Spring cleaning and helping others

With the weather being so beautiful, I've been thinking about spring cleaning.  I used to do spring cleaning with the children I cared for.  When we were done, we'd choose a charity to donate everything to and discuss how we were very lucky because we had everything we needed while other people (especially focusing on children) did not.  It go to the point with some of the kids that they wanted to "spring clean" 5 or 6 times a year!  Doing a major pre-Christmas sweep was another thing we did.  That way there was room for all their new Christmas swag and hopefully it made some other childrens' Christmas a bit brighter.

When doing the spring cleaning, I discovered that a few tactics worked better than others.  The children had a play area upstairs and a playroom in the basement.  I'd have them help me with the toys they played with often (ie: the play area upstairs), but the playroom downstairs I would do myself.  I'd start paying close attention to what they played with often downstairs and if I wasn't sure whether I should get rid of it or not, I'd ask the children.  At first they wanted to keep everything, but, given some time, they made good decisions.  With board games, we'd sometimes play them one more time before putting them in the bag to go to charity.  I'd make-up games for us to play while cleaning.  For example: I'd put the bags or boxes on the other side of the room and the children would have races to place their items in the bags.  We'd also play "I Spy" with them for items I thought should go. (They didn't always agree with me!)  Playing games made it go faster and made it a lot less "work" for all of us.  The process typically took a few days and when we were done I'd take the kids with me to drop off the items.  I think that seeing where their toys and games were going helped them to understand how much they had. 

The saying goes that "charity begins at home".  Spring cleaning is a great way to teach children about those who are less fortunate and get your house cleaned out at the same time!  Happy cleaning!

Do you need a social media policy for your nanny?

Now is the time of social media.  At any given time you can watch someones foursquare to see where they're checking in, look at their facebook page to see what they're doing at each venue, read their tweets, and look at their photos on flickr.  It's fun to see what your friends and family are up to, but when hiring a nanny or babysitter you should be concerned with what they're posting and where in order to ensure the safety of your children.

It's nice for you to see where your children are and what they're doing, but on public sites, that could mean a lot of other people can see what they're up to also. I am a huge proponent of the nanny being in contact with the parents throughout the day.  But when it comes to social media, I urge you to think about what you want publicized and what you don't and then discuss it with your nanny.  I've seen babysitters and nannies post photos online of the kids they're watching.  Some do it with the permission of the parents, but most don't. 

Confidentiality is important in a working environment that's as personal as a nanny, especially if the parents are in the public eye. One thing that I tell a lot of parents is that they may feel like they're stating the obvious, but not everyone thinks the same.  It's better to have rules and policies laid out for the caregiver than have to set rules as you go.  

You don't have to be wealthy to hire a nanny!

There seems to be a misconception out there that you must be very wealthy to hire a nanny.
The truth is, if you have 3 or more children (and in some cases 2 or more), hiring a nanny is quite cost effective. 

Look at it this way: In central Iowa, the average cost for childcare is $150 per week per child.  Of course this goes up or down depending upon the ages of the children, various needs, etc.  That's $450 a week for a family with 3 children.  If you take that times 52 weeks, you're paying $23,400 a year.  This doesn't take into account your childcare provider getting sick, your child being sick, or your provider taking a vacation.  Those instances can eat into your personal and vacation time.  Many parents don't have the luxury of being able to take the day off when their child is ill.  They're sent scrambling for a friend, neighbor, or relative to take care of that child. 

Now look at hiring a nanny.   In central Iowa, the average nanny is paid between $400 and $550 a week.  At $450 a week, you're going to spend about $29,000 a year including taxes, worker's compensation insurance, etc. Yes, that's pricier than daycare, but now let's look at how a nanny can save you time, frustration, and money.

You no longer have to worry about getting your kids up in the morning, fed, dressed, teeth brushed, and out the door. 
The nanny will do the children's laundry, change the sheets, and help keep the house tidy. 
No more scrambling for sick care for your children. 
You get to choose who your child spends each day with.  At a daycare center you never know who's going to be caring for your child from day to day.  Also, your child is no longer in competition with 3 to 10 other children for the attention of their caregiver. 
The nanny can run errands (grocery shopping, picking up things you need for the children, etc.). 
You get to choose what your child works on each day with the nanny.  Together you and your nanny can come up with a curriculum to follow so that your child's educational needs are being met.
Your child can go to the zoo, the pool, the park, the library, or a movie; whatever you and your nanny agree on.

Hiring a nanny will offer your child the change to learn, grow, and explore with a caregiver that's focused on them and their well being.

If you have any questions about hiring a nanny or you're interested in finding out more, please feel free to contact me via phone at 515.480.0568 or e-mail: colleen@auniquenanny.com