Last Minute Baking Ideas for Kids!

Great Blog for Cooking and Baking with Your Children!

I have not seen such cute ideas in a while!  This Blog is great, as it accesses many different ideas from all over the web.

Happy Valentines Day!!

NANNY POACHERS ON THE PLAYGROUND AND AT PRESCHOOL

After being a nanny for as long as I have, I love finding articles that have been published that have to do with “Nanny Poaching”. Nanny poaching is a term used when one mother aggressively approaches an awesome Nanny on a playground, or at preschool drop off and starts throwing a barrage of questions about her relationship with her family and if she might toy with the idea of leaving them to work for her for maybe shorter hours and more pay.

Being an educated, highly energetic, knowledgeable childcare provider, I am easy to spot on the playground, because I am the one who genuinely LOVES what I do and it’s obvious as I am on al the equipment and playing “Barista” with my charges under the climbing apparatuses. I love my little ones, I am loyal, and I am not leaving. My children mean more to me than anything because I am not only their nanny, but I am the glue that binds the family together.

Serious, professionals will not consider leaving for we are loyal and forever interested. Some of my relationships have stemmed over 20 years with some of my charges. According to Pat Cascio, owner of Morningside Nannies in Houston, “Nannies are very loyal and cannot be stolen if they feel respected and cared about. If they feel overworked, underpaid they’re going to look elsewhere.”

This comes down to parents and nannies discussing pay and finalizing Salary requirements as well as potential benefits. As we know families must stay within their budgets, they also need to remember that Nannies need to feel secure in their positions and continuity of care for heir children will follow in a natural progression.

According to Emily Dills, owner of the Seattle Nanny Network, She says she adheres to these guidelines when it comes to her own nanny, because treating the nanny as a member of the household and not an employee is imperative. She maintains a professional boundary, while at the same time, the nanny knows and understands the value she brings into the household dynamic. Although the nanny’s job is a position of “service”, it is important to treat her respectfully as a member of the household and not an employee.

So to be an effective family in a nanny’s world, treat her with love, kindness and respect, as it’s the easiest way to keep her away from those parents that are trying to poach your nanny at preschool or the playground.

Dara B. Green
President, Seaside Nannies Inc.

Seaside Nannies Inc. was founded by Dara Green, nanny of over 25 years and preschool teacher in the San Diego community. Seaside Nannies has been created to serve the needs of each family and nanny to create relationships that last.

Alanis Morrisette and her Nanny "Woa's"

I have seen so many, SO MANY posts coming in through my "google alert page about Alanis and her nanny issues, as her nanny decided that after working 12 hour days and "feeling" like she was held captive/hostage, and that she wasn't treated properly, seems a bit difficult for me to wrap my head around...

The reason I say this is because first, the media loves information like this.  It encompasses a scandalous story, hyped up with ridiculous falsities and makes the public think that this poor person was taken advantage of and that a celebrity like Alanis Morrisette should pay some serious retribution for the way she treated her nanny...

Well, here is the thing we do not know yet...  Where did Alanis get her nanny from?  What Agency did Alanis go through?  How were this nanny's references checked and was there a nanny/family contractual agreement?  Was the nanny paid on the books or in cash?  What were the nanny's expectations of this position when she entered into the agreement?  Why did this nanny not communicate with her employer that she was uncomfortable?  What actually was the agreement?  If Alanis took the extra precautions with her lawyers and a nanny agency (as we are assuming that as well) why wasn't she given the proper information as to how to hire a employee in the state of California, and that all nannies are considered domestic employees and are paid with a W2?

There is just too much nonsense with media stories such as this and it makes me crazy because the media just gives the public enough information to get spun up and usually makes the victim look like sad sort that had been taken advantage of turned into a hero for suing the pop star, but yet, we really do not have enough information to truly hold anyone accountable for the absolute truth in what happened and why it got to this point.

One of my MOST Favorite Blogs

.....for Creative Ideas for Children

Sunhats and Welliboots has been a brilliant blog that I have been following over the last few years.  You can find wonderful and creative ideas for children that really allow exploration and discovery.  If you like cutting edge creativity for children and imaginary things that can become realistic, you will love this blog!

Earth Friendly crafts for Preschoolers

Mrs. Goff's Pre-K Tales

https://www.facebook.com/MrsGoffsPreKTales

Ideas for inspiration!

Happy Hooligans

Happy Hooligans is in Canada and they always have the best ideas for children.  Check out some of these wonderful ideas that encompass the “whole child”.  Everything from physical activities and creative ones to sensory tables and water play!  You can also find them on Facebook!

Does Your Child Need Professional Help?

Behavioral problems are not easy to deal with as a parent, but can you imagine how your child must feel?  First hand experience, I have worked with Dr. Deborah Pontillo for the last 8 months.  I am biased, as I think she is outstanding in her field.

She is conveniently located in the Hacienda Building on High Bluff in Carmel Valley and has helped out our family dynamic in many ways.  She was highly recommended to me from a personal friend and  I have actually seen a few of my clients going in as I have been leaving, so I have a feeling she is also doing something special for those families as well.  Seek her out here at SDKIDSFIRST.COM.  She is spectacular in her field.

MANNY??!

7 Reasons to Hire a Manny September 9, 2012 By lewis Leave a Comment Celebrities like Madonna and Gwyneth Paltrow have contributed heavily to the rise in visibility of the “manny,” or male nanny, since they began to publicly praise the ones who have cared for their own children. While male nannies were once a trend largely adopted by Hollywood’s upper crust, the trend has started trickling down into the realm of everyday families. There are a variety of reasons why you might want to consider a manny to meet your childcare needs; here are seven of the most common.

Providing a Male Role Model – Single working mothers or families headed by two women may prefer a male nanny over his female counterparts, simply to provide a strong male role model that may be otherwise missing from a child’s life. By hiring a qualified and capable manny, you’ll be ensuring that your sons have a positive role model and that your daughters benefit from the presence of a male figure in her life. Your Child Has Special Needs – Kids with special needs, especially those with mobility problems, may benefit from having a male nanny whose physical strength allows him to more easily move and maneuver around wheelchairs or other bulky specialized equipment. Some children that have developmental disorders such as an autism spectrum disorder or Down’s syndrome may even feel more comfortable with a male childcare provider, depending upon their individual preferences. If you know that your special needs child is more secure and happier in the presence of men than women, hiring a manny is a great way to ensure that those needs are met. Safety and Security – Generalizations aside, intruders, kidnappers and other predators may be less likely to make an attempt on a child whose caregiver is male, even if that manny isn’t particularly large or muscular. Parents with security concerns or worries about the safety of their home and children while they’re away may feel more comfortable knowing that their manny serves as a crime deterrent simply by doing his job. He’s the Most Qualified Applicant For the Job – If you’ve interviewed a dozen nannies and none fit the bill, but have encountered a manny with impeccable references, a strong work history, and plenty of experience, the reasons to hire him far outweigh any societal concerns that might move you to opt for a less-qualified female applicant. You’re Not Interested in Traditional Gender Stereotypes – Some socially progressive families may hire a manny simply to underscore the flippant attitude about traditional gender roles; other families may just be utterly disinterested with such things. If you fall into either camp and you’ve managed to find a manny who fits the bill, hiring him might be the wisest choice you’ve ever made. In addition to providing your children with quality childcare, you’re also providing them with a household where such things are of no concern; rather than growing up with a stilted worldview, your children will be able to accept non-traditional gender roles and careers in a way that their peers may have find difficult to grasp. Your Boys Are Exceptionally Into Contact Sports – Though there are definitely a high number of athletic, physically active nannies in the hiring pool, a manny may be more suited to your needs if you have children that are looking for a constant teammate and coach who loves male dominated sports. For families with older boys who participate heavily in contact sports, having a practice partner or someone to help lug the gear into the boys dressing room can be an added bonus. You Have a Child With Behavioral Problems – Because men can often project an air of authority with little effort, some kids that have behavioral problems may find it more difficult to challenge a male nanny and are thus inspired to exert more self-control than they might under the care of a traditional female nanny. While this certainly isn’t always the case, it may be worth a try if you’re struggling with your child’s behavior. Gwyneth and Madonna may have been among the first to put mannies in the eye of the paparazzi, but they definitely didn’t start the trend. Even sitcoms have seen their share of iconic mannies: Who’s the Boss and Charles in Charge centered around the daily lives of their manny protagonists, and even the sitcom juggernaut Friends got in on the manny action briefly, with Freddie Prinze, Jr. making a cameo. Olivia Lewis

10 Things a Nanny Will Never Tell You

This was sent to me this morning from gonannies.com, which I thought was worth posting for my audience to read, as it conveys a lot of good information to parents when having a nanny help you in the care of your children and your family. RESPECT if the key word here, as if there is respect and its mutual there is a high probability your relationship will and can last forever. Here are 10 THINGS YOUR NANNY WILL NEVER TELL YOU...

Its worth the read!

...Random Acts of Kindness!

This is an awesome Blog! Rainbows Within Reach owner Debbie Clement, has wonderful ideas that have to do with everything from Music and movement to Art and teaching children positive and important behaviors. One of those ideas she posted yesterday to her blog called the Kindness Wreath. Its a wonderful idea to bring children together with their peers at school and another great way to link the Community with school, however I also thought it was a wonderful Idea to use in your home if you have multiple children, like we do!

Hearts in Nature

How many hearts can you find in nature this weekend with your children? Check out Slow Family Online and go out and enjoy the weather today!

100 Ways to PAINT!!

Great Blog to follow if you have children under the age of 5. Giving the children different things to paint with, including their own bodies is important for their development in a multitude of ways from spacial, gross and fine motor, to just getting a "feeling" out, to self-esteem building. PAINT, PAINT, PAINT with your kids!!!

Seaside Nannies on Facebook

Seaside Nannies announces The Facebook page is up and going! Please visit us on Facebook to get some awesome, incredible, creative ideas to engage your children with!

We are really excited to share with San Diego and Orange County the incredible web blogs we have found that references all kinds of creativity and ideas for children to enhance their perception of the world around them!

Giving Back to the Community with Your Children

There are many things to do in San Diego with your children to "give back" to the community. I thought I would take a few minutes and list a few ideas below:

San Diego food Bank

Sign on San Diego

San Diego YMCA

San Diego's Coalition for Children

GREAT New Website for Parents and Children

I found that Red Tricycle has fantastic recipe's for children as well as activities and fun outings!

Great website we highly recommended! Check it out!

Nanny Poachers on the Playground and at Preschool

After being a nanny for as long as I have, I love finding articles that have been published that have to do with “Nanny Snatching”. Nanny snatching is a term used when one mother aggressively approaches an awesome Nanny on a playground, or at preschool drop off and starts throwing a barrage of questions about her relationship with her family and if she might toy with the idea of leaving them to work for her for maybe shorter hours and more pay.

Being an educated, highly energetic, knowledgeable childcare provider, I am easy to spot on the playground, because I am the one who genuinely LOVES what I do and it’s obvious as I am on al the equipment and playing “Barista” with my charges under the climbing apparatuses. I love my little ones, I am loyal, and I am not leaving. My children mean more to me than anything because I am not only their nanny. But I am the glue that binds the family together.

Serious, professionals will not consider leaving for we are loyal and forever interested. Some of my relationships have stemmed over 20 years with some of my charges. According to Pat Cascio, owner of Morningside Nannies in Houston, “Nannies are very loyal and cannot be stolen if they feel respected and cared about. If they feel overworked, underpaid they’re going to look elsewhere.”

This comes down to parents and nannies discussing pay and finalizing Salary requirements as well as potential benefits. As we know families must stay within their budgets, they also need to remember that Nannies need to feel secure in their positions and continuity of care for heir children will follow in a natural progression.

According to Emily Dills, owner of the Seattle Nanny Network, She says she adheres to these guidelines when it comes to her own nanny, because treating the nanny as a member of the household and not an employee is imperative. She maintains a professional boundary, while at the same time, the nanny knows and understands the value she brings into the household dynamic. Although the nanny’s job is a position of “service”, it is important to treat her respectfully as a member of the household and not an employee.

So to be an effective family in a nanny’s world, treat her with love, kindness and respect, as it’s the easiest way to keep her away from those parents that are trying to poach your nanny at preschool or the playground.

Dara B. Green

President, Seaside Nannies Inc.

Seaside Nannies Inc. was founded by Dara Green, nanny of 27 years and preschool teacher in the San Diego community. Seaside Nannies has been created to serve the needs of each family and nanny to create relationships that last.

THE LEGAL REVIEW

The Legal Review

Bringing the Law to Life for the Household Employment Industry

___________________________________________________________________________________

A Complimentary Resource from © 2009 Breedlove & Associates, LLC.
Breedlove & Associates
In an effort to strengthen your business practices and steer clear of legal trouble, The Legal Review will share findings from relevant legal cases. We've found that the easiest way to gain a practical understanding of complex tax and labor law is by reviewing real-life situations. These stories will illuminate potential legal landmines for your agency and/or your clients, and more importantly, show you how to avoid them.
Felony Tax Evasion -- United States v. Randall & Mary Miller

There is a common perception that the government does little to enforce household employment tax law - and even when they do, the punishment is nothing more than a slap on the wrist.

The truth is that state unemployment agencies and the IRS have become increasingly aggressive about tax collection - and using severe punishment as a deterrent - because the gap between taxes due and taxes collected (known as "the tax gap") has become untenable. While financial penalties are still the norm, this case demonstrates that the government is willing to also levy prison sentences in certain circumstances.

The Mistake

A family paid their nanny "under the table" from 1994 to 2002. After an audit of their personal income taxes in 2003, the Millers pled guilty to one count each of conspiring to defraud the United States by failing to file household employment tax returns.

The Law

An employer is required by law to pay employment taxes to the state and the IRS, in addition to withholding taxes from their employee's pay. Failure to do so is considered felony tax evasion.

The Mess
Once convicted, the Millers were required to make financial restitution (back taxes plus penalties and interest for each of the years PLUS the employee's portion of social security and medicare taxes that should have been withheld). They were given five years of probation, conditioned upon meeting the restitution agreement and future tax obligations.
In December 2006, the probation officer filed a petition to revoke the Millers' supervised release because they had failed to make payments against their restitution agreement and also failed to file their personal tax return for 2005. This revocation meant the Millers would go to prison.
Wanting to avoid prison, the Millers filed an appeal with the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals. The appellate court upheld the original ruling so Mr. and Mrs. Miller are now serving prison sentences of 14 months and 13 months, respectively.
The Outcome

After years of stressful and time-consuming audits, depositions and court proceedings, the Millers have begun serving their sentences. When they are released from prison in mid-2010, they'll be jobless, heavily-indebted felons. Worse, since they each held a professional license which is revoked upon felony conviction, both will have far less earning potential when they re-enter the workforce. For their children's sake, let's hope they're ultimately able to work themselves out of this financial hole.

How the Whole Thing Could Have Been Avoided

The Millers are similar to many other professional families who employ nannies. Hearing that many people pay their nanny "under the table," they rationalized their non-compliance as a victimless crime - and a necessary evil in order to provide quality care for their children. What makes their situation unique is simply that the amount of tax debt grew to a point where it overwhelmed their ability to pay. The accumulation of nine years of employer tax debt - along with the ensuing legal fees, penalties and interest - literally broke the bank.

Had they paid legally from the beginning of the relationship, the tax costs would have been infinitely more manageable - especially when you factor in the ability to take advantage of tax breaks for childcare expenses. As the Millers have learned (unfortunately, the hard way), paying a nanny illegally is a highly risky decision with potentially devastating consequences.

For more information about household employment tax and labor law,
please visit us at www.breedlove-online.com or call us at 888-BREEDLOVE (273-3356).
We're here to help our agency partners provide their candidates and clients with information, tools and resources that improve the employment relationship, eliminate legal risks for all parties, and generally increase the professionalism of the industry.

New Connections!

After working with some of San Diego and Orange County's finest childcare providers, and some of the most incredible families, I have been able to dig my heels into the childcare industry on a different level and in doing so, I have had great opportunities in meeting some of the most incredible women entrepreneurs in this field.

One San diego local, Stacey Ross, has decided to take on San Diego on by creating a website to inform the community of all the bargains out there for moms in San Diego. She is incredible and has been featured on national and local television.

Please check out one of the best webisites out there for moms who are looking for a bargain! And for nannies to get great ideas to help mom out!

www.sandiegbargainmama.com

Nanny Advice! Any Suggestions?!

Seaside Nannies!!
I need advice and who better to come to!!!

The almost 6 year old I look after is having some issues at the moment. She tells her parents she is anxious at and about school. She tells them her teacher is loud and yells and that she wants her mother to stay with her in school so that she doesn’t have to worry so much.

Now this would be fine if only it was true. She never exhibits any anxious behavior to me and is very positive about school. She does well with her peers and does above average work.

I had a meeting with her class teacher this afternoon and the teacher said that she thinks the behavior is really on display fro her parents. She believes my little charge does not spend enough time with her parents and has told them this. As you can imagine, this did not go down really well! The teacher has suggested to the parents do a “nightly diary” with her, and talk positively about her day with her, however, her parents say this is pointless.

I’m sure you have seen this happen in many cases but my little charge has two personalities… one for school and me, as she is calm, quiet, confident, polite and a delight. However when it comes to her parents, she turns into a little lunatic. Suddenly, she turns into a temper tantrum throwing, attention seeking, whiny, loud and obnoxious needy little thing upon her parents arrival home for the day.

My questions is: Do I keep trying to work with the parents and offer my suggestions, or do I just let it go and let them deal with it on their own, since they are not heading my suggestions anyway.

I think the world of my little charge and only want her to be happy, but am I worrying too much?

Yours truly,
Nanny Diana