is a certified Early Intervention Specialist in the state of Massachusetts.  She has her Associates degree in Special Education: Teacher Assistant and her Bachelor’s degree in Human Development with Early Childhood certification.  She has worked at Cape Cod Child Development in Early Intervention (children ages birth to 3, with developmental delays) for nearly 29 years.  Bambi co-facilitates an integrated play group for children in Barnstable weekly and supports families and their children through home visiting in the mid and lower Cape areas.  She is the mother of 4 grown children and grandmother to two teenagers. 

by Michelle LaRowe
Editor in Chief

I reached out to my good friend Dr. Christina Powell and asked her some of the most common faith based questions parents face. As a mother, Harvard trained research scientist and an ordained minister, she’s in a unique position to provide helpful insight. Here’s what she had to say.

eNannySource: What are some practical ways to teach kids about faith?

Dr. Powell: The Bible instructs parents to teach kids about faith “when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up” (Deuteronomy 11:19). Everyday moments provide great teaching opportunities for parents to share their faith. A walk in the park exploring nature can lead to a conversation about God as creator. A prayer before mealtime can become a quick lesson on gratitude and God’s provision. Bedtime stories and background music in the home can teach Biblical principles. Children learn about faith best when you weave the lessons into the fabric of family life.

eNannySource: What do you say to parents who are worried their kids won’t behave in church, so they don’t take them?

Dr. Powell: Every child is unique, and churches take varied approaches to children’s ministry. Children should be included in the family’s worship practices so they learn to value church and their place in the Christian community. However, for a season, a parent might need to find a compromise that works for their child and their church. In a church without children’s programs, perhaps an energetic young child can enjoy singing with their parents in the main sanctuary, but may need to leave before the sermon. An imperfect solution that increases a child’s involvement in church is better than an approach that does not include the child.

eNannySource: What is the best way for parents to answer faith-based questions like “Why did grandma die?” or “Who is God?”

Dr. Powell: Children need answers to faith-based questions that deliver the right amount of age-appropriate information. Your answers should be honest and simple, but not sugar coated. Be careful of distorting theology in your attempt to answer the question on the child’s level. As your children develop, you can provide them with more complex answers to meet their growing spiritual needs.

eNannySource: What tips do you have for parents whose children doubt the spiritual truths their parents share with them?

Dr. Powell: Faith is a decision that each person ultimately makes for himself. At some point in the process of learning spiritual truths from parents, children must decide to make their parent’s faith into their own faith. Doubting can be part of this process. With an older child, guiding the child in the process of discovery can be more helpful than directly providing answers. Show the child how to seek answers from the Bible and through prayer. Help the child connect to peers with a solid faith. Introduce the child to books that strengthen faith. Be a mentor, but let the child go through the discovery process.

eNannySource: What role does faith play in the lives of children?

Dr. Powell: Faith can comfort a child in the same way that faith comforts adults, helping children work through their fears and better understand their world. Faith provides stability through the ups and downs of life, giving perspective to successes and failures. Faith also teaches a child how to relate to peers and authority figures and make wise life choices.

eNannySource: What can happen if parents don’t pass on their faith to their children?

Dr. Powell: If parents do not pass their faith to their children, their children may walk away from the faith. Responsibility for the next generation of the church lies primarily with parents. Teachers, pastors and youth leaders can come alongside parents, but no one can replace the role of a parent in a child’s life.

eNannySource: Is there anything else you’d like to share?

Dr. Powell: In the process of teaching children about faith, we may find they teach us about faith as well. Jesus told his followers they must become as little children in their hearts when they come to him (Matthew 18:2-4). Our children remind us of the trusting relationship we need to have with God.

Christina M. H. Powell, Ph.D., is an ordained minister, public speaker, and writer trained as a biomedical research scientist at Harvard University. She is also the mother of two girls. She blogs at www.questionyourdoubts.com and is writing her first book exploring the many roots of doubt and the corresponding response of faith.

by Michelle LaRowe
Editor in Chief

Several years ago I had the opportunity to meet Dr. Toy and listen in on one of her educational workshops for nannies on all things play. As a play expert and the leading authority on toys, I knew she would have some great insight into the best toys of 2012, the impact of electronic toys, and the importance of play. Here’s some of what she had to share:

eNannySource: What were the top toys for 2012?

Dr. Toy: There are many products offered by many companies, and many top toys every year plus many top classic ones that never go out of style.  It’s always important to know the children’s interests and abilities and locate toys that best fit their age and abilities. There are also many top toy lists to select from, so going to websites in advance helps to find a range of possible products.

Go on a visit to the toy store and listen to what the child likes and use that experience to create a personalized “Wish List.” Children play year round, so toys that are popular in December can and also should be enjoyed later in the year.

Dr. Toy makes toy selections based on types of products including low to high tech, wide age range and price range, and the types of products. You can find the Best Ten Toys and 9 other categories on Dr. Toy’s Guide. We also have created an App, Dr. Toy’s Best Toys Gift Guide

Some popular toys include Lego, Leap Pad 2, Dolls, Hot Wheels, Air Hogs, Pirates (Fisher Price), Easy Bake Oven and Wii. Please don’t forget books, building toys, creative projects, art supplies and music equipment, games, puzzles, and a variety of fun items for outdoor activities.

eNannySource: How have electronic devices changed the landscape of children’s play?

Dr. Toy: Electronics have brought many changes to the land of toys, ranging from interactive toys to computers, games on line connected to plush and toys, and products that resemble adult products like Leap Pad 2 and other related high tech devices. There are more electronics related to toys than ever before, but that does not necessarily make for better play. Children also need to balance activities and experience real play and not overdose on technology. 

eNannySource: What are your thoughts on limiting screen time?

Dr. Toy: When children play with anything that is electronic, including games and TV, the time should be limited so they also play with real toys that more directly and at their own pace capture their imagination, requires their interaction and creativity, and helps them to learn and be involved making and doing…and engaged in real activity. It’s really the difference between buying cookies already made and actually preparing and baking them. 

eNannySource: What are your favorite toys of all time? For toddlers?

Dr. Toy: As a guide to basics, my book Smart Play/Smart Toys covers play and playthings from baby to older children. In the chapter on Toddlers we indicate a variety of great toys that are perfect for this age, including art supplies (Colorforms©, finger paints and Play-Doh©), balls of different sizes, blocks, books, dolls, musical instruments, pail and shovel, pounding sets, puppets, puzzles, ring stacks, shape sorting, stuffed plush animals, and transportation vehicles.

eNannySource: For preschoolers?

Dr. Toy: As children grow they continue to like to use art supplies, books, building toys, dolls, musical instruments, and vehicles. Preschoolers will also enjoy the fun of learning to ride a tricycle and creating a garden.

eNannySource: What lessons do non-electronic toys teach that electronic ones can’t replicate?

Dr. Toy: Children are developing their brain power and require real experiences that prepare them and give them opportunities to gain skills, including artistic and creative expression, communication, dramatic acting, role playing, exploration, digging in sand and soil, and pouring and playing with water. They enjoy experimenting and exploring their environment, building up and knocking down blocks, construction toys, talking with puppets, and plush toys. They need to make sounds and figure things out and not have devices that are programmed to take over and bypass all of the values that play provides.  

eNannySource: What’s your advice to today’s parents on the importance of play?

Dr. Toy: Please do not reduce play time for the child, as they benefit from and need a great variety of experiences to fully develop. Play is natural and essential and the more the child plays the more confident and curious they become. Play enriches both sides of the brain and when they play they are gaining optimal mental development. They need to make sounds, explore, and discover so they gain firsthand experience and directly know how to use their full range of abilities.  Take the time to play with the child and enjoy the interaction and the benefits and the amazing opportunity for both adult and child.

eNannySource: Can you share your best tips for play?

Dr. Toy: Take time to select the most suitable products that offer the best quality, safety and design. Select what is best for the child and what they will most benefit from. Then, take the time to play, keep playthings easily accessible, and store anything they are not playing with. Recycle these items in a few months and they will be fresh and enjoyed again.

Keep an eye on the toys so that anything broken is discarded and those not being used are donated to charity.

Most of all have fun and know how important the experiences children have are when they are playing. 

Dr. Toy, Stevanne Auerbach, PhD, is a leading authority on play, toys, and children’s products. With 30 years of direct experience, Dr. Auerbach includes educationally oriented, developmental, and skill building products from the best large and small companies in her four annual award programs. Dr. Toy is the author of Dr. Toy’s Smart Play Smart Toys How to Raise a Child with a High PQ – Play Quotient which helps parents select the best toys and games for developing “Play Quotient” (PQ) and expanding child’s play. You can learn more about Dr. Toy, the Dr. Toy awards and her books at www.DrToy.com.

by Michelle LaRowe
Editor in Chief

With the Fiscal Cliff negotiations taking center in news broadcasts and papers, everyone is well aware that the country was in some type of fiscal crisis. But with news coverage in the topic so wide, it can be hard to narrow in on how the resolutions practically affect household employers and employees.

Recently I connected with Kathy Webb of Homework Solutions, a nanny industry leader on household pay and tax matters to figure out how the recent negotiations truly impact those in our industry. Here’s what she had to share.

eNannySource: There has been a lot of talk about taxes and paychecks recently. What do household employers need to know?

Kathy: The Fiscal Cliff negotiations were certainly in the headlines! The most important take away for household employers is that the two year “Payroll Tax Holiday” was allowed to expire. What this means is that Social Security payroll withholding will go up by 2% over 2012, and every employee’s net paycheck will be smaller. There are some changes coming to Federal Income Tax withholding formulas, however, these will not significantly impact household employees.

The HomeWork Solutions’ Nanny Payroll Tax Calculator is up to date with published tax changes, most importantly the Social Security tax change. Employers should certainly recalculate before issuing any 2013 payrolls. Employers who fail to collect via deductions the correct tax amounts will still need to remit the additional tax to the IRS.

eNannySource: How about at the state level? Are there any particular changes at this level?

Kathy: Ten states and several large cities including San Francisco increased the minimum wage effective January 1, 2013. HomeWork Solutions’ website maintains a list of the minimum wage that applies to household workers. Washington State has the highest state minimum wage at $9.19 per hour, and the City of San Francisco the highest minimum wage nationwide at $10.55. Also, every year state unemployment tax rates are adjusted.

New York State employers are legally obligated to provide their employees their annual Pay Rate Notice between January 1 and February 1, 2013.

eNannySource: What other 2013 changes should a Household Employer be aware of?

Kathy: Many household employers reimburse the business use of their nanny’s personal vehicle at the IRS mileage reimbursement rate. This rate increased a penny to $56.5 cents per mile for 2013. Employers and nannies alike should remember that they have the obligation to maintain appropriate documentation of the details of the reimbursed business expense.

eNannySouce: Wrapping up 2012, what particular activities are needed to close out last year’s payroll obligations?

Kathy: January is a busy month for payroll tax reporting. What is top of mind for many nannies is that they are due to receive their Form W-2 no later than January 31, 2013 for 2012 wages. Employers, in addition to the W-2 forms, are also busy with 4th quarter reporting and end of year reconciliations.

It is very important to remember that nannies and almost all household workers are employees of the family – NOT independent contractors. Nationally, prosecution of employers for willfully issuing a Form 1099 to an employee is an enforcement priority. The US Department of Labor, the IRS and many states now formally share information between the agencies to facilitate the identification of offenders and the enforcement of payroll tax and labor laws.

eNannySource: 2012 Household Employment Taxes are reported to the IRS with the family’s income tax return. Are there any changes in this process?

Kathy: The Form 1040 Schedule H process has been largely unchanged over the last decade. The one item that catches employers by surprise, however, is when their Federal Unemployment Tax (FUTA) jumps unexpectedly. The bleak employment picture over the last 5 years has severely strained state unemployment funds, and the majority of states have had to take loans from the Federal government to meet benefit payment obligations. Currently 18 states are in arrears in their loan repayment and as a result the employers in these states face significant increases in their FUTA tax rate – a so-called “credit reduction.”

Most important for household employers is that families in these states who are household employers were ineligible for e-filing of their personal tax returns for 2011 and indications are this will continue for 2012 returns, as IRS computer systems are unable to accept the “credit reduction” worksheet.

HomeWork Solutions’ FAQ Common Questions: End of Year “Nanny Tax” Filings goes into considerable detail regarding these end of year activities. HomeWork Solutions’ representatives are also available for free telephone consultations weekdays at 800.626.4829, and welcome your calls.