But how do you start off right, and make things go as smoothly as desired? 

You need to communicate, communicate, communicate.

One of the most common problems experienced between nannies and parents is the lack of clear expectations. From the very beginning of the relationship, when you first begin to interview potential nannies, you will need to be clear and concise in your expectations. From daily tasks to discipline, it’s important to be open, honest, and thorough in what you expect of your nanny.

We even asked some of our professional nannies their advice on communication with their families and here is what they said:

• They wish their bosses were super clear and honest about hours, working from home, and scheduled time off.
• They wish families understood why guaranteed hours are important to any professional nanny.
• They wish families would discuss with them exactly how they want conflicts/difficult discussions handled or how to best approach them about things that need to be addressed because every family is different in this regard.
• Above all else they want families to be clear, honest, and super detailed upfront so they can perform their jobs exactly as the family needs/desires, but they need to know those details first. (Which is sometimes hard for families to address upfront)

We are here to help you in preventing communication problems and offering you some common areas you should be aware of, even at the very first meeting with a potential nanny.

Daily Tasks- Will you expect your nanny to perform housework, cooking, playdates, and errand running?

Let your nanny know exactly what you expect done daily. And if your needs change down the road, meet with your nanny, talk with them about those needs and talk about compensation for your new needs.

They need to know exactly what to expect so they can meet those expectations but they also need clear and concise communication if things arise.

Hours Worked- Here’s some questions you should consider:

How many hours do you expect your nanny to work a week?

Will those hours be firmly set?

Or will they alter?

Will you need the nanny to be flexible?

How will you handle for scheduled time off?

Be very clear about how many hours you need your nanny to work. And remember the importance of guaranteeing your nanny a certain number of hours. This is their job and their livelihood. Respecting their time will create a healthy work environment.

Discipline/ Difficult Behaviors- How do you want your nanny to handle discipline issues that arise in children?

Consider weekly sit-down meetings without the children near. Allow the nanny opportunity to relay over any issues that have arisen that week. Let them share any new or reoccurring difficult behaviors. Relay exactly how you want those behaviors handled. Make it a time where you can connect with the nanny, so you can both be on the same page.

Above all else, you need to be clear, honest, and super detailed upfront so your nanny can perform their jobs exactly as you the family needs/desires. But your nanny will not know what those needs and desires are unless you tell them. It may be difficult, to begin with, but as with any working relationship, you need to be thorough and concise in what you need and want.

Honesty is the key. Tell the nanny if you will be super involved or if you prefer to be hands-off and let the nanny do what needs to be done.

Don’t tell your nanny what you think they want to hear. Tell them EXACTLY what the job will look like and do that from the very beginning. Remember to continuously communicate if changes need to happen.

And soon, you will be on the path to a smooth relationship with the right caregiver for your child.

Here at �����鶹 we are here to help you all along the way of interviewing and hiring the perfect nanny. We also set up a specific and curated family profile on your exact needs and only send nanny applications that match those standards which is only the best! You’ll also be able to interview the nanny candidate and get a taste of their communication skills before hiring. We are here to help you find your nanny, household manager, newborn care specialist, or private educator today. Click here for more information and get started today!

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Are you still reeling from the shock and busy pace of having to suddenly school your kids at home this past school year due to COVID19? With school closures happening so suddenly, it was a real struggle for many working parents to adjust to not only working from home but also having to school your child at the same exact time. To be honest, as much as we would rather it not happen, the possibility of that same scenario playing out in the coming school year is a very real possibility.

We are in a time of uncertainty in our upcoming school year. Right now, while we are a month or so out from the start of the school year, is the time to begin preparing for the possibility of school closures. You need to right now be thinking about what options your family has for education, and to begin putting them into place. We are here to share with you the options for back to school this year which includes information all about private educators.

There are many education options available to families. From letting your child attend the public or private schools, and going with whatever flow happens during the year, to hybrid homeschooling and straight-up homeschooling. The choice is yours as the parent.

But if you are a working parent, the option of homeschooling, although appealing in current times, may not seem a possible option for you. But it can be, if you really desire it.

More and more parents are realizing that you can hire a licensed teacher, to come into their home and teach their children. Sometimes this teacher is also a nanny and will care for the other non-academic needs of your children as well.

Perhaps you are a work from home parent and you really want the confidence of knowing that your child is safe at home and that their education will not be abruptly interrupted. But since you are working, you know it would be a real challenge for you yourself to give them the time needed for their education, and to maintain your current job. For this type of situation, you might want to consider hiring a teacher to come into your home for a few hours a day and have them teach the subjects they would otherwise be learning at school.

Or maybe you are a parent that works outside the home and you still want to know that your child’s education will not suddenly be interrupted by closures. But you know there is no way you are able to stay home to teach them. Then you may want to consider hiring a nanny, who is also able to teach and administer daily school work, with the bonus of taking care or the other needs of your children in the safety of your home.

But what are some of the other benefits of hiring a teacher to homeschool your child, besides not having your child’s schedule is suddenly interrupted and knowing your children are safe at home? Here are the many benefits of homeschooling:

Your Child Will Be Able to Learn at Their Own Pace

Mainstream classrooms place emphasis on the group as a whole. Teaching your child at home, essentially puts your child in charge of the learning pace. If they understand a concept, they can quickly move on. But if they are struggling, you can focus more on that skill.

Freedom Over Your Schedule

You and the teacher you hire can set the school hours. You can choose when and where they complete their lessons. Whether that be in the morning, afternoon, or even evening. What works best for you, is what you do.

Learning Outside the Box Through Play 

You will have the ability to be allow your teacher to be spontaneous in their teaching. Perhaps your child takes a sudden interest in a topic. You can let the teacher use the time with your child to help that child learn more about that interest in unconventional ways. Whether that is researching, taking a trip, or planning an activity around that subject. The world can be their classroom.

Just know that you the parent have options during these times. And now is the time to start thinking and preparing for what might come.

We know that you are doing your best, no matter what choice you make regarding your child’s education. We hope this helps open your eyes to the possibility of private educators to help in your home with schooling this year and helps provide options for back to school this year. If we can help you in finding the perfect private educator or nanny for your home, you can find out more about our placement services here. We are here to help you along this unknown time of school and find the best fit.

We are also on several platforms so go follow us on ,��, and .��

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And you do not want to make the wrong choice when it comes to the care of your child. The wrong choice could leave you feeling unsettled and anxious every time you leave your child. And you DO NOT want that at all.

Today I want to share with you six things that you DO NOT want to do, when hiring a nanny.

1. Do NOT hire an inexperienced nanny.

When you hire a nanny, you want her to have the experience caring for a similar aged child, and the same number of children. For instance, do you have twins? Its best in that type of situation that she has cared for twins and their special needs before.

• Do NOT neglect calling references.

�����鶹 performs lengthy phone interviews with each candidate’s references and provides a detailed report on each conversation, but we suggest you do additional reference calls to ask your own questions as well!

Calling a nanny’s references will quickly get you the facts on that nanny’s previous work experience.

Ask questions to get the facts. Such as …

“How did you come into contact with this nanny?”

“Would you hire this nanny again?”

“How many days did she call in sick, or report to work late?”

“What issues (minor ones included) came about with this nanny?”

• Do NOT be vague on your parenting methods and preferences in the interview process.

Your potential nanny needs to fully understand your preferences from the beginning.

During your interview discuss…

Housework- What do you expect your nanny to accomplish around the house. And when should she do them.

Media Usage- Are you comfortable with the nanny using the Television, computer, or phone during hours she is caring for your child? Or do you want her to only use those during specific hours during care.

Sleep training and routines- Do expect the nanny to rock or walk the baby to sleep? Or do you prefer your child to self soothe? Is there a specific way you want your children put to sleep? Do you want nanny to help with a new routine or work on sleep training or do things exactly as you already do?

Nanny’s meal arrangements- Do you provide meals for your nanny? Or will you expect her to bring her own food?

Play dates and activities- Is the nanny expected to arrange play dates? Do you want playdates in your home, or in a public setting? Do you want your child participating in story time at the library or visiting the zoo? Is the nanny okay with driving your children around? Are you okay with driving her around?

Discipline- What methods of discipline do you want implemented for your children?

• Do NOT be vague about pay.

Talk about how many days you expect of her to work a week. Talk about exactly what the schedule will be each day. How many days off she will have in a year, including sick days, and whether or not she will be paid those days.  Professional nannies will expect a standard package of benefits including paid vacation, paid sick days paid legal holidays and guaranteed hours.

Also discuss how she will be paid. Hourly? A flat rate? And how often will pay be received?

• Do NOT neglect to set up working interviews!

You should always ask the nanny to come do at least one working interview where candidates will come perform anywhere from 1-5 complete work days to watch how you take care of your children, what the normal schedule and routine will look like and how you want things done. Walk her through a typical day. Show her how you feed, change, and put the child down for naps. Then let her do those tasks the next day, with you following behind to make sure it is going well. This time will also help your baby adjust to the change and know that this person is someone they can trust.

• Do NOT interview only one person.

While it may be the right person right out the gate, don’t settle for the first person you interview. Make sure you interview multiple candidates. You want to make sure that you have candidates to compare to make the best decision! Make sure to ask the right questions of each person. We will provide you a detailed list of interview questions and what to look for in interviews! Here are some great suggestions to ask candidates:

“How long have you been a nanny?”

“How many children have you cared for at once?”

“How and why did you end your previous jobs?” 

“What activities will you do with my child during the day?”

“Do you have any certifications? CPR, childcare, etc.?”

“Is your schedule flexible?”

“How do you handle sick days?”

In conclusion, finding and deciding on a great nanny can be hard work, and it should be! This is a big decision. You are hiring someone to fill your shoes in your child’s world while you are gone, those are BIG shoes to fill!

Hire experience. Call references. Be clear on parenting methods. Be clear on pay. Do working interviews. Interview multiple candidates.

And before you know it, you will have your dream candidate. Someone matched to meet your needs, the needs of your child and who will become the newest member of your family!

If you need more tips on what not to do when hiring your perfect nanny, feel free to reach out to us here at �����鶹 and we’d be happy to assist! We specialize in long term, career nanny placements and have an amazing relationship with of some of the best nannies in the industry who have trusted us for many years. We can help you in finding placements that are the right fit, for all of your families unique needs. Click here for more information. We would love to help!

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Kids of all ages love a party spent doing themed activities, eating special treats, and even letting their creative side come out with some arts and crafts.

So, to help inspire you to plan out your own party for the little people in your life, I am sharing the best 3 Valentine-themed activities, crafts, and treats.

Even if you are not in the mood for an actual party, you could easily incorporate a couple of these ideas into your schedule to have some fun with your little ones.

The Best Valentine’s Day Kid Activities​, Crafts, and Treats

Valentine’s Day Activities

Get the kids off the devices and up moving or making some things to get their brain going. I love these three lovely activities that are so fun for Valentine’s Day!

 to get them up, moving, and shaking out those wiggles.

 to put their mind to creating.

. Because what kid doesn’t love slime?

Valentine’s Day Crafts

Some creative and fun Valentine’s Day crafts for the children. I love these 3 and they would be fun to make for this special day ahead.

, to always remember how tiny they started out.

. Perfect for older children that will be exchanging Valentines in school.

. Can be used to make a garland, or passed out to friends and family.

Valentine’s Day Food

Top 3 Valentine’s Day food options. Even have a healthier one in case you do not want your kiddos to have all the added sugar!

. The kids can easily help prepare this treat.

. Because what is Valentine’s day without a teddy bear and chocolate?

. A healthy, and FUN love day treat.

And that’s it! Happy party planning!!! And a Happy Valentines Day to you and yours!

Remember if you ever need to talk to us about having a nanny or household manager for your busy home, contact us here at �����鶹.

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