Wednesday, June 16, 2010

Follow me to the new blog!

Hello News for Today's Nanny Followers and readers!

TLC For Kids, St. Louis' nanny and sitter service is pleased to announce its new and improved blog has a new location at http://www.tlcforkids.com/blog/! Don't miss tips for both nannies and families on fun things to do with kids, safety, nutrition, building relationships, finding the right nanny match, age appropriate activities, nanny family communication and more! If you are a St. Louis mom, or dad, a nanny, sitter, au pair or governess the TLC blog is a great place to be.

Bloggers, Sharon Graff-Radell, Stephanie Graff, owners of TLC and Kimberly Patterson and Jessica Friedman, professional Nanny Placement Counselors look forward to sharing the ins and outs of in-home child care with you!

Sharon Graff Radell
President, TLC For Kids, Inc.
7301 Tulane, St. Louis MO 63130

Sunday, June 13, 2010

Nannies in Saint Louis know how to stay cool

Hello TLC Nannies!
It seems we are definitely in full swing of summer in St. Louis and boy, it's hot! Now especially, it's important to remember to put on sunscreen, pack the bug spray and watch the weather when you are taking your charges anywhere outdoors in St. Louis.
I recently had a TLC family ask, "what kind of indoor activities are there for my children, if I don't want them only at the pool or outside this summer?"
To this I simply reply that St. Louis has a myriad of activities (INDOOR) that are fun, inexpensive or even free and a great way to beat the heat!
Some of these include the St. Louis Art Museum, St. Louis Science Center, both interactive and educational. For a small fee, take children to the Magic House (Kirkwood) or to the top of the St. Louis Arch (Downtown)! Become a tourist in your own city and grab an ice cream cone from Ted Drewes on the way home!
Just a few tips -- nannies, feel free to leave a comment and share some more cool ideas.

Thursday, April 22, 2010

St. Louis Nannies - Celebrate Earth Day this weekend!

St. Louis always has a lot of great activities around town for celebrating Earth Day! If you're free this weekend check it out!

Join your neighbors in celebrating the 40th Anniversary of Earth Day with two stages of live music, cultural performances, local food and hands-on activities for the whole family!
· Over 275 eco-artists, educational exhibitors, food vendors, businesses and organizations will share how they are living Earth Day Every Day, and how you can too!
· Held at Forest Park. Visit http://stlouisearthday.org for more info.

Thanks, have a great week(end)!

Thursday, April 15, 2010

FANTASTIC ARTICLE!=

Heroes of the Profession
By Michelle LaRowe
2004 INA Nanny of the Year, Author of A Mom's Ultimate Book of Lists and Executive Director of INA

For those in-home child care providers who have dedicated a lifetime, a career or even a short season of their lives fighting for respect and recognition for the work they do, the stories of irresponsible caregivers that make the nightly news (and are often given the title of nanny) is at times enough to make them want to give up their fight and wave the white flag of surrender.

Although the negative stories seem to linger in our hearts and minds forever, the good news is that we are seeing more and more heroic nannies, real life everyday nannies, featured on the nightly news. As they share their stories they're capturing America's hearts and impacting the image of who today's professional nanny is.

As in industry we must embrace and support these real life super nannies, because as we know (and as America is quickly finding out) to the children whom today's professional nanny cares for and to the families for whom they work, they are their everyday (and often unsung) heroes.

A professional nanny puts the needs of the children in her care before her own. In fact as a nanny with over 15 years of professional experience who has played an active role on the local, national and international level, I can say with confidence that a nanny who wouldn't risk their own life for the sake of their charges is the exception, not the rule. I can also say with confidence that the nannies whom I consider my colleagues and the agency owners whom I've developed relationships with over the years take their responsibilities extremely seriously and know that caring for a child as a professional nanny is more than a job. It's a calling to care. It's a commitment to excellence. It's a chance to make a difference.

It's for these reasons that for the past 25 years INA has honored one truly amazing real life super nanny with the INA Nanny of the Year Award. It's also for these reasons that in celebration of the dedication and commitment to professional excellence that many individuals have made to our industry INA is pleased to introduce the INA Harriet Grant Service Award Pin and the INA Service Award Pin programs. It will surely be a great time of celebration at the 2010 INA Annual Conference when the award receipients will be presented with their awards.

If you've missed out on the headlines, here's a look at two heroic stores of real life super nannies that have recently been featured in the news.


March 23, 2010 - Nanny Rescues 5 Year old Boy from Fire and Suffers Serious Burns

For information on donating to the Alyson Myatt Special Needs Trust Fund visit http://www.alysonmyatt.com/.

April 8, 2010 - Nanny Saves Infant After Lightning Strikes, Causing House Fire

Wednesday, April 7, 2010

Hi St. Louis Nannies!

Don't miss the 7th Annual Kids' Night on Broadway on Friday, April 9. Buy an Adult ticket & get a Kid's (17 and under) ticket FREE at the Fox box office only. 6:30 Pre-show activities: dancing, photos, crafts and temporary tattoos. Also Post-show cast Q & A.
HAVE FUN!


The Fabulous Fox - St. Louis - Shows
www.fabulousfox.com

Wednesday, March 31, 2010

Do Nannies Really Turn Boys into Future Adulterers?

Attention Nannies:
This article came from time.com and I think if anything can generate a discussion, this may be it! Already disputed in the article, any thoughts?
Jessica




Do Nannies Really Turn Boys into Future Adulterers?

Friday, March 19, 2010

Give and Get Program 5% goes directly to Big Brothers Big Sisters!~

Hi Nannies,

I received this in my email this morning and wanted to pass it along to you in case you were going to do some spring shopping this weekend! Hope you are all doing well and thanks for being great nannies




Do you want to update your wardrobe with the latest Spring fashions AND help kids? If so, you are in luck!

The coupon in this email is good for 30% off any in-store purchase at The Gap, Old Navy and Banana Republic fromThursday, March 18th through Sunday, March 21st.

The best part: 5% of your purchase goes directly back to Big Brothers Big Sisters and the children whose lives we impact!

Click here to access your coupon. (or copy and paste the link below into a new window browser if the link doesn't work)

Please spread the Spring cheer and forward this coupon to your friends, family and co-workers. The coupon works for in-store purchases between March 18th and March 21st.

A special thank you to The Gap, Inc. for inviting Big Brothers Big Sisters - and supporters like you - to take part in their Give and Get campaign!






* ***** http://www.gapinc.com/giveandget/bigbrothersbigsisters/?tr=y&auid=6087973



Have a great weekend,

Jessica Friedman
Placement Counselor
TLC for Kids, Inc.
314-725-5660 ph
314-725-7689 fax
jessica@tlcforkids.com
www.tlcforkids.com
www.tlcforkids.blogspot.com

Monday, March 1, 2010

New Q & A Blog for Nannies from TLC for Kids!

TLC's Personnel Director, Kimberly is constantly asked awesome questions by our temporary nannies and has now created a blog to promote discussion about pertinent issues and questions that arise while watching children. Such questions dealing with discipline and behavior or arts and crafts projects may be coming directly from TLC nannies in St. Louis, but are universal for nannies and sitters everywhere.

Please check out her blog and post a question or help answer one!

www.kimberlytlcforkids.blogspot.com

Have a great week! Jessica

Monday, February 22, 2010

'INA Nanny Salary and Benefits Survey'

'INA Nanny Salary and Benefits Survey'


St. Louis nannies - it's that time again! Click the link above and please take the survey from the INA regarding your salary and benefits, and look at last year's results to see how you compare to the rest of the country.

Wednesday, February 10, 2010

Valentine's Day celebration and tips for nannies!

Holidays are a great excuse to have fun with kids! Nannies definitely know this and even though Valentine's Day falls on a Sunday this year, Stephanie Felzenberg knows that celebrating with her charges is super fun and important. Nannies in St. Louis and even temporary nannies from TLC for Kids will be taking advantage of this wonderful holiday by baking or making Valentine's cards for busy parents. Below is just an example of what Stephanie will be doing with her charges - there are some great tips and ideas!

I'd love to hear from TLC nannies after the holiday to find out what fun activities, meals or crafts you did to celebrate Valentine's day! Post a comment!


Celebrating Valentine's Day with Your Charges
By Stephanie Felzenberg Nanny and Editor Be the Best Nanny Newsletter
www.bestnannynewsletter.com
Like many nannies I work Monday through Friday and won't see my charges on Valentine's Day, which is on a Sunday this year. So, I am celebrating the holiday with my charges today! I am not even spending my own money on gifts. Instead, I am just going to make some fun meals and yummy treats with the children. Here is what I have planned to celebrate Valentine's Day with the kids.


Breakfast:
I will start my Valentine’s Day celebration at breakfast. It’s easy to make pancakes, then use heart shaped cookie cutters to cut out a Valentine shaped breakfast. I plan to top the pancakes with strawberries. I actually prefer using a thawed bag of frozen strawberries with the juice than fresh strawberries if available. If the parents allow you to, cover the strawberries with plenty of whipped cream.



Lunch:
For lunch I am using the same heart shaped cookie cutters to make Valentine shaped sandwiches. First, use a rolling pin on the bread to make it easier to cut. Spread peanut butter and red jelly or jam on the bread. I don't recommend cold cuts as they are difficult to cut with a cookie cutter. Use cookie cutters to make the sandwiches fun heart shapes.


Dinner:
For dinner, I plan to let the children make their own heart shaped pizzas. First I form the dough into hearts. I fill little bowls with tomato sauce, mozzarella cheese, and other toppings the children like. I let them add their toppings to the dough and cook it then serve with a salad.

Treats:
If the children love baking you can make a sugar cookie recipe from scratch or it is fine to use pre-packaged cookie dough when making Valentine’s cookies with children. Roll the dough out on a non-stick surface. Add a touch of flour to the rolling pin before you try to roll the dough or it will stick. I let the children place the cookie cutters on the dough to cut out Valentine’s shapes. After the cookies cool, allow the children to decorate with white and pink frosting and sprinkles.


Cupcakes are easy to make with a box cake mix instead of making the recipe from scratch. Red velvet cake is great for Valentine’s cupcakes, but any flavor will work. Mini muffin pans create bite size cupcakes for the family to enjoy after dinner. Decorate those cupcakes with creamy icing. White icing can be turned into pink with a bit of red food coloring. Allow the children to stir the white icing and food coloring so they can see the frosting change colors. Use candy sprinkles and cinnamon red hot candies to decorate the cupcakes.


Drinks:
For Valentine’s Day, serve the children red juice. You can find 100% fruit punch juice in any grocery store.

Wednesday, January 27, 2010

Attention St. Louis Nannies - Tips for Wintery Weather from Parents as Teachers!

Hi St. Louis Nannies! As you know our winter weather can range from cold to freezing! Here are some tips from Parents as Teachers that will help you keep your charges safe and warm this season.

As you know, providing age appropriate activities with the children in your care is an important part of your responsibilities as a caregiver. While indoor play can continue as usual, outdoor play can certainly be affected by the cold temperatures, but don't let that put a halt to all outdoor fun with the children in your care!

By taking a few precautions and bundling up right, your child can still enjoy the great outdoors safely this winter, says the National Center for Parents as Teachers.

TIPS FOR PLAYING IT SAFE IN THE COLD:

* Dress your child in layers, rather than one heavy garment.

* Your child should wear a hat and mittens; add boots if it's wet or snowy.

* Add one more layer on your child than on you.

* Make sure the outer layer is water-resistant.

* Your child should drink water before and after play to stay hydrated.

* Change clothes when they become wet.

* Don't play outside if temperature is 10° F or colder.

* Keep young babies inside in very cold weather.

For more parenting tips like these, visit www.ParentsAsTeachers.org.

Stay Warm!

Monday, January 25, 2010

St. Louis get behind the Dependent Care Tax Credit proposed increase!

For more than a year the International Nanny Association (INA) has been lobbying Congress to increase the federal Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit (CDCTC).

Today I'm pleased to report that President Obama plans to endorse this proposal in his State of the Union address this week! Here's a link to the story on CNN:http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2010/01/25/obama-to-propose-almost-doubling-child-care-tax-credit/#more-86862. While Obama's proposal isn't as comprehensive as INA's proposal, it's definitely a step in the right direction.

If you haven't already done so, I urge you to contact your member of Congress and Senators to support increasing the CDCTC. There is information and a sample letter on INA's webpage here:http://www.nanny.org/GOV.php. There are 3 bills in Congress -- let's get behind them!

Take care,
Sharon Graff-Radell
President TLC For Kids
Vice President International Nanny Association

Thursday, January 14, 2010

Financial Planning Advice for Nannies from the BestNanny Newsletter!

A New Year, A New Financial Beginning for Nannies
What Nannies Should do with Their Holiday Bonus
from: http://bestnannynewsletter.blogspot.com/
The start of a new year is a great time to take control of your financial life.

During the holidays we discussed what parents should pay nannies for holiday bonuses and The Wall Street Journal quoted us on the topic as well. We also talked about how nannies can give holiday gifts on a budget.

If you followed our advice you did not rely on your holiday bonus to purchase gifts. If you worked hard and the parents rewarded your good work with a holiday bonus, don’t spend the extra income frivolously. Use the extra money to pay-off debt, build an emergency fund, make some investments, or even give to charity.

Pay-Off Debt:
First, if you have outstanding credit card debt use the money to pay-off as much debt as possible. Determine which card has the highest interest rate. That is the debt you want to satisfy first. We will discuss how to do reduce debt in more detail next Tuesday.

Build an Emergency Fund:
Once you have paid-off your credit card debt then look for the best possible savings account. Financial planners have been warning Americans to build a three-to eight-months worth of emergency cash in case they get laid-off. If something unexpected and expensive were to happen, that's the cushion that will soften your blow. The savings is for emergencies (like if you are unemployed or sick) only. Visit this blog again on Wednesday when we will discuss building an emergency fund.

Make Retirement Investments:
If you have no outstanding debt and already have a savings account for an emergency fund then you should consider making some investments. An Individual Retirement Account (IRA) is a personal retirement savings plan available to anyone who receives taxable salary during the year. Visit us again on Thursday we will discuss retirement investments more thoroughly.

Give to Charity: If you're already debt-free, have fully funded your investment accounts, and have your emergency funds are in order, you've got it made. There are plenty of deserving, but under-funded, charitable causes that could use some support. Stop by next Friday to learn how to get tax write-offs when donating to charities.

To learn how to manage your money in more detail stop by again next week when we will discuss gaining control of your finances in more detail.

Did you get what you expected for your holiday bonus? What did you do with your holiday bonus?