Flu Facts:
~Five to twenty percent of the US population get influenza each year.
~More than two-hundred thousand patients are hospitalized each year resulting in around twenty-thousand deaths.
~Patients at highest risk are young children, pregnant women, patients with chronic medical conditions (diabetes, heart and lung disease) and those over age sixty-five.

Flu Vaccine Myths:
“The flu shot made me sick” – The vaccination cannot cause flu. The virus is killed or weakened during the manufacturing process. You may have been exposed to a non-flu virus or to the flu prior to the vaccine taking effect.
“I’m healthy, I don’t need a vaccination” – Even healthy patients can spread the flu to a grandparent or child, placing them at high risk for complications.
“The shots aren’t safe” – Allergic reaction to the flu shot is very rare. Patients with a history of severe egg allergy or prior reaction should not get the vaccine. The possible risk of Guillen-Barre Syndrome is one to two per million vaccinated which is much lower than the risk of severe influenza.
“It’s too early for the flu shot” or “It’s too late for the flu shot” – The US Center for Disease Control recommends getting the flu shot as soon as available. Flu season is unpredictable and starts early some years. Cases of influenza can occur as late as May, so late vaccination can still be protective.

Contact your physician’s office for information about availability of the vaccination. If your physician’s office does not carry the vaccine, it is given at local pharmacies.

1. Holiday Bonus

2. Homemade gifts from the kids                                    

3. Extra paid time off

4.  Membership to a gym or club she enjoys

5.  Health Insurance

6. Entertainment tickets (movie passes, concert tickets, sporting events)

7.  Updated phone, I-pad, computer

8. Reimbursement for continuing education or seminar expenses

9. Items from the Nanny B Goode Boutique (My favorite is the “have your nanny call my nanny shirts!)

10. Gift Cards

 You can check out TLC for Kids  Pinterest boards for cute craft ideas the kids can make too!

Working parents have few options with after school childcare. One option is an afterschool nanny. Choosing to hire an afterschool nanny to come to your house and watch the children is a great option parents for many reasons.

1. Hiring an afterschool nanny is a reliable option for working parents. Parents take comfort knowing that their children are not at home alone.  Afterschool nannies are typically students and can be a positive role model for younger students. The nanny may also have corresponding school breaks and be available for more hours during the summer.

2. Your nanny can supervise the completion of homework and projects. This will allow you to have more bonding time with your child at the end of the day.

3. An afterschool nanny will also help transporting the kids to lessons or sporting activities. Getting your child involved in activities may boost their self esteem and help burn off energy from being inside all day.

4. Afterschool nannies also eliminate the stress of rushing home at the end of the day to beat the daycare clock. Most day cares charge a fee every minute you are late after closing. Instead, you can come home to a happy and rested child.

5. Finally, who knows, your afterschool nanny may even love to cook!

To start your afterschool nanny search visit FindTheBestNanny.com.  You will also find helpful tips on screening and interviewing candidates.

For the first few days she was super excited and loved it!  Now after a week she is upset walking into school and doesn’t want to go.  She cries and tells me it’s just to long to be away from me.  Poor thing

I thought I would post this again to help us and other families deal with the separation anxiety that can come from starting school. 

 Most people connect separation anxiety with infants.  However, it is normal for kids to experience separation anxiety throughout different times in their lives.  It can occur again at 3-4 years old, 5-7 and again from 11-14.  The older ages correspond with starting school for the first time and again when starting middle school or high school.  

If you have a child that is suffering from separation anxiety here are some things you can do to help. 

1. Start a countdown.  Whether it’s starting school, the first day with a new nanny or babysitter or going to a new daycare.  This will help them get used to the idea that you are leaving.

2. Prepare them as much as possible.  If they are starting school try to visit the classroom and teacher ahead of time.  Or meet some of the other students.  Let your child know what will happen during the day so that the fear of the unknown doesn’t take over.  If it’s a situation where mommy and daddy are going to work have the nanny over a few times before her first day, 

3. Don’t exaggerate the good-bye.  Everyone(teachers, psychologists and nannies) agree ”don’t drag out your good-bye. ” Say a quick farewell and assure them that you will be back.  Lingering or showing any hesitation shows your child uncertainty.  

4. Don’t tell your child you will miss them or go overboard on your reunion.  If a you talk about how much you missed them your child might feel guilty about leaving you.  Not the feeling we want on a first day!

It may take time for your child to get used to the separation.  If the fear doesn’t go away after 4 weeks it’s time to consult an expert. 

If you have any tips on how to help with separation anxiety please share them with us.

Nannies and parents everywhere are looking for something to do inside.  I would like to share a few ideas.

1.  This one comes from my dear niece and nephew.  They made a zoo in their basement!  They took all their stuffed animals and turned their basement into a zoo.  Complete with maps and tickets.  I love this idea!  The bear pit is on the couch, the penguins are under the coffee table and birds are on the bookshelf.  It is super cute.

2. We are excited about the Olympics this summer.  My kids and I are learning about the different countries participating and some of the events they are likely to medal.  I would like to make a poster board that keeps track of the top medal winning countries.

3. Oh, and of course what’s summer without a lemonade stand.  We did ours late one afternoon, just in time for the work crowd coming home.  It was only 95 degrees that day and we set up shop in the shade. 

Please share with us your favorite beat the heat ideas!

None of us want to be called a “helicopter parent or caretaker” but at the same time we have the right to know what is going on in our children’s lives when they are not with us.   Start a respectful dialogue with the other parents in your school and community.  Let them know that you want to be informed and involved.  Keep your eyes open.  It’s ok if  you  stop by on occasion to observe and make sure that your child is being treated fairly and with respect.

We also want to let our children know that we want to hear about their lives.  Children do  need to treat adults with respect and follow the rules.  But, they should never be made to do something that they don’t want to do or that makes them feel uncomfortable.  They should not feel threatened, coerced or uneasy in any situation.   Most importantly our kids should know that they can trust us as parents and nannies.  We want them to know that we care about them.  We want to know about their  experiences and their feelings.  Keeping the lines of communication open is key.

So is trust.  Kids and parents need to know that they can trust each other.  But also parents and nannies  need to know that they can trust other parents and community leaders.

Our kids need to be taught the importance of  Stranger Danger.   It’s hard to balance your child’s need to grow independent and need to learn about the safety of the world around them.  Here are 5 great tips from Parents.com on Rules for Stranger Safety.

My heart goes out for ALL victims of child abuse: those who suffer quietly and those who publicly.

Please take a minute and share this post with everyone you know so that we can help stop this horrific crime.

Since the 2010 tragic drowning incident in Long Island, New York, that involved a nanny and the toddler in her care, INA has committed to sending an annual reminder to nannies, parents and agencies that only child care providers who have the proper training should take children swimming or near large bodies of water like a pool, lake or ocean.

INA recommends that children are only to be taken swimming by a nanny if she is a lifeguard, if she has successfully completed a credible water safety and rescue course, or if there is a lifeguard present.

INA recommends that any child care provider who works in a home where there is a large body of water present be properly trained in water safety and rescue.

From an educational standpoint the summer slide goes across the board for all subjects: reading, math, science and handwriting or writing.

Children should continue writing over the summer.  Practice makes perfect!  Here are some fun writing exercises you can try over the summer:

• Write a story with your child. Each day, set aside time for her to write a few sentences or paragraphs (depending on her age) for a special story. By the end of the summer, you will both have written a special story together. This approach will keep your child interested, as she will enjoy reading her contributions each day.

• Have him practice the formation of specific letters by writing large capital letters with sidewalk chalk on the driveway. Next, have him use a hose with a nozzle to spray a stream of water and erase the chalk lines. This will help increase fine motor control and strength.

• While you are in the car, or sitting on the beach, use “air writing” to send each other messages. You can also have her write messages to you in the sand on the beach, in the water at the pool, or in the shaving cream while dad is shaving.

If you have other ideas for making writing practice fun please share them with us.  I know my daughter is writing letters to her teacher this summer!