by Emily McCay | May 10, 2019 | Advice, All Blog Posts, Guides
What’s your go-to craft when watching kids? Every nanny (and babysitter) should have at least a few fun kids craft ideas in their back pocket. Luckily, tons of blogs provide insights to keep the little ones busy. A first-time nanny or experienced nanny can find use in these 5 fun and easy craft ideas for kids (and more). So, let’s dive in. 5 Fun and Easy Craft Ideas for Kids 1. Book Monsters Kids love making silly faces, so why not make reading time fun too? Grab construction paper (or yesterday’s newspaper) and let’s make paper crafts. These fun bookmark monsters from Easy Peasy and Fun are simple and creative. Want more paper craft ideas? Check out 27 perfect paper crafts for kids from Red Tricycle. 2. DIY Mini Pompom Monsters These cute mini pompom monsters idea from Marie at DIYAdulation.com is sure to keep the little ones entertained. Few materials needed for this fun craft. We did this craft in under 10 minutes, and the kids loved it! Marie has more craft ideas on her website here. 3. Homemade Squishes Get creative and make these easy silly homemade squishies from RedTedArt.com. Paper, sponge, or foam options as materials are available. More home crafts for all ages are located on their website here. 4. Painted Rocks Become a rock painting artist with 20+ ideas for Painted Rocks from craftsbyamanda.com. Get creative depending on the size and shape of the rocks. Then, set them up as garden decor when done. Check out craftsbyamanda.com for more craft ideas for kids. 5. Last Minute Mother’s Day Crafts Help...
by Emily McCay | May 6, 2019 | All Blog Posts, Holiday Fun
Make mom feel special with these 7 Mother’s Day gift ideas for kids. Every mom loves surprises on Mother’s Day. Now is an excellent time for kids (of all ages) to get creative with special DIY craft projects, gift ideas, and fun activities for mom to enjoy. Handmade gifts are always a favorite, but moms also LOVE spending quality time. So, don’t worry if you’re not crafty. To help kids shower their moms with love, here are some fun Mother’s Day gift ideas for kids! Nannies can spend time helping the children prepare for mom’s special day. 1. Handmade coupon book that never expires Create a coupon book with no expiration dates. We put this idea first because it is our favorite and is entirely free. All you need is paper and crayons and you can create a gift that keeps on giving. Mom will love it and be able to use them whenever she wants. Remember, get creative and customize the coupon book to things mom would want! Some fun ideas for coupons include One free backrub for 10 minutes One free car wash 30 minutes of quiet time 2. Set up a Mother’s Day at-home spa Every mom wants to get pampered! Make Mother’s Day special for mom by finding stuff around the house to use. Pull up a chair and plan a relaxing spa day at home that she deserves. Some ideas for a spa day are Manicure and pedicures (paint her nails!) Hair and makeup makeover Calming bath Facial mask 3. Handmade crafts are a favorite Handmade Mother’s Day card. Construction paper is always a go-to. If you’re not sure what to make pop-up cards are...
by Wendy P | May 3, 2019 | Advice, All Blog Posts, Guides, Nannies, Our Services, Parents
Not sure how much to pay your new nanny? Lots of things go into factoring nanny pay rates including the number of children, duties, experience, and hours. Whether you need help deciding pay or if you are a nanny and not sure your worth, we’re here to help. Here are some fine-tuned details about San Diego nanny pay rates to help you get started! On average On average, a nanny with 3 years experience makes a minimum of $16-18 per hour for 1 child and $18-$20 for 2 children. This usually occurs weekly or biweekly. If you do decide to go this route, make sure to detail specific hours in your contract. Nanny pay rates depend on what the job entails Depending on what the job duties and responsibilities entail, the pay rate average can change. This should come at no surprise. For instance, some tasks include housekeeping or driving. These extra duties can make the pay rate go up to $23 per hour. Also, most nannies will expect gas reimbursements or a gas allowance if their job entails driving the kids around. Other pay rate specifics to consider Hiring a nanny, especially a full-time nanny, is like hiring an employee for your family. This means that most will expect certain benefits. Most nannies also have a minimum one week paid vacation per year with 3-5 sick days and some paid holidays off. However, all this should be discussed prior to employment and while creating a nanny contract. Fortunately, there is a 3-month “probation” period, where families can test drive their new nanny. We also provide our families with a one-year satisfaction guarantee. Keep in mind...
by Emily McCay | Apr 29, 2019 | Advice, All Blog Posts, Guides, Nannies
Being a San Diego nanny has its rough days. Children have uncontrollable emotions, and we need to be there to help sort them out. No matter what age the child is, there will most definitely come a time when you will face sudden emotions. At any given moment, that happy, full of excitement and energy child you care for can tear up without any apparent reason. Knowing how to respond to the little one can make all the difference. So, we’ve thought of some tips to help nannies, babysitters, and parents when trying to console a crying child. 3 Tips for responding to a crying child Tip #1: Sometimes crying doesn’t always mean the child is sad, especially in babies. For infants, crying is their only form of communication. Their tiny tears could mean a variety of different things including hunger, sleepiness, or having a wet diaper (just to name a few). So, always check the basics first and if all is clear, move on to other techniques in hopes to stop the crying. Tip #2: Stay Calm. A screaming crying child can be stressful but it is important for you as the nanny (or parent) to stay calm during this emotional rollercoaster. If you are stressed, the child will be stressed too. Sit down to their level and do some breathing exercises to help calm the mood. Tip #3: Listen. Ask them what is wrong and then LISTEN. Don’t try to negotiate or tell them how to solve their problems, just be there. Taking the time to listen to a child and show them you care makes all the difference....
by Wendy P | Apr 23, 2019 | Advice, All Blog Posts, Nannies
Not only do nannies clean the house and help with homework, but San Diego Nannies teach children values. Nannies are role models, while also teaching and shaping little minds all day. Being a nanny means you have certain characteristics, morals, values, wisdom, and expertise in child care can help parents raise smart, caring, and amazing children. Therefore, having a nanny can help teach your children important values that will follow them into adulthood. Luckily, some character traits seem to be born with our children such as love, kindness, curiosity, creativity, and humor. So, we have created a list of several other values that are important to teach children and fortunately, having a nanny increases the chances of children exhibiting these values early on. Nannies Teach Children Values Honesty. Lets face it, sometimes children lie. It’s important teach children the importance of honesty and why lying is wrong. Nannies help parents by extending this value around others instead of just with family. Generosity. Sharing is caring. Nannies model generosity when they are kind and when they share. Gratitude. We all want to teach our children to say “please” and “thank you”. San Diego nannies can teach children to show their innate kindness by showing them how to be grateful. Respect. A child’s respect for their nanny will transgress into their respect for others. Empathy. Nannies teach empathy by talking to children about their feelings. Connecting one’s behavior to feelings they may have is an important tool to learn at an early age. Fortunately, children have an innate ability to empathize and care for others, so nature is on our side. Forgiveness. We teach our children to say “sorry” when necessary because it teaches...
by Wendy P | Apr 19, 2019 | Advice, All Blog Posts, Guides, Nannies
So you’ve decided to become a nanny. You already know that perks of being nanny and the major qualities of a good nanny. Now, you may be wondering how you can give your San Diego nanny resume an extra boost. Well, you are in luck because we have come up with some helpful tips to boost your San Diego nanny resume and find that perfect fit. San Diego Nanny Resume Tips 1) Customize your resume. Use keywords that relate to the type of nanny job that you are hoping to land! Unlike an ordinary resume, it’s recommended that you put your availability right on your nanny resume. Having a flexible schedule is important. However, if you are looking for only part-time, its a good idea to mention it. 2) Get Certified! There are MANY training courses and certifications available that will boost your nanny career and won’t break your bank! Some certifications are recommended and preferred by families before getting hired. These could include CPR and first aid, for example. Remember, always bring proof of these certifications with you to an interview. 3) Make transportation an option. Most families in San Diego will be looking for a nanny that can help with transportation. If you are willing to be an on-the-go nanny, make sure your car registration, drivers license, and car insurance are valid. Don’t forget to state this on your resume. Bringing proof of these documents to an interview can boost your chances of getting the job right on the spot. 4) Update your references. Make sure your nanny (and babysitting) references are updated with contact information and a brief description of all...
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