Annie's Nanny Network

Establishing healthy eating habits with children can be difficult, especially when it comes to snack time. Before reaching for the chips or cookies at snack time, here are a few pointers about the importance and ease of promoting healthy snacking:

Here’s a great article on the importance of healthy snacking as well as some creative ideas:

http://www.howtofindananny.com/healthy-and-creative-snack-ideas/

Check out this article by a Mom who makes healthy snacking fun:

http://familyfun.go.com/recipes/cooking-with-kids/serious-about-snacks-714779/

Need snack ideas? Give these websites a try:

http://www.supernanny.co.uk/Advice/-/Food-and-Nutrition/-/4-to-13-years/Healthy-snacks-for-kids.aspx

http://www.parents.com/toddlers-preschoolers/feeding/healthy-eating/the-20-best-snacks-for-kids/

Finally, this article is filled with great advice and helpful hints to promote healthy snacking:

http://allrecipes.com//HowTo/healthy-snacks-for-kids/Detail.aspx

Recently we received a call from a nanny who was concerned about how SR 520 tolls were going to affect her and the family for whom she works.  Beginning this spring, people traveling back and forth between the Eastside and Seattle on the SR 520 Bridge, will pay a toll.  For those who travel during peak hours such as 7am-9am and 3pm-6pm, tolls  could cost as much as $140 per month.

A complete list of rates can be found here.

Now is the time for families and nannies to communicate with each other about how this is going to affect their current arrangement.

Here are some ideas you might want to raise with your employer or employee:

(1)    Use the Good To Go Pass. This pass is on your license plate or your windshield.  When you pass through the tolling area, the system will automatically read your pass and deduct the correct amount from your account.  Those without a pass will be billed for their tolls by mail and billed at a higher toll amount than drivers who have a pass. If you activate your Good To Go Pass account by April 15^th, you will receive $10 in free 520 tolls.

(2)    If possible, try to arrange you and your nanny’s commute during off-peak hours. Toll rates are less expensive this way.

(3)    Offer to reimburse the nanny for travel fees. Most nannies need a car in order to be efficient and best meet the needs of the children. Public transportation can be an option but the family might want to offer the nanny their family car.

For more information visit: http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/Tolling/520tolling.htm

What are you doing about the tolls? Share suggestions here.

Congratulations to Rene Arnoux for being chosen February’s Nanny of the Month.  Rene has been a professional nanny/household manager for over 15 years.

Rene’s favorite children’s movie is Mary Poppins!

Congratulations Rene!

Looking for ways to increase your child development knowledge? 

Bellevue Community College has an upcoming seminar titled “Authentic Environments for Infants and Toddlers.”  The 2 part seminar is held on Saturday 3/12/11 and Saturday 3/19/11.  The seminar will focus on how to create an environment for infants and toddlers by understanding their developmental needs.  In addition to a great opportunity for continuing education, the seminar is also worth 10 hours of STARS training.

To sign up, or for more information click here  or call 425-564-2674.

If you know of any continuing education opportunities for Nannies, please leave a comment!

Congratulations to Jobie Lay for being chosen January Nanny of the Month! Jobie has worked as a temporary nanny with Annie’s Nannies for 4 years.   Jobie has developed excellent relationships with many families during her time with us. 

Jobie’s favorite rainy day activity is to play Sardines!  Sardines is reverse hide-and-go-seek, where one person hides and everyone else must find them. Once you find them, you hide with them too until everyone is together!

Congratulations Jobie!

As of January 1st, 2011, the standard IRS mileage reimbursement rate changes to $.51 cents per mile (up from $.50 cents per mile). If you are driving your own vehicle for work you should be reimbursed for any driving done as a job requirement.