Mixed-Age Play

By Kelly Miller

In one of my previous nanny jobs, the girls I cared for played together wonderfully although three years apart in age. They really enjoyed being together. The oldest taught her younger sister a lot, and vice versa. In fact, their mother once remarked to me that she is thankful I taught her girls to be friends.

Children can learn a lot when they play with children of a variety of ages.

Lilian Katz, director of the Educational Resource Information Clearinghouse, said, “The more competent kids teach younger children, and the younger kids can learn by example.” She cites that younger children often engage in more complex activities than they might otherwise.

Escape to the Parks

Three Rivers Park district is a vast and varied park system in the metro area. The parks and trails are calling, and so are the special events that are planned throughout the year. You can also search for specific activities for any interest. Check out their website to plan your next great adventure!
http://www.threeriversparks.org/

Make It Project: Using Resources Wisely

I enjoy projects that allow you to recycle items and also be creative. Here's one idea that is nanny tested and child approved. Enjoy!


Block Party

Children love building and creating. You don't need fancy commercial block sets to have fun building. One year for Christmas I decided to make a block set for all the children to share and enjoy. They loved this set so much they wore them out.

REMINDER ABOUT KEEPING BUSINESS AND HOUSEHOLD PAYROLL SEPARATE

Here's a good reminder from our friends at Breedlove & Associates. If you have questions remember that Breedlove will be happy to answer them. See their phone and website information at the end of this article.

We've had several families call recently after having made the mistake of putting their nanny on the company payroll. Understandably, they've been VERY frustrated after making a well-intentioned mistake that -- with just a little guidance -- would have been easy to prevent.

Here's a quick reminder of the law so it doesn't happen to any of you:

Nannies from the Heartland

wishes you

HAPPY 4TH OF JULY!

IRS Mileage Reimbursement Increases as of July1

The IRS has announced an increase in the mileage reimbursement beginning July 1, 2011 through to the end of the year. In recognition of recent gasoline price increases, the IRS made this special adjustment for the final months of 2011. The IRS normally updates the mileage rates once a year in the fall for the next calendar year.
For more information the link below will bring you to the article on the IRS website.
http://www.irs.gov/newsroom/article/0,,id=240903,00.html?portlet=6

Wanted: Nanny Plus . . .

When Families Need More Than Child Care

     It's a challenge when families want more than a highly qualified experienced child care provider. They want a nanny who can be a household manager, a nanny who can be a housekeeper, a nanny who can be a personal assistant - they want a nanny who wear a number of hats and still take great care of their children.
     Busy families need reliable help on a number of fronts so it's not surprising that they look to their nanny for some of this help. Most experienced nannies have the skills needed to assist with some household duties along with caring for children. This becomes part of the normal nanny routine - children's laundry, children's meals, keep kitchen clean and tidy, dishes, organize and pick-up toys, maintain children's bedroom areas, sweep kitchen floor after meals, vacuum playroom, etc. There are nannies who have developed other skills over the years that allow them to include additional duties to help their employer family.