Survival Guide

Music, dance, fun & Miss Maureen !

2012-10-28T15:31:00.003+11:00

Those of you who have read The Little Survival Guide for Nannieswill recall we are big believers in the power of music and dance in terms of learning and fun. In the book, we suggest readers use music and dance to help children learn about safety; develop gross motor skills as well as for exercise and fun.

We recently became aware of the work of Maureen Whitehead (Miss Maureen), an experienced infant teacher, composer and lyricist and performer. Miss Maureen has released her debut children’s album called I CAN YOU CAN TOUCAN. We think the songs are super catchy so we asked Miss Maureen to tell us about her work.

Tell us about the program

The Miss Maureen program is designed to harness creative diversity and inspire children to use their imaginations. Children’s imaginations are so vibrant and extendable the early years.

My songs are unique and don't tread the familiar paths of nursery rhymes and popular melodies. They borrow rhythmically from the jazz and Brit-pop eras (as well as many others) and have a captivating rhythmical quality. Children are compelled to harness the power and fun of dance and general movement to music.

You have characters in your program as well. Tell us about them.

The Miss Maureen characters are far from cardboard cut-outs. They are multi-geographical, dynamic and have their own special type of flair. The characters are designed raise curiosity and inspire children to extend their creative outlooks.

Why do you think it’s important to introduce music into children’s lives?

Current and historical research highlights the vast benefits of music in the early educational process.

Benefits include literacy, reading, phonemic awareness, creative writing, speech and language development, coordination.

From an early reading perspective, they are built on phonemics. And because the songs are so easy to teach and learn, children imperceptibly absorb the variances of sounds and word blends and are more likely to embrace reading.

Above all, music is a fun way to learn.

Have you received any feedback about the program?

Yes. Parents tend to focus on the fun their children have with the program. The feedback from teachers focuses on improvements to learning outcomes, for example, increased co-operation, concentration and confidence.

Thanks Miss Maureen for this information with us.

You’re more than welcome.

We encourage anyone interested in learning more about I CAN YOU CAN TOUCAN to visit the website. The album and individual songs are available on iTunes.

A tale of two grandies

2012-07-21T16:21:00.015+10:00

Thank you to Geoff Dober for sharing this story:

At some time in their lives twins get separated – if only for a short time. At the grand old age of 21 months, it was time to give it a go! After much deliberation, Ollie was going and Max was staying. For two whole days.

Mother had decided to make a weekend visit to a friend in Adelaide who had just given birth. All the arrangements were made and even the tickets were issued on-line to save time at the airport. The regular nanny had strict instructions to ensure a good lunch and a good sleep before the Friday afternoon trip to the airport.

Grandma and Grandpa were assigned the nannying duties to help get the family to the airport and provide comfort (biscuits and drinks) to Max who could be beside himself with grief on seeing his dear brother whisked away in a bigggg, bigggg eeeee (aeroplane). Grandma and Grandpa had visions of wandering through the airport with both boys and Mum pointing out the biggg, bigggg eeeees and watching aeroplanes move around the tarmac through the windows, slowly getting the twins used to a traumatic separation.

The grandy nannies arrived around at the house at 1230 and were advised by the regular nanny that the boys had enjoyed a big lunch of vegetables and fish and had gone to bed at the expected time. So far so good.

Mother was working at the University where she had an important meeting. The first little sign of problems came when the meeting time was shifted and started to impinge on the departure time for the airport. However, she resolved to get her meeting business done at the start and then leave early – a mission she successfully completed and which allowed her to arrive home around 2pm. Just in time to have a chat to the grandies, and then think about finishing the packing – a task compounded by having a laundry which was largely out of action due to a recent dryer fire, having multiple nannies who put things in different places and having a house in partial renovation with not enough shelf and cupboard space. Around 3:10pm we were all in the car and ready to leave for the 4:25pm flight. Time was on the wing but Mother, who could turn just-in-time arrivals at airports into an art form, didn’t show any sign of anxiety. Yet.

Grandpa was assigned driving duties. Now anyone who has driven in Melbourne will know that Friday afternoon is a much better time to do anything other than to be on the roads. Especially to the airport. This Friday was no exception and the red lights and queues increasingly became ominous.

Passing Essendon at 3:45pm and needing to be at Tullamarine by 3:55pm to be sure that the luggage would be received; a decision was taken to abandon the car parking and go directly to the departures drop-off point. The leisurely build-up to the separation would have to be discarded. Would-be tight-lipped discussion of massive, impending psychological problems due to the separation was pushed aside while back seat driving assumed prominence to assist Grandpa to find a car space not occupied by a thousand taxis or busses.
Motherly duty is very strong so in the midst of the chaos we heard an explanation in the back seat informing Max that this was going to be Oliver’s turn to travel, next time it would be Max’s turn and Mummy still loved them both very much. As Grandpa glanced around while trying to push into a car space (actually a bus stop) he noticed Max was looking very sad, his bottom lip was set in a prominent pout.

It looked like he had understood Mum’s every word and was about to burst into tears. But he didn’t. He just threw up. Everything. Everything he had eaten that day. Everything a normal person could have eaten in a week. Mum was catching it in cupped hands and watching it run down her elbows and all over Max, his car seat and clothes.

So here we were. Three minutes to cut off time for the baggage. Half squeezed into a bus stop, cupping a massive discharge (unsuccessfully), Oliver and Max noting, quite correctly, “Mess, mess, mess”, as if we didn’t know. And guess what? Not a tissue to be found. Not in Grandma’s handbag, not in the glove box, not under the seat. Nowhere. No problems says Mother – there are some in the boot of the station wagon. Grandpa runs from the driver’s seat to the rear door only to find some stupid safety mechanism has locked it.

As Grandpa is running back to the keys, still in the ignition, a bearded gentleman wearing a turban who is the airport guardian of bus parking advises him “Excuse me sir but I am informing you that you are very much not able to park here on account of the fact that it is a bus stop”. Grandpa immediately thinks of a four and three letter word response but decides to suggest that there is a ‘small emergency’ happening here and a temporary blind eye would be appreciated.

Quickly Grandpa presses the ‘unlock’ button on the key while conversing to our bus stop guardian friend, trying to quieten Grandma who is demanding more haste with the tissues, acknowledging the “mess, mess” observations of the twins and trying not to get killed by passing traffic. Who says men (mannies) can’t do more than one thing at a time?

Back at the rear of the car the stupid safety mechanism has re-locked the door or didn’t open it because the keys were in the ignition. I tell you, if an axe had been handy…… Returning to the driver’s seat again, the keys are removed and taken to the rear of the car where they actually work and access is gained. Progress.

Now for the tissues. In the bag says Mother. The bag is a packed solid with about five changes of clothes, nappies, shoes, creams and food, nibbles, more food, drinks etc. It is divided into about seven sections each of which can be opened out three different ways to form a change table, and probably a play room or a complete nursery. Somewhere in it are the wet ones – yes, found them! Now for the clean-up.

It’s very close to baggage shut off time – about one minute to go and Mother has managed to extract herself from the car, dropping a couple of handfuls of vomit onto the footpath in the process. She finds the wet ones most welcome and starts to clean-up while the grandies focus on the boys. Oliver is placed on the footpath under mother’s watchful eye whilst attention turns to the not insignificant task of Max’s clean-up.

In situations like this; absolute mayhem with a rigid time constraint, 21 month old children can experience mild forms of anxiety, despite the best attempts of nannies, or grandies or Mothers to exude calm. While all attention was on the clean-up Oliver decided that things weren’t going quite to plan and made a decision to get back into the car where he felt safer. Mother asked where Oliver was going and Grandma left Max who was being undressed by Grandpa to assist Oliver.

The pile of tissues, wet ones, vomit covered clothes continued to grow on the footpath. Max was starting to bemoan the fact that he was now without a shirt, notwithstanding his noting of the “Mess, mess”. Our bearded friend was pointing out that a bus was coming NOW and had to park where we were. I tell you, if a push had come to a shove………..

In the background we caught an announcement regarding boarding for the flight to Adelaide, and realised that it was time for goodbyes. Mother was finding some clothes for Max from the cavernous bag she had packed for Ollie, just as Grandma was helping Ollie out of the car, up the gutter and onto the footpath.

Possibly the design of airport gutters has never entered most people’s consciousness. With the benefit of experience it can be understood that they are built higher than usual to prevent busses accidentally mounting the footpath and endangering pedestrians. Grandma was unaware of this feature and tripped on the gutter, smashed her knee, pushed over Ollie and fell flat on her face.

So now we have Ollie in the trolleys, looking quite upset, Max standing half undressed beside a pile on vomit, tissues and clothes and pointing out the “Mess, mess, mess”, Mother searching for clothes to give to Max, a bus trying to stop where we were and Grandma writhing in agony on the footpath. Our bearded friend is quietly, but insistently informing us that the bus has arrived and we should leave. I tell you if I had had a few seconds more …………

It is 3:55pm. Doesn’t time fly when you are having fun?

Wikipedia defines ‘triage’ as a process of prioritizing patients based on the severity of their condition so as to treat as many as possible when resources are insufficient for all to be treated immediately. The term comes from the French verb trier, meaning to separate, sort, sift or select. There are two types of triage: simple triage and advanced triage. At this point in time Grandpa was employing advanced triage, and Max was temporarily abandoned to Mother’s care while he picked up Grandma, and threw her into the car. The injury was assessed quickly as a bruised knee from which a full recovery was expected, and attention was returned to Max.

By now Mother had gathered the suitcase, the multi-facetted bag, another large parcel and Oliver, suddenly looking like he was being kidnapped, said goodbye and good luck and disappeared into the terminal.

The bus driver has assessed the situation and actually yielded space to us by double parking, thereby causing further traffic chaos, but giving us time to walk/limp to the rubbish bin with the vomit pile from the footpath, get Max, still talking about the “Mess, mess”, into Oliver’s clean car seat, and leave.

We drive to the viewing point at the end of the runway to watch the aeroplanes take off and point out to Max the one taking Mummy and Oliver to Adelaide. This is intended to affect closure and leave Max in no doubt that everything was fine and he could be happy. He quickly changed from “Mess, mess, mess” to “biggggg, biggggg eeeee” each time an aeroplane flew overhead. We don’t know why the twins call aeroplanes ‘eeeee’ either, but we think it is the sound the jets make.

If you knew that there was an Ice-Cream van in the viewing area you would probably wonder why it had anything to do with what has preceded. Well, conveniently, Grandpa was able to go to the vendor and get some ice for Grandma’s knee. Got it for nothing, too. Then he telephones Mother to inform her that if she had missed her aeroplane we were still at the airport and could call us. He also sent a text message to the same effect, just in case this was easier to access.

We watched a few more aeroplanes and then decided to leave for home. On getting back to the car we find Mother’s mobile phone on the back seat!

Nannying is a cinch.

Australian Au Pair of the Year Award

2012-03-30T07:00:00.006+11:00

As you know "Little Survival Guide for Nannies" were the judges for Australian Au Pair of the Year Awards and we are so proud to pass on that Birte has now been awarded The IAPA Worldwide Au Pair of the Year.

Birte from Germany was au pair in the Bess family and helped the family with the care for their two young children and newborn twins when they lived in Lambton, near Newcastle. The Bess family, originally from the USA, knew they needed an extra pair of hand to help with the children after the twins were born. As expats; they knew they could not really rely on nearby friends and relatives!

Below is part of the heartwarming letter we received from the Bess family to nominate Birte for the award:

“She is so instantly warm, friendly, and full of creativity. And now, after having lived with us for 7 months, she is family and we love her dearly. We will forever have her in our lives. In fact, she is flying to the US to visit us this Christmas and spend 2 weeks with us, and the kids are counting the days! I can't even begin to detail everything she did for our family. She was always doing projects with the kids - from making life-sized drawings of them to colouring/painting. Her personality is so special...she‘s always smiling or laughing or re-telling something funny she heard. You simply cannot be depressed around her. She became so much a part of our family that the older kids would not go to bed at night without seeing her. They still to this day, over 4 months later, ask for her almost every night.

Birte also helped me so much around the house. I never had to ask her to do anything. In fact, I had to ask her to STOP doing so much and take some time for herself! To which she would always reply "We are family, and this is just what family does for each other… And then, when the kids would go to sleep and my husband was working late (again!), Birte and I would chat about life and love and our experiences...and we would laugh and sometimes cry...and watch our favorite shows together. She is like an older daughter and a sister and a best friend, all rolled into one!”

Once nominated as a finalist for the IAPA Worldwide Au Pair of the Year Award, Birte then wrote her own essay which resulted in her winning the award!

" How can I describe so many unforgettable moments I experienced while I was an Au Pair in Australia. I love to think about all the incredible adventures and funny little situations. When I look back I always remember the warm welcoming feeling when I saw my host family for the first time. It was Keira’s 3rd birthday party (I quickly had a huge butterfly drawn on my face) and as soon as I saw Sean, Sara and the kids it felt so comfortable being around them. I never had a second thought that this would not work out. The more time we spent together (family outings, playing games, talking, special girls outings…) the more I got to know them and the more I got attached to them. I loved getting up in the morning, go upstairs and see the kids running at me asking if we could make German waffles for breakfast or if we could just play together. I will always remember Kyler asking me: ‘Are you happy, B?’ – And I answered him ‘Yes, I am’. (Because it was the truth) I was happy about everything – it was like being home! His kind and enthusiastic personality always cheered me up. Keira and I had our very own girl’s connection. After the twins were born Keira would hold my hand and tell everyone that the two of us were also twins J . In the beginning, I wasn't sure how disciplining the kids would work coming from someone new, but it was very natural. Kyler and Keira seemed comforted that I held them to the boundaries they were used to. Sean and Sara helped me with that a lot. We worked like a team: They accepted me from the first day, responded to me and respected my opinions and techniques with the kids. I could always ask them how they would usually react in a certain situation. Kyler, Keira and I loved to play, to draw, to paint, to sing, to dress up and to do “silly things” together but they also respected me when I had to correct their behavior. At night when the kids were all asleep Sara, Sean and I were sitting on the couch talking (about everything), laughing, doing quizzes and eating cookies. Having Sara as my best friend, someone I could always (!) talk to, and being part of this family helped me in so many situations – I never felt alone in a country where I hardly knew anyone. When I first learned that Sara was pregnant with twins I didn’t really know what to expect. But now, looking back, I can say it was an amazing experience to be around for Aidan and Isaac’s arrival and first months. It was a huge change in the beginning and I am still impressed with how great Sara and Sean handled the whole situation. (When I visited them for Christmas again the twins had grown so much – unbelievable that I have known them from their first day on.) During my time in Australia, I took a few days off and flew up to Darwin. I drove down to Alice Springs with a group of backpackers– to see the real Outback. I really enjoyed my trip. While I was gone the older kids counted the days until I came back (and so did I). Every night they called me before they went to bed to say “Gute Nacht” (I tried to teach them some German J ). When it was time to leave Australia in August it was really hard to say good-bye (lots of crying J ) but I visited them for Christmas and I got introduced to many more members of this great family (My German family is very small but now I am also part of a big American family) And I am even more excited to see them this summer again. I miss them every single day! I am honored that Smart Au Pair chose me to be “the Australian Au Pair of 2011” (although many Au Pairs are just that!!) but at the same time I know that nothing would have been the same if I hadn’t gotten connected with the loving, kind and caring Bess family . Thank you Smart Au Pairs and magoo_international (partner agency)! This whole experience was beyond wonderful!"

Pre-Nannying Lessons

2011-12-15T17:12:00.017+11:00

We received an e-mail this week called pre-parenting lessons. This is our take on pre-nannying lessons. We think you might be able to relate.

Lesson 1 - Before you finally go ahead and look after children, find a Nanny who already looks after children and berate them about their...
1. Methods of discipline.
2. Lack of patience.
3. Appallingly low tolerance levels.
4. Allowing the children to run wild.
5. Suggest ways in which they might improve their child's, sleep habits, toilet training, table manners, and overall behavior.

This is what we think befor we start the job and then there is reality

Lesson 2 - Can you stand the mess children make? To find out...
1. Smear peanut butter onto your favourite top and jam into the insides of you ballat flats
2. Hide a piece of raw chicken in your brand new jacket and leave it there all summer.
3. Stick your fingers in the flower bed.
4. Then rub them on the clean walls.
5. Take your favorite book, photo album, etc. Wreck it.
6. Spill milk on your new pillows. Cover the stains with crayons. How does that look?

Lesson 3 - Dressing small children is not as easy as it seems.
1. Buy an octopus and a small bag made out of loose mesh.
2. Attempt to put the octopus into the bag so that none of the arms hang out.

Time allowed for this - all morning.
Lesson 4 - Forget using the parents BMW you will be given the mini-van or be using your own car. And don't think that you can leave it out in the driveway spotless and shining. Family cars don't look like that.
1. Buy a chocolate ice cream cone and put it in the glove compartment. Leave it there.
2. Get a coin. Stick it in the CD player.
3. Take a family size package of chocolate cookies. Mash them into the back seat. Sprinkle cheerios all over the floor, then smash them with your foot.
4. Run a garden rake along both sides of the car.

Lesson 5 -Doing the families shopping and explaning why you went over budget this week
1. Go to the local grocery store.
2. Take with you the closest thing you can find to a pre-school child. (A full-grown goat is an excellent choice).
3. If you intend to look after more than one child, then definitely take more than one goat.
4. Buy the week's groceries without letting the goats out of your sight.
5. Pay for everything the goat eats or destroys.

Until you can easily accomplish this, do not even contemplate looking after children.

Lesson 6 -Feeding a nine month old
1. Hollow out a melon.
2. Make a small hole in the side.
3. Suspend it from the ceiling and swing it from side to side.
4. Now get a bowl of soggy Weetbix and attempt to spoon them into the swaying melon by pretending to be an airplane.
5. Continue until half the Weetbix are gone.
6. Tip half into your lap. The other half, just throw up in the air.

This is the true meaning of being a nnny, has anyone got any funny stories to tell about looking after children.

Guest post: A day in the life of a nanny of 5

2011-12-03T09:38:00.025+11:00

We are delighted to welcome Sharon Gear, our first guest blogger.

My day starts at 9 (after a 30min drive to work), I arrive to find the twin boys (4yrs) playing outside, I get the twin girls (17months) up, give them breakfast then get them dressed. Once this is done I prepare snack boxes for the 4 kiddies then bundle them into the car. We head off to the playground/beach/
museum or whatever activity we are doing on this day.

We are home by 12:30pm the girls go down for a rest (with protest!) while I prepare lunch for the boys. We sit down and eat together then the boys have quiet time for about an hour. I get the girls up about 2:30pm, and give them lunch. After this it’s time to get the girls back into the car to go collect the eldest child (6) from school, then off to Gymnastics for an hour. Boys stay home with Mum during this period. We get home about about 5:30pm, dinner is at 6 (which Mum has prepared while we were out) then bath for all 5pm then bed, my day finishes at 7pm with another 30 min drive home.

This is a quiet day for us, normally a lot more hectic believe it or not. What makes my day hectic I hear you ask. Quite simply of course if one of the children are sick or just not willing to co-operate. Also if the Mum is trying to 'help' me or worse if she wants to come along, she takes forever to get ready and we have to wait, we all hate waiting! Also having to do several trips into Geelong would make it a hectic day, we are situated about 30 mins out of Geelong (an hour round trip) one day I actually made 3 round trips and I was so exhausted!

About me: I am 28 years of age and have been Nannying since I was 19. I have had the wonderful opportunity of Nannying in the USA, London and Sydney, and would love another opportunity to travel overseas or interstate for the job I love so much! I have studied my Degree in Early Childhood Education which I graduated in 2007.

Do you have questions or comments for Sharon? Does this sound like your day? Let us know what it's like to be you.

Survey results

2011-11-19T08:57:00.035+11:00

A little earlier in the year, we posted a survey on our website to feedback about all manner of things related to our book and website. We are able to share those results with you today.

Are you currently a nanny
Yes - 60%
No - 40%

When looking for information, what sources do you use? (select more than one)
Internet - 100%
Friends - 65%
Co-workers - 55%
Books - 55%
Family - 45%
Newspapers - 30%
Magazines - 30%
Television 15%

If the internet is one of your sources, what kind of factors do you look for in a website when seeking information about your career? (select more than one)
Information - 95%
Experience - 65%
Inspiration - 45%
Relatability - 30%
Belonging - 20%

To what degree should an advice website/blog be detailed and comprehensive?
Fairly detailed - 70%
Very detailed - 30%

What are some contributing factors that make you avoid or stop using a website?
Confusing/poor layout 55%
Pop ups or advertising 40%
Content not related to Australian nannies 5%

When seeking information, would you find a website that allows for a community of nannies to come together helpful? Why/Why not?
Yes, so that we can exchange experiences and learn from one another.

Yes, very helpful! I find myself going back to my nanny friend's for help, it would be even better to be getting more opinions.

It would be a useful source. Not many people i know are nannies, particularly when your a traveling nanny, it would help to come back to a website for advice from other nannies.

Yes, as we don't have anyone working along side us to give information to us and to compare stories.

It can turn into a bitchy place that my job is better than your job or can make some nannies feel under paid or valued.

YES! It is hard to find on the web a place where nannies can rant and a place where they can interact. If you make it safe, and a fun place (eg: they can design their own page) it encourages participation eg; nannyisland.com.

Yes I would, nannies all have different experiences and information and you learn more when you have opportunities to talk to and learn from other people.

Yes, would love to meet up and share ideas with other nannies.

Yes possibly depending on the content of the website.

Yes, any info from peers is always well received.

Yes because then it would be a network resource.

Yes, a group of people who would be able to assist in any question or problem that I had would be fantastic.

Definitely yes, nannies are truly the only one who understand other nannies and if we all can share our advice and experiences it will continue to help us learn and grow, happy, informed nannies = fantastic nannies!

Yes, as they would have a wealth of experience.

Yes, seems to be lots of American ones but no Aussie ones that I can find.

Yes - being able to speak to colleagues about issues or suggestions.

Yes definitely as there is not much support or advice out there for nannies.

Yes very as a few of us have Facebook page to arrange meet ups an offer suggestions/help.

Yes, it can be very hard to meet other nannies so a website could be helpful.

[At this time we would like to remind everyone that we have a forum on our website. You can post anonymously - something that you can't do on Facebook. Post away people!!]

Do you prefer e-books or paperbacks?
Paper backs- 60%
Both- 35%
E-books- 5%

Where do you go when finding books for information?(Select one or more)
Friends- 65%
Local book store- 60%
Co-workers- 55%
Family- 45%
Blogs- 45%
Amazon- 40%
iTunes Store- 10%

Would you prefer?
Both- 65%

A website/blog that allows a nanny community to come together receiving advice for nannying and sharing experiences to other nannies- 25%

A book that fits in your purse, or on your iPad, for advice with lots of helpful tips- 10%

Have you heard of the Survival Guide for Nannies brand? If yes, how did you hear about it? And how could the blog be improved?
Haven't heard of it.

Yes on Facebook.

Yes, but only just recently.

Yes, through a colleague. No suggestions on the blog.

Bought the book.

No.

Yes, on Facebook through fellow nannies. the blog's great, i would love to see more nanny involvement and contribution though on a more regular basis. A great idea would be to have nannies share ideas eg. their craft , recipe of the week, and try to organise outings with their charges, a nanny playgroup would be superb to cover different areas

I follow the Survival Guide for Nannies on Facebook.

No.

Yes - friend.

No.

Not really.

Yes I have heard and I participate in the blogs occasionally.

As you are starting out I think you are doing okay! It takes a while to build a following so don't be disheartened if it looks like not many nannies are following yet. If you offer them what they need they will come back: aka Unique nanny advice. Which is all about certain situations....eg: you are at work and your child hits her head on the wall. There is no bleeding but a giant egg has formed. Do you a. Call the ambulance b. Call the parents c. Scoop her up and tell her she will be fine d. Panic. (Things that - which are simple but get the nanny offering her expertise). Then open it up discussion. I have found nannies are more willing to participate if they phrase the question. eg; Nanny Island.

Yes Facebook.

On your website.

-0-

Thanks again to those people who participated. We are going to start implementing your suggestions straight away.

Important nanny news

2011-11-03T17:02:00.020+11:00

This week we would like to share two exciting pieces news that have just come to our attention.

First of all, we are very proud to announce that Fiona Debarge will be judging the Australian entries in the 2011 Au-Pair of the Year award!

If you are an au-pair, it's not too late for your family to vote for you because entries remain open until 30 November. The winning au pair of the IAPA Award will be flown to the Association's 18th Annual Conference where he/she will receive an award. Here's a link to the Smart Au-Pair page that provides all the details.

Second, we received our copy of the monthly Care for Kids newsletter this week. The Care for Kids newsletter is always informative but this month it contains an article outlining two ways families can claim existing Government benefits to make hiring a nanny more affordable. We think this article is so important to the industry that we have decided to post a link here. We are curious to hear your reaction to this information. For example, has your family already taken either of these steps? If not do you think your family would register? What impact do you think this will have on the industry if it becomes widely used?

Saying goodbye

2011-10-28T19:55:00.010+11:00

We received a question on our Facebook page this week asking how to say goodbye to children you have worked with for a number of years (the children are starting school and kindy in 2012).

Here's our advice.

We think it's best to be honest with the children and start talking to them now about all the changes that will happen next year; kindy, big school and you not seeing them each day. You can reassure them by saying that you still love them and tell them it's just that they are so grown up now that it's time for them to go to kindy and big school. You can say that you will see them in the holidays and at night sometimes when mummy and daddy go out.

If it's ok with their parents, tell them you can write letters to each other and ask them to send you some of their artwork from school and kindy. You can leave some envelopes with your address, already stamped ready to go for whenever they want.

If parents say its ok, you can offer to let them telephone you every now and again to say hello and tell you about their day.

A great idea is to make a little photo album or scrap book with you in it doing things with the children that they can look at anytime they like. They love to say "when I was little I remember doing this with you". If you are so inclined, you could write a bedtime story just for the children about your adventures over the years. The main thing is to be honest, reassuring and focus on all positives that will result from big school and kindy. Of course talk to parents before implementing your exit plan but we suggest you start ASAP.

10 Boredom- Busting Ideas for a Happy Halloween Season

2011-10-09T03:58:00.013+11:00

The following boredom busting ideas were very kindly submitted by Sarah Morris on behalf of Primrose Schools- with preschools in 19 states and counting, more and more children are getting a head start with a balanced education. Visit their website for more information: http://www.primroseschools.com/

With children thinking of costumes and candy this Halloween, it may be hard to believe that boredom can still strike. But inevitably, the number of days until trick-or-treating seems unbearably long, and they will start asking what else there is to do. Keep them engaged all month long in awaiting that magical night without breaking the bank in the process. The following ten ideas do not take much money and are fun for everyone to enjoy together:

1. Carving Pumpkins. While younger children may not be able to handle a carving knife themselves, they can still design their own individual jack-o-lanterns and help with the process. Emptying the pumpkins of seeds and slimy goo is half the fun of making them into works of art! Have kids draw the face they want carved on their pumpkins on a sheet of paper with a pen or pencil. Then tape the paper to the pumpkin, and with a pen, they can punch small dots along the lines of their drawing to trace their design onto the pumpkin.

2. Roasting pumpkin seeds. What to do with all those seeds that came out of what seemed like such a little pumpkin? Turn them into a delicious snack! Separate the seeds from pulp and lay them out flat on a cookie sheet. Kids can season some with salt and another pan with cinnamon sugar to create sweet and savory snacks. Bake the seeds in the oven for 10-20 minutes and let them cool before enjoying this Halloween treat.

3. Make a costume collage. When children are having trouble deciding what they want to be for Halloween, collect store catalogs and make it into a craft. They can cut out costumes they like and paste them onto blank pieces of paper. Then draw a background that fits with the costume to create a picture story!

4. Playing dress-up. Putting on costumes is one of the most fun parts of Halloween, so why save it for just one day? Create a dress-up box of old costumes from previous years or silly clothes and create new costumed characters by combining different accessories. The results will probably look ridiculous and produce lots of laughs even before the official Halloween costumes are worn.

5. Make trick-or-treat bags. Old white pillowcases will make great satchels for carrying around all that candy from the big night. Take them to the next level by letting children individualize them. Use fabric markers or paints to decorate the bags with the child's name or Halloween alias for added fun.

6. Go on a jack-o-lantern tour. Pile everyone in the car and drive around the neighborhood to see who has the best Halloween decorations. Kids can get ideas for jack-o-lantern designs of their own on the way.

7. Create Halloween lanterns. Pumpkins aren't the only decoration that can light up the front porch. Grab some glass jars from the recycling bin and have children paste orange and black tissue paper shapes on the outside to cover the jar. Place a small tea-light candle inside and set
the jars on the porch or sidewalk to create beautiful stained-glass Halloween lanterns!

8. Make your own Halloween costumes. Even if you don't know how to sew, many craft shops will sell kits with ready-to-assemble costumes inside. This is a fun way for children to practice following directions and learn a new skill at the same time. The result is a costume that is one of a kind and that they will be proud of.

9. Decorate candy to give away. While children may be focused on what they're getting from Halloween, help them to see instead what they can give to other neighborhood kids that come to their door. Make simple lollipops into ghosts by covering them with a white napkin or tissue and tying a ribbon around the stick. Smaller children can help by decorating the ghost-lollipops with faces to create Halloween treats.

10. Write a Halloween story. Give children a starting sentence to get their imaginations going and then let them compose their own story with a Halloween theme. Younger children can illustrate the story too, and combine it together to create a book.

Any of these activities can be altered to suit individual children's interests, and can easily become Halloween family traditions for years to come.

Compulsory qualifications for nannies by 2013

2011-10-03T15:01:00.003+11:00

In July 2009, the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) announced the Early Childhood Workforce Strategy. This strategy was developed to ensure there are Nationally Consistent Standards in Early Childhood Education and Care. There are many changes proposed for the early childhood sector, most of which do not impact on your work as a nanny but are worthy of a read all the same. This four page overview is a good place to start.

The change we are highlighting here is the introduction of a minimum qualification standard for anyone working in the early childhood sector. This means that by 2013, all nannies must have completed (or be enrolled to complete) the Certificate III in Children's Services. This course is currently offered by private colleges as well as TAFE in all states and territories.

We wonder what you all think of the introduction of a minimum qualification for nannies? And how many of you already hold this qualification?

Ice block recipe

2011-09-22T14:47:00.005+10:00

Coming into the school holidays and the warmer weather you will be looking for more things to do dury the day, this is so easy and fun for the children to make and eat they will love it.

Ingredients:
1 cup of natural yoghurt (you can also use Greek or flavoured yoghurt, whatever your family has in their fridge)
6 tsp of honey ( you can also use apple juice to sweeten )
6 passion fruit ( they are in season at the moment so very sweet, you could use mashed bananas, blueberries, raspberries....... )
1/4 tsp of cinnamon

Mix all these ingredients together and then place in either ice block molds or if your family does not have any you can easily use plastic cups and put a spoon in the cup as a handle. Place in the freezer for up to 4 hours.

This is great as a morning activity because they will be frozen by afternoon tea.

Feedback please

2011-09-09T14:16:00.018+10:00

Hi all,

Rather than sharing information this week, we are requesting information from you.

The lovely advertising and marketing students at UWS have agreed to assist us in growing our brand *smiles*. They have put together a 10 question survey which takes no time at all to complete (well, maybe a minute or two...). Your honest participation would be greatly appreciated.

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/X8CTPBY

Thanks,
Narelle & Fiona

ABN

2011-09-04T08:08:00.038+10:00

Nanny "MS" recently asked us about our experience with acquiring an ABN (Australian Business Number).

We have to preface our response by saying that we aren't accountants or tax experts (far from it) so we can't provide financial advice. We know MS just wanted some general information/tips about ABN's - we're more than happy to help with that!

When might a nanny want to use an ABN?
What can you do if you find your perfect family but despite your requests to pay you 'on the books', they insist on paying you cash? While we believe this happens less and less these days, there are probably still employers out there who don't want to be responsible for paying your tax and superannuation.

Depending on your own financial situation, you might overcome the problem of an employer asking you to work for cash by applying for and ABN. When you have an ABN, you will invoice your family on a weekly (or fortnightly basis), they will still pay you cash but you will take on the responsibility of paying your own income tax.

You may also want to use an ABN if you work for a number of families. As we said in a previous post, many nannies find they have several part-time jobs these days.

Are you entitled to apply for an ABN?
Our understanding of using an ABN as a nanny (and again - we are not experts...) is that you would be using it as a sole trader. Here's a link to the Australian Business Registry (ABR) website that talks about who is entitled to apply for an ABN.

Where do you apply for an ABN
Here's a link to the ABR website. This is where you can start your application for an ABN. Note: you will need a Tax File Number before you apply for the ABN.

Saving for your tax
Years ago when I used an ABN, I called the Australian Tax Office (ATO) and asked them to send me a voucher booklet. The booklet was linked to my tax file number and each month I would pop into the post office and deposit money which meant that at the end of the year, I had enough money in my account to pay the amount of tax I owed.

How much tax might you have to save?
The answer to this question will depend on your individual financial situation so there is no simple answer. If you have a complex financial situation (eg: you own an investment property, have shares or have a trust fund) you will need to seek advice from your accountant.

The amount will also depend on whether you are going to invoice your employer weekly, fortnightly or monthly. There are links below to the various tax tables to provide you with a guide for how much tax you may have to put away to ensure you have enough money at tax time.

Weekly tax table
Fortnightly tax table
Monthly tax table

Do you have to pay superannuation as a sole trader?We found this link very helpful in explaining the pro's and con's of superannuation as a sole trader.

Do you have to register for GST?
This question is better left to the experts but it seems to us that if you are invoicing less than $75,000 per year, you don't have to register for GST. However, you should read this article.

Why bother with all that, why not work for cash?
Here are just a few reasons why working for cash is a disastrous idea:

1) It is completely unlawful;
2) You won't be accruing superannuation;
3) You won't be able to submit an accurate annual tax return;
4) You won't be able to apply for a credit card or loans because you won't be able to show your true earnings.

We hope this post has answered more questions than it has created. If not, please leave your question in the comments and we will try our best to answer it.

Image credit: http://www.dreamstime.com/free-stock-image-dollar-signs-money-clip-art-2-rimagefree3274038-resi2794431

How your boss can find their way into YOUR heart

2011-08-27T17:16:00.008+10:00

Just the other day, the lovely Fleur commented on our previous post called finding your way into your boss's heart Fleur suggested we have a post about how your boss can find their way into your heart. We love that idea.

I'm going to start by saying any boss of mine who gives me a (paid) early mark is headed for some serious gratitude - make that on a Friday afternoon and I'm in heaven.

We'd like to throw the topic over to you all...what would you love your employer to do for you?

Leave a comment with your opinion and you'll go into the draw to win a copy of our book.

heart image thanks to http://www.dreamstime.com/heart-foam-free-stock-image-imagefree1840356

Finding your way into your boss's heart

2011-08-07T03:00:00.004+10:00

When a parent is working full time they do not have time to do the extras around the house that make them feel organized. That's where you can help. There are lots of little jobs you can do to make your employer value you and put a smile on both your faces.

The children's wardrobe or dresser may need a good sorting through or a tidy. You can do this in a couple of different ways; make a game for the children, for example, ask them to make piles in different colours of their clothes or you can pull out things that are too small for the children before you fold and put them away again. Not only does a tidy wardrobe help you each morning when you have 15 minutes to get children dressed and fed before play group but it also helps the parents get the children ready for outings on the weekend. Here's a video link that shows you how to fold t-shirts like a pro.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JUpSHOm5zT0

Another big winner is to refold the sheets and towels in the linen closet. Depending on the size of the family you care for, this might be a big job but if you want your employer to love and appreciate you, this is a good start. Here's a video link that shows you how to fold those pesky fitted sheets. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YHTyH2nuFAw. This video shows you how to fold towels like they do in five star hotels http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qZRFS0M7csc

There are stacks of other little tasks you could do, such as tidying out the kitchen draws or wiping out the refrigerator. It's a amazing how much people appreciate this type of kindness.

Before you go rearranging your employers home, a word or two of warning. We don’t do little extras in the first month after starting a new job otherwise an employer might come to expect it all the time. These extras are meant to be every now and again – say every 6-8 weeks, often enough to count but not often enough to be taken for granted.

Another tip is not to throw anything away. If you tidy out the children’s wardrobe or toy box, put the clothes or toys that appear to be ready for the bin into a neat pile and place them on the dining table. Parents may wish to keep some items or they may have a friend or family member they’d like to hand them on to. When parents get home, point out the items and let them know that you’ve left them there so they can make the final decision.

Our last word of caution is about your boss's personality. If you work for someone who is (or appears to be) a control freak, we suggest you start small, maybe tidy a kitchen drawer and see how they respond before moving on to bigger projects.

Have no fear though, doing little extra jobs keeps you on your employers mind a positive way.

Check out our book for more tips and ideas about going the extra mile and would love to hear if you have any stories to share.

Why you need to know about child development

2011-07-30T16:39:00.025+10:00

Have you ever tried to get a toddler to sit at the dining table to eat their meal? I bet it ended in frustration for you and the toddler and not much food being consumed. Toddlers aren't that interested in food to start with and they can't sit for long periods of time - especially if there's anything else going on that might be more fun, for example, older children playing or an unfinished game/activity.

We believe that setting realistic expectations is one of the secrets to success when working with children. Fully understanding child development and milestones is key in setting realistic expectations. Child development knowledge is also the basis of planning age appropriate developmental play activities.

Child development encompasses physical, behaviour, social, emotional, communication and learning/exploration. There are plenty of websites listing developmental miles stones and they're all pretty good.

We like this website because it's easy to read and includes just the right amount of information for new nannies:

http://www.howkidsdevelop.com/developSkills.html

How much do you know about child development? This free on-line quiz allows you to adjust the expertise level so it's perfect:

http://pediatrics.about.com/library/quiz/bl_child_dev_quiz.htm.

Let us know how you went.

Conjunctivitis

2011-07-17T18:42:00.009+10:00

It's the season for colds and with this comes conjunctivitis. Conjunctivitis is very contagious and can be passed on from children their rubbing eyes then coming into contact with other children or sharing toys.

Bacterial conjunctivitis takes about 24hours to develop after contact. At first you may see what looks like a swollen eye or a lot of what looks like sleep in one or both eyes. Be aware and wash hands all the time.

If you do see the symptoms of conjunctivitis, don't panic just head straight to the local chemist and buy over the counter eye drops such as Chiorsig, which cost around $12 (check with the parents before administering any medication though). Use the drops as directed if the symptoms do not improve within 24hours, speak to parents about seeking medical advice.

For more information about conjunctivitis, following this link to http://www.kidspot.com.au/familyhealth/Infections-&-Diseases-Eye-Conjunctivitis+2276+198+article.htm

Terrible twos

2011-07-08T16:31:00.031+10:00

We were chatting the other day about how challenging it is to take care of children when they're going through the terrible twos. In the book, Narelle recounts what she learned from getting bitten by a two year old who didn't want to take her afternoon nap.

Here, Fiona talks about some specific situations you might come across and ideas for handling them.

1) Two year old children become very fussy about what they eat. One day they love cucumber and the next day they hate it - who knows what happened. My sound advice is not to make something else as you will make your own job harder because next time they know you will fold. With a lovely caring manner just let them know that this is what's for lunch and remind them there will be nothing else until afternoon tea or dinner, so it is their choice. This will only happen a few times and then they will learn you mean what you say. What you make is what they eat. Unless of course they really truly don't like it, you will know this if they have the gag reflex.

2) You will probably also find resistance when it comes to brushing of teeth. All of a sudden, like a switch is flicked, they now say 'I DO IT' for everything. So what we find works is to let toddlers brush their own teeth in the morning and you do it at the end of the day so they get a really good clean once a day. Be firm with your decision.

3) A lot of two year old little girls want to pick their own clothes. As lovely as it sounds, it's not always the best choice to wear a sun dress in the middle of winter. A great idea is to lay out 2 outfits and let them pick their favorite for the day. Remember always remain firm with your decision.

What you really want to do when working with children (especially toddlers) is avoid getting into a power struggle - this can be really challenging sometimes. Jane Nelson has excellent information about positive discipline, here's a link to one of her articles called Eighteen Ways to Avoid Power Struggles: http://www.positivediscipline.com/articles/power.html

We would love to hear your terrible two stories. Post a comment.

Yummy winter stew

2011-07-04T19:32:00.008+10:00

With very cold weather forecast for Sydney later this week, we thought it was time to share another one of our favourite recipes.

Winter stew from toddler to tween

Ingredients
500g lean beef or turkey mince
1 onion chopped finely
1 celery stick diced
1 carrot peeled and diced
1/2 cup of beans chopped
1/2 cup of mushrooms diced
2 Tbsp of Worcestershire sauce
2 cups of vegetable stock
1 Tbsp olive oil
2 Tbsp of corn flour and a little tap water to make into a paste

1. Brown mince, onion and mushrooms in olive oil
2. Add Worcestershire sauce and then add warm stock allow to simmer for 10 minutes
3. Add celery, carrots and beans and simmer until vegetables are desired texture (around 1/2 an hour or so)
4. Mix together corn flour and water to make a paste, right before serving put into pot and stir until thickened.

We like to serve it with mash potato or you can add diced potato at the same time you are adding the stock (then cook until potato is soft this can take an extra 10 minutes of cooking time).

Bon appétit

What's the deal with paid annual leave?

2011-06-25T16:34:00.013+10:00

In the book, we say that we think it's reasonable to negotiate 2 weeks paid annual leave and 2 weeks unpaid annual leave. We have received feedback from a nanny agency stating that we were wrong for saying that because nannies (like all employees in Australia) are entitled to four weeks paid annual leave. You know what, this agent is 100% correct. Nannies are entitled to four weeks paid annual leave. If you get your job through a nanny agency, the agency will have negotiated all your entitlements on your behalf.

On the other hand, if you are interviewing for a job direct with a family, you will have to negotiate your own entitlements, including annual leave. This is where we feel it is reasonable to negotiate 2 weeks paid leave. We're not suggesting that you aren't entitled to four weeks paid leave - you are. However some employers will have the opinion that you aren't entitled to any paid leave or they simply couldn't afford to pay you four weeks. At a recent radio interview about our book, one of the stars was chatting to us off air and he said "we had a nanny and she expected us to pay her for holidays, I couldn't believe it. She had to be kidding." Now this guy seemed really nice and not exactly poor but he was expressing the view that a lot of people hold - right or wrong.

Bottom line: if you can negotiate four weeks paid leave for yourself - that's excellent - good on you! If you can't, we think it's a terrible idea to knock back a great job which will pay you for 50 weeks of the year for the sake of two weeks pay. In the end, the choice is yours.

** Whether you are a nanny or an employer, we'd love to hear your experiences of paid leave so feel free to write a comment and share your thoughts **

Image by dreamstime: http://www.dreamtime.com/stock-phot0-green-dollar-signs-cash-money-rimagefree2184232-resi2794431

Winter safety and fun

2011-06-19T18:58:00.024+10:00

Winter Safety
Watching the news tonight was a sad reminder about how many house fires happen in winter. Sadly some people lost their lives in fires this weekend. The news report stated that a house can be completely engulfed in flames within minutes. We all know about smoke alarms and most homes have them now. However, unless you burn your toast regularly (*ahem*) you can't be sure they're actually working. In the book we remind our readers to check the batteries on the first working day of the new season. Just in cace you forgot to check on 1 June, here's your reminder.

Winter fun
While it doesn't snow in a whole lot of places in winter in Australia, there are still plenty of fun outdoor wintery things to do. For example, if you live in Sydney, Melbourne or Brisbane, you can take the children to do some outdoor ice skating for free. The outdoor rink at the Bondi Winter Magic festival operates from midday until 10pm daily from 30 June until 17 July 2011. The details for all participating states are here : http://www.winterfestival.com.au/

If it's raining or the children are too small to enjoy skating, you can still get out of the house by visting your local indoor play centre. Bubhub has a handy list of all the play centres for each state and territory : www.bubhub.com.au/directory/find/children-play-centres/

Do you have an imporrtant winter safety tip or favourite winter activity? Share them with other nannies here.

Self Care for Everyone

2011-05-08T07:00:00.008+10:00

Happy Mother's Day!
We think Mother's Day is the perfect time to talk about self care.

So what is self care? There are basic elements of self care that are the same for all of us - such as eating well, getting enough rest and taking care of our health. However there is more to it than that. Self care is about nurturing yourself by having quiet time, relaxing with friends, taking care of your spiritual needs in a way that's meaningful to you.

Self care is important for anyone who is in caring role, such as social workers, nurses, aged care workers and of course everyone working with children. There's no doubt that working with children is rewarding - but it also takes a lot of you both physically and emotionally. Self care is all about giving back to yourself and making time for yourself. The bottom line is, you can get away with not taking time for yourself for a while but eventually it is likely to catch up with you. Neglecting your own needs could show up in poor physical health (regular headaches, colds, fatigue), poor emotional health (being snappy and easily irritated) or you might feel burned out and like you have nothing left to give.

So, where are you at with your self care?

I just took this super quick quiz http://www.encouragingcoach.com/projects-selfcare-quiz.htm and found out that *ahem* there's room for improvement (I scored 33). I really liked the excel spreadsheet in the scoring area that sets out a helpful and achievable checklist (I'm going to print it and take it to Mother's Day lunch).

After you've done the quiz, you'll notice that self care is deeper and more complex than just having a massage or a mani/pedi occasionally. However, physical maintenance is part of it and the coupon sites are an economical way of getting beauty treatments. Surprisingly they also offer vouchers for dinners (that you can shared with friends) and sometimes discount rates on hotels for a well deserved weekend away. Here's a link to a site which shows all the daily deals - just choose your state http://www.allthedeals.com.au/sydney-group-buy-deals.shtml.

We'd love to hear your thoughts on self care - do you have some ideas you can share with others? What did you score on the quiz? What stops you from taking time out for yourself? Is it a lack of money or time or do you over commit yourself? Let's help each other improve in this important area of our lives.

NSW - Certificate for Self Employed People

2011-04-18T07:00:00.002+10:00

The Little Survival Guide for Nannies contains information about nanny security checks for all Australian states and territories. However, things are about to change in NSW.

The NSW Commission for Children & Young People advise that from 1 May 2011, self employed people over the age of 18 years who work with children (nannies, tutors, coaches and entertainers) will need to have a Certificate for Self Employed People. The Certificate shows that the person has not been banned from working with children. The Commission also suggests to parents hiring a self employed person to visit the website and check the validity and currency of the Certificate.

So what does this mean for you? Well if you are a self employed nanny you need to get this Certificate. How about if you got your job (or are getting a new job) through a nanny agency? If you have been screened by the agency (ie. signed a consent form for a Working with Children Check) then you don’t need to get a self-employed Certificate. However, if you did not go through a formal screening process with the agency (maybe they put you and your employer in contact but you weren’t formally screened) then you will need to apply for a Certificate. If you’re not sure, check with the nanny agency you dealt with or call the Commission on 9286 7219 or visit the website www.kids.nsw.gov.au/check

We fully support the introduction of the Certificate for Self Employed People as it is an important step to protect children.

Quick Facts
Cost
$80

Validity
Valid for 3 years from the date of issue (Certificate invalid if you become prohibited person)

Overview
1) Read the instructions
2) Complete the application form
3) Make appointment at local Police Station
4) Attend the Police station with: application (part C to be signed at Police station) suitable ID and $80
5) Receive the Certificate in the mail

Renewal
You can apply to renew three months prior to expiry

Lost Certificates
If you lose your Certificate you’ll need to apply for a new one and pay $80

Penalty
The fine for not having a Certificate is up to $2,200

Important Links
Instructions: www.kids.nsw.gov.au/uploads/documents/CSEP-ApplicantInstructions.pdf

Application form: www.kids.nsw.gov.au/uploads/documents/CSEP-ApplicationForm.pdf

Fact sheets: www.kids.nsw.gov.au/uploads/documents/CSEP-FactSheets_2010.pdf

A Fresh Look at Part-time Work

2011-04-03T07:00:00.006+10:00

According to Cathy Clarke from My Little Friend nanny agency, the way people work has changed dramatically in recent years. Many parents are now able to work from home one or two days per week. As a result, many of the full-time nanny jobs have been replaced by part-time ones. This means that nannies have to be open to working for more than one employer. Many nannies are reluctant to agree to take several part-time jobs on a long term basis because on the face of it, it seems like you’re paying a lot more tax on your second job. That is not always the case, here’s an example:

Let’s say you work for one family, Mr and Mrs Green, on a full-time basis and they pay you $850 per week. According to the PAYG weekly withholding tax table, the tax on $850 is currently $138 (claiming the tax free threshold). Your take home pay would be $712.

How about if Mr and Mrs Brown offer you a part-time job that will pay $450 per week and Mrs Smith offers you a part-time job that will pay $400 per week. The current tax on $450 per week is $44 (claiming the tax free threshold) and the current tax on $400 per week is $75 (not claiming the tax free threshold – because you can only claim it once). That’s brings the total tax payable on the $850 to $119. In this scenario your take home pay would be $731. This is actually more money in your hand than you earn $850 from one employer. You may like to seek advice from an accountant about setting aside a small amount each week in extra tax to cover yourself.

Working for more than one family offers variety and it allows you to double your nanny experience. For example, you may be getting experience working with toddlers with one family and a baby with the other. So before you decline an offer to work for families part-time, we suggest you take a closer look. Why not contact the ATO, get advice from an accountant and/or double check the tax payable by referring to the tax schedule (available at newsagents or ATO website http://www.ato.gov.au/).

If you're already working part-time, drop us a line and tell us how it's working out for you, financially and otherwise.

Getting Your Children to Eat More Vegetables

2011-03-09T07:00:00.010+11:00

Welcome to our first post. We're excited to be able to share our nannying experience and ideas with you here.

Cooking for families is usually a part of a nanny's job so we wanted to supplement the nanny-friendly recipes in The Little Survival Guide for Nannies by sharing Fiona's delicious healthy sausage roll recipe. This is a great choice because most of the items are already in the cupboard or fridge and you can use all these veggies or whatever you have.

Ingredients

4 sheets of frozen puff pastry defrost while making mixture bellow

500g sausage roll mince from butcher
1 onion finely chopped
1 grated carrot
1 grated zucchini
same amount of grated pumpkin
1 stalk finely chopped celery
1/2 bunch of spinach finely chopped, (you can use ½ box of frozen spinach 250g drain well)
1 cup bread crumbs
2 eggs
3 tbsp tomato paste
1 tbsp soy sauce
1 tbsp sweet chilli sauce -don't worry there is no chilli taste at all for young children
Milk (for brushing)
Baking paper

1) Preheat oven to 200c degrees.
2) Combine all ingredients in large bowl and mix with your hands until mixture seems even.
3) Cut puff pastry in half so you have 8 sheets to work with.
4) Lay the mixed ingredients along the middle of pastry then press together both long side edges, leave ends open.
5) Lay seam facing downwards on baking tray lined with baking paper (or greased with oil)
6) Brush tops of sausage rolls with a little milk when ready to bake.
7) Bake for 20 minutes or until pastry is brown.

You can freeze any extra sausage rolls you are not ready to cook straight away until needed for another night.

Fiona serves this to her daughter who is 2½ with a side salad with or without tomato sauce.