The news that Google is developing an AI (Artificial Intelligence) nanny has been making the rounds and whilst it’s not a shocking announcement, it is a disturbing one.
In the past few years, we’ve seen a multitude of announcements about robots and other artificial intelligence that claim to be able to raise our children.
Technology and the internet are all around us. For most people, smartphones, tablets and computers are an integral part of life be it for work, pleasure, or both and it’s understandable that children will pick up on that and want to be involved.
Many young children have access to tablets, smartphones or computers and enjoy using them to discover and learn new things. But, when does this access to technology become dangerous for children, and at what point does it turn into something potentially damaging like internet addiction?
Continue reading “How You Can Help Prevent Internet Addiction”
It’s never too early to begin teaching children about nutrition and healthy eating. Parents are typically the ones to begin establishing healthy eating habits for the whole family but whilst parents are at work, it’s nanny who can help to build upon this foundation and encourage children to continue eating healthily.
It’s normal for everyone, children included, to develop the occasional craving for something sweet, junk food and fast food. Think about it, how many times have you taken your child for a happy meal because it’s cheap and easy?
There’s nothing wrong with it, in moderation. But it’s also important to teach children how to moderate their cravings and why they should.
Continue reading “How Nannies Can Help Teach Children About Nutrition”
With the school summer holidays almost upon us, it’s the time of year where most children are desperate to play outside in the sun. It’s also the time of year where parents and nannies need to pay extra care and attention in order to prevent things like:
To help put your mind at ease and to give your children a fun and safe summer, we’ve put together this guide to help you keep your kids safe in the sun.
Are you struggling with a toddler who won’t sleep through the night? Sleeping can be hard for parents, and live-in nannies too, if you have a toddler who keeps waking up in the middle of the night.
If it occurs regularly, this pattern can leave everyone feeling drained and unhappy. That’s why we’ve put together some advice to help you, help your toddler sleep through the night, every night.
Continue reading “Tips to Help Toddlers Sleep Through the Night”
Nannies, much like parents, are only human when it comes to things like the common cold or flu and whilst you may be worried about leaving your employer without childcare, it’s important that you let them know if you’re too sick to work. Better that, than have the whole family come down with the same illness.
However, if you only have a slight headache or something minor that allows you to function normally, it’s always best to head into work as usual. This way, you’ll show your employer that you have a great work ethic and they’ll come to know that you’re responsible and reliable.
Continue reading “Nannies – Knowing When to Take a Sick Day”
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.
Continue reading “Should you ask your nanny to get vaccinated?”
How active are your children? Did you know that only 10% of under-five year olds are meeting NHS guidelines for daily activity?
The NHS recommend that children are active for at least three hours per day to encourage physical and mental health and wellbeing, which is why we’ve put together our top suggestions to help get your children up and active each and every day, even in winter.
Continue reading “How to make activity a part of daily life”
Government health guidance in the UK says that children aged 6 months to 5 years should be given vitamin supplements in the form of drops to boost their levels of vitamins A, C and D. We look at why.
Vitamin D
This is a difficult vitamin to get from food alone and in the winter the UK doesn’t usually get enough sunlight to cover our needs. Using sun cream and covering up in the summer also prevents us from storing vitamin D which means many people are deficient. Vitamin D deficiency affects bone development, causing problems such as rickets.
Vitamin A
Vitamin A is important for a strong immune system, healthy skin and vision. It’s found in dairy products, carrots (so they really do help you see in the dark), sweet potato, swede, mango and dark green vegetables like broccoli and spinach. If you have or care for a fussy eater, or notice that your child is often poorly, then a vitamin supplement might help.
Vitamin C
A bit of a wonder-vitamin, getting enough vitamin C is important for general good health, boosting your immune system and helping the body absorb iron. It’s mostly found in fresh fruit and veg, which is why sailors used to get a vitamin C deficiency disease called scurvy. Most people know that oranges are a great source of vitamin C but there are also high levels in kiwi, tomatoes and peppers.
A vitamin supplement should never replace a healthy, balanced diet which contains lots of fruit and veg, but it can give children the extra boost they need if they aren’t meeting their daily requirements from diet alone. Supplements come in many forms, as syrups and as chewy sweets. Your Health Visitor or pharmacist will be able to advise which supplements are best for your child.
It’s a fact of life that people get ill, and those in contact with small children more often than most. One of the advantages of a nanny is that they will care for poorly children, but an oft cited disadvantage is that you rely on one person for your childcare, as you do with a childminder, and if they are sick you have no childcare. The sooner everyone knows about any sickness, the easier it is to deal with the disruption.
Tips for parents:
Sick children: As we said a nanny will normally care for sick children as part of their job, but it’s always good to give your nanny a heads up before they arrive. If your nanny is female and your children have an illness which could be dangerous in pregnancy you should warn your nanny in case they are in the early stages and haven’t told you.
Sick parents: There’s no reason your nanny shouldn’t come to work but they might need to adjust their plans slightly to give you the peace and quiet you need to recuperate.
Sick nannies: Before employing a nanny it’s a good idea to have a backup plan in place. Local nanny agencies should have temporary nannies available to work in your area or your employer may offer emergency childcare solutions. Most nannies will only take time off when they’re absolutely incapable of coming to work so even if it’s a day when you have a really important meeting try not to make them feel worse than they already do.
Tips for nannies:
Sick children: Your charges may want Mummy or Daddy, and many more cuddles than usual. Make sure your employers understand that your priority is your poorly charge and the usual jobs might not get done.
Sick parents: It can be hard having parents at home, especially when the children don’t understand that they need to rest. Don’t feel too awkward though – chances are they’re too busy feeling rubbish to listen to your out of tune renditions of head, shoulders, knees and toes at nappy change time.
Sick nannies: Call, rather than text, if you know the night before that you won’t be in the next day. Send a text between 10pm and 6am and follow it up with a phone call to make sure your employers know you won’t be in. If you can suggest any nanny friends who might be happy to cover all or part of the day, and it’s a good idea to have a list in the nanny diary at your boss’s house, then your employers will probably be very grateful.
