Top 10 Things Nannies Get Reimbursed For

January 5, 2012

A nanny’s wage is meant to cover her hours of work only. Typically, a nanny should not expect to be paying for any family related expenses herself; when she does cover those expenses out of her own pocket, she can and should expect to be reimbursed for those expenses promptly in her pay check. Some employers will also reimburse a nanny for some of her own expenses as part of their employment agreement with the nanny. Here is a list of the top 10 reimbursements that nanny’s receive in their paychecks.

1. Mileage – Reimbursement for the use of their personal vehicle for work related travel is the most common reimbursement that nannies receive with their pay checks. The IRS sets standard mileage reimbursement rates each year. These mileage reimbursement rates are meant to cover the cost of fuel, maintenance and insurance of a vehicle on a per mile basis. Occasionally, the IRS will make adjustments to these mileage rates in the middle of a tax year, when there has been large fluctuations in fuel prices, so it is important to keep up to date on current rates.
2. Parking – When a nanny is transporting the children or performing other family related errands, any parking fees that she may pay out of her own pocket should be submitted for reimbursement from the employer.
3. Public Transit – Use of public transit to escort the children to the library, lessons or any other destinations that are part of the nanny’s care duties would be another reimbursable item if the nanny pays for it herself or uses her personal transit pass for these excursions.
4. Family expenses – Although it might not be considered a normal part of a nanny’s duties, it would not be unheard of for parents to ask their nanny to pick up a needed household item while she is out with the children. A prompt reimbursement upon her return to the home or in her next pay check should certainly be expected in this case.
5. Dining – Normally, employers should provide a nanny with the funds necessary for a meal out with the children, such as lunch during a day spent at the zoo. In the case where the funds were not provided ahead of time, a reimbursement for the dining expenses of the children and the nanny would be in order.
6. Entertainment – As with the dining out, any costs for taking the children on outings should be either provided in advance or promptly reimbursed following the providing of receipts for these expenses.
7. Cellphone – Most parents will want their nanny to have a cellphone with her whenever she is out with the children for contact and emergency purposes. If the family is not providing the cellphone itself, then a reimbursement for all or a portion of the nanny’s cellphone bill could be expected on a monthly basis.
8. Education – Educational classes that relate to a nanny’s employment and professional development are often included as a reimbursable expense in a nanny’s employment agreement.
9. Health insurance – There may be situations where a family chooses not to provide a separate health insurance policy for their nanny; instead, they may reimburse her for a portion of or the full monthly premium she pays for her own personal policy.
10. Taxes – Not all employers include this benefit for their nannies, but it is fairly common. Rather than deducting social security taxes from the nanny’s wages to submit to the government, some employers will pay both their portion and the matching employee portion of social security taxes to the government. This is not technically a reimbursement, but amounts to a similar benefit as it is covering a cost that the nanny would normally be responsible for paying out of her own income.

Posted in Nanny Taxes | 9 Comments

7 Reasons Silence is Important for Kids

December 19, 2011

Quiet time can be hard to come by in a house full of children, but it is important for your kids’ well being. Whether the time is spent relaxing and decompressing from an eventful day or focusing on homework, your children should have an uninterrupted block of time worked into their daily routine where they can find complete silence. Turning off televisions, cell phones and MP3 players should be strictly enforced, and here are some of the reasons why.

1. Kids Get Stressed Out, Too – Though many adults idealize childhood and think of it as a carefree time, for many modern children, this simply isn’t true. The American Psychological Association conducted a survey indicating that children worry about their family’s financial situation and their grades, with older children showing marked stress over issues such as college acceptance and funding. This survey also showed that parents consistently underestimated the stress level of their children by 12-24 percentage points.
2. Quiet Time Can Help Control Symptoms of ADD/ADHD – In order to properly concentrate on schoolwork, kids with ADD/ADHD need an uncluttered and quiet space to unwind and focus on the work at hand. Outside stimuli can greatly affect your child’s ability to keep their mind on one task; blocking out noise that can distract them and hinder productivity is a must.
3. The Pursuit of Individual Interests – Quiet time is a chance for your child to explore self-contained activities and interests, boosting their independence. In the absence of video games and cartoons, your kids can focus their attention on reading, working on artistic projects or other relaxing hobbies. The ability to entertain themselves with limited outside stimuli will serve them well later in life.
4. Improving Sleep Patterns – A child that spends their day being bombarded by over-stimulating noise and activity will often have trouble decompressing before bed without the aid of quiet time. This sleep disruption can affect everything from their mood to their physical health; setting aside a period of winding down before bed can help kids relax  instead of jumping into bed with a racing mind.
5. Preserving Parents’ Sanity– Your children are affected by your mood and stress level, and you are just as susceptible to the crankiness that comes from constant over-stimulation as they are. While your children are enjoying their quiet time, you’ll have the opportunity to decompress a bit as well; as a result, you’ll be better equipped to deal with the minor crises that crop up throughout the day. Keeping your cool in high-pressure situations will help them to do the same, so everyone wins.
6. Quiet Time Can Be Family Time – Instituting a policy of “Quiet Time” in your household doesn’t have to mean that everyone retreats to separate rooms to isolate themselves. Spending your quiet time together can be just as relaxing, and it will help you maintain your connections to one another. Younger, excitable children may need the occasional reminder to be calm, but everyone can benefit from peaceful time spent together.
7. Escaping The Demands of Siblings – Older children can be taxed by the rambunctious behavior of younger siblings, causing them to act out of anger when they’ve been pushed to their breaking point. A period of quiet time can give your older children a much-needed break from the little ones, helping them to treat them better and enjoy interacting with them more as a result.

Tailoring your Quiet Time to the needs of your family is essential to success; there are no one-size-fits-all solutions. Working out a schedule and guidelines can be approached as a family, giving your children the chance to give their input as well. They’re more likely to respect a plan they helped to create.

Posted in Child Care Tips | 6 Comments

10 Famous Child Psychologists and Their Credentials

December 15, 2011

Child psychology is a decidedly fluid discipline, wherein new discoveries and research are constantly reshaping the clinical landscape. There are many notable doctors in the field of child psychology, not all of whom agree on theory, much less proper diagnosis or treatment of disorders. Here we will look at 10 famous child psychologists and their credentials:

1. Sigmund Freud – Noted for his research and theories in the area of psycho-sexual development, Freud’s work in child psychology identified five stages of child development: oral, anal, phallic, latent, and genital fixation. He theorized that if a child experienced anxiety which impeded their sexual growth during any of these stages, it would manifest itself in adulthood as a neurosis.
2. John Bowlby – British child psychologist best-known for his work in attachment theory. Bowlby published a trilogy of works advancing the theory, which eventually became the dominant approach in studying social development in children.
3. Anna Freud – Daughter of Sigmund Freud, founder of child psychology and pioneer of the concept of defense mechanisms of the ego.
4. Mary Ainsworth – Contributed much research in the field of attachment theory; developed the “strange situation” assessment in which children would be left alone in a room briefly, then reunited with the mother. This research led to her concluding that there were three types of attachment.  Ainsworth was a pioneer in advancing the understanding of child development.
5. Erik Erikson – Developed the stage theory of psycho-social development, exploring events throughout one’s lifetime, from childhood, to adulthood, to old age. Studied with Anna Freud, and is also considered an ‘ego’ psychologist.
6. Melanie Klein – An innovator in child psychoanalysis, and infant development theories, and co-founder of object relations theory, which posits that adults relate to each other and situations as we were programmed to do so in our childhood through our relationships with our parents.
7. Jean Piaget – Piaget held to the theory, as did, Erikson, that children developed in stages. Piaget theorized that these were stages of a child’s cognitive abilities. One of the first psychologists to recognize that children thought differently than adults.
8. Sidney W. Bijou – A developmental psychologist, Bijou was a proponent of behavioral therapy in treating psychological disorders in children such as autism and attention deficit disorder.
9. Hans Steiner – Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at Stanford University. A proponent of developmental psychopathology.
10. Sir Michael L. Rutter – First consultant of child psychiatry in the U.K, often referred to as the father of child psychology; Professor of Developmental Psychopathology at the Institute of Psychiatry, King’s College London.

Posted in Child Care Tips, Pop Culture Nannies | 5 Comments

10 Safe Uses of Alcohols for Kids

December 14, 2011

Many parents are concerned about exposing their children to alcohol and carefully monitor products they come in contact with. What most people don’t realize is that there are many different forms of alcohol that are used in common household items and even food.  An alcohol is any organic compound in which is bound to a carbon atom, usually connected to other carbon or hydrogen atoms. The three basic alcohols are ethanol, isopropyl alcohol and tert-butyl alcohol. The fundamental properties of these compounds have numerous applications, so here are 10 safe uses of alcohols for kids.

1. Rubbing alcohol – Isopropyl alcohol is the main ingredient in rubbing alcohol and can be found in just about every home. It’s used as a disinfectant, antiseptic and can also be used to cool and soother the skin. When kids get their immunization shots the nurse will first disinfect the surrounding skin with alcohol.
2. Ink – Most people don’t realize that alcohol is used in the production of the ink in the pens and markers kids love to use. Butyl acetate solvent has many industrial uses and one of them is in the manufacture of inks.
3. Paint – Butyl acetate solvent is also used in the manufacture of many paints. Children love to paint, so alcohol plays a big role in enriching their lives.
4. Ice cream – Believe it or not, alcohol is also used in many food items including ice cream. Kids love ice cream even though a form of tert-butyl alcohol is used safely as a synthetic fruit flavoring.
5. Candy – Sorbitol, Mannitol, Xylitol and Maltitol are sugar alcohols used in many sugar free candies and gums. Of course parents want to limit the amount of sugary candy their children consume to prevent obesity and cavities. These sugar free alternatives are safe for kids to consume in moderation.
6. Baked goods – Another use of tert-butyl alcohol is in many baked goods with synthetic fruit flavoring that kids love. Of course home made muffins with real blueberries are best, but can be expensive and time consuming. Chances are any pre-packaged baked products or mixes contain safe amounts of an alcohol subset.
7. Cheese – This form of alcohol is even used in the flavorings for cheese. Most kids love cheese and parents can’t object to their kids consuming this healthy dairy product.
8. Medications – The biggest concern parents have is for alcohol found in children’s medications. However, the reason it’s in many cough and cold medications is because alcohol is used to kill germs and dilate tissues in the throat for a warm, relaxed feeling. The lower percentage used in children’s medications are considered safe, such as the alcohol used in some teething medications.
9. Hand sanitizer – Most schools, clinics and other public places encourage the use of hand sanitizer to limit the spread of germs. Alcohol based hand sanitizers are more effective at killing germs than soaps and don’t dry out hands as much.
10. Lotion – One popular baby lotion lists cetyl alcohol, stearyl alcohol and butylenes glycol in the ingredients. Small amounts of these various alcohols are used in many lotions to soothe the itching and redness of dry skin while remaining gentile enough for infants.

Alcohol is a nearly universal solvent used to mix together various chemicals. You would be amazed at how many different products have some form of alcohol used as an ingredient or in their production. Of course parents don’t want their children drinking alcoholic beverages, but they need not be concerned about the many safe uses of the various forms of alcohols in common products and food items.

Posted in Child Care Tips | 6 Comments

10 Outfits Parents Love But Kids Hate

December 11, 2011

The battle between parents and their kids when it comes to getting dressed is the stuff of legend. Even from a young age, most kids have fairly strong opinions about the clothes they like to wear, and the ones that they absolutely don’t. Here are a few of the things that parents love to put on their children, and children hate having to wear.

1. The Sailor Outfit – Kids past toddlerhood almost universally hate the sailor outfit, and the choruses of “Oh, how adorable!” only make them more cranky.
2. School Uniforms – Parents love the affordability and time-saving nature of school uniforms. School administrators love that uniforms take the focus off of clothing and help keep it on academic performance. Kids hate uniforms. They hate the loss of individuality, the typically-uncomfortable fabric and the bland colors.
3. Enormous Hair Bows – There’s a particular kind of parent that likes to put disproportionally large bows on a little girl’s head, even during infancy. Adults may ooh and ahh about elaborate bows, but most kids hate them.
4. Frilly Dresses – While some little girls love to dress up, most don’t like the itchy lace and restrictive nature of a very fancy dress.
5. Anything With a Matching Hat – Try to put a hat on an infant, toddler or even a preschooler. Chances are, they will take it off and hurl it to the ground immediately. That adorable Easter outfit with a matching bonnet may be adorable on the hanger, but don’t count on it staying in place for more than five minutes.
6. Things That Require Turtlenecks – Kids hate turtlenecks. They’re uncomfortable, and can even make some children feel overheated and claustrophobic.
7. Seasonal Sweaters – Most kids aren’t wild about any kind of sweater, but their dislike will quickly skyrocket to furious hatred if a sweater has a snowflake, reindeer or other holiday motif. If you want to cause a really impressive tantrum, try to put a turtleneck under it.
8. “Kiddie” Clothes – At a certain age, most children decide that certain styles of clothing are too young for them. When they reach this point, no amount of cajoling will convince them to happily wear a pastel shirt with ducks on the front.
9. Cutesy Animal Costumes – There’s a reason why the pink bunny costume in A Christmas Story is a cultural icon: it represents everything that children hate and parents find adorable.
10. Bulky Snowsuits – Parents in colder climates love the snowsuit because they’re confident that their children will stay warm and comfortable. Kids, on the other hand, hate the bulky and clumsy nature of a puffy snowsuit. Putting it on is a chore, getting it off is even worse; if nature calls while your child is wearing one of these, be prepared for panic.

As with adults, likes and dislikes vary from child to child. One little girl may love frilly dresses, the more elaborate the better; her sister may have quite impressive tantrums any time she’s approached with one. It’s a good idea to respect your child’s individual clothing taste as much as possible to help foster a sense of individuality, but also to stand your ground when a particular style of dress is absolutely necessary. Striking this balance can sometimes be difficult, but your children will appreciate the effort.

Posted in Child Care Tips | 12 Comments

10 Reasons You Should Not Call Your Son a Sissy

December 11, 2011

Historically, the distinctions between male and female characteristics have been clearly defined by society and only recently have the lines been blurred. Now the societal roles of men and women are not as rigidly delineated as in times past, so the tendency to insist that boys be boys and girls be girls is in some ways an arcane ideal.

Labels reinforce negative self-images, such as calling a boy a sissy for behavior that has traditionally been more associated with girls. We’re going to share ten reasons why you shouldn’t call your son a sissy.

1. Instilling the notion in your son that he’s a sissy for crying will force him to subjugate those feelings for fear of ridicule, usually resulting in his acting out in other ways to compensate.
2. Labels can be self-fulfilling for a young mind. Eventually he becomes what you’ve programmed him to believe what he was already.
3. Dissuading him from self-expression or engaging in activities that may not agree with your concept of masculine behavior will discourage him from developing skills that would have otherwise brought fulfillment and even a vocation as an adult.
4. Trust is a huge factor in a parent-child relationship. You can irreparably sever this bond by violating his trust with what he will see as rejection.
5. What may just be a passing phase or innocent exploration on his part might transform into a fixation by virtue of your declaring it taboo.
6. You’re in essence sending a message that it’s not OK for a boy to express things like sensitivity, fear, or compassion. These are not incompatible with genuine manhood, and should be encouraged, not judged.
7. Labels also have a tendency to spread; and when they start at the top, from a parent, they roll downhill quickly and with a big head of steam. A parent’s words carry so much weight with a child and can last a lifetime. It’s important to choose them wisely.
8. What we teach our children with our words and deeds is transferred to future generations. Negative labels perpetuate stereotypes.
9. Many of the virtues that we have historically attributed to the female gender can also benefit males as well as society at large; but they need to be not only nurtured but permitted in your son at an early age.
10. We are not so much at risk of raising effeminate children by allowing them to develop their minds and hearts naturally, as we are in danger of handicapping them from healthy relationships and a sense of self-worth if we continue to prohibit  them from doing so.

Posted in Child Care Tips | 7 Comments

10 Ways to Explain a Pet Dying to Kids

November 19, 2011

There is no right way to tell a child that their pet has died.  Every child is different and will respond differently.  The harder thing is when you think they aren’t going to be too upset because they knew it was coming and then they are extremely upset.  Make sure that you are loving and nice about it.  Don’t make it into a joke.  Telling little Johnny that his goldfish just got flushed is not the right way to explain that his pet fish died.  The more physical contact the child had to the pet the harder it is to accept their passing.  There is no way to completely eliminate tears and there’s no reason to want to, but you want to try to limit the trauma to the child if possible.

1. If you are religious you can start by explaining your thoughts on afterlife.  Explain to your child that it was Fido’s time to go be with God.  Dogs only live so long depending on the breed and when it’s their time, they go to heaven and wait for us.  If you have family that has died you can say that Fido is with Grandma now and some day they will see them again.
2. Explain to the child the cycle of life.  Rabbits are born, they grow up and when it’s their time they die and we bury them so that they can become one with the earth again.  Let the child know that they can visit the place where their pet was buried when they miss them.
3. Tell your child that Buttons was sick and that she was in a lot of pain.  Help them to relate by having them think of a time when they were sick and how bad they felt.  Explain that sometimes when a pet gets sick there is nothing we can do to save them and the kindest thing we can do is let them die so that they aren’t suffering anymore. 
4. Break the news to them as gently as you can and then be there to hold them when they cry.  Sometimes it’s better not to talk a lot.  Let them be sad.  Be there to listen if they want to talk about it.  There are stages of grief that people go through, denial, bargaining, anger, guilt, depression and acceptance.  With a child and a pet they may not go through all of the stages or they may progress through them rapidly.  Just be there to answer their questions and concerns.  Don’t get mad at them if they show signs of anger or blame you for the death of the pet.  You are an adult and you can take it.  Don’t try to be stoic either.  If you feel like crying over the pet do so.  Letting the child see you crying gives them permission to cry too.
5. Read them a book about loss.  There’s a great book called “Throwing Away the Wrapper” by Bob Willis that will explain that only the pet’s physical body has died, but they still have their memories of the pet and they will live in their heart forever.  Children won’t understand why they can’t dig up their cat and give it a hug.  There is no understanding of decomposition.  Sometimes it is easier and wiser to let someone else’s words explain things so reading a book on the subject at their level is a good solution.
6. Help your child remember the good times.  You can talk about all your good memories.  You and your child can make a scrapbook using all the pictures you’ve taken of the pet over the years and by writing down these stories and looking at the pictures you can explain that the memories of the pet will always be with the child and that no one can take them away.  Whenever they miss their pet they can go look at the scrapbook and always have a physical reminder of their treasured friend.
7. If your child is very young (2-3) they don’t have the cognitive ability to understand everything pertaining to the death of a pet.  It’s best to keep things simple with toddlers and just explain that their pet has died and will not be coming back.  Make sure to let the child know that they have done nothing wrong and that it’s not their fault that death is something that we cannot stop.  Let it go at that and just be there to answer questions.  Experts have seen toddlers stop talking after the death of the family pet, but in time they will start talking again so don’t be alarmed and know that it is normal.
8. When your child is a little older (4-6) they are better able to understand death, but often think of death as sleeping or something that is not a permanent condition.  Avoid telling your child that the pet was “put to sleep” or that “God has taken them” because this can cause the child to either think that the pet will eventually wake up and come back or develop an anger towards God because he took their beloved pet away.  You don’t want to cause either of those things to happen so just be honest without being brutal.  This age child could regress is their potty training, but again it’s only temporary so don’t get mad at them.
9. An older child (7-9) understands more and will not tend to blame themselves, but may want to blame others for their loss.  Some children may become obsessed with death and trying to understand it.  Another possible outcome is that they will start thinking about death and then worry that everyone they know may die and become very scared.  A child like this may become clingy and not want to go to school for fear that when they come home someone will have died.  Just be open and honest with these children and make sure the answer their questions.
10. Adolescents (10+) will respond to death much the way adults do by going through the stages discussed above.  Some children may refuse to show any emotion and become withdrawn at the loss of a pet.  Don’t push them, but just make sure that you are there as a soft place to fall.  When they do grieve don’t belittle them or tell them that it’s no big deal we will just get another one.  This was a friend to them and depending on the child it may have been their closest friend.  Treat this loss as a big deal and just remember to be honest with them. 

 

Posted in Uncategorized | 5 Comments

10 Challenges for the Nanny of Work From Home Parents

November 13, 2011

When a household includes both an in-home business and in-home childcare, the situations which the nanny deals with may have some unique challenges. Discussing the various issues and keeping the communication open between employer and nanny is important in working through these situations.

1. Noise levels – There may not be a lot of sound proofing between the home office and the rest of the home. Small children are bound to be noisy when playing and babies sometimes can only communicate through crying. The nanny should not feel a need to keep the children any quieter than in any other household. It is up to the parent to protect themselves from those distractions.
2. Saving Questions – When the parent is in the home, rather than a phone call away, a nanny can be tempted to interrupt them with questions that would normally be saved until the end of the day. Remember that etiquette regarding interrupting them ‘at the office’ applies equally, no  matter where that office is located.
3. Clinging children – Most work from home parents will not be hidden away in their office for the entire day. They are bound to come out for lunch and breaks, just like any other worker. This can be an issue with the small children who don’t understand what ‘going back to work’ means.
4. Known presence – The presence of the parent or parents in the home is not going to be a secret from the kids. Even when they are not in sight, the children will be aware of their presence. In order for the nanny to maintain her leadership role with the children, the parents must cooperate in not giving in to demands by the children for their attention during the work day.
5. Listening ear – Unlike the nanny whose employers leave the house in the morning and return in the evening, a nanny for work from home parents is likely to be questioned about every bump, cry or other strange sound that is overheard by the parents during the day.
6. Variable hours – Unless the parents are strongly structured in their own work hours, a nanny may find that work from home parents expect her to be as flexible with her schedule as they are with theirs. This is an important item to be well clarified in the work agreement.
7. Wandering workers – Not all work from home parents stay confined to their home office. Wireless internet connections and cell phones enable them to do much of their work from any room in the house. This can mean that the nanny needs to adjust her work habits to fit in with various unoccupied territories within the home each day.
8. End of day – Most people who work from home are also doing a job that they really enjoy. When you love your work and you work within the comfort of your own home, it is easy to lose track of time. Rather than waiting for the parents to ‘come home’, the nanny may need let her employer know when it is time for the work day to end.
9. In and out – Working from home doesn’t necessarily mean that all the work is done from the home office. Most likely, the parent will have outside appointments that they will need to attend. This means there will be some coming and going of the parents at various times, which can be disruptive for the children.
10. Roles and duties – A parent may take on some of the nanny’s duties from time to time, at their own discretion. This requires much flexibility on the part of the nanny and consideration on the part of the parent. Open and honest communication will be a key ingredient for nanny positions of this type.

Posted in Nanny Conflict | 6 Comments

7 Signs Your Toddler is Manipulating YOU

November 8, 2011

Children start learning how to manipulate their parents when they’re mere infants, and by the time they’re toddlers, they really start to hone their manipulative skills. A baby quickly learns that crying gets attention and will figure out how to fake it in order to get more. As they grow older kids want to establish some control over their parents who are ultimately in charge. Unless they’re handled effectively, these power struggles can really get out of hand. Once children figure out how to manipulate their parents and get away with it, they can become little demons. Here are 7 signs your toddler is trying to manipulate you.

1. Fake crying – As mentioned before, fake crying is the first method used by children to manipulate their parents. By the time they’re toddlers, parents should know the difference between real crying and the manipulative kind. If your toddler starts to cry or whine only when they know you’re within earshot, you’re being manipulated, especially if they follow you when you walk away.
2. Screaming – Toddlers watch their parent’s reactions and will use whatever is effective. If screaming or throwing a tantrum gets their parents upset, they’ll keep trying it as long as it works. They soon figure out that screaming gets a much better reaction in public places than it does at home and will save their tantrums for just such occasions.
3. Affection – These little darlings will also use affection to manipulate you if they can. Toddlers can use fake affection to get what they want, or if that doesn’t work, they’ll withhold affection. When your 2 year old comes over and gives you a big hug and a kiss for now reason, watch out, he’s probably up to something. If you say no and try to console him with a hug, he’s likely to push you away to get what he wants.
4. Dueling parents – Another manipulation technique used by toddlers is pitting one parent against the other. If mommy says no, they’ll give daddy a try to get a different result. It’s very important that both parents remain consistent with each other, or the child will soon learn which one is likely to give in.
5. Big deal – A good sign that your toddler is manipulating you is when she constantly makes a big deal out of little issues. If there’s a big battle over every day things like dressing, meals or bedtime, the child is trying to exert control. This can be very tiresome and kids will use this to their advantage to wear you down.
6. Naughty on purpose – If your toddler does something he knows is naughty, chances are he’s trying to manipulate you. When you say no and he immediately dumps your plant out on the carpet, he’s out for revenge. He hopes you’ll live in dread of whatever he’ll do next time you defy him.
7. Pouting – One of the most obvious methods of manipulation by toddlers is pouting. They’ll go off and sulk in an attempt to make you feel sorry for them. Don’t fall for it! This is the oldest trick in the book.

The important thing to remember about child manipulation is to never let it get you angry. Toddlers will attempt these different techniques in order to figure out what works and what doesn’t. Keep in mind that you are the adult in the situation and it’s up to you to handle yourself maturely. Don’t get into power struggles with your toddler or interpret their misbehavior as a personal attack on you. By consistently maintaining a cheerful firmness with your children, they will quickly learn that they can’t manipulate you.

Posted in Uncategorized | 8 Comments

10 Common Issues Found in Nanny Background Checks

November 2, 2011

When an agency or employer runs a background check on a nanny candidate, there are several things they can check for. They can check criminal history, driving history and falsification of identity. Some agencies or employers also run credit checks on potential employees.

The majority of background checks on potential nannies don’t bring up any concerns, which is exactly what you want to happen. On the background checks that do uncover issues, there are several that are the most common to be found.

1. No Driver’s License – For some families this would not be an issue, but for many it would be. It limits the nanny to public transportation, a cab or another driver to get her and the children to any location.
2. Suspended Driver’s License – This could certainly be a concern for parents who were expecting the nanny to provide transportation for the children at different times. The reason for the suspension could be a cause for concern also, especially if it was alcohol related.
3. Poor Driving Record – A background check will provide the full driving record of the individual during the previous years. A long history of traffic violations for speed, careless driving or driving under the influence would be a big red flag on a background check for a nanny.
4. Convictions for Theft – Previous convictions for theft or shoplifting are a serious issue for any employee that you would be allowing to enter your home, and especially one that would be on the premises unsupervised.
5. Illegal Drug Use – A history of illegal drug use can become evident through the criminal history check. Another issue that employers are not likely to overlook in a nanny candidate.
6. Active warrants – If the individual has active warrants issued against them by law enforcement agencies, these may show up on a background check. It is important to remember that a warrant is not a conviction of a crime, but it is still is reason for concern if the nanny did not reveal the information herself.
7. Name- ID number mismatch – Running a background check can identify a mismatched name and social security number or drivers license number. This can be an innocent mistake in writing down a number, but it could also be an indication of a person attempting to falsify their identity or hide some sort of information in their background.
8. Name DOB mismatch – A background check can also show up a date of birth that doesn’t match with a name. Another possible identity flag.
9. Workers Compensation Claims – Many people don’t realize that workers compensation claims can show up on a background check.
10. False work history – False reporting of work history can be exposed from a background check by crosschecking facts on the background check with the dates and places listed for past employment.

All these items show how important it is to run a background check on every nanny applicant.

Posted in Nanny Background Check | 6 Comments ← Older posts Newer posts →