How to make activity a part of daily life

How active are your children? Did you know that only 10% of under-five year olds are meeting NHS guidelines for daily activity?

The NHS recommend that children are active for at least three hours per day to encourage physical and mental health and wellbeing, which is why we’ve put together our top suggestions to help get your children up and active each and every day, even in winter.

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Should you pay your nanny a Christmas bonus?

Do you give your nanny a Christmas bonus?

A Christmas bonus is a great way to show your nanny how grateful you are for all that they’ve done over the past year.

Your nanny takes a lot off your plate by helping with homework, nap times, meal times, school runs and so much more. So, how do you show your appreciation?

Many families aren’t clear on why Christmas bonuses are important, or how to go about giving one. That’s why we’ve put together answers to the most common questions about giving a Christmas bonus.

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What does it take to be a good nanny?

What does it take to be a good nanny?

There might be moments in your career when self-doubt starts to creep in and you find yourself wondering if you’re doing your job well enough. What you need to remember is that nobody is perfect and that every nanny, au-pair, childminder or babysitter will do things differently.

There is no one-method-suits-all when it comes to childcare, because no two children are the same and so we’ve put together a list of the most important skills and qualities that you need to be a good nanny.

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Surviving maternity leave

Going from a sole charge job to shared charge with your boss on maternity leave is a tough transition. Unless you get on extremely well and either she’s capable of delegating completely or you don’t mind letting everything slide for the duration of the time she’s at home (in which case you can probably just skip to the next blog post) then it’s going to be an experience akin to a marathon.

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Is a qualification necessary for a nanny?

Faced with choosing a nanny there are a few strategies that can be used to narrow down the field. Some parents insist on a nanny holding a childcare qualification of some kind, some expect a minimum level of childcare qualification, others place no importance on candidates having any kind of training in childcare. But is this a good idea?

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Review: Gonge River Stones

When you find a great product you want to share it with everyone. The Gonge river stones are one such product. 

What are they?

A set of river stones includes 6 raised triangles of different coloured solid plastic, inspired by the shape of stepping stones across a river. You get 3 large stone and 3 small ones in each set. Each stone has a non-slip coating on the bottom and they stack for easy storage. They are part of a range of balancing equipment which includes hilltops, the mountain and the river which can be combined to create more challenging play situations.

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Christmas gifts for ex-charges and families

It’s that time of year when we’re making lists, just like Santa. Family, friends, employers, current charges…. The list for a nanny is long! We’re not going to come down one way or the other but here are some tips so you don’t get sucked into spending hundreds for all your ex-charges.

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Celebrities, the media and you

Gwen Stefani, Gavin Rossdale and their nanny. You’ve never met them, but you’ve probably heard of one of them if not all three. And right now they’re having a big impact on anyone connected to the nanny industry, and that means you.

The private lives of celebrities don’t stay private for long. The media make sure of that, and so do consumers who keep clamouring for more. A rumour goes around, something is leaked, someone else confirms it and the whole story is out there in the open in all its grisly glory, but it’s not just their reputations which are damaged in the process. It’s not just anyone he had an affair with, it was their nanny so it’s not the person who becomes the focus, it’s the post.

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Staying safe with children

The attacks on Paris have shocked everyone. Not only is it close to home, but it’s also the kind of random attack that strikes fear into your heart and has you looking over your shoulder at every turn. Following some simple safety precautions can help you avoid trouble and speed up getting help in an emergency.

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