Category: parents

How to Spot Potential Problems with Your New Nanny

Hiring a new nanny for your children can be a stressful experience. Whether you’re hiring a replacement or hiring your first nanny, this can be a trying time for you and your children as you go through numerous interviews to find the perfect nanny for your family.

During interviews and the initial induction period, it’s important to be on the lookout for any red-flags about your new nanny and their behaviour to avoid a constant stream of new nannies in your children’s lives.

That’s why we’ve put together this guide to help you spot any negative traits when looking for a new nanny.

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Useful Lessons Parents Can Learn from a Nanny

Most nannies have many years more experience in childcare than their employers, which means that alongside looking after the children in their care, parents are often able to learn childcare tips and practices from nannies that can help with looking after their own children.

We’ve put together a list of some of the most valuable lessons that parents can learn from their nannies:

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How to Deal with Sibling Rivalry

Even if they get along 90% of the time, there will always be moments when siblings don’t see eye to eye. Personalities can clash and arguments can begin over a variety of things from who has the most attention, playing with certain toys, playing with friends, and even the clothes they’re wearing.

The truth of the matter is that sibling rivalry is, and always will be common place, which is why we’ve put together some top tips to help you keep things running smoothly.

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Should you ask your nanny to get vaccinated?

The subject of vaccinations is a tricky one, with everyone having their own opinion on whether or not they wish to vaccinate their children.

However, in recent years it’s become common for employers to require that a nanny or other childcare provider has received their vaccinations. In particular, vaccinations for the flu, measles and whooping cough.

The reason for this is that even healthy people can contract any of these three illnesses, all of which are contagious and all of which can cause severe complications in young children.

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Online Learning Resources for Older Children and Teenagers

At some point during your career as a nanny you’ll probably be asked by one of the children in your care for help, whether it’s with homework, a school project or a personal interest or hobby.

We’ve put together a list of online resources that you and your children might find useful and are perfect for helping children and teenagers to learn online either with help or independently.

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A Guide to Keeping Children Safe Online

Gone are the days when children needed to ask parent’s permission to use the family computer to access the internet. The internet is now easily accessible to most children. With tablets, smartphones, laptops and games consoles, it can be hard to keep track of what children are doing and if they’re being safe online.

The internet isn’t all bad. It’s actually pretty amazing. The variety of websites, apps and other tools available allow children to play, learn and connect. To help encourage learning new skills, whilst also putting your mind at ease, we’ve put together this short guide to help keep children safe online.

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Should you pay your nanny a Christmas bonus?

Do you give your nanny a Christmas bonus?

A Christmas bonus is a great way to show your nanny how grateful you are for all that they’ve done over the past year.

Your nanny takes a lot off your plate by helping with homework, nap times, meal times, school runs and so much more. So, how do you show your appreciation?

Many families aren’t clear on why Christmas bonuses are important, or how to go about giving one. That’s why we’ve put together answers to the most common questions about giving a Christmas bonus.

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Is a qualification necessary for a nanny?

Faced with choosing a nanny there are a few strategies that can be used to narrow down the field. Some parents insist on a nanny holding a childcare qualification of some kind, some expect a minimum level of childcare qualification, others place no importance on candidates having any kind of training in childcare. But is this a good idea?

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How to stop your nanny having an affair with your partner (or you)

Poor Gwen Stefani, betrayed by one of the people she should be most able to trust. Her nanny’s behaviour was by any standard unacceptable, and parents and nannies alike aren’t backward about coming forward to say so.

Let’s start by saying that this post has nothing to do with nannies for the most part. It’s got nothing to do with whether your nanny is tall, short, slim, plump, dark, fair, male, female, young or more mature. Very few parents set out to have an affair with their nanny. Preventing affairs has everything to do with relationships. To stop one kind of relationship (a romantic one) you need to keep an eye on three.

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Spotlight on: pay reviews and raises

September is a common start date for nannies, which means that many are coming up to their nanny-versary around now. We’ve already talked about job reviews in the newsletter but let’s tackle the thorny issue of pay. In this economic climate a raise should never be a given but many nannies do expect a  pay rise year on year. A yearly review is a chance to look at a nanny’s role and see whether she has taken on more responsibility and how that can be compensated for. Even a small raise to cover the increased cost of living is appreciated but when a raise really is impossible a nanny still needs to know their hard work is appreciated so think about suggesting an extra day of holiday, a bonus or some other kind of gesture of recognition.