cincynanny

Grieving Children

2011-11-23T07:00:00.003-05:00

By: Trisha Knueven

As a nanny I have cared for three children who have lost a parent to death. I searched for answers on how to help these children long-term and came up short. The questions I set out to answer were:

-How does this significant death affect a child years later?

-How can I help the child?

-What is important to know about child grieving in order to support the child?

I found several great resources at my local library including a book I read cover to cover called Children and Grief: When a Parent Dies by J. William Worden. This book is mainly the conclusions of a Child Bereavement Study conducted by Dr. Phyllis Silverman and the author studying children between ages 6 and 17 who lost a parent to death. The study followed the children for 2 years after the death and compared them to a non-bereaved sample of children. Each chapter ends with a bulleted summary.

What I learned that was most helpful is that mourning is a process for children much like it is for adults. Just because a child is younger doesn’t mean death will not affect them. Throughout a child’s life the mourning process changes and the child makes adjustments. There are four tasks a child must process:

-Accept the reality of the loss

-Experience the pain or emotional aspects of the loss

-Adjust to the environment in which the deceased is missing

-Relocate the dead person within one’s life and memorialize the late parent

There are six major categories of mediating factors that contribute to grief reactions:

1. Death and the rituals surrounding it

2. The relationship of the child to the deceased parent before and after their death

3. Functioning of the surviving parent and their ability to parent the child

4. Family influences (size, solvency, structure, style of coping, support, communication, family stressors, changes, daily life disruptions)

5. Support from peers and friends

6. Characteristics of the child (age, gender, self-perception, and understanding of death).

The good news is that even as a nanny, one can provide the three things a child needs: support, nurturance, and continuity.

It takes longer for a child to adjust to the loss than an adult. Some reactions might not be felt for months and possibly years depending on the child. A child who has anxiety, acting-out behavior, somaticization, changes in self-esteem by not be adjusting well. A referral for treatment from a professional should be sought.

Activities that can be helpful include:

Art

-Drawing

what a child worries about

what makes the child sad

a favorite memory

a recent dream

-Clay modeling

create your anger

-Puppet activities

create all the family members and have them interact

Writing

-Journaling

writing about thoughts, feelings, and questions about the lost parent

-Letters (Be careful this does not confuse the child into thinking the parent is just away and not dead)

write to the deceased parent

-Lists

facts about the parent

facts about their death

fantasies about their late parent

-Memorials

redesign the funeral service

Memory Book

-stories

-pictures the child drew or draws to the late parent

-photographs

Storytelling

-Read and discuss books together

The Fall of Freddie the Leaf by Leo Buscaglia

Aarvy Aardvark by Donna O’Toole

Games

-Five Faces depicting five emotions where each child takes a turn telling about an experience that made them feel that emotion

-Question Box about death or funerals where children and an adult sit together to answer the slips of paper together

-It’s Not Fair When is played by passing a box and completing the phrase as the child slams the box on the floor

The book explains more ideas for helping children cope with their feelings and work through their mourning. This is just a partial list to get you started in the right direction. Of course, do not undertake any of these without the parents permission or without the direction of professionals.

Other books that might be helpful are:

Helping Children Grieve by Theresa M. Huntley

When Children Grieve by John W. James & Russell Friedman

Encouraging Reading

2011-09-12T07:00:00.004-04:00

By: Trisha Knueven

Have you ever ran into the dilemma of having a terrific reader who wants to read easier books? If so, I have some ideas for you! I recently read in a nanny newsletter some great ideas to encourage school agers to continue reading and the one that stuck out in my mind is to create a book club among the child's friends. What a wonderful idea! Thank you Nanny Placement's Newsletter for giving me that tip! Another thing that I like to do is read aloud playing "follow the leader." This is where both of you sit down to read and take turns reading each paragraph or each page. This is helpful on those more difficult books or where there is a great deal of new vocabulary. Your reader can pick up on the many ways in which you read (speed, expression) and you can also model sounding out the difficult words with phonics or word family strategies. I have found this approach to be encouraging as it also focuses on sharing cozy quality time.

I have also tried to think of a way to encourage reading those tough books. With a quick search of the internet I found some helpful resources. There are several systems that are used to score a book's reading level. Check with your elementary school to find the one that they use. Here is a website that I found helpful: http://weblink.scsd.us/~liblinks/Reading_Grade-Level_Comparison_Chart.pdf

This site explains the Fountas & Pinnell (Guided Reading), Basal Level, DRP (Degrees of Reading Power), Reading Recovery, DRA Level and Lexile Level. You can then use whatever system to find a site with a suitable book list. For example, I chose Fountas & Pinnell and found a great resource at: http://home.comcast.net/~ngiansante/

Using this list of books I can now allow my charge to select one off the list for our reading incentive program. During the summer I found out that my charges would love to go to Chuck E Cheese. So, I quickly devised a token system to reward reading for so many pages, chapters, or books. This worked like a charm! That became a win-win situation and summer reading was under way. I may continue another similar system to encourage the reading book club. One of my struggles is knowing whether or not what was read was actually absorbed. So, before I give out tokens, I quiz the reader about the plot line.

Also during my book list search I ran into some information that was very helpful. Not all children enjoy reading at their reading level. Perhaps they have a high reading interest with a low reading level. There is a special list of books that are coded with a reading level and interest level. The website is called "Hi-Lo" which stands for a high interest and a low reading level. These can be found at: About.com: http://www.monroe.lib.in.us/childrens/booklists/hilobib.html

Why is reading at a child's grade level so important? It is a strong indicator of future academic success. Here's a website that talks more about this: http://www.k12.wa.us/EarlyLearning/Administrators/DevelopingStrategies/ThirdGradeReadingGoal.pdf

It looks like to me that this is one thing a parent should look for when choosing their child's school. Reading success is important! Also, I know for a fact that most literature found in today's society is geared towards the 8th grade reading level. Why? Because there are so many high school drop outs. We can count on literate people being able to read at least at this level. Wouldn't it be great if that was increased over the next few generations? Now we have the research to help us map out that change and you now have the knowledge to encourage this change.

Now for a personal blurb. I have to say that as a young child I hated reading myself. In early elementary school I had reading practice aloud at home at the end of the kitchen while my mother cooked dinner. Perhaps it was the location that resonated with me the most. It was where I was typically punished as well. In my mind I linked reading aloud as a punishment and was completely turned off to reading. I certainly did not want to read and found it to be a struggle for many years when I did. I never read leisurely. I was an extremely sensitive child too. It wasn't until I was an adult that I realized perhaps I was put in lower reading groups because of this struggle. Reading typical coursework and assignments was a struggle in the middle school and high school years, but nobody knew because I wasn't a very vocal child either. I had a great deal of stubborn determination and this kept me going. I finally started to read for fun just before high school, but the books I read were well below my grade level and I read them so slowly savoring every word. I tested below my ability level on standardized tests too and could never figure out why. Perhaps I didn't read and absorb what I read fast enough on the timed tests. Having better reading skills early on certainly would have helped. The reason why I share this is that it is never too late to start helping a child get back on track. For me my story ends well. I took college English classes while I was in high school in order to "skip" two years of English. Those classes were hard though, but somehow I made it through. I graduated from high school on time with my class. I also went on to complete a 4 year college degree. After high school I realized that going to the library and looking for books though the online catalogues can be so much fun! I now frequent several libraries on a regular basis and encourage every child in my care to read, read, read and have fun doing so. For those of you who do not know, there is a wonderful online resource through the Cincinnati Public Library. You do not have to be a Cincinnati resident to utilize their catalogue. You just need a library card and password. The catalogue is at: www.cincinnatilibrary.org/

You can search for a specific book, put it on hold, have it transferred automatically from any branch, and pick it up from the closest branch to you. It is quite an amazing system! Oh, and just in case you did not know, the library has more than just typical books. They also have DVDs, videos, music CDs, big over sized books, and books on CD. Check out a story time or another program at the branch near you. You can find all of the calendar events under the "Upcoming Events" link on their home page.

Enjoy reading with your child a make it a fun daily event!

Around Town: Cincinnati History Museum

2011-09-07T07:00:00.005-04:00

By: Karen Musclow

I realize you are all aware of our wonderful Museum Center at Union Terminal. The Children’s Museum is fantastic and can provide hours of entertainment. But have you and your charges checked into the other two museums located at Union Terminal? Today, I’m going to talk about the Cincinnati History Museum.

When I first decided to take the boys (6, 4, and infant) to this museum, I fully expected to be leading a quick tour through it amidst cries of “this is boring” and “can we go to the ball area now?” I was pleasantly surprised to find this was not the case at all! The Cincinnati History Museum provides various interactive areas for young children to explore along with providing opportunities for you to introduce the children to basic local history.

As you walk in, you see an antique car right in front. What a great chance to make children aware that cars have changed! To the left is the Cincinnati in Motion display, which is basically a working (lights, trains, and streetcars) miniature of Cincinnati from the 1940’s, I believe. I point out areas that the boys are familiar with (riverfront, zoo, museum), talking about how they used to look. Hidden in the corner is an area with train tables. You can get toy trains to play with at the information desk by handing over your driver’s license.

The next thing we usually visit is the old trolley car. Though the boys mostly enjoy running through it, I had them sit down and look at the scenes displayed outside the window. We talked about how this very trolley car used to be ridden by people in downtown Cincinnati (and how it wasn’t that long ago). Further underground (down the ramps), we usually speed through the first displays, though an older child might have more interest in learning of the Native Americans and colonial Cincinnati. But then we reach the canal display and spend quite a time playing with there, loading and unloading barges and passing them through the locks. This is a bit high up though and the littlest ones can’t reach. I had a great time explaining how locks worked and now T (4) wants to see a real lock in action. (Anyone know of any local? I don’t think there are anymore).

Down the next ramp is a model of a boat that would then be turned into a cabin after arriving at one’s destination. Dress-up clothes are provided and even the little one had a blast moving items from the boat to the cabin and back again. As we pass over examples of road surfaces, we talk about the difficulties with each (mostly walking!). Then we arrive at the Public Landing and the steamboat provides the chance to learn about steam engines and how boats were used on the Ohio River. For older children, there’s also the print shop and apothecary.

Though there’s a bit more (another steam engine and some cars), at this point, the boys are done and ready to move on to one of the other museums (or lunch!). I’m thankful that the History Museum exists and provides some hands-on learning opportunities for little ones. Have fun exploring history!

Quick Tip: Clean Hands & Teeth Check

2011-09-06T07:00:00.001-04:00

By: Trisha Knueven

I find myself asking, "Did you brush your teeth?" and "Did you wash your hands?" all the time now. I didn't exactly know for sure if the answer I was given was the honest truth. So, I imposed a response of "Great, let me smell your breath/hands." It never fails! I get a smile and a run to do it if they didn't actually do it, or a very willing child who lets me take a sniff. Luckily I haven't smelled bad breath yet!

2011-08-30T07:00:00.001-04:00

By: Greta Schraer

I cannot believe it is that time again…Back to School! Time to start getting organized, collecting school supplies, and getting back into that school-year routine. Today I bring to you fun items that kids will love, that also help to stay organized, at least around the house. Help kids learn to have a place for everything. It will make after school time easier for you and them! (Click the titles to go to the actual links of all these items.)

Art Caddy

I loved this idea that puts together all the art basics for kids. Creating an art caddy is not only fun to use for crafts, but ready and waiting for the homework assignments that also need some creativity....

Jump on over to REGARDING NANNIES: My Favorite Things - Back To School 2011 post to read more!

Quick Tip Tuesday: Don’t Throw Those Broken Crayons Away!

2011-08-16T09:00:00.001-04:00

By: Amy Miller

Nannies, we all know about broken crayons, right?

My charges have tons of crayons! Crayons in the basement! Crayons in the art boxes! Crayons in the book bags! There are even crayons at Miss Amy’s house. At some point most of them end up broken. Instead of throwing these broken crayons away recycle, reuse, and try one of these ideas.
　
　

Make Your Own Crayons

(picture from somewhatsimple.com)

1. Separate crayons into like color groups. (or mix it up & make your own colors)
2. Place the groups of crayons in a cupcake baking pan. (Do not spray the pan!)
3. Bake crayons @ 350 degrees for 10 minutes.
4. Put the crayons (still in baking pan) into the freezer for 10 minutes.
5. The crayons should pop out easily.

The girls loved them and it made for hours of fun. If you have a toddler, the shape and size, is perfect for their small hands to grip on to. You could also use molds of different shapes such as hearts.
　
　

Crayons To Candles

For about $10 you can turn a mess of broken crayons into beautiful candles. This would be a project for older children and needs supervision, but it looks fun! For instructions on this craft check out Instructables.
　
　

What does a recycled egg carton & broken crayons have in common?

A great storage solution!

This is an organizing project even the kids will love!

Simple & Easy and Fun & Educational.

All you need is an egg carton. Any size works, but the large egg cartons will give you more room for storage. Have the kids separate all the crayons into groups of like colors. This is fun for the kids, but aren’t we sneaky? This is also a great color learning activity for younger children. Once all the crayons are separated, place each colored group into the departments of the egg cartoon. Now you have a creative, but organized storage solution for all those broken crayons.

So… Don’t Throw Those Broken Crayons Away!!!

Nanny 101: Finding the "Perfect" Job

2011-08-15T09:00:00.001-04:00

Finding the “Perfect” Job is like finding the “Perfect” Marriage. By the true definition of the word perfect, both of these are impossible. Still, I believe there are a few lessons that can be learned and applied to a job process that can help it be a successful one. So let’s get started with today’s class.

Nanny 101: Finding the “Perfect” Job
By: Greta Schraer

Lesson 1: Know Yourself

Just like each job is unique, each person seeking the job is unique. You bring with you personal expectations of the future and frustrations of the past. However, each experience you have had has prepared you for the future – if you choose to look at it that way. Take the time to ponder the things that you have enjoyed about your previous jobs and families, and the things that you haven’t. Maybe you love to travel, or hated to travel. Maybe you have worked with a stay-at-home-parent, and that was a really hard job for you.

To read the rest of this article go to: REGARDING NANNIES: Nanny 101: Finding the "Perfect" Job.

Quick Tip Tuesday: Pancakes with Pizzaz

2011-08-09T09:00:00.006-04:00

By: Trisha Knueven

If your child loves the frozen pancakes that you simply heat up at the spur of the moment any time of the day then you will feel the same way I did when they run out. OH NO! Instead of absolutely panicking I decided to turn this potentially horrible moment into something fun and exciting. A fairytale ending of sorts. Instead of the frozen circles we ripped out the pancake mix, that we happened to have stashed in the closet, and made our own. I'm not just talking about regular circles, we made the famous Mickey Mouse ones and dressed them up with chocolate chips. We used chips as eyes, nose, mouth, earrings, buttons, etc. Creativity saved the morning. I do believe we had more fun together that morning than we had all week. It was truly exciting! So, let your creativity rip next time you run out of a favorite. By the way, the Mickey Mouse kind are now in high demand and come with the entire body!

Safe Surfing

2011-08-04T09:00:00.002-04:00

By: Amy Miller

I was sitting on the couch, laptop on my lap, and the television was on, but mostly just for background noise. OK. I will admit, I was on Facebook playing Farmtown. Out of the corner of my eye I caught the computer clock and actually had to blink a few times, because I thought I was seeing things. 12:35AM- is what the clock said. Sad, but true. This is where my inspiration came from for this post.

Children are just as fascinated with computers as adults. When P was only 4 years old, she loved to climb on my lap to play Petville or watch picture slideshows. At the same time, her older sister, J, was going through the “Let’s just Google it” stage and only at 9 years old.

The online world can be just as scary as the real world. It can also be addicting! I love being able to connect and communicate in so many ways… Facebook, Twitter, email, blogs, online communities and much more. Plus, all that information and knowledge right at my finger tips. I am just like little J; I love to Google everything! However, sometimes I even have to tell myself, “Amy, put down the computer, take a break, and rejoin the real world!“

So, how do we make the internet safe for kids, without taking away the fun and great resources it offers?

Here are just a few of my tips…

1. Have a conversation. Just have a conversation. Be honest and open. That doesn’t mean we have to be specific on all the horrible things that have and could happen. Simple and sweet- the internet can be full of information and tons of fun, but it is not always safe.

2. Set Rules & Consequences. Before allowing children to jump on the computer and enter into the online realm set some clear rules and consequences if those rules are broken. Make sure you stick to it! For older children, parents may want to consider having their child sign an “Internet Use Agreement”. I found several just by typing in keywords like parent, child, internet, online, computer, agreement into Google.

3. Set Up A Computer Area. Setting up a specific computer area with in “eyes reach” will allow you to monitor the child’s computer activity better.

4. Utilize Parental Controls. We all know life with kids can become crazy in just a moment, right? So, just because the child on the computer is in the same room as you, the baby could start crying, the phone could ring, the oven timer could go off, and so on. Having those parental controls in place will at least give you some peace of mind certain sites are not being visited. Check out this article by Mark Carpenter from Microsoft on how to use parental controls

5. Have A Computer Schedule. Scheduling computer times can be effective if you have multiple children who all want their own turn with the computer. Having a schedule with help you get organize and have minimum arguments. Plus, boundaries have been set- the child knows when he/she is allowed to be on the computer. Encourage the child to use non-computer times to read a book , play outside, etc.

6. Lead By Example. Do as I say, not as I do- this doesn’t really work. Monkey see, Monkey do- that is more like it. Need a new recipe or art craft to do with the kids? Pull out the computer, show them how to “Google it”, put the computer back in it’s place, and start baking those new yummy cookies you just found.

I would love to hear more tips from other parents and nannies!

I did some research and put together a list of safe websites for young children…

http://disney.go.com/index

http://disney.go.com/games/#/games/

http://disney.go.com/disneyjunior

http://disney.go.com/princess/

http://www.pbs.com

http://www.sesamestreet.org/

http://www.seussville.com/

http://www.berenstainbears.com/learnfun.html

http://www.crayola.com/

http://www.americangirl.com/fun/

http://www.barbie.com/

http://www.pollypocket.com/

http://www.clubpenguin.com/

Story-time: Sneak Attack!

2011-08-01T09:00:00.003-04:00

By: Karen Glascow

B is working at one table...

T is working at another...

When suddenly, a small hand reaches out and swipes at an unsuspecting leg...

Baby sneak attack!

(CincyNanny ensures that the parents are OK with pictures and stories shared on the blog.)

My Favorite Things - July 2011

2011-07-26T09:00:00.001-04:00

By: Greta Schraer

It’s almost August and the summer has started to heat up! While it is great to get out to pools and waterparks, sometimes the air conditioning calls to kids just as much. This month, I want to share with you some fun summer insidecrafts to make those too hot days go a little faster. Prep for a few of these, and have them ready when your kids are. Oh, and along the way of this post I will share of few of my favorite resources to search for crafts!

DIY Crayons

What a great solution to all those broken crayons! This just looks fun… and easy! Simply cook the crayons in the oven until the melt and take them out to cool and harden. Use this idea to teach “yellow and blue make green” or let the child see what happens when they add a bunch of different colors. Circle disc crayons…fun for all ages!! Can I tell you how excited I am about this craft. Try a mini muffin pan if you don’t have enough crayons for a regular size muffin pan.

To see more of my favorite things, jump over to Regarding Nannies: My Favorite Things.

Around Town: Beech Acres Workshops

2011-07-14T09:00:00.002-04:00

By: Greta Schraer

If you are looking for more resources, you may want to check out what is offered in Cincinnati for parents... like Beech Acres!

THEIR MISSION:

"Beech Acres Parenting Center has served children and families in Greater Cincinnati for 160 years. With a mission of Strengthening Families for Children, our programs are based on the guiding principle that parents, and other dedi cated adults filling that role, all want the best for their children, and all need education, support and guidance in raising their children to achieve their unique potential. We connect parents to resources, tools and sup port, peers and experts so they can enhance their parenting knowledge, skills and capabilities. We strive to help parents identify, nurture and guide the best in themselves and their children."

THEIR LOCATION:

Beech Acres Parenting Center/ For the Love of Kids
6881 Beechmont Avenue
Cincinnati, Ohio 45230
(513) 231-6630 Phone

Satellite Office
4966 Glenway Avenue
Cincinnati, Ohio 45238
(513) 231-6630

Internet Address
www.beechacres.org

THEIR CURRENT & UPCOMING CLASSES
http://www.beechacres.org/Conferences-and-Events.aspx

Weds., Aug 10th - Raising Responsible Kids
Teach kids to do more by doing less.

Weds., Sept 21st - Raising Kids to be Self-Disciplined
How to be an emotional coach.

Thurs. - Fri, Oct 6-7 - Meditation training
Learn conflict resolution & negotiation strategies.

Mon., Oct. 17th - Dealing with Peer Pressure
Help your child make good decisions in tough times.

Thurs., Nov. 10th - As My Child Grows
Understanding your child's typical development and behaviors.

Tues., Dec. 6th - Is Your Child Overscheduled?
Learn how much is too much & when to say when.

FOR PARENTS
They also have an online community for parents, which just might be what your employers are looking for: http://www.beechacres.org/Parenting-Resources.aspx

Quick Tip Tuesday: Go Crazy with Googly Eyes

2011-07-12T09:00:00.000-04:00

By: Amy Miller

Googly eyes last forever! You can’t just buy one or two, but what do you do with all those extra googly eyes? I try to save them for another project down the road, but somehow I end up finding googly eyes everywhere. Here are some simple, but very fun googly eye crafts, that maybe you haven’t thought of before. So, go ahead, Go Crazy with the Googly Eyes!

Silly Googly Sunglasses

Buy a pair of children’s sunglasses and add googly eyes. (Super glue, or self adhere googly eyes) Wear and act silly!
Googly Bracelets

Buy metal or rubber bracelets and glue/self adhere on googly eyes. Simple! Wear and have fun! You could also buy the different colored googly eyes really making unique bracelets. Little girls will especially love these to add to their dress up collection. Great for an activity/party favor for birthdays!　
Make Simple Everyday Chores Fun!
Just by adding googly eyes to a hairbrush, toothbrush, glue bottle, or pair of scissors you can make everyday things a little more fun for the kids. Now, they have a special friend to help them brush their hair, brush their teeth, glue and cut during art or even homework times. (Self adhering googly eyes will work best for this project. Easy to put on and easy to take off.)　
Rock Garden Friends

Have a scavenger hunt for rocks. Once the kids are finished searching for rocks, give them paint, glue, glitter, etc to decorate. Add googly eyes, of course. Place your rock friends in the yard, garden, or flower pot. You could also use seashells.

Googly Family Cups

Buy some cheap, white, and different size coffee mugs. Have the kids paint them and super glue/self adhere on the googly eyes. Drink and enjoy! When not using the cups, set them up as a family of cups for a cute decoration.　
Googly Eyes!

The kids will have lots of fun with this mess free activity. Just give them a few magazines and a pack of self adhere googly eyes. Now they can cover up the eyes of babies, animals, or whatever with googly eyes. Make even more fun or should I say funny by giving them photos and they can googly eye themselves!

I Spy With My Googly Eye

A traditional game with a googly twist. Play “I Spy”, but use a giant googly eye stick. (Large googly eye glued/self adhered to a tongue depressor) You have two activities in one: a craft and a game. Don’t throw that giant googly eye stick away! Recycle for your beginner reader. Encourage your young child to read and make it fun with the googly eye guide.

A few of my googly ideas came from familyfun.com, theteacherfreak.com, and frugalfamilyfunblog.com Check their sites out for more and then start…

Going Crazy With Googly Eyes!!!

Nanny 101: Living in Nanny Community

2011-07-11T16:29:00.000-04:00

By: Greta Schraer

Welcome back. I know, it is hard to stay focused on your studies in the summer… So this week, let’s talk about life on the “playground”. Nannies need a good social atmosphere too, right? A community shares a common locality or culture. We as nannies live in a familiar world that can unite us in a short instant. I am amazed with the community I have that stretches across the world; most relationships sparked with just a basic commonality. So let’s have a brief lesson, then you can get back to your summer fun!

Lesson 1: Community Can Encourage You

Let me first recognize that community can be both positive and negative, encouraging and discouraging, simply put… good community and bad. Community CAN encourage you, if you surround yourselves with the right community...

To read the rest of this article head over to: REGARDING NANNIES: Nanny 101: Living in Nanny Community.

Quick Tip Tuesday: Patterning with Sponges

2011-07-05T09:00:00.002-04:00

By: Karen Musclow

A fun way to teach patterning is to cut a few sponges into various shapes (ex. square, triangle, circle) to paint with. Pour some paint into a wide container and get a large piece of paper. When I did this, I started a pattern and then had T finish it. We did this a few times and then T created patterns for me to finish. If you’re just beginning to teach patterning, you’ll want to use only 1 color of paint with 2 shapes, or 1 shape with 2 colors. Later, you can use multiple shapes and colors. When finished with the lesson, let the child go to town with the leftover paint and sponges for an art activity—you get 2 activities in 1!

Nannypalooza Conference 2011

2011-06-30T19:06:00.000-04:00

Nannypalooza Conference

Nov. 5-6, 2011

Elliott City, MD

EARLY BIRD ENDS JULY 1st!

The following info is from www.nannypalooza.com

check it out for ALL the information and to get registered.

The theme this year is Get CLUED in! We will be having all kinds of fun promoting the conference with our theme and our facebook page. Make sure you “like” us at www.facebook.com/nannypalooza. Watch for special clues to win prizes!

Workshops are still being confirmed, but previous years we have had sessions on topics such as infant feeding, understanding teenagers, infant sign language, interview and portfolio tips, outdoor education, using music and art with preschoolers, working with special needs and more! For a sneak peek at what we are working on- click here!

TENTATIVE SCHEDULE:

Saturday morning

8:00 continental breakfast and registration

8:30 opening session

9:00 workshop

10:30 workshop

12:00 lunch

2:15 workshop

3:30 networking break and snack

4:15 workshop

dinner on your own

7:00 nanny social event (limited space available)

game night and light snack

extra cost $15 per person

Sunday morning

8:30 workshop

10:00 breakfast buffet

11:00 workshop

12:15 closing session and raffle giveaways

Saturday night social event for nannies!!

Game Night

Join us for some fun and games. There will be a light snack provided. We will play some fun group games, cards or board games. Have a game you love? Bring it along. Sit down and enjoy chatting with all your new friends. Relax and unwind after a long day of conference sessions. There is limited space available for this activity so be sure to sign up when you register.

Note: Because of our agreement with the hotel, there will be no refunds given for this event. If you sign up and find that you can not attend, you are welcome to find someone to take your place, but your money can not be refunded. Sorry for any inconvenience.

Friday night dinner

Arriving on Friday night for the conference? Come on down to the hotel restaurant and join us for dinner. There is no set time- we will be there from 6:00 until 9:00 pm. Everyone gathers, happy to see old friends and welcome new attendees into our friendly community. Dinner is on your own dime, and it would be great if you can bring cash. There is a menu on the hotel website. Let us know when you register if you are coming so that we can watch for you!

Check out my experience traveling to Nannypalooza a few years back in Washington DC! I had a great time and really encourage you to look into it four yourself!

Nannypalooza 2009 Recap

Quick Tip Tuesday: "What To Do" Jar

2011-06-28T09:00:00.000-04:00

By: Amy Miller

Woo Hoo!!! Summer is here!!!

My favorite season is summer. I can't wait to find a cute summer dress, matching pair of flip flops- I could wear flip flops all year long-, and sit by the pool with a good book and glass of lemonade. Yes, I love summer! However, as a nanny (along with millions of parents) I am aware with summer comes summer break, which comes the dreaded B-word.

Bored... Bored... Bored!!!

What to do with those summer boredom blues?

Let's make a "What To Do" Jar or "I'm Bored" Jar. The girls and I made a list of things they love to do- play outside, ride bikes, blow bubbles, color, watch a movie etc.. (This is an activity in it self that will occupy the kiddos for a while) Then we wrote each fun activity on a sticky note. Stuffing the notes inside a jar, we now had our "What To Do" (when I'm bored) Jar.

Whenever I hear the B-word I send the girls to the jar. Most of the time, we pull out 2 or 3 activities and the girls chose. Giving kids a few ideas instead of a whole list will make it easier for them to decide. Sometimes, we trust in the luck of the draw. Whatever activity we pull out first is the one that will scare away the boredom monster.

Here is a suggestion I read online from a parent with older children... If they complain of boredom, offer some chores to keep them busy. I'm sure they will find something to do quickly and the complaining will disappear.

Hopefully no one has summer boredom blues. Happy Summer Everyone!

Response to Kumon

2011-06-16T09:00:00.004-04:00

By: Trisha Knueven

Today we feature Nanny Trisha's personal response to the article Fast-tracking to Kindergarten (article in the New York Times) . Please click on the link and read. What is your response?

After reading this article my heart goes out to all the parents and children who are sucked into this mentality. Yes, you read that right they are being sucked into it thinking that this is the latest, newest, perhaps best way for their precious child to have the added advantage in life. That could not be the farthest from the truth in my opinion!

I have been in the childcare field for going on 17 years now and I know that the age between birth and kindergarten (around age 5) is a special time in a child’s life. This is the time children learn a great deal about how to function in every domain: language, physical, social, emotional, intellectual. They are very busy learning through play that they create based on what is happening in their lives. To that note I would like to add that a child cannot thrive and excel to the best of their ability if they are left in an environment that is not stimulating or not interactive to the extent that they need. That is where preschool and every learning through play enter the picture. The Kumon approach is not learning through play like children need. It will not allow them to become inquisitive thinkers with the imagination and spontaneity that children need to solve problems.

This article, I strongly feel, is starting a trend of entering children into school once they are 2 and potty trained. All the more pressure to start schooling children at even younger ages. Yes, the United States as a country has a true problem with the educational system. I couldn’t agree with that more. If our education system was healthy and doing what it should I would be a happy elementary school teacher by now. I have spent time in the classroom setting in traditional schools and have been able to even compare them to the Montessori system. I still feel that a blended approach will reap the greatest results. However, I strongly feel that Kumon is not the answer! Just like “Teach Your Baby to Read” is not the answer. Children are very naïve and gullible especially when they get a feeling that they are a “big” kid earlier or that they are so much better than their peers. It’s based on the early superego stage that children of this age are passing through. Small, appropriate introductions to language, writing, reading, and math can be made during these years in a way that does not drill and pressure child into learning. For many parents this is uncharted waters because what children need today looks much differently from what parents were raised with. The gap is closing though! Drilling children like their parents were drilled as children is not the answer. Yes, it brings about early skills and perhaps inflates the image of super life-long achievers, but if children do not learn all the skills of the social world before they are placed in a school setting they will not know what to do when faced with it in traditional classrooms. I have recently personally discovered this with the child in my care. She is very bright and intelligent and for the first time she is learning hard lessons in peer pressure. Perhaps she was never socially challenged as a preschooler and did not learn the skills to deal with life in a productive way. She is finding it very hard to navigate and now she is stumbling over and over again to learn and put into practice basic social skills. I mostly fear that with young children, granted they are eager learners, they need to learn things that are not on charts, worksheets, and in books during the preschool years so that they will have that under their belts when they open the books.

Rewards systems and grading systems set children up to feel like inadequate failures. This is an old-fashioned way of encouraging and evaluating the learning that takes place. This ruins a child’s ego and sense of accomplishment. Any literature you could read about why Montessori education models are working over the traditional classroom will show you this. Just pull out some literature from Alfie Kohn and read it with an open mind. The long term damage outweighs the short term gains! The focus needs to be on what happens long term! Do you want to help a child develop a feeling of life-long failure? Of having to be drilled by a smarter person and not know how to function once a smarter person leaves the picture? There is a great debate about which education system is the most beneficial and I can for certain say from reading this article that a Kumon approach just brings the traditional way into preschoolers lives with a long-term potential harm factor.

Preschoolers need to learn how to handle friends, peer influences, peer pressure, etc. that is not and cannot be explicitly taught like reading, writing, and math. The preschool years are the best time for children to learn these things. The words of a young school agers keep repeating in my mind, “My teacher says not to tattle tale.” For this child the teacher fails to teach a student the social skills that this child has lacked and needs desperately in order to be successful in school life. Why does the teacher ignore the needs of this student in this particular way? Because the teacher is not held accountable for how a child feels emotionally. Teachers are only graded on the output: how much a child learns according to the state’s curriculum guidelines. If children are turned away from learning the fundamentals about how to live and function in our world by early book learning, I fear that children will lack the social skills and possibly the physical skills to gain life-long achievements. I understand that Kumon is only a few times a week in short spurts, but I caution everyone to really think about the message this is sending young children. Already technology has stolen a great deal from everyone and at the same time we have seen obesity soar. What will this steal from our innocent, naïve children? There is so much time for learning in the school years. I strongly feel that those years are where the worksheets, drill chart, etc. belong!

What do you think?

I’M IN LOVE! (My Britax Stroller Review)

2011-06-14T09:00:00.000-04:00

By: Greta Schraer

Yes, yes, I am in love. It was love at first sight! ….OK, maybe it was love at first demo.

A few months back, my mother-in-law and I went to check out a new baby store in our city. At that time I was only 12 weeks pregnant, but I wanted to see if it was a place I would register. I planned to buy nothing. When we got to the stroller section I was amazed at the options floor to ceiling. As a nanny, I never got to pick out a stroller, but had used many brands and kinds. It was a little overwhelming just looking at the options, but as I talked to mom I explained it must function well and have great maneuverability. Beyond that, I had given no thought to what I wanted.

We saw a store employee doing a demonstration with the Britax B-ready and stopped to “ooh” and “ah” with the other ladies. He quickly removed and replaced toddler seats and infant car seats with ease. He then folded the whole stroller to stand on it’s own. My appreciation for multi-purpose and multi-function had my eyes locked. “What else can it do?”, I thought. That is when I saw this stroller become a double! WOW. As the demo concluded, I had to get closer. I was anxious to get my hands on this stroller and see if it FELT as good as it looked. To my surprise it glided on the floor with the use of only one hand. That was the moment. See I have worked the last few years with triplets (they were babies, toddlers, and now preschoolers). We used a variety of strollers with the boys over the years, and I often longed for that comfortable and easy push I’d felt that day on the B-Ready. The employee spoke about the stroller from personal experience as he had purchased one for his own 2 year old child; he knew the ends and outs of how it worked and the safety it brought to his family. I took a few pictures as we left. I was determined to do my research before I invested in the stroller and car seat.

To see all the pictures and read the rest of this article click this link: REGARDING NANNIES: I’M IN LOVE! (My Britax Stroller Review)

Nanny 101: Lifetime of Learning

2011-06-13T09:00:00.000-04:00

School maybe out for the summer… but that is just for your kids. Here at Regarding Nannies we promote learning throughout the whole year. In fact, that is the subject of today’s lecture. Thanks for stopping into class, let’s get started so we can have an early dismissal.

Nanny 101: Lifetime of Learning
By: Greta Schraer

Over the last few years, I have had the privilege to meet so many nannies from all over the country. Nannies that have been in this career for years and years and nannies that are just beginning to navigate this world. I have come to realize that just like many other careers, the backgrounds are wide in variety. Many nannies have degrees in education or social work, others studied art or business. Some have started in a Nanny Training School, where the focus is preparing their pupil to care for children and the job as a nanny. And some started their career right out of high school. Though there is no sole standard of training like there is in other countries, knowledge and experience for a nanny are imperative and valued.

Read the rest of this article here: REGARDING NANNIES: Nanny 101: Lifetime of Learning

Quick Tip Tuesday: Meltdown Mayhem

2011-06-07T07:00:00.000-04:00

By: Trisha Knueven

Many of the behavior dilemmas that a caregiver experiences can be explained by factors that aren't always so obvious. I've used an ABC chart to pinpoint what is going on in a given situation with a child to figure out if there is something less obvious going on behind the scenes. ABC stands for Antecedent, Behavior, and Consequence. The antecedent is what is happening right before the behavior took place. This can be crucial to figuring out why the behavior is happening. Then you can easily list the behavior and consequence. Keeping an ABC log over the course of a week can help pinpoint these hidden causes. For instance, perhaps the child in your care is experiencing a blood sugar drop every morning around the same time. Instead of saying they are hungry (which children have to be taught to do) the child has a meltdown over something that is insignificant. Or, perhaps the log shows that a child is just over scheduled with fun activities and doesn't have enough free choice time to regroup. Sometimes even I have been guilty for reacting to a meltdown instead of taking a proactive approach. However, when I take the time to be proactive and identify the cause of the negative behavior, I have the power to change the situation in the future and perhaps there will not be another meltdown. Instead I just might find that I have a happy, smiling child who feels understood.

Around Town: Free Movies!

2011-06-02T09:00:00.001-04:00

By: Greta Schraer

Did you know that many cinemas offer free kid movies during the summer? They are older releases, but most kids don't care at all! I loved taking the boys last year to experience the movie theatre and be able to teach them behavior - - for free! One time we had to leave early with a potty problem, but it was no big deal considering the movie was free.

Check your local theatre to see what they offer, it will be something like this!

The following movies are FREE FOR KIDS AND ACCOMPANYING ADULTS!

at the Pierce Point Cinema 10. 1255 W. Ohio Pike, Amelia.

ALL SHOWS WEDNESDAYS 10:00 AM

JUNE 8 HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON (1 HR 38 MIN)

JUNE 15 DESPICABLE ME ( 1 HR 35 MIN)

JUNE 22 CATS & DOGS REVENGE KITTY GALORE (1 HR 22 MIN)

JUNE 29 ALPHA & OMEGA (1hr 30 min)

JULY 6 LEGEND OF THE GUARDIANS: OWLS OF GA'HOOLE (1 HR 30 MIN)

JULY 13 MEGAMIND (1 HR 36 MIN)

JULY 20 YOGI BEAR (1 HR 22 MIN)

JULY 27 THE KARATE KID (2 HR 20 )

AUGUST 3 SHREK FOREVER AFTER ( 1 HR 33 MIN )

Joining a Playgroup: Part 2

2011-06-01T09:00:00.001-04:00

By: Karen Musclow

Now that I’ve shared with you about why I chose to join a playgroup and how it’s worked out for us, I thought I’d share some tips about what to look for when deciding if a playgroup is right for you.

1. Are you able to participate in outings at least once a month? Most groups request this of you as a minimum requirement. Take note of when and where the group usually meets. A good group will use all weekdays at varying times. Mine often starts outings at 10:30 with very little variation on that. However, that works for me.

2. Have you asked your employers if they’re okay with you officially joining a group? Who will pay the dues (often $5-$20/year)? Are there any questions they have of the group? For example, Mrs. D wanted to ensure that the children in the group were up-to-date on their vaccinations. Though I didn’t ask each specific mom, I did speak with the leaders who assured me they knew of no one in the group to be anti-vaccinations. This was a good enough answer for my boss.

3. Are you and your charges fairly open to new people and experiences? A playgroup may not be the best choice for an especially shy child. On the other hand, a small group may be just what that child needs! T prefers to stay home every day. But, once I get him out the door, he enjoys all of our trips and loves to play with other children.

4. Are the children in the group similar age to your charges? Though it’s great to expose children to older and younger ones, at least some of the children should be close in age to those you care for.

5. Are activities affordable? Look for a wide variety of outings including some that are free (such as meeting at a park) and many others under $10. Excepting the zoo and museum (we have membership), I think my group has only done 1 outing that cost us over $15.

6, If the playgroup often meets in people’s homes, make extra sure that your employers are aware of and okay with that. Also, check to see if you’d be expected to host a meet-up. If you’re comfortable doing that, you can ask your employers. Otherwise, check with the group leaders to see if you could avoid that or host at a local park instead.

7. A good playgroup will be flexible. Meaning, they’ll understand if you have to back out at the last minute or if you need to leave early. This shouldn’t be a problem at all. After all…they all have children too!

8. How do you find a playgroup? I suggest checking www.Momslikeme.com and www.Meetup.com.

In the end, the most important thing is to find a group that you and the children you care for are comfortable with and enjoy being around. Have fun!

Quick Tip Tuesday: Q-tips

2011-05-17T21:00:00.000-04:00

By: Karen Musclow

Do you want to allow the children to paint but don’t want a big mess to clean up? Paint with q-tips instead of brushes. Put just a little bit of paint in small containers (baby food containers, egg cartons, etc.) or squirt a little paint directly on the paper. Then give each child a Q-tip or two and let them go to town. This is also a great way to introduce infants and young toddlers to painting. Of course, watch closely to make sure Q-tips don’t end up in mouths or ears!

Q-tips are also great to use for counting activities. Grab 10 Q-tips and wrap them with a rubber band to make a group. Do this several times and you can work on counting by 10’s. You could also count by 5’s, 2’s or any other amount you wish to count by.

Have other creative ways to use Q-tips? Please share in the comments!

Adventures in Playgroups

2011-05-11T09:00:00.001-04:00

By: Karen Musclow

After I got my job as a nanny, my SAHM friends immediately started talking of getting together and having play dates. I was very excited about this and thought of all the fun things we could do together with the children and that, best of all, I’d be able to hang out with my friends every other week or so. Sound great, doesn’t it? But then, reality hit. My at-home friends live almost a full hour away from where I work! Was I really going to put the children in the car for two hours just to hang out with my friends? And then, on top of that, charge Family D mileage? It quickly struck me that this was not going to work.

Through an acquaintance, I quickly found and connected with other nannies through CincyNanny. I saw that they schedule play dates and hold Nannies Night Out and I thought “what a great solution.” However, once again, reality struck as most of the play dates are north of the river and I work on the south side. Or they were on Wednesdays, when I don’t work. Or at times that just don’t mesh with the children’s schedule. Don’t get me wrong, it’s a great group and I enjoy hanging out with all of them after work hours. But for me, most of the daytime get-togethers just aren’t practical.

I was starting to feel a bit frustrated and so I stopped looking around at options for a while. Then school started and I was faced with having a three-year-old who no longer had his daily playmate around. I decided I needed to find some type of playgroup to get involved with in order to provide socialization for T (and me!). I decided that I would need to reach out and make some new friends. With Family D’s permission, I visited www.Momslikeme.com and went to the Cincinnati site. I then began scouring the message boards for playgroups.

I found one, located in NKY, which sounded like it might be a good fit. This group uses www.meetup.com to connect and plan outings. I visited their Meetup page and found that it was a great fit! Mostly stay-at-home moms with children preschool-age and younger. When I filled out the information to join the group, I made sure to clarify that I am the nanny, not the mom. The leader said that was no issue at all and readily accepted me. The group meets numerous times a month in all sorts of venues and all different days of the week. We go when we can and it’s no big deal if we can’t. In fact, though the group has about 40 members, there are usually only 5-10 at any particular play date. Most of the activities are free or of little charge, so I don’t feel like I’m spending too much of Family D’s money. I also feel love it because it’s local and I don’t rack up a lot of mileage joining in.

I was a bit nervous the first few times we joined in, but the women are welcoming and made me feel at ease quickly. T loves being able to play with others his own age and E (11 months) seems to enjoy watching everything. If you’re looking to get out and get socialized, I’d strongly recommend checking out your local playgroups. It has certainly worked well for us!

Nanny 101: Leading By Example

2011-05-09T15:53:00.000-04:00

By: Greta Schraer

Over on Regarding Nannies, is the next edition of Nanny 101. Nanny 101 is what I consider the basics each new nanny should know or...every seasoned nanny should be reminded. Happy Reading!

Nanny 101: Leading By Example
By: Great Schraer

Sometimes kids are like computers: input and output. They spend more time listening and watching than we realize. We met some neighbors the other day who were interested in seeing the inside of our house. My husband obliged, but said “don’t mind the mess”. He meant an unmade bed, some dishes on the counter and so on, but the neighbor’s 5 year old quickly revealed some family secrets. “Oh don’t worry, our house is always messy, alot.” If you haven’t figured it out yet – you will…kids are like sponges. They often repeat words or actions that weren’t meant to be repeated. While no nanny is perfect we should strive to be living lives that are worth repeating – not to look good, but to invest the best into the children.....

To read the rest of this article click here: Nanny 101: Leading By Example.

A New Approach to “Teaching Children to Care"

2011-05-06T10:00:00.004-04:00

By: Trisha Knueven

On Saturday, March 12, 2011, I had the privilege of going to the 24^th Annual Early Childhood Conference 2001 on my very favorite campus at Xavier University. This conference was Montessori in nature and supported by the Montessori Education Department at Xavier University. Alfie Kohn was featured as the keynote speaker. His speech was titled: Teaching Children to Care. Here is my take on his talk:

Kohn opened up his speech asking the audience of predominately parents and Montessori affiliates what is one thing that they wished to instill in children. As a group we came up with a laundry list including: stewardship, mindful, compassionate, caring, global citizen, helping, satisfied, problem-solvers…. Kohn put all of these characteristics into a well-crafted sentence about what we wish to instill in children and then went on to talk about the ways in which we keep this from ever happening because our approach to teaching and guiding children is all wrong!

He quoted Albert Einstein “Not everything that can be counted counts and not everything that counts can be measured.” We are actually harming children by assigning them letter grades or numbers rather that simply communicate negatively to a child no matter what. Research has proven that it is a negative effect. So, we need to stop doing this to children! There are other means of assessing children and making sure that they are learning what they need to know. Grades should go out the window and we as teachers, parents, and professionals need to advocate for this archaic way of assessment. Homework should also be outlawed! Homework says to a child “the only thing important in life is academics.” And, the more homework given the worse effect it has. Teachers who give lots of homework really aren’t interested in the whole child. Children need time away from academics after school in order to play, engage with peers, and be with their families. Research finds that there is no benefit of any type of homework until children are at least in high school and even then there is more pain than gain. Children simply view all homework as something to get over with so they can move on to do something else more desirable. That’s why the best schools give virtually NONE unless a child actually wants to have it and consents to it because they want to exercise their minds more after school.

Instead of grades and homework, everyone needs to be more focused on ways to increase a child’s natural ability to be the caring, loving, and compassionate types of people that we all clearly want. Two studies have found that children who get lots of positive reinforcement (verbal good jobs, high fives, star charts, etc.) end up less caring and generous than other children. WHY? Because this type of behavior encourages the child to be more self-centered and more self-focused, and when they do not get the feel good feelings from this type of approach because an adult is not hovering over them all the time their self-esteem plummets. It is equally wrong to emphasize reciprocity to settle sharing disputes.

Alfie’s Goals for Children

1. Have children develop enduring commitments to sharing and caring.

2. Have children help when they take pleasure in helping AND still help when there is no pleasure for them to receive (aka Altruism)

3. We want to promote children to help everyone beyond their circle of friends, their school, and own country. We want them to be global carers.

How?

Motives matter not just behaviors. It is the motive behind the fist punch that needs to be dealt with. The hitting child can learn first-hand a great deal from the face of the injured child. The hitting child can comfort the injured child. The hitting child can explain why the hit happened and these feelings can be dealt with in a more constructive way. Putting a child in time-out really doesn’t do any good. That is an adult way of tackling negative behavior. It doesn’t work the same way with children because they are not always rational thinkers. Children are never “sorry” and we should stop forcing them to say this when they do not mean it! We need to focus on self-discipline. Psychologists talk about intrinsic motivation. Are children workaholics in training?

A child’s desire to care is inborn and it can either be encouraged or stifled. There are 7 ingredients to promote caring that are outlined in Kohn’s books. This information was gained through a workshop and I simply do not want to give it all away because I am not copyrighting here. I found the ingredients to be very helpful and recommend that you check out his website for more.

Alfie Kohn’s website is: www.alfiekohn.org

On his website there are links to his books, articles, audio/video, etc. It’s a great site and I really feel like his approach with all the latest research supporting it is perhaps what we should all consider and welcome into our families and schools. These approaches are followed by the Montessori community.

Quick Tip Tuesday: Blogging Your Kid's Memories

2011-05-03T10:00:00.000-04:00

Quick Tip: Blogging Your Kid's Memories

By: Karen Musclow

Entering the nanny world from childcare centers, I had grown very accustomed to photographing most everything the children did for their portfolios. In talking with Mr. and Mrs. D, it became quite apparent that they had no desire for any sort of portfolio or documentation of their children’s growth and activities. I, however, love photographing children and wanted to have a way of visually sharing our days with Mr. and Mrs. D. (And I wanted to have pictures of the children to look back on myself!)

When I learned that Mr. D’s family is across the Atlantic and Mrs. D has family down South, I began to think of starting a blog to share photos and quick write-ups of our adventures. This idea took further when I learned that the D’s are not very good about taking pictures of the children themselves. With their permission, I started a very simple blog using Wordpress. I did not make it private, but I did keep it hidden from search engines. This way, the D’s can share the address with anyone they choose, but the whole world won’t easily find it. Of course, I only refer to the children by their initial and never directly indicate where we’re located.

At first, I blogged on a regular basis, writing up specifics of our activities, It has since become mainly about sharing pictures as I heard feedback from relatives via the D’s how much they were enjoying the photos. It doesn’t have to take much work and I put new photos up about once a week.

A bonus: The boys enjoy seeing themselves on the internet and will at times ask me to take pictures of something specific to share with their family members.

Meet Nanny Trisha

2011-05-02T10:00:00.000-04:00

I love to meet other nannies. Whether at a park in Cincinnati or a professional conference across the country, I am intrigued with our similarities. We seem to have a sacrificial, loving and giving nature in addition to our love for kids. I think it is such a great opportunity to meet one other, learn and be challenged by each other's experiences and share in our love for kids. Today I present a friend of mine, I thought that you should meet.

Meet Nanny Trisha

An Interview By: Greta Schraer

1. What is your current Nanny position?

Currently I am working part-time for three families. Family K has boy/girl twins who are 2 ½ year-olds. I have to say that these children are the happiest, joyful twins I have ever cared for. Although I am with them a couple of hours twice a week I come away feeling so happy and blessed to care for them and teach them a few things along the way! Family R has a 6 year-old girl and a 5 month-old boy. I have to say with this family I feel like I have been called to help them with the many challenges their son faces. I feel like the breaks I give a loving stay-at-home-mom are very helpful. Their daughter is such a pleasure to spend time with and their son has the most infectious laugh I know! And, the third family I am caring for has a 7 year-old son who I have come to care for deeply. I understand him so well and can really use my expertise to help him. It is truly amazing that I am able to help all three families in very different ways.

2. How/Why did you decide to become a Nanny?

I was working at Goddard in Anderson when I knew that group care was not satisfying for me. There were many reasons I felt this way, but above all I did not feel like I was able to give each child in my class the attention and love that they needed to thrive. Each day I felt myself accomplishing the bare minimum and I was not happy with that. The owner’s friend is a nanny agency owner so she recommended me to her. It took several months to find my first match, but once I did I was hooked! I’m never looking back. This was the best decision ever! Being a Nanny utilizes my degree, my skills, and talents to bring so much happiness into the lives of the children and the families I serve.

3. Why are you passionate about working with children?

I absolutely love children! Ever since my cousin Jaclynn was born when I was 7 years old I have had a fascination for young children. I am the youngest of my family and so I always played with and made friends with younger children wishing I had younger siblings. I love encouraging children to grow and develop, to see their unique perspectives, to help them reach higher milestones gaining more intellectual development, and to open their minds to the marvelous world around them. Children are so genuine, naïve and loving. I have seen with my own eyes how children can just flourish if given the right mix of the things they need to grow. I am addicted to making each and every child I care for happy, well rounded, and develop a zest for life-long learning. Through all of the training I have taken over the past 5 years I really feel like now more than ever I have fine tuned my ability to thoroughly understand children and in return I speak their language and am able to be their greatest ally and their largest, most passionate advocate.

4. What is a misconception in your peers and/or family about the Nanny profession?

My peers who aren’t nannies think that I am still doing the childish “babysitting” I did as a teenager and have often wonder when I am going to grow up. My mother supports me and understands why I am a nanny and loves to see me happy, so to her it doesn’t matter what I do with my life as along as I am happy. The rest of my family doesn’t understand and thinks that I am wasting my life and my chances at bigger and better things since I have a degree in business. They obviously do not see or understand my passions and how fulfilling it is to follow one’s passions no matter what and live a fulfilling life. They really do care about me and the overall long-term effects like the lack of benefits, retirement funding, ability to “move up” over time in an organization, and are concerned about my future. I love them for this. Perhaps I will not always be a nanny, but for now I feel truly called by God.

5. In what areas do you currently feel challenged?

Currently I feel challenged by juggling three families and all of the children’s unique characteristics and needs. I feel called by God to help these families for the short-term and perhaps some for the long-term. My current challenge is to understand where God is leading me in my career and in my life.

6. What about CincyNanny has been a benefit to you?

Where do I begin? CincyNanny is an absolute blessing! Before CincyNanny I felt very disconnected as a nanny and rather lost. I had a few nanny friends, but none of them were really true professionals. In the past CincyNanny has helped me find a great family to work for where I was instrumental in the lives of their two young boys. CincyNanny has helped me to feel professional and rub elbows with other professional nannies who view this as a career. I have also benefitted from networking with other nannies for play dates and have made so many friends personally! Greta is just wonderful and I thank God that she has made this community here in Cincinnati. It is needed and is truly amazing!

7. What is something in your life (separate from your Nanny position), that is affecting your life in a positive way, and therefore affecting the children in your care?

There are several things going on in my life that affect the children in my care. I have the time to volunteer again and that truly warms my heart and as a result makes me stop to recognize and appreciate the small things in life that would otherwise be taken for granted. Mr. Wonderful has found me. Dating him has filled up my love and energy tanks. He compliments me in so many ways and his presence in my life puts me at ease even in this time of limbo in my career. This has brought a great deal of happiness into my life and I feel more recharged now, so I am once again able to give children so much more of the compassionate care that they deserve.

8. What is a goal for the future?

My main goal right now is to find the right combination of families to work for or to find one full-time family that understands my passions, my strengths, and can accept my weaknesses. My other goals are continuing my education and networking by going to my first INA Conference and becoming a credentialed nanny. I really want to go to conference and hope that I will go either this year or next year. Whether or not I make it to conference I am actively pursuing becoming credentialed and am currently reading and studying for the test.

9. How do you refresh/re-coop/prepare from and for your Nanny position?

I spend a great deal of quiet time thinking about my work actually. I have a very active mind and like to think creatively on how to solve challenges I face on a daily basis. I like to evaluate the current situations and skill levels of the children in my care and come up with creative, fun learning ideas that they would enjoy. I like to use my spontaneity and creativity to increase their learning as I extend their play. I try to not let my thoughts about my work completely monopolize my life outside of work.

Other things I really enjoy include cooking new foods from scratch, creating and designing works of art in my creative room, and expressing myself through playing my flute. I also enjoy nature with long walks outside with my walking buddy and my friends. I also really enjoy to express myself through swing dancing.

10. What changes would you like to see changed OR questions to be answered in the Nanny Industry?

I want many things to happen:

1. I want everyone in this world to understand that there are some nannies who are working as babysitters, but that there are more nannies who are serious about this profession and are driven to successful careers just like an accountant or scientist. I want everyone to stop looking down on me for choosing this as my career. I am truly making a difference in many lives and my work is no less important than anyone else’s.

2. I want a higher minimum standard set nation wide. I want those who are working as babysitters and calling themselves ‘nannies’ to be called out for trying to pose as a professional without working as one. This is not a job for just anybody who is in transition. This is a serious career that affects children for life. I hope to see in the future some type of system that perhaps grades nannies on a sliding scale similar to the “Step Up to Quality” program currently in place for daycares. I even think in the future it would be awesome for the minimum standard to be an associate degree with the name: Professional Nanny. Along with that I would like it to be achievable by nannies currently working full-time without having to quit their current jobs or relocate across the country to complete it. I can dream can’t I? I would hope that the degree would take into account a nanny’s past experiences, give an in-depth understanding of child development, arm them with excellent knowledge and resources to support families who make decisions based on the case at hand without considering their long-term impact, and can set the standard for outstanding quality care that nannies have every potential in achieving in each home they work in.

3. I want families to be informed and armed with all the information they need before making these often rushed decisions when it comes to their nanny. I want them to be able to attain this information without having to utilize an agency so that it can be disseminated as common knowledge.

Are you looking to read more from other local nannies, look to the menu bar on the right for links Meet Nanny interviews!

Meet the New Writers!

2011-04-28T10:00:00.001-04:00

Hey Nannies!

Have you missed me? I have really missed writing on the cincynanny blog and I am so excited to be bringing it back to you, better than ever. Beginning next week you will see posts from some brand new writers, all fellow nannies in the Cincinnati area. Our hope is to bring you great ideas from different perspectives. You may even see more nannies joining us over the next couple of months.

Want to meet the new writers? Click here to read their bios.

So we hope to see you on Monday when we return with all new posts from our new writers and me too. I personally cannot wait to get back writing here. Ahhhh... it is good to be back!

INA Nanny Conference: The Basics!

2011-01-02T19:51:00.001-05:00

Save the Date!

2011 INA Annual Conference

May 12-15, 2011

Grand Hyatt Tampa Bay

Tampa Bay, Florida

www.nanny.org

Last Month Meeting Details:

Benefits of Conference:

· Meet professional nannies – relationships, mentors, networking

· Training

· Resume building

· Rejuvenating

· Resources that will help you in your career

· Sense of professionalism and pride in your career

Registration:

Last year $295

New Member since June 1st, 50% off

Group of 2 or more, 10% off

Travel:

Flights: $200- 250

Drive: gas for 921 miles

Hotel:

Last year was $125/night

Can share room up to 4 people, but it is tight.

Food:

Meals while traveling

Dinners (Fri & Sat)

Location:

Grand Hyatt Tampa Bay

Grandtampabay.hyatt.com

Conference Misc:

· Thurs - Pre-conference offerings. For example: CPR, Newborn Care, Agency,

-Credential Exam

· Fri and Sat all day workshops – you decide

· Raffle for good cause, with fun gifts

· CincyNanny will donate a gift – ideas?

· Fri night excursion

· Group dinners

· NOTY Luncheon

· Service Award Pin Breakfast – 5+ years experience

· Early bird ran from March 1st – April 1st last year.

· Registration opened March 1st

· Details will not likely be up online until then, but you can view last years info.

Interested in attending conference? Like more info? Email Greta!

gretaschraer(at)mac(dot)com

High5 Friday: Rules for Unemployment (J.O.B part #1)

2010-10-29T23:00:00.001-04:00

Over the last year, layoffs have been getting closer and closer to home. My husband and I have watched his fellow employees go in two and threes. We have watched friends and family lose their jobs and through this recession we have felt blessed to be spared. But, in September I surprisingly found myself now unemployed.

Looking back, I found this was the only position that ended without my choosing. It was also the only position that I left without having something to go right into. Though 32 years old, I found myself in a brand new experience. The good news.... I felt very prepared.

I plan to share some of my experiences and opinions with you over the next couple of weeks. I hope that my story may be of help in some way. This week begins a series of 5 posts called "J.O.B."

High5: Rules for Unemployment

I have often given advice to nannies who are unemployed to set up "rules" for themselves. The goal, to use time-off in a productive manner. I now found myself having to take my own advice. While I haven't been unemployed before, I always took mental notes on what I would do. I think it is important to stay focused on your purpose during this season, and setting some ground rules may just be the way to do that. After all, my job was to "Get a Job" (sing shan-na-nahs here).

5. Get Up
As silly as it may seem this was a big one for me. My previous position required me to start work at 7:00 a.m. each morning. I handled it (with coffee), but will always remain a night person. I work well at night (in fact I'm writing this at 11:00 p.m.) and new that if not planned I would let my schedule drift later and later. Just as it was important for me to keep a regular sleep schedule and set my alarm for work, I felt it that my process of finding a job, was just as important. I set my alarm each weekday for 8:00 a.m. and made sure I had at least 8 hours of sleep each night before.

4. Get Ready
Who doesn't like to have a PJ day every so often? This can become a dangerous habit for the unemployed. I believe that when you start living this habit you can start to feel down on yourself. It is so important to stay positive during the process. Each day, get up, take a shower and start your day as you would for work or interview - wear make-up and stay away from a daily ponytail. Wear something that makes you feel pretty each day. Enjoy the chance to wear jewelry (with out fear of pulling), cute clothes (that won't be spit up on) and even girlie shoes (not fit for the sand at the park).

3. Get Out

I presume that money is tight, so be careful about how you are spending your time. I tried to get out a little or a lot everyday. Some days I was interviewing, but other days I needed to spend time on the computer or making calls. At home it was easy to get distracted. Since I was given a large Starbuck's gift card, I made this my new office (Starbuck's has recently began offering free wi-fi at least here in Cincinnati). My location has large high-top tables with their own outlets and lamps. I found a nice spot back in the corner and would often spend hours at a time working here. It was nice to be around people and see action happening around me. I was always much more productive than I would've been at home. This option was also cheaper than frequenting my favorite stores. Though I admit I did get a few good buys. (Below is me at "my office")

2. Get Active
It is a great idea to get moving each day. Go to the park, walk your neighborhood, or go to the gym (if this isn't an extra expense). This is a great habit that you may have not been able to make time for. The endorphins released while exercising keeping your from getting mopey, but having positive feelings in this hard time. Take the time to do something active that you love or search for something new!

1. Get Focused
Time off for me turned into a blessing. I have never had the luxury of not working even for a short season. I was able to process through my feelings and grieve the loss of job I expected to be long-term. I had more time and quiet to reflect and pray and open myself up to be lead in new directions. Along with my job search and interview processes I accomplished projects that were on my to-do list for a year. The time allowed me to really make a wise decision without feeling stress. I have connected with friends that I sometimes seemed to busy for. I learned more about me in this last 6 weeks than I have in the last couple of years, and I know that without the time off, I would not have had the journey. I truly can say that this has been a blessing.

So, you are probably wondering if I have accepted a position? Yes. My situation did not work out exactly as I expected, but did work out for the best. I will be starting a new position on Monday, at my church, in an administration/project manager role. My degree is in Theology and previously worked in the ministry at a church before. This position is part-time and will allow me the opportunity to still work with the triplets as a part-time nanny. I believe that I have been given the best of both worlds. I am excited that I will be able to continue in the nanny world, but also have this new journey at my church. It was a decision that did not come lightly. Thanks to all my friends for your support and prayers!

Stay tuned next week for part #2!

CincyNanny Roundtable - Food Allergy Awareness and Safety

2010-10-27T03:00:00.007-04:00

CincyNanny Roundtable

Food Allergy Awareness and Safety

By: Lindsey Kanis

10.26.2010

It is estimated that 3 million U.S. children have a food allergy [FAAN]. 16-18% of those children have had reactions while at school [FAAN]. 25% of those cases occur before a child has been diagnosed with a food allergy [FAAN]. Several studies have found that a majority of school have inadequate allergy management and emergency preparation including epinephrine for such allergic reactions, many anaphylaxis.

A food allergy occurs when the immune system reacts to food. The body makes antibodies to the food causing asthma, hives and other symptoms.

Common Food Allergies:

8 foods account for 90% of food-allergic reactions [FAAN]:

-Milk. Only 2.5% of kids under 3 have a milk allergy. Most develop in the first year of life and many will outgrow the allergy in only a few years. Many of these children are just fine substituting with non dairy formulas and soy or rice milks while some are allergic to only cow’s milk and may use goat’s milk as an alternative, but is not recommended without doctor’s permission. Always read labels: milk and casein (a milk derivative and protein) are hidden ingredients in many non dairy products (including canned tuna and some meats). [FDA] Always ask: butter is used in most baked items and on most everything at restaurants. However, milk is easily substituted with water or fruit juice in many recipes. Deli meat slicers in most delis are used to slice both cheese and meat. Some children may have a reaction to milk or oils of these products just touching their skin.

-Egg. 1.5% of young children but is the allergy doctors believe most likely to be outgrown. Most reactions will appear as skin irritations (rashes, hives or intense dryness) but may include anaphylaxis*. Eggs are found in many baked goods, some pastas including those found in soup, and are used as a “wash” on a variety of items before baking, frying or topping (i.e. pretzels are washed in egg before being salted). Egg is also found occasionally in the froth or foam topping of coffee drinks, as well as egg substitutes that use egg whites. Some vaccines including the influenza vaccine contain egg proteins and a doctor should be consulted before using these vaccines. In baking, eggs can be substituted with several small recipes that are equivalent to egg.

-Peanut. Between 1997 and 2002, peanut allergies in children doubled [FAAN]. Reactions to peanuts can vary in intensity depending on sensitivity of the individual. However, 20% of these children outgrow the allergy. Younger siblings of these children are at a higher risk to develop peanut allergies. Individuals with peanut allergies are likely to develop other food allergies, including tree nuts and so most people allergic to peanuts avoid all nuts and always carry epi-pens (epinephrine shots) because most reactions include anaphylaxis*. Besides the obvious of peanut butter, peanuts and peanut oils can be found in chili sauces, hot sauce, pesto, gravy, salad dressings, pudding, cookies, hit chocolate, egg rolls, pancakes, pet foods, candies, Asian and Mexican dishes, vegetarian meat substitutes, glazed and marinades. Read labels: It is also important to note that equipment used to make many products may have been in contact with peanuts or peanut oils. When eating out, ask specifically for new utensils to be used for serving, preparing foods. [FDA]

-Tree nuts. It is estimated that 1.8 million Americans have allergic to tree nuts (walnut, almond, hazelnut, coconut, cashew, pistachio and Brazil nuts)[FAAN] and it is among the leading causes of fatal and near fatal reactions to foods. It is rare to outgrow a tree nut allergy. Unexpected sources of tree nuts include salad dressings, barbecue sauce, pancakes, pasta, honey, pie crusts and breading for chicken. Many reactions include anaphylaxis* and require a shot of epinephrine.

-Did you know: It is disputed whether or not a coconut is a nut. It is traditionally thought of as a fruit and carries low risk of allergic reaction for people allergic to tree nuts. The FDA only began classifying the coconut as a nut in 2006. [FDA]

-Fish. 2.3% of Americans report allergy to seafoods [FAAN]. Salmon, tuna and halibut are the most common culprits of fish allergic reactions, however it is recommended that all fish be avoided as well as seafood restaurants all together. Cross contamination is a risk as well the risk of reaction from airborne proteins in the steam while cooking. It is considered to be a lifelong allergy. Caesar dressing, Bouillabaisse, Worcestershire sauce, Barbeque sauces all contain fish ingredients.

-Shellfish. 60% of shellfish allergic reactions occur for the first time in adulthood. It is recommended that individuals with shellfish allergies avoid seafood all together, seafood restaurants as well as Asian restaurants (they use sauces and base ingredients with fish). Reactions can include anaphylaxis*.

-Wheat. Children most often have this allergy, but outgrow it before adulthood. It should not be confused with celiac disease (an intolerance to gluten). People with wheat allergies can eat other grains including amaranth, barley, corn, oat, quinoa, rice, rye, and tapioca. It is usually fairly easy to substitute wheat flour with alternatives in recipes. Read labels! Wheat can be in anything: ice cream, marinara sause, play doh, rice cakes and hot dogs.

-Soy. Soy allergies are difficult, but common especially in infants and children. Soy is in so many products that people with this allergy often need a nutritionist to help maintain a healthy diet without soy. Reactions can include anaphylaxis. Soy and soy beans can be found in baked goods, canned tuna, formulas, soups, and even peanut butter.

The Food Allergen Labeling and Consumer Protection Act (FALCPA) requires food manufacturers to disclose in plain language whether products contain any of the top eight food allergens, when present in any amount, even in colors, flavors, or spice blends. [FAAN]

Have your charges been tested for common food allergies?

Are you educated on their allergies (if any)?

- Pronounced: ana-fill-axis .... A serious allergic reaction that is rapid in onset and may cause death. An anaphylactic reaction may begin with a tingling sensation, itching, or a metallic taste in the mouth. Other symptoms can include hives, a sensation of warmth, wheezing or other difficulty breathing, coughing, swelling of the mouth and throat area, vomiting, diarrhea, cramping, a drop in blood pressure, and loss of consciousness. These symptoms may begin within several minutes to two hours after exposure to the allergen, but life-threatening reactions may get worse over a period of several hours.”

-From “Anaphylaxis” by FAAN http://www.foodallergy.org/section/a

FAAN The Food and Anaphylaxis Network http://www.foodallergy.org

FDA The Food and Drug Administration http://www.fda.gov

[Quick Tip Tuesday] Meal Time Tot Talk

2010-10-26T18:37:00.003-04:00

Quick Tip Tuesday: Meal Time Tot Talk

By: Nanny Beth

I was a nanny in Connecticut; it was my first professional nanny position. I was so eager! Katie was 18 months old and wise beyond her years. I purchased placemats with a colorful map of the United States. One was at each child's seat, one for Katie and one for Max (her 3 year old brother ). Each evening I would pre set the table with the breakfast items...a bowl, a glass, silverware and some of the things we might eat like fruit, etc... but on each child's placemat I would place the vitamin on a different state. In the morning as they were eating I would ask them on what state they found their vitamin. It was a fun and educational game. In a few months time Katie, only 18 months old, knew so many states AND their capitals! Each week we went to the local Dunkin Donuts for a treat - coffee for nanny and juice and a bagel for baby. Katie would proudly tell the ladies at Dunkin Donuts the capital of Connecticut and then each week they would ask her to tell them the states and their capitals. I am confident no other 18 month old could recite the capitals of the United States! This is one educational tool I used to turn a meal into an event!

Nanny Beth Barnes was first a nanny in Connecticut in 1998. She's worked with many kinds of families: single fathers with surrogate babies, double doctor families, families with multiples and high profile families. She finds great joy with families and my position is that of watching the children grow and learn from my help and examples. Beth states, "My joy is provided by Baby M who is a delight in every way! She has learned basic sign language and excels at most everything. I have been blessed to have a family that works as a team with me in the adventures of their child."

Thanks so much for sharing your experience and that fun tip! If you are looking to purchase your own placement to use for learning, check out Tot Talk Placemats! Then have some tools you might like. We are always open to CincyNannies sharing their tips! ~ CincyNanny Greta

[Quick Tip Tuesday] Vitamin Time

2010-10-12T10:07:00.000-04:00

Quick Tip: Vitamin Time

Establishing routine for children can help things run smoothly. Vitamins are just one of those small things to incorporate into our day, but done at the same time, create a normal habit. With children, healthy habits are a wonderful thing keep consistent.

Each morning, for the triplets I place a small bowl on their breakfast plates containing their vitamin. They know that they must crunch this before getting up from the table and putting their plate in the all done spot.

These little bowls have been so convenient for small treats, dipping (see here), and sauces. It is just the right size for little hands and the colors are eye catching and cute.

[Quick Tip Tuesday] Beyond the Wipes

2010-10-05T22:28:00.000-04:00

Quick Tip: Beyond the Wipes

Ever wonder what to do with all those leftover bulky wipes containers? I while reorganizing a drawer one day at work, I needed a divider/organizer.

I wasn't about to go searching through the house so, I grabbed an old wipes container and took off the top portion leaving the bottom. It turned out to be the perfect size and even added a little color to the inside of the drawer. Repurposing items always make me feel good!

What baby items do you repurpose? Email me at gretaschraer(at)mac(dot)com and we may make it a "quick tip"!

CINCYNANNYPALOOZA 2010 - The Recap!

2010-09-29T13:00:00.002-04:00

Whew! After months of planning, CincyNanny had a fantastic event...
CINCYNANNYPALOOZA!

Nannypalooza is a national nanny conference usually held each year in the fall, by the National Association of Nanny Care (NANC). They goal is to bring nannies together, provide education and resources in a professional, yet fun atmosphere. This year, Nannypalooza traveled to 18 cities around the country, including Cincinnati for Nannypalooza - Nannies Across America!

On Saturday, September 18, 2010, twenty-five of our local nannies and childcare providers gathered for a one-day conference and recognition dinner in honor of National Nanny Recognition Week (NNRW). We offered three workshops in total: two in child development and one in professional development. We awarded door prizes, had a raffle to benefit Alyson Myatt (the nanny injured saving her charge in a fire), and gave out goodie bags for all in attendance. Nannies shared dinner and gathered resources. The goal of our event was to bring together nannies in community and honor each for the important role they play in the lives of children.

Rebecca welcomed everyone at the registration table. She passed on a folder with notes and resources along with a goody bag of donated items and literature, valued over the $25 ticket price!

What's in the goodie bag?
(For links, please see the donor list at the end of this post)

Literature from many local and national resources: INA, NANC, Regarding Nannies, GTM, Cincinnati Family Enrichment Center, Cincinnati Family, Cincinnati Parent, Carseat Identification, 4C for Children Quaterly classes.
From 4 Nanny Taxes: a kids crayon and Interview tips
From NannyIsland: Gummy snack with postcard
From Regarding Nannies: Info. card with post-it notes
Gift cards and Coupons: $5 to Starbucks from GTM, Free Chick-fila Sandwich, 20% at Tanya's Wellness (hair and spa), seven $1 off at Caribou Coffee in Anderson, Free Admission to the SwinGallery (local dance venue), Free Sunny Delight
From Kroger: 2 reuseable grocery bags and an insulated grocery bag
From Mike's Hard LemonadeJello mold & CD,
From CincyNanny: Water bottle, Nanny connect cards

One of our conference sponsors was Books By Tara. Tara not only donated books and finances, but she and her mother joined us that day to share her books with us! BooksByTara are designed with an easy, flexible format to entice children’s interest and participation on every page. Intriguing photos of familiar scenes provide oodles of opportunities for looking; pointing; vocalizing sounds, words, phrases, and sentences; answering questions; and beginning in-depth discussions. Playful themes make learning easy and fun. You can now get her books at Joseph Beth in Hyde Park!

We had a travel theme with our tagline "the professional nanny conference travels to Cincinnati". The hope was to communicate that this is a getaway even though it is in our city. We also included the conversation about traveling in the future to other cities for more opportunities, opening up the "nanny world" to all of our nannies!

Above is our table centerpiece... a re-make of a piece of luggage out of a photo storage box. On the outside stickers including one of the Nannypalooza - Nannies Across America logo. On the inside small envelopes with ice breaker questions for the nannies at the table.

At right you will see Amanda, who organized the all the wonderful food for our snacks, not to mention all the food for our recognition dinner...FREE! It was gorgeous and delicious. The nannies enjoyed snacking on the healthy fruit, Big Apple Bagels, and snacks both sweet and salty!

Below is our first workshop: Positive Discipline with Kerry Kane Miller from 4C for Children. Kerry was a very dynamic and inclusive speaker and specifically spoke about "Behavior Modification" and looking for those "Teachable Moments". She spent time listening to our #1 frustration at our job and offered some solutions. Nannies were encouraged to share one thing they learned with the group, and that was really special to hear tangible steps to end a frustration.

Here are her Top 10 Teachable Tools:
1. Encourage positive behavior more than negative.
2. Give children as many choices as possible.
3. Use play to encourage children to express their feelings.
4. Use reflective listening.
5. Communicate your expectations daily.
6. Be consistent - be consistent - be consistent.
7. Teach the child to problem-solve.
8. Teach them that feelings are alright but behaviors many or may not be: The 3 rules of anger are: (1) You can't hurt yourself, (2) You can't hurt others, and (3) You can;t hurt your environment.
9. Teach them what they CAN do.
10. When needed use logical consequences.

At left, Greta with Kerry Kane Miller.

Our second workshop: Professional Communications was taught by Greta Schraer, the 2010 INA Nanny of the Year. Heard of her? It was pretty ironic that months ago I had planned to talk about Your Resume, Interview & Work Agreement - the 3 things that I see nannies struggling with in our city. I say it is ironic because weeks before conference I got to go through each of these again in my personal career. I shared a lot of resources with nannies, you can find most of them here: CincyNanny Resources. Some keys points were: (1) How to write a mission statement and use that in your professional communication with families. (2) Difference in a corporate and nanny resumes and possible elements to include. (3) The Interview Process (4) Your Work Agreement and "Sticky Situations" and (5) How to stay connected to the National and Local nanny worlds.

Our third and final workshop was taught by Jelecia Hoskins, on "Pre-Reading Success". She not only reminded us the importance of literacy at young age, but challenged us to be diligent offering regular times set aside throughout the day. We discussed what we are already doing with children, sharing ideas and challenging each other. Then she built upon those. In the picture below, nannies were waling around the room, marking which literary terminology they recognized; some were words we had not heard since we were in school and others were brand new. Mrs. Hoskins took us through the terms and applied them to the different ages of children we are working with including: Site Words - Invented Spelling - Phonemic awareness - Environmental Print - Developmental Spelling - Alphabetic Knowledge - Literacy - Blending - Phonics - Syllables - Phonemes and Segmentations. We left with new but practical ideas!

After the 3 workshops it was time for our National Nanny Recognition Dinner. As nannies sat down with their food, we began announcing the raffle winners. We had 9 raffle packages donated: 3 Massage Packages, a Hair Cut and Style Package, Books By Tara Package, Craft Package, Wine and Picnic Package, Kids Fun and Games Package, and Starbucks Coffee Package. Below see Trisha, who organized, collected and packaged all of our wonderful raffle gifts and door prizes!

Here are some of the winners! (Sorry about my camera issues)

Nanny Kristina took home the Craft Package!

Nanny Kathy got the Massage from Tanya's Wellness!

Nanny Molly was overjoyed with her BodyWorx Massage!

Nanny Kim received the Kids Fun & Games Package

Nanny Melanie was excited about her Haircut & Style from Tanya's Wellness and Vera Bradley bag!

After dinner each nanny was honored. We shared their best moment/accomplishment from the rpveious year, and what an amazing, sweet time that was. Each nanny received a gift and all opened together. Inside was a frame, holding a spot for a picture. On Fri., Oct. 8th, nannies will be given a free sitting with Varney Photography. All picture will be posted online for purchase, and to insert in the frame. One both the frame border and the cake was the line...

To the world you might be one person, but to one person you might be the world.

I cannot express my thanks enough to Hyde Park Noodles, our other Large Sponsor! They donated all of our meals! That is right... ALL! Manager, Will Morrow, sat down to speak with us about our event and said that he saw our passion for what we were doing. He is single father, who strives to make his restaurant a welcoming family atmosphere and he could get on board with the calling of nannies. He is a new friend, and honorable leader in our community. Please, please, stop in and introduce yourself to him as a fellow CincyNanny. Thank him for all he gave to honor our local nannies!

Here are most of our attendees, a few had to leave early. First our professional picture, then they humored me with our silly picture... LOVE!

The event was wonderful, thanks to our fabulous committee who spent months planning, calling, and requesting donated items. I am thankful that I got to know these girls even better. They are exemplary nannies who gave so much to see our local nannies benefit! Thank you to Rebecca, Amanda, and Trisha! You were a great team!!

Big thank you to NANC, Nannypa-SUE-za, and Nanny Barbie for the fun and support!

This conference would not have been possible with out the generosity of so many people, associations, and businesses! Please continue to support them!

4C For Children

Big Apple Bagels - Anderson

Books By Tara, Tara McClintick

Cakes by Georgine

Caribou Coffee - Anderson

Chick-fil-a - Eastgate

Cincinnati Family Enrichment Center

City Barbeque- Hyde Park Plaza

Crossroads Church

Flower Basket - Ludlow, KY

Full Spectrum Health Center

GTM Payroll Services – Nanny Taxes, Payroll, Health Ins.

Half Price Books - Florence

Homework Solutions
International Nanny Association

Jr. League of Cincinnati

Kroger - Madeira

Kroger - Hyde Park Plaza

Michelle LaRowe

Mike’s Hard Lemonade

Nanny Island

Nanny Transitions, Glenda Propst

National Association of Nanny Care

Noodles & Co. – Hyde Park, Manager Will Morrow

Regarding Nannies – Glenda Propst, Alice Shaffer, & Kellie Geres

Skyline Chili – Covington

Spotted Goose - Oakley

Sunny Delight

Starbucks Coffee - Hyde Park

SwinGallery Dance Venue - Covington, KY

Tanya’s Image & Wellness – Hyde Park

Varney Photography

Beth Barnes

Pete & Clarissa Clark

Kenn Day

Peggy Knueven

JoAnn Miller

Patricia Sheerin

Dan & Jessica Shelly

Planning Committee:

Trisha Knueven, Rebecca Ledger, Amanda Pond, & Greta Schraer

Volunteers:

Judy Hershey & Molly Ramsey

Roundtable Notes - The Importance of Nutrition

2010-09-29T00:01:00.001-04:00

CincyNanny Roundtable Notes
The Importance of Nutrition

By: Lindsey Kanis

9.28.2010

I found that most of the information regarding the actual food consumption and choices for kids was often (and best) displayed in chart form so I have included several diagrams for discussion also.

www.mypyramid.gov

The Chart- “GO-SLOW-WHOA” www.kidshealth.org

Food Group	GO	SLOW	WHOA
Food Group	(Almost Anytime)	(Sometimes)	(Once in a While)
Vegetables	Almost all fresh, frozen, and canned vegetables without added fat (such as butter) or sauces	All vegetables in added fat and sauces	Any vegetable fried in oil, such as French fries or hash browns
		Oven-baked fries
		Avocados

Fruits	All fresh and frozen fruits	100% fruit juice	Fruits canned in heavy syrup
	Canned fruits packed in juice	Fruits canned in light syrup
	Canned fruits packed in juice	Dried fruits

Breads and Cereals	Whole-grain breads, pitas, and tortillas	White bread and pasta that's not whole grain	Doughnuts, muffins, croissants, and sweet rolls
	Whole-grain pasta, brown rice	Taco shells	Sweetened breakfast cereals
	Hot and cold unsweetened whole-grain breakfast cereals	French toast, waffles, and pancakes	Crackers that have hydrogenated oils (trans fats)
		Biscuits
		Granola

Milk and Milk Products	Skim and 1% milk	2% milk	Whole milk
	Fat-free and low-fat yogurt	Processed cheese spreads	Full-fat cheese
	Part-skim, reduced-fat, and fat-free cheese		Cream cheese
	Low-fat and fat-free cottage cheese		Yogurt made from whole milk

Meats and Other Sources of Protein	Beef and pork that has been trimmed of its fat	Lean ground beef	Beef and pork that hasn't been trimmed of its fat
	Extra-lean ground beef	Broiled hamburgers	Fried hamburgers
	Chicken and turkey without skin	Chicken and turkey with the skin	Fried chicken
	Tuna canned in water	Tuna canned in oil	Bacon
	Fish and shellfish that's been baked, broiled, steamed, or grilled	Ham	Fried fish and shellfish
	Beans, split peas and lentils	Low-fat hot dogs	Chicken nuggets
	Tofu	Canadian bacon	Hot dogs
	Egg whites and substitutes	Peanut butter	Lunch meats
		Peanut butter	Pepperoni
		Nuts	Sausage
		Whole eggs cooked without added fat	Ribs
		Whole eggs cooked without added fat	Whole eggs cooked with added fat

Sweets and Snacks*		Ice milk bars	Cookies, cakes, and pies
		Frozen fruit-juice bars	Cheesecake
		Low-fat frozen yogurt	Ice cream
		Low-fat ice cream	Chocolate candy
		Fig bars	Chips
		Ginger snaps	Buttered microwave popcorn
		Baked chips
		Low-fat microwave popcorn
		Pretzels

Butter, Ketchup, and Other Stuff That Goes on Food	Ketchup	Vegetable oil**	Butter
	Mustard	Olive oil	Stick margarine
	Fat-free creamy salad dressing	Oil-based salad dressing	Lard
	Fat-free mayonnaise	Low-fat creamy salad dressing	Salt pork
	Fat-free sour cream	Low-fat mayonnaise	Gravy
	Vinegar	Low-fat sour cream	Regular creamy salad dressing
		Soft margarine	Mayonnaise
			Tartar sauce
			Sour cream
			Cheese sauce
			Cream sauce
			Cream cheese dips

Drinks	Water	2% milk	Whole milk
	Fat-free and 1% milk	100% fruit juice	Regular soda
	Diet soda	Sports drinks	Sweetened iced teas and lemonade
	Diet and unsweetened iced teas and lemonade	Sports drinks	Fruit drinks with less than 100% fruit juice

CincyNanny Roundtable 9-28-10

I found that most of the information regarding the actual food consumption and choices for kids was often (and best) displayed in chart form so I have included several diagrams for discussion also.

Good nutrition and a balanced diet is necessary in order for children to grow and develop properly. Studies show that children with a health eating regimen not only makes the child physically healthier, but also improves emotional stability and school performance and boosts the immune system (Child Development Info). Much of childhood nutrition is building healthy habits and providing healthy options.

Breakfast- This is truly the most important meal of the day. Not only should every kid eat breakfast, but they should make it a nutritious one. Eating empty calories (ie- a doughnut) provides a rush of energy for the body, but results in a quick “crash” early in the day. It’s hard to cook a full meal at breakfast- it also happens to be the busiest time of the day in most houses. Try boosting the nutritional value of cereal by adding nuts, granola or fruit. Have yogurts (probiotics!), string cheese, oranges and hard boiled eggs on hand for quick grab and go breakfast options. It’s also easy to toss a frozen smoothie together in the morning with frozen fruits, yogurt and fresh juice.

Lunch- So you work hard on packing a brown bag lunch and what do kids do? Trade or trash your masterpiece! Make lunch fun for young kids by using cookie cutters for sandwiches and fun containers for fruits and veggies. Give kids options when you are choosing their meal. Veggies can be dipped in hummus, peanut butter and salad dressings (in moderation). Remember to avoid sodas- try a true fruit juice, boxed milk or water. And its okay to through in an Oreo or fruit snack or dessert. Your kid will appreciate it.

Snacks- Having dried fruits, popcorn, trail mix and easy to prep snacks like cheese and crackers in the pantry instead of gummy bears, cookies and Poptarts is less expensive and more fulfilling. If you don’t have the junk then kids have no other options besides healthy.

Dinner- Make it a family affair.... between soccer, tennis and boy scouts. Turn off the TV!Eating together is a great way to observe (and moderate) what children are eating. Allow them to fill their own plate and give options. Try having one new food at a table full of familiar choices and ask everyone to try it together. Families to eat together consume more grains and greens and less likely to snack on junk foods. Kids who eat regular family meals several times a week are less likely to smoke, use drugs or drink (Kids Health).

Healthy habits:

- Don’t reward (or punish) with food

- Avoid battles over food - forcing kids to clear their plates teaches kids to override feelings of fullness

- Lead by example - monkey see, monkey do!

- Involve kids in planning, shopping for and preparing meals

- Allow kids to occasionally invite a friend to dinner

- Make meal time your conversation time

- Make it a calm, inviting time (avoid confrontations, stressful topics, lectures)

- Maintain a regular schedule for meals and snacks - kids thrive on routine

- Reduce sodium intake by using fresh ingredients not from cans or jars

- know what you are eating/serving - read labels. health isn’t all about low fat or low calorie.

- Avoid words like “hydrogenated,” “corn syrup/sugar,” and “monosodiumgludinate”

- Avoid sugary drinks. Choose milk, water and natural juices.

- Check out the new and improved food pyramid at http://www.mypyramid.gov

http://www.childdevelopmentinfo.com/

http://www.kidshealth.com/

http://www.mypyramid.gov