You are an experienced parent; you already have 1 or more children, so what could an NCS possibly offer you that you don鈥檛 already know?

This is a great question actually, and one we hear more often than you might think, so we wanted to Share with you the top three things an NCS can offer an experienced family like yours.

1. Time with your current child or children

We know that sounds odd, but think back to your first child鈥檚 arrival for a minute. Their arrival dominated everything in your life. You were lucky to take a shower or grab a quick snack. And while you are much more experienced now, another baby is going to recreate much of that same environment again. Except that now you have a 3-year-old who does not understand why their parents don鈥檛 have as much time for them, is too tired to play tag or cannot toss them in the air like before. And so they are hurt and confused. They might even be feeling jealousy or resentment towards this new arrival and not have the words to articulate their emotions. While your new baby certainly needs you and will definitely consume much of your time, having an expert to care for them while you spend some much-needed time with your first child can really allow you to be present in that moment. And, when it is time to feed or care for your new baby, they can often also distract your current child with an invitation to help or to read a short story.

2. Opportunities to learn

Even the most experienced parent may not be up on the latest evidence-based information or products. Or maybe, without professional help the first time around, you might even have incorrect information from well-meaning friends or family members. An NCS who is up on current information, familiar with current products and well-educated around best practices can share that information with you so that you, as the parent, can make the best decisions for your family. Whether it is around sleep, feeding, safety or other baby related topics, a quality NCS stays in the know and can help you learn also.

3. Sleep

Every new parent, whether they have 1 child or 5, wants and needs sleep. And having a qualified caregiver in your home to handle night wakings, diaper changes and to bring the baby to you for feeding can make that possible. Science clearly shows us that sleep is key to recovery from any medical procedure or event that is taxing on the body. Birth, in all its forms, falls into one or more of these categories. And knowing your baby is being well cared for, having their needs met and brought to you for feedings can allow you to rest and recover much faster and better than you would if you did not have the help.

Our agency is committed to helping your new or expanding family be the best they can be; let us help you find support and care for you and your new baby and make this wonderful life transition go smoothly.

1. Training

These days, most quality NCS are trained through an education company, but not all are, and that does not mean they are not qualified. But overall, keeping up with information and current evidence-based best practices can be challenging, so an NCS with quality training is a wise consideration. Our job as an agency is to not only know which education companies are offering quality training, but also how to evaluate each individual candidate to ensure they have a good knowledge base and the skills to serve your family well. We ask a lot of questions in our vetting process to ensure they are ready to do just that.

2. References

Even though we as an agency check the references of all of our candidates, we also strongly encourage you to also speak to a few of them. This will help you get a good sense of who this candidate is and if their personality and skills are a good mesh for your family. As an agency, we work hard in this area also, selecting those candidates that we feel are the best fit for your family.

3. Know your needs

Often new families come to us without a true understanding of their needs because they often don鈥檛 know what an NCS can really do for them. But we do! So, use the intake time with our agency as an opportunity to help us get to know you and what you want. Filling out our questions in-depth really helps us narrow down the selection of candidates so you often only have to spend time interviewing 1-2 people before you have a great fit!

4. And finally, trust your instincts

A candidate may look fantastic on paper, and likely is, in fact, fantastic. But that doesn’t always make them fantastic for you. And oftentimes your instincts will pick up on that, even when you consciously do not. (This also works the other way around; you often recognize the perfect candidate immediately.) So we strongly encourage you to pay close attention to those feelings, and see if you can determine鈥攁re these just nerves, or do I have some real underlying concerns. You鈥檝e made the decision to hire an NCS for your family, and knowing you are going to have professional support when your new baby arrives is great and such a relief, but then the next question arises? What should I look for? How do I select the right candidate? And that is where we come into the equation for you as an agency. Let鈥檚 take a look at a few of the things you should look for and how we can help you sort this all out.

Overall, you will find that when you work with an agency, much of the work is done for you and your job really is just to ask yourself 鈥渨ho fits me best?鈥� and then trusting that. There is an exciting time coming for your family and we are proud to be a part of It.

What are sensory activities?

Sensory activities engage the senses: sight, sound, touch, taste, and smell, to stimulate children鈥檚 exploration, learning, development and independence. Examples of sensory activities include playing with different textures like sand, water, slime, or listening to music, exploring different scents, painting with different colors and materials, and tasting different foods.

Why are sensory activities good for development?

These stimulating activities engage multiple senses and aid in development of sensory processing, which is important for learning, communication, and overall development. Sensory activities can also improve attention, concentration, and fine motor skills. One study showed that encouraging sensory play with fruits and vegetables may encourage preschool children to taste new foods!

Here are some Nanny-tested sensory adventures to try out:

Sensory bins

Fill a plastic bin with materials such as rice, beans, or sand and let your kiddos explore with their hands and senses.

Obstacle courses

Create a fun obstacle course in the backyard or living room using pillows, cones, and other household items.

Sensory bottles

Fill a bottle with water and items such as glitter, beads, or small toys. Seal it up and let them shake and watch the items move around.

Messy play

Let them get messy with finger painting, shaving cream play, or even making slime.

Sensory Walks

Take a walk and encourage them to use their senses to explore their surroundings. Ask them to describe what they see, hear, smell, and feel.

Scent Station

Set up a station where they can smell different herbs, spices, or essential oils and guess what they are.

Sensory 鈥淚 Spy鈥�

Play a game of “I Spy” where children have to find items of different textures around the house or outside.

Remember to always supervise during sensory activities and choose materials that are safe for the child鈥檚 age group. As a Nanny, it’s important to provide early learning activities that engage the senses and promote learning. Not only will the kid鈥檚 have a blast, but their parents will be thrilled as well!

Dogs are some of the most lovable creatures on earth, and meeting one can be an incredible experience for both children and adults. As the weather turns pleasant and people spend more time outdoors with their beloved pets, it鈥檚 important to learn how to approach dogs safely and respectfully for a positive and enjoyable experience. Here are some tips to help you introduce your little ones to our furry friends and develop a lifelong love and appreciation for them.

1. Ask for permission and approach calmly.

First and foremost, always ask the owner for permission before approaching a new dog. Some dogs may not be comfortable with strangers, and the owner will be able to tell you whether it鈥檚 safe to approach or not. If the owner gives you the green light, approach the dog slowly and calmly. Avoid running or making sudden movements that could startle the dog. As you approach the pet, offer the back of your hand for them to sniff. This will allow the pet to get to know your scent and help them feel more comfortable around you. Once the dog has had a chance to sniff and get to know you, you can then pet the dog on either the chest or shoulder 鈥� not the top of the head.

2. Pet gently and avoid sensitive areas.

Teach children how to pet dogs gently, using slow and steady strokes. Children should avoid pulling on the dog鈥檚 ears or tail, as this can be uncomfortable or even painful for the dog. Encourage them to show kindness and respect towards dogs by petting them in a gentle and considerate manner.

3. Respect a dog鈥檚 personal space.

Teaching children to respect a dog鈥檚 personal space, especially when the dog is eating or sleeping, is incredibly important. They can learn to recognize when a dog is showing signs of discomfort or fear, such as growling or baring its teeth, and know to keep their distance.

4. Supervise interactions between children and dogs.

Adults should always supervise interactions between children and dogs, especially when the children are very young. Even the most well-trained dog can be unpredictable, and children may not know how to interpret a dog鈥檚 signals. This will help prevent accidents or mishaps that could result from a child鈥檚 natural curiosity.

Fostering a positive relationship between children and dogs begins with understanding and implementing safe and respectful interactions. By following these tips, we can ensure that both children and dogs have enjoyable experiences together. These guidelines not only promote the well-being of our furry friends but also cultivate a sense of empathy, responsibility, and lifelong love for animals in children.

Practicing yoga with little ones, especially toddlers, can be a great way to slow down while still using your body, and being active. It promotes physical activity, improves flexibility and balance, enhances cognitive and emotional development, and helps them learn mindfulness and relaxation techniques at a young age. While yoga can be a quiet, meditative practice, feel free to tailor the mood for you and your family. It can be a quiet reflective practice if that鈥檚 what works best, but feel free to be silly and engaging, put on music, count your breaths together, learn the names of body parts, make faces or even take a 鈥渨oof鈥� when you get to downward facing dog. Have fun, and embrace wiggles as they come!

Start out in Savasana.

Start out by lying on your back. Have your little one set their hands on their tummy and encourage them to feel their hands go up and down with each breath. Stay here for a few breaths.

Rock up!

Next, while on your back grab onto feet or ankles, and try and rock back and forth a few times until finally landing in a seated position on the floor.

Child鈥檚 Pose

From here, get on all fours. Show your toddler how to place their hands under their shoulders and their knees under their hips. Root your hands and feet down into the ground, encouraging them to feel the floor. Push your body back while extending your arms so your forearms, forehead, shins, and tops of your feet rest on the floor. Feel free to use a small pillow or towel to support your head. Encourage your little one to fill their belly while they breathe and notice how it feels nice.

Cat & Cow

Press yourselves up back on all fours, hands, shins and tops of feet rooted in the ground. For cow position, take a deep breath in, raise your gaze toward the sky and send your belly down to the ground for a gentle back bend. Moving into cat position, exhale as you drop your head and send your spine up towards the sky. Cycle through this as many times as feels right in your bodies. Model for your kiddo how to keep breathing through it鈥攊nhale as you lift your head, exhale as you drop your head.

Downward Facing Dog

When you鈥檙e all ready to move on, while still on all fours, tuck your toes, press your hands into the ground鈥攔eminding your toddler how strong their arms are! Lift your knees off the ground, and straighten your legs as you extend and straighten your arms. Send your hips up toward the sky. This is downward facing dog. Count together as you take five breaths in this position. Feel free to use props as needed, maybe a stack of books under your arms or maybe pedal your legs as you settle into the pose. Wiggling is natural and welcomed!

Bound Angle Pose

From here, find yourselves a seated position on the ground. Let your feet find each other, and hold onto your ankles. If this is uncomfortable, try putting something under your knees. It  could be a small towel or any kind of cushion you have handy. Notice which parts of your  bodies are making contact with the floor. Ground yourselves through those parts, and feel the support of the floor as you breathe in and lift through the top of your head, neck and spine.

Namaste

As you wrap up, take a second to remind your little one how well they鈥檝e done during this yoga practice! Take a deep breath, as you prepare for the rest of your day. 

It’s easy to use positive language when praising toddlers for milestones or expressing love, but what about those moments when you need to say “No!” or “Don’t do that!” in a constructive way? Here are some tips to help you stay positive in the heat of the moment while maintaining consistency.

If you鈥檝e ever tried telling a toddler 鈥淣o鈥� you may know firsthand it鈥檚 a toss up whether or not they鈥檒l heed your advice. There鈥檚 a reason for this. 鈥淣o鈥� is a more complex concept than many realize. Even though toddlers use the word 鈥渘o,鈥� .

When you think about it, 鈥渘o鈥� and 鈥渄on鈥檛鈥� aren鈥檛 concrete directives. Adults and older children are able to take the word 鈥渘o鈥� as a command and do the opposite, but toddlers are not wired that way yet. Intrinsic to their nature, toddlers are little explorers constantly becoming more and more independent. They are wired to 鈥渄o鈥� as opposed to 鈥渘ot do.鈥�

Remember that toddlers are constantly learning and developing, so it’s important to be patient and understanding as they navigate the world of language. Toddlers don鈥檛 process words as quickly as adults do. Their budding language skills are forming, so With that in mind, giving a young toddler a negative command like 鈥渟top it鈥� isn鈥檛 really setting them up for success.

Giving toddlers concrete directives can be a great way to help them understand what you want from them. Here are a few more examples of how you can give toddlers a solid direction to better communicate them:

Instead of saying鈥�

“Don’t play rough,” you can say “Use kind words and gentle hands.”

“Stop running,” you can say “Walk slowly and stay safe.”

“Don’t make a mess,” you can say “Put your toys away when you’re done playing with them.”

鈥淒on鈥檛 touch that,鈥� you can say 鈥淜eep your arms by your sides.鈥�

鈥淣o, don鈥檛 destroy the train set your sister just put together,鈥� you can say 鈥淟et鈥檚 work together to take care of each other鈥檚 toys.鈥�

Remember to keep your language simple and clear, and to use positive language whenever possible. By giving your child specific instructions and positive reinforcement, you can help them make the right choice in a safe and supportive environment.

By giving them a positive action to take, they are more likely to follow your instruction. Additionally, toddlers respond well to praise and positive reinforcement. When they do something you want them to do, make sure to give them plenty of praise and encouragement. This will help them feel good about themselves and encourage them to continue behaving in positive ways. It’s also important to remember that toddlers are constantly learning and growing, so try to be patient and understanding as they explore the world around them.