Quitting Your Nanny Job

We have all been there....  Looking for a way to leave our family but cannot come up with the best way to go~  From Seaside's perspective, we would never want our candidates to blow off work for fear of confrontation especially if its a new job as it makes EVERYONE in the process look unprofessional.  We prefer a notice delivered with kindness.  I found this great new "Nanny Magazine" online and thought I would share it with you as it also seems to have great content for our field of expertise!

I also thought that the history was important to share as well, you can read about this Nanny Magazine here.

4 Different Teaching Styles - #1 Waldorf

This is the first day to our 4-day series of teaching styles! 

Children learn in a variety of ways. Through play, music, experience and imitation, kids absorb information around them like sponges. In this 4-part series, I will go over a few of the popular teaching philosophies we see today. Each of these teaching styles have their own history and background as well as distinct values and practices. 

---

First up, Waldorf education! This style began in Germany back in 1919 and is all about creative play. Waldorf's rich curriculum encourages children to learn by interacting with music, myth, theater, writing, dance, language, and nature. Young Waldorf schooled children are taught to explore both artistic expression and social capabilities from a young age. Secondary school introduces critical thinking and idealism to the mix, encouraging the use of imagination. Throughout a child's time in a Waldorf school, the goal is to combine intellectual, practical and artistic themes to create free, morally responsible and creative individuals that are socially competent. 

Teachers of the Waldorf style (whether parent, teacher or tutor) create an environment that is nurturing and which encourages learning through imitation and experimentation. The "teacher" will demonstrate various activities such as baking, gardening, painting, building etc. to stimulate the little ones' imaginations. Creative and free play is supported. 

As the children grow older, their curiosity grows, leading to experimentation in poetry, music, writing and art. By stimulating a sense of awe from a young age, critical thinking skills are developed. 

A few things that play huge roles in Waldorf education: colors, simple objects, handwork, daily rhythm, forts, musical instruments, natural toys and many more. Below are a few examples of Waldorf inspired activities to check out thanks to Alina's Adventures,  :) 

- Candle illuminated paper scenes 

- Nature painting and stamping

- Peek-a-boo sprites

 

Sources:

http://www.creativechild.com

http://www.alinasadventuresinhomemaking.com

http://www.whywaldorfworks.org

 

Back To School, Back To School...

...to prove to mom I'm not a fool! 

Say "bye-bye" to summer! Fall is just around the corner. Can you believe it?! However, the transition from summer to fall can be quite challenging for the kiddos headed to school. We thought it would be helpful to put together a little list of tips and tricks to make the ease into a school schedule a little, LITTLE easier :) 

1) A couple weeks before school starts, try and get the kids on a school-sleep schedule. This means earlier to bed, earlier to rise! Hopefully, by the time those dark 6:30 mornings roll around, they will be prepped and ready enough and won't fall asleep face-first in their cereal. 

2) Meal routine! Make sure the kids (especially the little ones) are generally accustomed to eating throughout the day. I always remember being STARVING when I came home from school because I wasn't used to eating a snack in the middle of the day. SO, we suggest establishing a snack-schedule so when snack time rolls around, they are ready to devour those Goldfish and string cheese (and carrots of course). 

3) Activities calendar! This is crucial for a family with multiple children. Make sure all of their after-school activities and meetings are schedules and written down in a planner/family calendar. This leads to not only organization and timelines but an easier transition for chauffeur..I mean, Mommy!

4) Back to school supply shopping! Still to this day, one of my favorite places in the world is Office Depot. Pathetic? Well, it is probably because my mom and I used to make a day out of getting me organized for school. In a way, it got me excited to go back! Even just thinking about showing off my new sparkle pencils and obnoxiously large pink binder was enough to get me through at least the first week of school relatively painlessly. Make it fun! Print out the list of grade-appropriate supplies required by their teachers and let the kids go crazy! Hey, you can even let them get the JUMBO pack of highlighters, because everyone knows you need 23 shades of neon markers!

And always remember to make the transition from summer to school FUN! If you have a new Middle Schooler, take them to explore the school when they get their classes, help decorate their locker etc. If you have a new Kinder, decorate their backpack together or pick out an AWESOME first day of school outfit. You want your child to look forward to the school year, so get creative and prepare ahead of time :) Good luck!!!  

Awesome NON-Toy Gifts For Children!

"I want this Barbie", "I want a new Xbox game", "I want that dollhouse", I want, I want, I want...

Wouldn't it be nice to be able to give your children a gift that ISN'T a toy?! Present them with something different, stimulating and creative? I have always been a huge fan of DOING things instead of GIVING things. When you get out of the house and participate in a local activity, event or outing, there are more opportunities to bond and learn than simply throwing your child a toy and saying "have at it!"  

With commercials and advertisements targeting children more than ever, it is hard to escape the "I want" mentality. They are constantly being bombarded with the bigger, better toys and gadgets. What is even more frustrating is when you finally cave in and buy the life-size T-Rex, your child is over it within the week. Why not try taking little Tommy to the Natural History Museum in Balboa Park so he can LEARN about dinosaurs in a fun environment? 

Here is a fun list of 18 non-toy gifts, thanks to Nourishing Minimalism, to consider for the next birthday party you attend, a reward for Tommy's good report card or maybe even just a weekend outing :) Enjoy!! 

 

1. Classes. Music, dance, riding, drawing, classes are a great way to encourage children in their interests and let them know that you pay attention to them and what they enjoy.
2. Memberships. Zoo, science museum, children’s museum, YMCA membership, etc. These are particularly great for family gifts! Many young families want to enjoy day outings, but affording them can be a challenge, so give them the gift of a yearly membership.
3. Subscriptions. Kids enjoy getting things int he mail. Why not encourage their reading by getting them a magazine subscription for something they are interested in!
4. Events. Movie tickets, tickets to a play, concert or sports event are really exciting! Having an event to look forward to makes the rest of life more enjoyable.
5. Activities. Mini golf, bowling, skating rink. These are so much fun! And a big part of the fun is going together. Children love spending time with the adults in their lives, they want to see you enjoying your time as well as enjoying them.
6. Recipe and Ingredients. Kids love cooking with their parents. Baking something special or cooking dinner is an ideal time to spend together and learn life skills. Print out a recipe, purchase all the ingredients and set a date for cooking together.
7. Crafting Date. Our daughter loves making crafts. I do to, I really do enjoy the creative aspect. But I rarely take time out to do it with her. These crafting dates mean the world to our creative little girl. Keep a basket of craft supplies and get out a book for inspiration. We like this book.
8. Arts and Craft supplies. If your craft box is running low, stock up a little on things you need. Add in something fun the kids haven’t used before. A gift of art and craft supplies often brings on the imagination and kids can’t wait to get to work!
9. Coupons. An envelope of coupons that they can “spend” at any time: I’ll do one chore- no questions asked, movie and popcorn night, you pick the movie!, 1:1 game of cards or basketball (whatever the child’s interest is in), sit and read a book with me, Stay up 1/2 hour past bedtime
10. Restaurant Gift Card. Dinner, ice cream, coffee, cupcake- whatever suits their fancy! Give them the freedom of inviting whoever they wish: it may be mom or dad, it may be a grandparent, aunt or even teacher that they would like to spend more time with.
11. Dress Up Clothes. These do need to be limited, but  2 dresses and couple play silks can get hours and hours of play!
12. Books. We get a lot of books from the library, but there are some that I just can’t find there, or it takes us longer to read through. We have read through the entire Little House series, Narnia and are working our way through Shel Silverstein’s books. Be sure to pass the books on when you are done, so they don’t clutter up your home.
13. Clothes. When kids only have a certain amount of clothes, they often enjoy getting clothes. Make it a point to get something that fits their style. That may mean western clothes, super-hero, fancy dresses, etc.
14. Snacks. If your child is a foodie, they will love this! Some homemade granola or cookies made just for them, is a special treat!
15. Outdoor Supplies. If you are an outdoorsy family, giving kids their own fishing tackle or gardening equipment can be a big deal. It’s also something that gets left on the shelf in the garage, so you always know right where to find it.
16. Telling Time. The average child these days doesn’t know how to read analog, or finds it takes too long to think about it, so they search for a digital watch. Getting them a cool watch makes them want to be able to tell time on it. Boys, girls, and even teenagers can be excited about this.
17. Games and Puzzles. Games and puzzles are great activities for when kids have to be indoors. It’s a good practice to have individual quiet times during the day, and having a puzzle to sit and work on by themselves helps brain development and problem solving skills. Games teach a lot too! My kids talk about how they passed geography, just because we played Risk when they were little. Monopoly and PayDay have been popular and help cement math skills. Memory games are great for younger children.
18. Calendar. Many children like to know what is going on, what day it is, how many days until ____. These kids are the ones that want to know what the plan is for the day, in what order things will happen, what time friends are expected over, etc. They struggle with spur-of-the-moment and can be frustrating if you are a spontaneous parent. But celebrate it! These children have many strengths and make our world run smoother. Embrace their inner schedule and get them their own calendar. They can write down their own classes, appointments, play dates, etc. And if they ask you, send them to their calendar so they can get used to being in control of their own schedule. You can even schedule “spontaneous days”, so they know that something different will happen that day. Trust me, it will help them enjoy the spontaneous outings!

How To Encourage Creativity Through Play

I just came across this post that I believe is SUPER important and relevant in today's day and age. We always urge parents to encourage their children to expand their creative minds and imaginations. Because the days of make-believe and role play seem to be a distant memory, we have to create and enhance other fun ways to promote mind development. 

The Creative Child illustrates 5 ways to encourage creativity through play and we felt it was worth posting about. 

Each of us can make a positive difference in reversing this disturbing trend by providing free play and encouraging creativity. Here are 5 ways you can encourage creativity in the children in your life.

1.    Provide free, unstructured, child-directed play on a regular basis. Directed play, such as sports, isn't nearly as beneficial as when adults step back and let children take the lead. Allowing outdoor play as much as possible with other children will help them learn social, cognitive, creative, and physical skills that will be highly beneficial throughout their lives.

2.    Make creative spaces in your home. An art corner, a reading or writing nook, and a block station are a few ideas that will invite your child to be freely creative.

3.    Set up play invitations. Invitations to play can be as simple or elaborate as you want to make them, but the trick is to invite – not force – the child to engage in the activity. Allow the child to explore the materials freely and to create without adult direction. An example of a play invitation is play dough, googly eyes, craft sticks, pipe cleaners, and gems laid out attractively for easy access. 

4.    Encourage safe exploration and provide a myriad of objects and places to explore which engage all of your child's senses. Allow them to take reasonable risks and make discoveries. Say “yes” more. Invite children to dance in the rain, jump in puddles, play in the mud, and paint with their hands. The mess is worth the benefits. 

5.    Dramatic play lets children express their feelings. This often occurs naturally as children imitate adults, animals, and things around them. This helps them understand their world and how to deal with situations and problems. Stimulate their natural need for dramatic play with costumes and simple props.

Happy playing!! 

xox

Rules for Hiring a Nanny AND a Housekeeper

We have been receiving a slue clients coming to us looking for Nanny/Housekeepers.  Having a staff of ladies coming in and out throughout the week is becoming very unappealing for families and so they are choosing to combine a few jobs into one.  

This is a very doable task, however, there are a few guidelines we feel are necessary to note if this is something you are looking for. 

1) Be realistic.  Sorry folks, no one is able to clean a nursery at the snap of a finger like Mary Poppins.  Trust me, I wish it was possible.  Unfortunately, no can do.  SO, make sure your list of duties is clearly listed and laid out for your Nanny/Housekeeper.  She is going to need TIME to complete everything on the list while also taking care of your little one.   

2) Schedule properly.  We have found a great technique for scheduling is to have the Nanny be strictly "Nanny" for however many days you require, and then have her come in one day and be "Housekeeper".  This way, all of her attention is set on the task at hand and she is not overwhelmed.  Of course, when she has her Nanny cap on, she will attend to light cleaning and picking up but save the deep cleaning for a day when she can have minimal distractions.  

3) Quality.  Remember, hiring a Nanny/Housekeeper is a COMPROMISE.  This position attracts a different type of candidate.  You will probably not get the same level of education and certifications as a you would if you hired a professional Nanny.  Keep this in mind. 

4) Money.  In the long run, you will most likely be saving money by hiring a Nanny/Housekeeper.  You are combining a few jobs into one paycheck.  However, you must be sure to compensate your new hire properly.  Our average Nanny makes about 18-20 hourly as a part of this agency.  A Housekeeper makes around 25 hourly and a Chef, even more, at 45-65 hourly.  So you want to take all of these numbers into account when discussing money.  We have found that paying around 25 hourly (net) seems to work out well for our families as well as our candidates.  Always, ALWAYS properly take care of your help :) 

You are hiring someone to be a member of your family and we understand it can be a major decision and process.  Always ask detailed interview questions and go through the proper security measures to ensure safety and harmony when finding your next Nanny, Housekeeper, Chef etc.  Good luck on the search!! 

The Do's and Dont's of Quitting a Job

A friend once told me "you want to leave your job the way you want to start your new one". 

Leaving a job with no explanation, over text message and/or without a proper three days notice is unacceptable. 

There is no easy way to tell your employer you want to quit your job. However, burning bridges should NEVER be an option. One should leave a job with grace and poise. Whether you are working as a hostess at Olive Garden or a Senior Level Executive at a company, there are a few crucial do's and dont's to live by. 

FORBES has a brilliant list of important rules to follow when leaving a current job. If you can follow this list, you are certain to leave with a lasting relationship with your previous employer and hopefully get that excellent letter of recommendation for your next venture!

Articulating The Goodbye

Do: Briefly explain your reason for leaving. Career experts advise simply saying that you’ve accepted another offer that you hope will further your career.

Don’t: Offer too much detail about the new position or your decision to leave. Your manager may misinterpret it or use it to try to persuade you to stay.

Mastering The Countdown

Do: Provide as much notice as possible and as is required. Two weeks is standard, but be aware of company policy; some march workers out the same day. In your remaining time on the job, maintain your enthusiasm and work ethic.

Don’t: Fake your way through the time that’s left. Career experts warn that managers will remember your final long lunches, early departures and general distraction. If you want strong recommendations, keep up the same pace.

Handling The Counter

Do: Be prepared for a counter offer, and if uninterested, turn it down graciously. Career experts suggest saying that you appreciate the offer but feel the other position is in line with your career goals.

Don’t: Insult the employer by tossing out a line like “it’s too little too late” or “it’s not about the money.” You’d be wise to bite your tongue. At the same time, don’t forget why you’ve decided to leave or be lured back into an unsatisfying experience.

Refining The Tone

Do: In speaking with managers, colleagues and subordinates, always focus on the positive experiences you’ve had with the company.

Don’t: Burn bridges by being overly negative, lying or taunting colleagues with news of your next position.

Training The Replacement

Do: Agree to help hire or train someone for the position in your remaining time on the job. It’s ultimately to your benefit to enable a smooth transition, making it less likely that you’ll be contacted after you’ve left.

Don’t: Rewrite the training manual or give too much of your time over to it. Says career coach Yusuf Wilson, “It is critically important to follow through on agreements. Do not over promise, but over deliver.”

Fielding Questions

Do: Let your employer or replacement know you’re willing to answer a few questions that arise after you’ve gone. Workplace expert Lynn Taylor says two e-mails or phone calls would be standard, and it’s courteous to respond as best you can.

Don’t: Give away too much of your time. Taylor advises against becoming a free resource to your former employer and says, “You must set limits.” If questions continue, begin by slowing your response time and consider offering your services as a consultant.

Informing Clients

Do: Seek the guidance of a manager on how to inform clients of the transition. They likely will approve phrasing and an e-mail notification.

Don’t: Disregard contract clauses that bar you from taking clients or proprietary information with you. Your actions could come back to haunt you.

Remembering The Details

Do: Pay attention to details like e-mail and phone messages. Where will they be directed after you’ve left? Carefully organize all hard and soft files so that important documents will be easy to find.

Don’t: Leave your physical space in a mess. If you don’t want to carry something home, toss it. Otherwise you may cause unnecessary frustration or contempt.

Writing The Transition Document

Do: Organize and write down the status of all projects and responsibilities that you are accountable for, including the appropriate contacts on each.

Don’t: Verbally give a manager the rundown. Taylor advises that you put everything in writing, so that your replacement can easily navigate projects once you’re gone.

Wrapping Up Relationships

Do: Answer all questions and offer feedback to subordinates, and remember to acknowledge those you worked with before leaving.

Don’t: Run out on subordinates without making sure you’ve left them in a position to succeed or follow up with you.

31 Ideas for Summer Fun!

With the holiday weekend behind us, there is only about a month of summer left.  But a month can seem like fooooorever when the kids are home all day in this hot San Diego weather we have been having.  It is so important to keep the kids entertained with crafts, outdoor play, neighborhood friends but most of all keep their minds engaged and BUSY!

Here is a simple list of '31 days of summer fun' thanks to "Let Me Start By Saying" to use as a basic guide for ideas!  We love these creative projects and ideas for kids of any age and they truly are a great way to get the family up and moving together!

Day 1
Start summer scrapbooks! Prepare to cherish these memories forever! Celebrate by treating your kids to whatever they want at the ice cream truck!

Day 2
Neighborhood scavenger huuuuunt!

Day 3
Handmade apology notes to neighbors whose gardens were trampled/gnomes toppled by your kids during neighborhood scavenger hunt!

Day 4
Recycle everything kids collected during neighborhood scavenger hunt as punishment for fighting over who actually won the scavenger hunt because everything has to be a contest to them!

Day 5
Visit local farm for berry picking! Make your own juice and ice pops from fruit you picked! Calmly tell the kids "No" when they hear the ice cream truck, because you just made cold treats!

Day 6
Make your own stain-remover to save the clothes worn while working with the fresh fruit! Teach the art of folding and putting away clean laundry!

Day 7
Break out the stickers, markers and glitter to add the first week's activities to the scrapbook!

Day 8
Remove/black out all incriminating evidence the kids put in the first week's entries in their scrapbooks!

Day 9
Nature walk! Forget to bring enough water, so agree to buy stuff at ice cream truck even though you're a little surprised to see one out there in nature!

Day 10
Pajama day while you all recover from poison ivy contracted during nature walk!

Day 11
Look up at-home science experiments & try some at home! Turn up the radio when you hear the ice cream truck approaching!

Day 12
Look up Sew-Your-Own Eye Patch online and everyone can make one for the kid whose eye was damaged during the "At-Home Volcano" incident yesterday!

Day 13
Make your own chalk, then decorate driveway, then calm crying kids when passing summer rainstorm washes it all off the driveway before dinner!

Day 14
Use remaining homemade sidewalk chalk to decorate this week's page in scrapbooks!

Day 15
Make tie-dye shirts for the whole family. Let them use their own money at the ice cream truck when it comes by as you bring the shirts outside to dry.

Day 16
Field trip to the mall to buy everyone in the house new white underwear and T-shirts because the tie-dye stuff turned everything you washed last night a blotchy pink.

Day 17
Open summer care packages from Grandma filled with toys, books and other activities.

Day 18
Dump bins full of toys into garbage bags and bring them to a donation center since the kids prefer to play with empty boxes rather than the toys, books and other activities inside them.

Day 19
Beach day! Of course there's no way to avoid the ice cream truck out there!

Day 20
Spend the day cleaning sand out of car, garage, mudroom, hallway, kitchen, laundry room, 10 towels, six swimsuits, three changes of clothes per kid, the closet, living room and bedrooms.

Day 21
Break out the scrapbooks again for updating. Search house for a couple pencils and a sticker you got at the grocery store yesterday, since the art supplies have gone missing.

Day 22
Print out kid-friendly recipes, then go to Farmer's Market for ingredients. Spend the day in the AC teaching them to cook.

Day 23
Order in pizza while the kids clean out the fridge: at least two of them woke with a snotty summer cold, and you just know all the food they made yesterday is seasoned with infectious boogers.

Day 24
Go to Target with gift cards your kids have collected from birthdays. Let them buy whatever shutuppery they want. Discreetly flip off the ice cream truck as you pass it on the highway (IS IT STALKING YOU???).

Day 25
Take the kids to the park. Leave park after 400 rounds of "It's too hot," "I don't like my sandals" and "I want snack -- no, not THAT snack," and toss them all into the playroom while you hide, rocking in a corner.

Day 26
Turn on sprinklers. Drink while kids ruin the lawn. Stare at ice cream truck with the burning hellfire of eternal hate when it stops at the edge of your lawn, causing your kids to freak the freak out until you give in.

Day 27
Spend the day at the movie theater. Feed your pain over how long this month has been with Junior Mints and popcorn.

Day 28
Remember it's scrapbook day. Go back to bed while kids do... whatever. I just don't care anymore.

Day 29
Watch TV all day. On separate TVs. Egg the ice cream truck when it dares drive down your street again.

Day 30
Dig out all the iPads you hid four weeks ago. As long as the game is free, allow kids to "buy" as many as they want as long as they stay quiet.

Day 31
Pay whatever it takes to get all your kids in camp until the first day of school.

Craigslist Nanny Court Case

This is absolutely crazy!  It is even more insane that this is even an issue in our community.  Craigslist is a great tool for finding a wonderful piece of antique furniture or even a used television, but NOT for finding a nanny.

We cannot stress enough how important it is to go through the proper security and precautionary measures before hiring your nanny, housekeeper, tutor, whatever!  When trusting someone to watch after your most prized possessions, you want to make sure their background and previous work experience is clean and vouched for!

Here at Seaside Staffing Company, we pride ourselves on completing extensive background and DMV checks and require all of our candidates to be Trustlined through the state.  Piece of mind is crucial!

This article is an example of a worst-case scenario but should be read and learned from!

http://m.utsandiego.com/news/2014/jun/28/nanny-wont-leave-house/

COOL Summer Project!

HOW COOL IS THIS?!  What an awesome summer activity to do with the kiddos!  Thanks to "Shared & Remembered".  And it's so easy...

Just add water to ice cube trays and mix in some fun food coloring colors.  Freeze overnight and VOILA!

Take those goodies outside with some butcher paper, or even better, fabric, and you have created a cheap, easy, cool and engaging activity for your kids!

Let us know any ideas you have to keep the kids cool for summer!