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10 Ways to Thank Your Nanny!
A nanny is so much more than just a caregiver! They are the light in your life that makes things run smoother in your household and they make the world a better place for our children. We have a big celebration for nannies coming up!. Are you ready for interNational Nanny Recognition Week? This is the perfect time to celebrate your nanny and show them your gratitude and appreciation. This is also an opportunity for your children to say thank you to their nanny for being a positive role model in their lives. Remembering to say thank you is so important, and we are sharing some ideas on how you and your children can show them your gratitude. Here is a list of the top 10 ways to thank your nanny during iNNRW (September 24-30).
A SPECIAL MEAL
Food! Yum! Treating your nanny to a special meal is always a great way to honor someone for interNational Nanny Recognition Week! Prepare their favorite meal for them and have your child(ren) act as servers to make it fun and extra special. If cooking is not your thing, you can also order take-out from DoorDash, Grubhub, or UberEats, and have food delivered right to their homes quickly. You could also make a reservation for your nanny and a special friend to have dinner at their favorite restaurant and pay for it!
SURPRISE PAID TIME OFF
National Nanny Recognition Week is a wonderful opportunity to offer an extra day of paid time off to your hardworking nanny. It can offer them some extra time for those errands they haven’t been able to get around to or maybe they would like to just hang out at home and watch Netflix all day. Remember to give the nanny a little notice on this one so they can plan for a special day. Either way, you cannot go wrong with this fun surprise!
NANNY PAMPER DAY
Caring for kiddos can be physically and emotionally demanding. A gift card to a nearby spa or nail salon is a wonderful way to say thank you and could be just what your nanny needs to relax in her free time! Another option is to invite a masseuse or nail technician to your home and make it fun for the kids and nanny!
MAKE A MEMORY BOOK
Your nanny probably spends many long days with your little ones and each day creates special moments big and small. Put together some photos or take some new photos to put together for a memory book that your nanny can hold special to their heart! Shutterfly has some great options and it’s so fun to relive these moments. Kids grow up so fast!
A NANNY BONUS PARTY
Celebrate your amazing nanny by throwing them their own party and giving them cash. Try decorating the house, making a fun treat to share, and putting on some of their favorite music to celebrate how amazing they are to your family! This little or big bonus will be truly appreciated.
EDUCATION
The gift that keeps on giving! Write a letter of appreciation to your nanny and then gift them a class they have been wanting to take. Maybe they’ve been saving up to advance their newborn skills with a course through Newborn Care Solutions or a membership to the INA so they can build community. What about this amazing Positive Discipline for Nannies course through Sproutable?
WORDS OF KINDNESS
Thank your nanny. Tell them how wonderful they are and highlight some of their best qualities. It feels good to be loved and hear positive things about yourself! Words of kindness go a long way and can really make a person feel appreciated. Above all, words of kindness make the world a better place! Read some of our testimonials and the kind words our families have said about their nannies here.
A SMALL GIFT
Who doesn’t love to receive a small gift as a token of appreciation? Maybe they love coffee, or jewelry, or could use some new gear for camping? Another great option may be a Target gift card that your nanny can use for whatever their heart desires!
A BEAUTIFUL BOUQUET
No matter the occasion, a bright and cheery bouquet of flowers is always a great way to put a smile on someone’s face. Send a vibrant arrangement from your local florist and be sure to add a sentimental note to let your nanny know how much you appreciate them! Here’s one of our favorite florists La Petite Gardenia in Los Angeles.
THANK YOU TREASURE HUNT
This is a great activity to also get your children involved in! You can have them make sweet arts and crafts or hide small gifts that you want to surprise your nanny with. Be sure to write clues or even make a treasure hunt map to go on an appreciation hunt together.
HAVE A FABULOUS WEEK CELEBRATING YOUR EDUCATED NANNIES FOR interNATIONAL NANNY RECOGNITION WEEK!
Best Podcasts to Enjoy with Children!
It’s time for back to school carpooling, long lines waiting for big brothers and sisters to run out of swinging glass doors, or morning walks with a stroller in tow! Check out some of our favorite podcasts to listen to with our littles, encouraging curiosity, storytelling, and imagination!
The #1 science podcast for kids and their grown-ups. Hosts Mindy Thomas and Guy Raz share stories about the latest news in science, technology, and innovation. Stories that give kids hope, agency and make us all say “WOW”!
On the Stories Podcast, we perform a new story for your children every week. The stories range from retellings of fairy tales like Snow White to classic stories like Peter Rabbit and even completely original works.
Exploring stories of science discovery. Tumble is a science podcast created to be enjoyed by the entire family.
The award-winning Story Pirates Podcast takes stories written by kids and turns them into sketch comedy and songs. Made up of talented comedians, songwriters, and frequent celebrity guests, the Story Pirates inspire kids to create, bringing laughter to kids and grownups of all ages with hilarious sketches, catchy original songs from all genres, and interviews with the creative geniuses behind the stories… kids!
Mindfulness stories that help children calm down and learn social-emotional skills by guiding them through visualization and breathing exercises focused on kindness and fun science facts. Perfect for parents or teachers who want to teach mindfulness and self-regulation
Brains On!® is a science podcast for curious kids and adults from American Public Media. Each week, a different kid co-host joins Molly Bloom to find answers to fascinating questions about the world sent in by listeners. Like, do dogs know they’re dogs? Or, why do feet stink? Plus, we have mystery sounds for you to guess, songs for you to dance to, and lots of facts — all checked by experts.
Storynory brings you audio stories for the family, beautifully read, and with a touch of sophistication. We find traditional stories from all over the world and create our own characters including Katie the Witch, and Astropup the space traveling hound. We also give you songs, educational interviews, and a sprinkling of ancient history.
We hope these amazing podcasts bring humor, stories, and help peak curiosity to you and the young ones you care for!
What to Look for in a Reputable Nanny Agency!
Hello Nannies! We know that you are a professional and we believe you should be treated like one. You’ve worked hard taking those classes, building your resume and experiences, and staying up to date on your CPR and first aid certifications. Finding a trustworthy and reputable nanny agency can be overwhelming and tricky at times. Be sure to look for more than curated photos and false promises on websites and social media, and make sure to do your research. Here are our top tips for finding a reputable nanny agency!
Be Safe to Work in a Home!
Having a recent background check on file with an agency is important! All household employees placed in a home as a childcare provider in California must be TrustLine registered. This is California law and having it not only looks great on your resume, but it also verifies that you are safe to work in a home with children by the Department of Social Services.
Get Paid Legally!
Make sure all positions you apply for are paid legally. A nanny is a W-2 employee of the household who is paid on payroll. You are also entitled to overtime and paid sick days. These are requirements for all household employees in the state of California. Being paid with a W-2, having benefits, and setting guaranteed hours will set your employer and yourself up for success for the entirety of your working relationship! If an agency or family offers to pay you cash, direct them to HomePay.
Get in Touch!
Are you able to get in touch and communicate with the agency you’re working with? Does someone who works at the agency answer when you call? Your emails and calls should be answered or returned within 24 hours during business hours Monday to Friday, if not sooner. A credible and reputable agency should always be willing to speak with the professional nannies they represent about a position and your experience, or answer any agency questions you may have!
Contract, Contract, Contract!
Does the agency you’re working with advise families to use a contract and get everything in writing to set you up for success? Many of our clients have business managers and attorneys who will create a contract for you to sign and present an NDA to you. While we are not able to give legal advice, as an agency we can assist you by communicating your needs to a family so that you are comfortable and confident to start a new job. A contract is the best way to set yourself up for success and safety in your next position.
Free To You!
A professional, rockstar nanny agency will take zero compensation from the nanny. Their clients should pay for their services, and their nannies’ compensation should never be cut. A great agency is in the business of nannies and will advocate for you, always!
Transparency with Your Profile!
You should know exactly what is sent to a family when you apply for a position. Do you know what your profile looks like? Do you know how the process works? Have you approved or created your own resume, bio, or any other additions? This is extremely important so that you can ensure your experience is accurate.
They Verify Your References!
A great agency will not only ask for all of your references in the last ten years, but they’ll also speak to them! Great agencies know that being able to speak with a reference about your experience gets their personal touch instead of an impersonal email survey. Cutting corners can create fake references. Be sure to contact your references and let them know your agency will be calling them. Having outstanding and verifiable references is a great step forward in your career.
We hope this list gives you a better idea of how to spot a reputable agency that supports you and your career goals!
Prepare Our Little Ones for Kindergarten!
Is your little one gearing up for their biggest milestone yet? The first day of school is approaching quickly and we wanted to share our favorite tips that we used to prepare our own children for their very first day of school.
Foster Independence
Get Kindergarten ready! Help your child be more independent at home by giving them tasks they can accomplish. After meals, have your child take their dishes to the sink or throw away their trash. Establish a routine of putting their shoes away, hanging up their coats or bags, and using the bathroom, and washing their hands unassisted. Most importantly, make sure they feel comfortable asking for help when necessary!
Lean into Social-emotional Learning (SEL)
Social-emotional learning is the process of developing self-awareness, self-control, and interpersonal skills that are important for school, work, and overall success in life. There are ways as parents we can foster emotional intelligence in our children, by teaching coping skills and participating in activities that help develop strong self-esteem. Let kids help and give. Plan and play! Set up a park play date with another family who will be going to Kindergarten as well. Show warmth and model kindness. Be a good listener to your child. Read books that focus on SEL. Start each day with an emotional body check-in. By nurturing a culture of kindness, children are more likely to embrace change and be successful in their relationships.
Responsibility
Give your child simple jobs that they can own! Consider letting them feed the dog, putting away the clean silverware from the dishwasher, or matching socks from each load of laundry. Letting your soon-to-be Kindergartner gain confidence in their abilities by completing these tasks will not only help prepare them for school, but for many milestones in their life.
Routines
Start waking your child at the same time every day that is close to the time they will need to wake up for school. Have them brush their teeth, get dressed, and brush their hair each morning before they run down the hall to greet you to get them into the habit of being ready to go before they face the day! This will help those chaotic mornings of trying to get everyone ready for school!
Reading, Reading, Reading
There is no better way to create readers out of your children than by reading aloud to them. Read a fun story on your Kindle, or the magazine you’re reading, or head to your local library and pick up the latest picture books. Better yet, pick out age-appropriate chapter books that you can incorporate into a daily routine of reading a chapter aloud each night! Reading at least 20 minutes per day helps children with fluency and vocabulary building.
Acknowledge Their Feelings
This big milestone may be the first time your child has ever been away from home for extended amounts of time and they may be feeling nervous, anxious, or scared. Alternatively, they may be absolutely thrilled about this upcoming change and can’t wait to meet new friends! Be sure to listen to their needs and fears, hopes and dreams, and sit with them in the moment.
Feel Your Own Feels
Sending your young one off to Kindergarten may bring up big emotions in you that you may not have been prepared for! Be sure to share your feelings with your partner or friends who are also going through the same thing or have experienced first-day-of-school send-offs with their own children. Find your community in this new phase of parenthood and embrace the change. Bring the tissues for that sweet goodbye for now!
We hope these tips give you a great start to preparing your children for Kindergarten!
Summer Self-Care!
Summer is coming to an end but before it does, we are working to squeeze in a little self-care in any area we can before the hustle and bustle of the school year begins! Take a look at some of our team’s favorite ways to unwind and treat ourselves.
Read a Vacation Worthy Book
Check out this list of fun summer reads for grown-ups from one of our favorite sites, Goodreads! Here are a few of our summer favorites for all the little ones in your life:
The Watermelon Seed A silly story about one of the yummiest summer treats – Watermelon! (Preschool)
What Am I? A beautiful, fun, and interactive book full of summertime rhyming riddles (Elementary)
Percy Jackson Join Percy and his friends at Summer Camp for heroes! (Young Adult)
Support Your Local Farmer’s Market
Find a farmer’s market near you and experience the most colorful, organic options for fruits and veggies along with flowers, juices, and cheeses! There’s no better way to care for your body. Here are a few of our favorite local farmer’s markets: Atwater Village Farmer’s Market, El Segundo Certified Farmers Market, Culver City Farmer’s Market, Mar Vista Farmer’s Market, South Pasadena Farmer’s Market, Hollywood Farmer’s Market, and Santa Monica Farmer’s Market.
Adventure Through Time, Art, or the Wild
Experience the Summer Nights at La Brea Tar Pits & Museum with scientist chats, music, and peek into the Ice Age in the heat of summer. Dive into abstract works and broaden your mind at Blum & Poe or the Getty Center. Head over to the Los Angeles Zoo and let your imagination get lost in the wild in the rainforest, the jungle, and the desert. Enjoy the flowers and scenery at Descanso Gardens. They are hosting events all summer, including a summer music series and hosting dance parties!
Take a Class
Join a local class! Still Life Studio in Santa Monica holds ceramics classes if you want to get your hands dirty and make some fun pottery. Explore the tide pools and caves at Leo Carrillo beach! Search for starfish and other sea creatures during low tide. Check out some amazing and historic art at Los Angeles County Museum of Art on Free Fridays! LA residents also get free admission to the museum after 3 pm on weekdays.
Take a Walk
Take a trip down to the beach and feel the sand between your toes. Nothing will make you feel more connected to yourself and the Earth than feeling the ground, dirt, grass, or sand beneath you. No beach? No problem! Take a walk in your backyard.
Unplug
We spend so much time in front of our screens for work, research, or connecting with loved ones without realizing how much of the present moment we are missing out on. Unplug devices for the weekend. A wonderful resource for unplugging and getting outdoors with your children is 1000 Hours Outside. Download the chart and start making memories!
We hope this list gave you the perfect ideas to unwind, unplug, and set yourself up for a better week, summer, or year!
Welcome To The Blog!
As one of the premier nanny referral agencies in greater Los Angeles and as parents ourselves, the safety and happiness of children is always our priority. On this nanny blog, we further our commitment to strengthening families by sharing resources and nanny articles we hope you’ll find helpful. We will also let you know when we’re having upcoming events, because we’d love to see you! Thanks for reading!
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