Recognising dyslexia

By this point most Reception children will be well on the way to decoding simple words, and Year 1 children reading more fluently, but if your child is lagging behind have you considered that they might be showing early signs of dyslexia?

Put simply dyslexia is trouble with writing. Some people say that invert letters so p becomes b, or b becomes d. Others switch letters around in the middle of the words so theory becomes thoery, teohry or threoy. Other common signs are being able to pronounce a word but not connecting it with the object it represents, so being able to sound c-a-t as cat, but not connecting it to the four legged, furry pet. Often a child will appear out of step with their verbal abilities or their writing seem much poorer than their drawing skills.

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Do you begrudge your nanny a coffee?

Who pays for your nanny’s coffee when she’s out and about on work time? Does it matter where she is?

Saying yes, all the time means that, unless your nanny is restrained, your kitty expenses are likely to be high, and you may end up resenting paying your nanny to sit in coffee shops and drink coffee that you pay for, even if it is naptime or while your offspring go to ballet/Brownies/boxing. Very few nannies take advantage of their employers’ generosity in this regard, but small expenses certainly mount up, and sitting in coffee shops can easily become a habit rather than an occasional treat even when your children are older.

Most employers place limits on consumption out and about, either to a certain number of meals/trips per week or to specific locations such as soft play areas, which (terrible as the coffee is there) are barely tolerable without some form of beverage. The occasional lunch in a restaurant or coffee and cake in a café teaches children valuable social skills such as interacting with waiting staff and eating quietly and tidily and should generally be encouraged from time to time. A couple of coffees a week is a small price to pay for the goodwill it will get you in return.

Never allowing your nanny the odd coffee, especially at inflated soft play prices, is likely to breed resentment in the other direction. You may have a hard time understanding why you’re paying your nanny to drink coffee and watch your child play but if the choice is between paying for the coffee and denying your child the opportunity to scramble around in a relatively space environment, you’ll probably pick the coffee, because if you don’t pay then your nanny will either seethe quietly or just not go. How do you cope with the mine field of who pays for coffee / lunch if you are out and about with your nanny family? We’d love to hear your thoughts

Snow plans for nannies

Bad weather is going to hit most of the UK this month, and as we all know that can cause disruption to all sorts of arrangements. Planning ahead is key to minimising impact on you and your nanny family. If you’re a parent check out snow plans for parents!

  • Leave extra time to get to work. Your boss may ask you to go in early so they can be sure of getting to work on time too, but at the very least you should avoid being late. Take precautions like parking your car at the bottom of the hill if you live on a slope and find your wellies and thermals!
  • Be proactive about stocking up for your employers if they haven’t thought of it. Pick up the essentials now before the weather makes it impractical to go out. Check that your charges have appropriate cold weather clothing and ask your boss if they’d like you to source some if they haven’t.
  • Be patient! Travel may be disrupted and your boss will be stressed enough as it is. Ask them to check in when they leave with an estimated journey time and to let you know of any delays but assume they’ll be late and carry on with the evening routine.
  • If you can’t beat it, join it! Wrap up warm and enjoy the snow!

Car safety in snow

With bad weather hitting Britain’s roads, here are some quick tips for staying safe in the snow

With bad weather hitting Britain’s roads, here are some quick tips for staying safe in the snow

  • Make sure you charge your phone before you set off and tell someone what time you expect to be at your destination
  • Never get in the car without a coat, but take it off while driving so you get the benefit when you’re outside
  • Have blankets, water and energy snacks in the boot just in case you break down
  • Take a bag of salt or sand in case you get stuck – it may get you past a tricky bit
  • Take major roads even if it means going the long way round. They’re more likely to be gritted.
  • Take it slow. Accidents happen when you lose traction which is much less likely if you’re driving at a low speed.
  • Remember to steer INTO a skid if you find yourself sliding
  • If in doubt, don’t go out!

Nanny Jobs – Beating the Competition

Families will quite rightly be picky when choosing a nanny for their children – after all, the nanny will be spending a great deal of time with their children and may even be living in their home. So how can you give yourself the edge over other applicants?

Nanny jobs are desirable to many. They are the most well-paying of childcare professions (although this is no surprise, considering that they are usually the most physically and emotionally taxing, too), and offer a lot of perks.

We often talk about the importance of a family finding the right nanny, but it is equally important for the nanny to find the right family.

Families will quite rightly be picky when choosing a nanny for their children – after all, the nanny will be spending a great deal of time with their children and may even be living in their home. So how can you give yourself the edge over other applicants?

Formal Qualifications

Although formal qualifications are not legally required to work as a nanny, most families will be interested in any qualifications you do have. You need to be able to prove your skills and your ability to not only keep their children safe, but to facilitate their learning and stimulate them. If you don’t have very many formal qualifications, you should think about changing that and ‘skilling up.’  There is a vast array of courses available in childcare, early years education and paediatric first aid, which are the kind of qualification the family will be looking for. (Check out our website for some great offers on courses)

Good References

As previously mentioned, it is not legally required for nannies to possess any formal qualifications. In fact, some of the most well-paid and sought-after nannies are older women who have very few qualifications, but experience and great references from other families. If you are just starting out as a nanny, you’ll need to have previous experience of childcare to demonstrate that you can carry out the tasks required. You might consider doing some voluntary work in a child-orientated setting before starting to apply for nanny jobs.

A Driving License

Being able to drive the family car (or your own car) to ferry children around to school and various extra-curricular activities will most definitely give you an advantage over other applicants. Of course, depending on where the family lives, using public transport may be easier in certain situations but the freedom of being able to drive a private vehicle will not just make your life easier – it will make you more attractive as an employee.

Professional Attitude

Professional nannies are well-prepared for their interviews and well-prepared to be hired. Be sure to have any paperwork ready for the family to see should they wish to (proof of qualifications and DBS documents are important ones) and have a contract of employment prepared.

Love Your Work

Primarily, the family are going to want to see that you genuinely love children and have a passion for your work. As the saying goes, “if you love your job, you’ll never work a day in your life.” Allow the family to see just how much your work means to you.

Father Christmas: Keeping the Magic Alive

Father Christmas can be one of the most magical parts of Christmas celebrations.
Most families choose to encourage a belief of Father Christmas in their children to
help make the world seem a more magical place for them.

So, how can families who keep Father Christmas real in their household keep the
magic alive for their children? Here are some ideas for indulging that childhood
innocence at Christmas time.

A Snack for Santa
You can’t beat traditional activities like this one. Most of us remember how magical
it was when, as a child, we left a mince pie and a glass of sherry out for Father
Christmas (and a carrot for Rudolph, of course) and found the plates and glass empty
the following morning, with crumbs scattered close by.

A Telltale Trail
A messy, but magical way to show your children that Father Christmas has been is to
scatter some glitter on the carpet near the Christmas tree, wet the bottom of a pair of
(clean!) boots and take a few steps through the glitter. If you’re lucky enough to have
snow at Christmas time, you could even leave some footprints on the path outside
(great for families without a chimney!).

A Thoughtful Letter
This could be a great activity for nannies, childminders or other childcare providers
to facilitate. Children could write and decorate thoughtful thank-you notes to Father
Christmas, to leave alongside the midnight snack they will leave out for him.

Attention to Detail
Remember that children notice far more than we give them credit for. Familiar
wrapping paper or a forgotten price tag could be the telltale signs that give the game
away.

Some children, especially younger ones, can find the idea of Father Christmas to be
very frightening. It is understandable – after all, who likes the idea of strange men
creeping around the house at night, even if they do come bearing gifts? There’s no
need to push the myth if you don’t want to. Many families choose to forego Father
Christmas altogether and their Christmases are no less magical for it. If you choose
to keep Father Christmas, and your child is concerned, there are some ways to help.
Many parents find it helpful to tell the child that they will tell Father Christmas to
come to the door and give the presents to the parents, therefore not coming into the
house at all.

It is also worth considering that the traditional “bribe” of the Father Christmas threat
(“If you’re not good, you won’t get any presents”) could pile a lot of pressure on
children who, when young, have little to no impulse control. Christmas time is
supposed to be fun and enjoyable – not full of worry and stress, least of all for the
little ones.

And when the time comes that the children are old enough to start figuring out that
Father Christmas cannot exist, many parents simply tell them that the spirit and magic
of Father Christmas lives in the hearts of all of us – the spirit of giving to others at
Christmas time.

…And there’s definitely truth in that.

Your Nanny: How to Balance Christmas Time Off with Childcare Needs

Your nanny’s annual leave can sometimes be difficult to negotiate, especially at Christmas time.   When making your own plans for work and time off over the Christmas season, you will need to take your nanny’s plans and needs into account as well.

So, how can you strike a balance between your childcare needs, and your nanny’s need for time off over Christmas? How can you keep your nanny happy without leaving yourself in a tricky situation?

Fairly negotiate holiday entitlements

If your nanny is full time, and is given the minimum 4 weeks of paid annual leave each year, a good compromise can be that she chooses when to take two weeks of her holiday, and you choose the other two weeks.  This is to prevent situations such as you choosing to go on holiday, leaving her with no work to do and (quite rightly) expecting payment.  You will likely both have to compromise a little but this is much fairer than things going in just one party’s favour.  Make sure that these arrangements are put in writing and signed by both parties, to ensure that nobody will be surprised or let down later on.  Most nannies will have terms in their contracts that cover issues surrounding annual leave, so you both ought to know where you stand from the beginning.

Plan in advance

Christmas may seem a whole world away earlier in the year, but it is worth discussing in advance what your plans are for the Christmas period, and what your nanny wants to do.  She may have quite specific days that she wishes to be off, or she may be quite happy to be flexible.  If she has her own family, it is pretty safe to say that she will want a decent amount of time off over Christmas.  Agreeing these things in advance, and then putting them in writing, will hopefully avoid disagreements later down the line.  If you know that your nanny would like some time off over Christmas and New Year, you will have plenty of time to organise things at your workplace so that you can be home, or so that you can make alternative arrangements for the care of your children.

Offer benefits – especially at Christmas

Remember, your nanny is your employee.  If she doesn’t feel appreciated, she may well look elsewhere for work.  You may wish to give her some extra holiday on full pay over Christmas as a thank you for her hard work throughout the year, or a monetary bonus of some kind.  Although unsociable hours can sometimes be a part of a nanny’s job description, those hours should always be agreed in advance and not dropped on her suddenly – especially not over Christmas and New Year when she may have her own special arrangements.

Remember, although you are your nanny’s employer, she is a special part of your family.  The relationship should be kept warm yet professional.  As long as everybody is honest and upfront early about their needs and wishes over the festive season, there should be no reason for any aggravation.

The True Meaning of Christmas

Amid the shopping, toys, hustle and bustle of Christmas time, it is easy to forget the
real meaning behind it all. Children become carried away with the excitement of the
promise of new toys (and who could blame them?), and parents become fixated with
preparing for the day itself.

It seems that most of us could benefit from taking some time out from the hype as the
big day approaches.

So how can we ensure that we, and our children, remember what Christmas is really
all about?

Giving
The theme of giving runs strong at Christmas. We all know that presents are usually a
substantial part of Christmas excitement – whether we are excited to give or receive.
It’s natural to be excited about receiving gifts, and this shouldn’t be shamed or
quashed – however, placing an emphasis on giving is a wonderful thing also. There
are some really great ways you can do this for children:
• Together with the children, choose some old toys to donate to a charity shop,
refuge or children’s home. This will not only teach the children about the
value of giving to those less fortunate, but it will make space for the new toys
they will get at Christmas. However, the toy-donating shouldn’t be forced, as
it could be very traumatic for a child to unwillingly give away a much loved
toy. They should be able to give freely, or choose not to, or it defies the point
of giving in the first place.
• Encourage children to choose gifts for their siblings and friends themselves,
rather than relying on you to do so.
• Bake some Christmas-themed biscuits, mince pies or other treats together and
take them to a local old people’s home to give out to the residents. Some of
the residents will have few visitors at Christmas time, smiling children bearing
baked goods is bound to cheer a lonely heart.

Family
Christmas truly is a time for family – whether they are blood relatives, or our chosen
family. Today’s world is a big one, and families are often scattered across the globe
rather than living in close-knit communities. If this is the case for you, encourage the
children to make Christmas cards for absent friends and family members who cannot
be with you at this special time of the year. You could even organise a Christmas
carol sing-along over webcam for family members living abroad.

Christmas can also be an emotional time for families who are, sadly, missing some
members. Many people traditionally remember their loved ones who are no longer
with them with small ‘memorial services’ at home. This can be a great way to help
children grieve healthily. Grief is a powerful emotion, and children need to know that
they can express their grief openly with the support of their parents.

So, if you’re feeling the Christmas anxiety creeping in, try to relax and remember
what it’s all about. And most importantly, enjoy yourself!

The Greatest Gift You Can Give This Christmas is Your Time

Forget the presents, simply be present this Christmas!

Think about it honestly. How many times have you noticed yourself being with your child, but you’re not fully engaged? Maybe you were on your phone checking social media or emails. Perhaps you were simply running through all the things you still need to do to prepare for Christmas. Being there, but not being present is something we’re all guilty of occasionally, but Christmas time brings with it a real opportunity to make a change.

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