Annie’s Nanny Network

January’s Nanny of the Month is Alyssa Meadows!  Alyssa has received outstanding feedback from our clients and was recently placed in a full-time Household Manager/Nanny job.

Her favorite children’s book is: “Cars and Trucks and Things That Go” by Richard Scarry

Thank you Alyssa for all you do and the example you set in the community!

Tags: nanny community, nanny industry, Nanny of the Month

As of January 1st, 2010, the standard IRS mileage reimbursement rate changed to $.50 cents per mile (down from $.55 cents per mile).  If you are driving your own vehicle for work you should be reimbursed for any driving done as a job requirement.

Working as a nanny should mean never having to do paperwork! Unfortunately, that is not the case when looking for a new nanny position. Your resume represents your work history, your professionalism, and in some cases may make the difference between receiving an interview and not. In the current down economy, making yourself stand out from other candidates is important.?  Here are several helpful tips for creating a good resume:

• Contact Information: Make sure your full name, phone number, email address (only put this if you check it regularly), and home address are at the top of the resume and in a large enough font size to stand out.
• Objective: If you have an objective statement, make sure it is relevant to the positions for which you are applying. (For example: Seeking a full time nanny position with a family? where I can utilize my? experience and skill set.)? If you are applying for several different types of childcare positions (i.e. nanny, preschool teacher, daycare), make sure you create a separate objective/resume for each position or else leave this section off the resume entirely.
• Qualifications/Skills: This is typically a bulleted list at the top of the resume that quickly outlines what unique qualifications/skills you possess that set you apart.?  Try to focus on the unique skills, personality traits, and experience you have rather than the standard “good communicator, ” or “excellent multi-tasker,” that is usually seen.?  Are you really good at working with a certain age group and their developmental needs??  Do you have amazing craft skills?
• Professional Childcare Experience:? ?  Obviously the most important part of your resume.?  The old rule that a resume needs to be only one page no longer applies.
  • Include ALL relevant childcare positions, no matter how old or if you still have the reference.?  By showing your complete work history it gives a clear picture of your experience level and professionalism.
  • List positions in REVERSE chronological order from most recent position to oldest.
  • Make sure to include the dates you worked, the position held, the ages of children from start to finish, job duties, and why the position ended.
  • If you have done regular babysitting for various families, you can lump them together or separate them out.
  • If there are any gaps in your childcare experience that were filled with other positions, consider separating those positions out under a separate section entitled: Work Experience

Sample Resumes and Templates:

If you are having trouble starting the process here are a few links to nanny resume examples.

http://www.adow.com/sample-resumes/168-nanny-resume

http://www.cvtips.com/resumes-and-cvs/nanny-sample-resume.html

Also, remember that Microsoft Word has lots of templates that can provide the framework of the resume and you just input your information.

Share with us any resume writing tips that you have learned in the comments section below!

Tags: nanny community, nanny resume, seattle nanny

Whether you’re a nanny traveling with a family or simply getting your employer and their children ready for a big trip, holiday travel with children can create a lot of stress! The following Parent Map article provides some helpful advice on making travel, specifically airline travel, a less stressful and more educational experience for children. http://www.parentmap.com/content/view/1027/259/

Some tips from the author:

• Create a scrapbook of the destination! Include photos, children’s books set in the location, points of interest, trivia (for children able to read), and anything else you can think of. This works especially well for new and exotic locations.
• Pack? puzzles and activity books that include reusable stickers,? and games with larger, non-rolling pieces. All-inclusive games like etch-a-sketch or magnetic storyboards? are especially easy for pack and play.
• If children are anxious or just interested in flying, take them to the Museum of Flight in South Seattle. There they can learn about the history of flight and even tour a Boeing 737. Visit their website? for hours, location, and admission.

Please share your kid travel tips or travel stories with us in the

comments section below!

Tags: flying with kids, nanny community, seattle nanny, traveling with kids

December’s Nanny of the Month is Julia Orr.? 

Julia has been one of our most requested temp nannies this month. Thanks Julia for all you do!

Favorite Christmas Song:?  Silent Night

Tags: nanny community, nanny industry, Nanny of the Month, seattle nanny

The holiday season is a great time to do some cooking or baking. Vegetables and seasonal fruits are plentiful, and the cooler weather makes you want to turn on the oven! Involving children in food preparation is a great way to teach them about the holidays, to encourage healthy eating habits, and is also an educational opportunity to incorporate math, fractions, and measurements into everyday life. Follow the links below for tips and recipes.

TIPS:

Kids in the Kitchen

RECIPES:

Cranberry Spinach Salad

Teeny Turkey Snacks

Aut-yum Leaves (Cookies)

Edible Indian Corn

Turkey Treats

VIDEO:

Crystallized Ginger Biscotti & Holiday Squares

Share with us any tried-and-true kid friendly recipes, or funny cooking stories you may have!

Tags: cooking, holiday activities, nanny, nanny community, seattle nanny

Each month we will honor one outstanding Nanny.?  The Nanny of the Month winners will then be entered in our 2010 Nanny of the Year Award! Check back here, and on our Facebook to see the winners!

November’s Nanny of the Month is Kimberly Pfeifer! Kimberly has gone above and beyond in temporary positions this month.

Favorite Children’s Book: Shel Silverstein’s The Giving Tree.

Tags: nanny comunity, nanny industry, Nanny of the Month, seattle nanny

As the weather changes and the holidays approach, it’s time for some new and fun activities for kids. Take a look at these fun craft ideas for Fall:

• LEAF PLACEMATS: Go for a walk outside to collect colorful fallen leaves of different shapes and sizes. Then arrange them on a sheet of clear contact paper, and add another piece of contact paper on top to seal the placemat together.
• PINE CONE BIRDFEEDER: Go on an adventure to find the perfect pine cone. Attach a piece of string to the top of the pine cone for hanging. Roll the pine cone in peanut butter and then cover in birdseed. Hang it up outside and see what comes to visit!
• APPLE STAMPING: Cut an apple in half, either direction. Dip the halves in paint and use the fruit as a stamp to create designs on a t-shirt or tote bag. This also works great with gourds, potatoes, and other vegetables. ? You can cut other shapes like stars or hearts.
• PUMPKIN PEOPLE: Collect various pumpkins, gourds, and squashes of different shapes, colors, and sizes. Stack pumpkins of different sizes on top of each other like you?€™re building a snowman (use skewers to attach). Get creative?€”use toothpicks to attach different gourds for ears or noses. Use other natural objects like leaves and flowers for the hair, twigs for arms, and nuts for the eyes. Use a knife to carve out holes to attach the decorations, if needed. Also, you can use paint to create clothes and decorate the pumpkins.
• PUMPKIN CARVING: If you carve a pumpkin, it?€™s great to show children all the different textures and uses for each part of the pumpkin: toast the seeds with cinnamon and sugar for a tasty snack, use the pumpkin insides to make sweet bread or pumpkin pancakes.

Tags: fall activities, nanny community, seattle nanny

We all know that children spread germs easily due to lack of comprehension and close personal contact. As nannies, you have the ability to educate and help facilitate good hygiene habits. The upcoming cold/flu season is being billed by the media as something very scary. H1N1 virus is definitely concerning, but with vigilance and common sense we can all help to discourage the spread of germs. As caregivers of children, nannies have a unique exposure to this at the ground level. Here are some basic guidelines outlined by the CDC:

1. PRACTICE GOOD HAND HYGIENE by washing your hands often with soap and water, especially after coughing or sneezing. Parents and child care providers should wash the hands of children who cannot yet wash themselves, and closely monitor children who have not yet mastered proper hand hygiene. If soap and water are not available (like on an outing), use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
2. COVER YOUR MOUTH AND NOSE when you sneeze, with a tissue or into your arm or hands. Teach the children in your care to do this.
3. STAY HOME IF YOU ARE SICK for at least 24 hours after there is no longer a fever (100 degrees Fahrenheit or 37.8 degrees Celsius measured by mouth) or signs of a fever (chills, very warm to the touch, flushed appearance, or sweating). Discuss with your employer in advance how you will both handle illness in their family and sick days.
4. FREQUENTLY CLEAN SURFACES THAT CHILDREN TOUCH such as toys, diaper changing areas, eating areas, etc.

Tags: cold and flu season guidelines, nanny, nanny community, seattle nanny, sick children

With school starting up again, there are a few simple yet significant tips to help ease children out of summer mode and into school mode. Whether they are starting school for the first time or returning, these suggestions will enable parents, teachers, and caregivers to have an easier transition.

• Re-establish school-day schedules for bedtime and mealtime routines. Plan to do this at least 1 week in advance. Breakfast is especially important mealtime to reinstate leading up to the beginning of school. Also consider using typical ?€?homework time?€? to read a book or do a more educational activity.
• Arrange play-dates with school friends to reacquaint children with one another, if they have not had time together over the summer. This will alleviate some back to school anxiety about re-establishing friendships and making new friends.
• Spend time setting up their desk or homework area for the new school year. Clean out old supplies and give it a fresh look that gets them excited to work there again.
• Make and post a visual countdown or calendar leading up to school. This will help prepare children for the transition and to visually see it approaching.

Remember, one of the most important things is to speak positively about going back to school. Talk to them about the things you know they enjoy about school, such as specific subjects, activities, or people. This will help get children excited for the new school year and more eager to jump right in!