APNA Approved Agencies Blog

Whether it be purchasing a new television or hiring a new Nanny, you want to make sure you’re getting the best. Searching for a Nanny on your own can be a rigorous and stressful process, so using a company like Seaside Staffing Company can help alleviate a lot of the hassle.

APNA stands for the Association of Premiere Nanny Agencies. This association’s mission is to ensure that you will be working with the best of the best in the Nanny industry. In order for a nanny agency to get the stamp of APNA approval, they must go through arduous background searches. APNA even goes to the lengths of creating a personal relationship with the nanny agencies in order to get a better understanding of their company and establish a lasting connection.

When choosing a nanny agency to correspond with, it’s always a good idea to double-check that they are APNA certified. This should give you peace of mind, and allow you to find the nanny of your dreams with ease! 

~ Sara Luckham

Seaside Staffing Company 

Social Media Specialist

Video Games

They come home from school, kick off their tennis shoes, throw their backpack on the kitchen table and run up the stairs as fast as they can to plug into the X-Box. Habits like this may seem harmless, but day after day, kids who spend their afternoons glued to the TV are slowly letting their childhood slip by. Aren’t some of the fondest childhood memories made while playing in the front yard with the neighborhood kids? It is crucial that children are able to have time to develop social connections, and when the video games get in the way, it could place a damper on social skills. If their only interaction is with a controller and TV screen, they will become withdrawn from the world. Sadly, patterns like this make it seem as though video games have become a major part of the daily lives of children today.

So, are videogames actually addicting?

The answer is yes. According to an addiction counselor, when a video game is being played it causes the brain to release endorphins that produce a high similar to that experienced by a drug addict. Addiction is quickly associated with substances, but addiction can also be found within certain behaviors. Kids that suffer from Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder are found to be at a higher risk for forming an addiction to the games.

A few of the warning signs of an addiction are:

·      Using the video games as an escape from reality

·      Using the video games to change their mood

·      Lying about the amount of time spent gaming

·      Felling symptoms of withdrawal when not playing the games

·      Spending an increased amount of time playing

·      Grades and homework are no longer a priority

The video gaming industry has kids hooked. They can control every aspect of their own virtual world. I guess when Mom said that, “video games will turn your brain to mush,” she wasn’t kidding. Of course, these games are ok in moderation, but when gaming becomes priority, the children are missing out on crucial developmental opportunities.

~Sara Luckham

Social Media Specialist

Seaside Staffing Company

Sources:

http://www.webmd.com/mental-health/addiction/features/video-game-addiction-no-fun

http://www.psychguides.com/guides/video-game-addiction-treatment-program-options/

http://www.video-game-addiction.org/video-game-addiction-treatment.html

Beautiful Letter One Mom Wrote To Her Little Boy...

We found this lovely post on Huffington Post from a mother to her little boy. This message can be applied to so many different families, situations and environments. Let kids be kids! Some say that children are conditioned to gravitate toward certain gender cues and association, while this may be true, this mother will not stand for it. She wants her little boy to explore, experiment and do whatever it is that brings him joy! We love this message and what it supports.

See the full post HERE 

I have a little boy... 

A little boy who likes to wear tutus. A little boy who likes to dance. A little boy who loves to paint and a little boy who hums happy tunes all day long.

A comment came. 

A comment too riddled with prejudice for me to repeat. A warning to me to be careful. A warning to not encourage such things or I'll regret it later.

And so to this person I say nothing. For my words to her will change nothing. But to my little boy I say this, for my words can change everything.

I say dance. And not just hip-hop dancing -- wear that blue tutu that you love and twirl and twirl.

I say wear whatever clothes you want. Wear blue because you like blue, not because it's a boys' color. And if you like pink, well, wear pink. And if you want to wear your sister's dress, then heck, go ahead and do that too.

What's that? Well of course you can wear fairy wings. Oh, and a firefighter's hat too? Sure. And you know what? I'll wear one too. And we'll all head out for a walk, dressed in our glad rags, laughing and giggling.

Shall we play with clay today, Mommy? Sure. Shall we add some sparkly beads? Sure. And why not? Are pretty things that sparkle only to be enjoyed by girls?

Do you want to play soccer, Mommy? Sure do, buddy. But let's play it because it brings you joy, not because it's a boys' sport. And maybe after we finish we can go inside and finish that tea party we were playing this morning?

I have a little boy. 

He is a boy. He is a child. He likes to play. He builds blocks and plays house. He plays soccer and dances on tippy-toes. 

He really couldn't care less if he uses a pink toothbrush or a blue one. And neither could I.

And neither should you.

I have a little boy.

Creative Crafts With Cardboard Tubes!

We all know they are everywhere! So, why not make a creative use out of them? Parents are always looking to use regular household products to create inexpensive, fun and entertaining projects for their children. Thanks to our good friends over at Happy Hooligans we have found this list of 22 ways to use these otherwise disposable products! 

22 Things to Make with Cardboard Tubes:

Click on the highlighted descriptions to see a full tutorial for each craft or activity.

Fall Decorations with Cardboard Tubes:

Use a cool paint process to make some fall napkin rings.

Make a turkey table topper for your Thanksgiving table.

Round up some fabric scraps and a few crafty odds and ends for some adorable toilet roll owls.

Crafting for Halloween:

The kids will love making a quirky monster mobile out of cardboard rolls.

A spooky crow or owl is a very fitting decoration for Halloween.

Our toilet roll mummies help little ones develop their winding and wrapping skills.

Winter Toilet Roll Crafts:

These cardboard roll snowmen are just the cutest little things, aren’t they?

The hooligans LOVE playing with our toilet roll Nativity set.

Cardboard Roll Christmas Crafts:

Fleece, batting and a cardboard roll makes an adorable Santa Claus.

Make a set of cute reindeer ornaments for your Christmas tree.

This snowman ornament would be great for the tree or as a gift topper.

Spring Crafts:

Summons up some April showers with a colourful rain stick.

These Easter chicks in paper nests are just too sweet.

Peeps!  Everyone loves Easter peeps, right?

And don’t forget about the Easter bunnies!  Check out our paint chip bunting too!

Bracelets and Cuffs:

Make some simple toilet roll cuff bracelets.

Anklets can be made using cardboard rolls and colourful duct tape.

Skill Building Activities:

Make some cool 3-D structures with tubes and a low-temp glue gun.

Toddlers love to drop things through our cardboard Drop Zone.

Arts and Crafts:

Create a unique piece of art for a kid’s room, toy room or classroom.

Turn a long cardboard tube into a torch.

Cardboard Tubes for Play:

In a pinch, a sturdy kitchen roll, makes an excellent bubble wand.

Make a set of simple “stand up” paper dolls.

Well?  What do you think?  Did we inspire you?  Now, it’s your turn to inspire me!  If you have a favourite cardboard roll craft or activity, I’d love to hear about it!

Now, I’ll bet you’re wondering how you can re-use all those Keurig K-cups you have stashed too!  Don’t worry!  We’ve got you covered: 25 Ways to Re-use Your K-cup pods.

The Legal Review by Breedlove and Associates - Employment Taxes

A Complimentary Resource from © 2014 Breedlove & Associates, LLC. Breedlove & Associates

When it comes to taxes, the tiniest of details can be the difference between smooth sailing and a giant headache. With the back-to-school hiring rush in full swing, now is a great time to familiarize yourself with a few household employment details (also known as the "nanny taxes," although the payroll, tax and labor laws apply to all types of domestic workers employed by a family). This particular household employment case highlights how a family's personal income tax return became much more complicated after the wrong tax returns were filed.

The Mistake

The Richmond family hired a nanny last year and utilized a local CPA to handle their tax return filings. The CPA made all the family's quarterly state tax payments on their behalf and prepared their year-end documents, but also made quarterly federal tax payments for the family using Form 941.

The Law

The use of Form 941 is for remitting federal quarterly tax payments for commercial businesses. But household employers are not commercial businesses, and according to IRS Publication 926, they should make estimated tax payments using the federal 1040 Estimated Payment schedule. The only exceptions to this rule are if the family already owns a business as a sole proprietor or if they operate a for-profit farm. These estimated payments cover the Social Security & Medicare (FICA) and federal income taxes withheld from an employee as well as the employer's share of FICA and federal unemployment insurance taxes. The taxes are remitted to the IRS in mid-April, mid-June, mid-September and mid-January using Form 1040-ES.

The Mess

When the Richmond's CPA filed their personal income tax return and Schedule H this year, the IRS showed the family owed additional taxes coincidentally equaling the amount of the taxes they sent in on their 941 returns. The family contacted the IRS and an agent informed them of their error in using Form 941. Unfortunately, the Richmonds were already past the 1st quarter of 2014 when they spoke to the agent and their CPA had filed another Form 941 on their behalf. 

The Outcome

The family ultimately had to file amended 941 returns for all of 2013 and the 1st quarter of 2014 with instructions to transfer those tax payments to their personal taxes using their Social Security number. This allowed the Richmonds to amend their 2013 personal income tax return and get on the 1040 Estimated Payment schedule for the rest of the 2014. While ultimately the family's CPA had all the family's payroll and tax information correct from the beginning, the mistake of filing a Form 941 instead of Form 1040-ES resulted in hours of additional work and a frustrated client. 

Household employment is a highly-nuanced section of the tax code with numerous exceptions and exemptions that don't apply to commercial enterprises. The state and federal complexities, combined with the unique labor law obligations, can create risk for families and liability for their advisors. That's why we were created as a comprehensive "nanny tax" specialist. Founded in 1992, we provide families in all 50 states with an affordable, "no-work, no-worry" solution to household employment payroll, tax and HR obligations.

Quick Tax Facts:

$1,900: Annual wage threshold for Social Security & Medicare (FICA) reporting in 2014

$1,000: Quarterly wage threshold for Unemployment reporting (some state thresholds are lower)

$2,500: Total childcare tax breaks available for families

1.5: Overtime rate of pay when work exceeds 40 hours

$0.56: Federal mileage reimbursement rate in 2014

$7.25: Federal minimum wage (some state rates are higher)

$2: Approximate daily cost to have HomePay by Breedlove handle all payroll and tax compliance duties with no work and no worry.

Falling Into Fall!

Well...summer has come and gone, school is back in session, temperatures are cooling down (well, sort of), and fall in approaching! Here are some great fall-time crafts for your kiddos to try out to get in the spirit! 

Here at Seaside, we are HUGE on arts and crafts. We love getting creative and discovering out of the box ways to make something simple into something unique!

Thanks to Happy Hooligans (LOVE her blog!) we found 5 easy to make, tree crafts for your preschoolers or school aged kids :) Take a look.

Wallpaper sample, buttons and tissue paper! 

Food-dyed popcorn and twigs add a sensory element to this tree!

Tissue paper and twigs

Sandpaper, sponge and finger printing tree!

Paint swatch "leaves" and bark! 

Soft, Stretchy Play Dough With Only 2 Ingredients!

Some of my favorite crafts as a child were painting, baking and PLAY DOUGH! Holy moly this stuff never gets old. I stumbled upon this recipe earlier this week thanks to Laughing Kids Learn and I am about to go run to the grocery store to try it out! This looks like the easiest, simplest (and yummy smelling) play dough recipe I have ever seen! I would recommend this for ages 2 and up and always with an adult watchful eye. I love crafts that can be done simply by using ingredients we already have in the house! Talk about convenience! 

All you need is:

• 1 cup cheap-0 conditioner (any brand works!) 
• 2  cups cornflour/cornstarch
• Make it colorful with food coloring or glitter! (optional)

Just grab a big mixing bowl and add the cornstarch to the conditioner. You may need to tweak the recipe depending on the brands used, but just keep adding until you get the desired consistency. 

And voila!! You have just created the silkiest, softest and stretchiest play dough ever! Congrats :) 

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!!!