Posts Tagged ‘finding babysitters in St. Louis’
Tips for Tackling Your Fussy Eater
Toddlers can be fussy eaters who refuse to try new food at least half of the time. Approximately half of all toddlers fit this description, so it is no wonder that food issues are a source of stress for parents.
Establishing healthy eating patterns is important to avoid problems such as obesity and eating disorders later in life. Various strategies can help your child accept a wider range of foods. It may be necessary to offer food to your child as many as 10 different times before they choose to eat it. The problem is, many parents get frustrated and 
give up before the fourth or fifth try.
Try to make food fun. Colorful foods like carrot sticks, raisins, apples, grapes, cheese sticks and crackers can all be fun and healthy choices for your growing toddler. Explain to them that eating good food is important so they’ll grow big and strong, and how it will help them run faster and play longer.
Children learn behaviors from their parents. If you restrict yourself to a narrow range of foods, your child will take notice and mimic your caution. Don’t limit your child’s food variety to only those foods you prefer. It may be that your child’s tastes are different to yours, and perhaps you are simply serving them foods they don’t happen to like. Try to set a good example and try a variety of foods in front of your child. It could motivate them to do the same.
If your child seems healthy and energetic, then they are eating enough. If you are still concerned, keep an eye on how much food they actually eat over the day. Children tend to graze constantly, rather than restrict their eating to three meals per day like adults. You may be surprised how those little handfuls and snacks add up. For further reassurance, check your child’s growth and weight charts, or check with your child’s pediatrician.
Try not to worry, and remember, that unless a child is ill, they will eat. Children are very good at judging their hunger and fullness signals. Try to stay relaxed about mealtime and offer your child a wide variety of foods, and most importantly, remember to set a good example by trying a wide variety of foods yourself. You may discover you and your toddler share a new found favorite food!
The professionals at TLC Family Care personally assist nannies, babysitters and families in St. Louis, Atlanta, Chicago, Nashville, Memphis, Charlotte, Miami and Orlando to find the right childcare arrangement. Our mission is to provide a safe and personalized approach for families and caregivers to connect with each other that is not an internet search. TLC has worked with families, nannies, sitters, newborn care providers, and tutors for over 35 years and looks forward to working with you! To find great nanny and babysitting jobs visit us at tlc@tlcforkids.com or Call 314-725-5660.
How to Interview Summer Nannies
School years are busy. Mornings are spent rushing to catch the bus or drive carpool. Days are spent
running errands, taking kids to practices, helping with homework, and putting the kids to bed so we can do it all again tomorrow.
I can not wait for summer! This summer the kids and I are going to relax and unwind with the help of a summer nanny. Having a summer nanny is a great idea for families with school age kids. Summer nannies provide fun, reliable, and consistent in home childcare. No more rushing around in the morning! Having a nanny come to the house will take away the stress of the morning routine, and maybe, let us all sleep a little later 🙂
The interview is an extremely important step in the hiring process. The interview can be held, at your home, at a coffee shop, the library or park.
When interviewing a nanny, rely on your intuition and observations when evaluating the nanny’s responses, mannerisms and appearance. A parent’s impression of a nanny candidate can be a telling sign if the nanny is a good fit for the family.
During the interview, parents should first inquire about the nanny’s background, experience, training, driving record and other skills related to working with children. Then, by asking open ended questions about the nanny’s interests, after work activities, and child care philosophies, parents can better evaluate how compatible the nanny is with their family.
When describing employment expectations, parents should be specific about job duties, hours, salary, time off and other practicalities of the position. Seeing and hearing the candidate’s reaction can provide valuable clues to how the nanny will feel about the position.
Parents should also observe the nanny with their children before offering the nanny the position. Take note of how the nanny interacts with the children and how the children respond to the nanny.
When deciding which nanny to hire, carefully weigh all the information gathered about each candidate. Check each nanny’s references (even if they come from an agency) and interview the top candidates a second time before offering the position. Parents should listen to their intuition and remember that the nanny will be a part of their family’s life. They should ask themselves, “Does this candidate seem as though she will fit in well with our family and work well with our children?”
The professionals at TLC Family Care personally assist nannies, babysitters and families in St. Louis, Atlanta, Chicago, Nashville, Memphis, Charlotte, Miami and Orlando to find the right childcare arrangement. Our mission is to provide a safe and personalized approach for families and caregivers to connect with each other that is not an internet search. TLC has worked with families, nannies, sitters, newborn care providers, and tutors for over 35 years and looks forward to working with you! To find great nanny and babysitting jobs visit us at tlc@tlcforkids.com or Call 314-725-5660.
Top 5 things for parents to do with children in and around St. Louis in the Spring
We’ve rounded up our Top 5 favorite places to visit this spring in and around St. Louis. What’s your favorite? 
- Visit the Missouri Botanical Garden: The Botanical Garden is a beautiful place to explore in the Spring, with over 79 acres of stunning garden displays. There are plenty of activities and events for kids, including scavenger hunts, butterfly releases, and interactive exhibits.
- Explore the St. Louis Zoo: The St. Louis Zoo is a great place to take kids of all ages. They have a wide variety of animals to see, and many exhibits are interactive, such as the stingray pool and petting zoo.
- Go to Grant’s Farm: Grant’s Farm is a historic landmark and a fun place for families to visit in the Spring. It’s free to enter and explore, and there are plenty of things to do, such as feeding the goats and seeing the exotic animals.
- Take a ride on the Gateway Arch Riverboat: Enjoy a scenic boat ride on the Mississippi River and take in the sights of the Gateway Arch and St. Louis skyline. Kids will love the adventure of being on a riverboat, and parents can relax and take in the views.
- Attend the St. Louis Science Center: The Science Center is a great place to take kids who love to learn and explore. There are plenty of interactive exhibits and hands-on activities that make learning fun, plus a planetarium and an OMNIMAX theater.
These are just a few of the many activities available in and around St. Louis in the Spring. With so much to do, there’s something for everyone to enjoy!
The professionals at TLC Family Care personally assist nannies, babysitters and families in St. Louis, Atlanta, Chicago, Nashville, Memphis, Charlotte, Miami and Orlando to find the right childcare arrangement. Our mission is to provide a safe and personalized approach for families and caregivers to connect with each other that is not an internet search. TLC has worked with families, nannies, sitters, newborn care providers, and tutors for over 35 years and looks forward to working with you! To find great nanny and babysitting jobs visit us at tlc@tlcforkids.com or Call 314-725-5660.
5 Fun Ways to Make Your Easter Egg Hunt Exciting for Kids
Wanting to make your next Easter Egg Hunt fun for the kids? Check out these five ways to make your next hunt something the kids will enjoy!
- Glow-in-the-Dark Easter Egg Hunt: Paint the Easter eggs with glow-in-the-dark paint and hide them in a dark room or outside at
night. Give each child a flashlight to help them find the eggs. - Puzzle Piece Easter Egg Hunt: Hide puzzle pieces inside each Easter egg and challenge the kids to find all the pieces and put the puzzle together.
- Scavenger Hunt Easter Egg Hunt: Create a series of clues or riddles that lead the kids from one egg to the next until they find all the eggs.
- Color-Coded Easter Egg Hunt: Assign each child a specific color of egg to find, and only hide that color egg in their designated area. This makes the hunt more challenging and competitive.
- Treasure Map Easter Egg Hunt: Draw a treasure map with clues that lead the kids to the hidden Easter eggs. Kids will love following the map and finding the treasure at the end.
These are just a few fun ways to make Easter egg hunting more exciting and engaging for kids. Be creative and have fun!
The professionals at TLC Family Care personally assist nannies, babysitters and families in St. Louis, Atlanta, Chicago, Nashville, Memphis, Charlotte, Miami and Orlando to find the right childcare arrangement. Our mission is to provide a safe and personalized approach for families and caregivers to connect with each other that is not an internet search. TLC has worked with families, nannies, sitters, newborn care providers, and tutors for over 35 years and looks forward to working with you! To find great nanny and babysitting jobs visit us at tlc@tlcforkids.com or Call 314-725-5660.
Creatively Entertain Kids At Home
When hiring a babysitter to supervise their kids, parents don’t want someone to come over and watch TV. They want a sitter who will interact and play with the kids. If you do a good job and you and the kids have fun the parents will request you back next time. 
“Play is often talked about as if it were a relief from series learning. But for children, play is series learning. Play is the work of childhood.” Fred Rogers
Here are a few ideas you can do next time you are babysitting.
- Play dress up: collect fun hats, jewelry, clothing and props for the “dress-up box.”
- Play cards and board games: don’t forget favorites like Hi Ho Cherry-O, Old Maid, Go Fish, Checkers, etc.
- Have a puppet show: make puppets out of lunch sacks and construction paper.
- Dance: turn up the tunes from Sesame Street, Radio Disney, and Wee-Sing for a toe-tapping good time.
- Make jewelry using yarn and a variety of pasta shapes. You can paint them too.
- Paint a shirt, hat or tote bag using fabric paint.
- Have a treasure hunt hide things around the yard or house and have the children find them.
- Make musical instruments use spoons, pots and pans, paper towel rolls, paper plates and dried beans… and MARCH!
- Build a “fort” using boxes and old blankets.
- Make homemade holiday cards cards will all be more special when made by the little ones.
The professionals at TLC Family Care personally assist nannies, babysitters and families in St. Louis, Atlanta, Chicago, Nashville, Memphis, Charlotte, Miami and Orlando to find the right childcare arrangement. Our mission is to provide a safe and personalized approach for families and caregivers to connect with each other that is not an internet search. TLC has worked with families, nannies, sitters, newborn care providers, and tutors for over 35 years and looks forward to working with you! To find great nanny and babysitting jobs visit us at tlc@tlcforkids.com or Call 314-725-5660.
Top 5 Nanny Sites You Should Be Following
The nanny world is full of resources and information for nannies, parents and agencies. We’ve pulled together 5 of our favorites that we think you should be checking out for the information they provide.
- Nanny Magazine. This is the only publication for nannies featuring advice, industry news, insights and inspiration. They offer free articles and a subscription with subscriber only content.
- International Nanny Association. The longest running nanny organization serving the in-home child care industry, INA bring together all aspects of this industry – nannies, newborn care specialists, parents, agencies, training programs and service providers. With Recommended Practices for Nannies to the INA Nanny Credential Exam, the INA has it covered. Check out their resources for Parents and their annual conference, happening May 2023 in Orlando.
- Sproutable provides continuing education for nannies and parents including Positive Discipline, and guidance from newborn to teens.
- Nanny Care Hub. NCH is the site of industry advocate and veteran nanny Lora Brawley. Check out the blog of General information, Parenting and Nanny Life.
- Practically Perfect Podcast. The musings of two veteran nannies, Lora Brawley and Sue Downey, they bring hot topics in the industry straight to listeners everywhere.
The professionals at TLC Family Care personally assist nannies, babysitters and families in St. Louis, Atlanta, Chicago, Nashville, Memphis, Charlotte, Miami and Orlando to find the right childcare arrangement. Our mission is to provide a safe and personalized approach for families and caregivers to connect with each other that is not an internet search. TLC has worked with families, nannies, sitters, newborn care providers, and tutors for over 35 years and looks forward to working with you! To find great nanny and babysitting jobs visit us at tlc@tlcforkids.com or Call 314-725-5660.
Tips on Finding a Nanny
Almost all busy, working parents need a nanny to take care of their child and, sometimes, their 
household chores. Finding a nanny is not an easy thing to do. TLC is here to help navigate hiring a nanny. Before you start your search, here are some tips to get you ready:
When finding a nanny, you need to identify the number of hours that you will require the nanny to work. If you are that busy and if your schedule frequently changes, you should make sure that you will inform your nanny beforehand if you need her to stay with your child overtime so that she can make the necessary adjustments in her personal life. The nanny may feel taken advantage of if you are constantly requiring her to work more than the hours you agreed upon when you hired her.
It is important that you decide on the pay right from the start. Consider the amount that you can afford before finding a nanny. Be sure to take into consideration taxes, overtime, and overall costs associated with having a third person in your household. Ask people you know who have nannies how much pay they provide so you have a realistic basis. Live-in nannies get pay plus room and board. Some families allow nannies the use of a car and other perks such as gym membership, paid vacations and educational stipend.
When finding a nanny, you also need to consider the fact that you will become an employer so you need to take care of completing all of the necessary legal employment documents required by the government and pay all necessary taxes, Medicare and social security. Both you and your nanny will have to pay certain taxes. TLC can recommend a tax service to help you in your nanny employment.
In finding a nanny, it is important that you and the nanny are in the same page when it comes to disciplining your child so make sure to discuss with your prospects what is acceptable and what is not and be sure that all of your terms are understood. Also discuss goals for your child, educational aspects, and whether your nanny can take the child/children places outside the home – library, play groups, parks, zoo, etc.
Nannies require time off like any regular employee. At the same time, make sure to pay your nanny for overtime work or of you asked her to work during her supposed time off. If there is a need for the nanny to travel along with you and your family, you should cover all of her expenses plus her regular pay.
All the items we’ve discussed should be laid out in a work agreement signed by both the parents and the nanny.
When you make an offer that shows a prospective nanny that you respect their profession and value their services enough to give them honest pay and good working schedule, then finding a nanny should come easy.
TLC can help when it comes time to hire your nanny. We meet each caregiver prior to placing them, and work with you and the nanny to find the best fit. Give us a call and find out how we can help you find the best caregiver for your family.
The professionals at TLC Family Care personally assist nannies, babysitters and families in St. Louis, Atlanta, Chicago, Nashville, Memphis, Charlotte, Miami and Orlando to find the right childcare arrangement. Our mission is to provide a safe and personalized approach for families and caregivers to connect with each other that is not an internet search. TLC has worked with families, nannies, sitters, newborn care providers, and tutors for over 35 years and looks forward to working with you! To find great nanny and babysitting jobs visit us at tlc@tlcforkids.com or Call 314-725-5660.
Gifts to Give Your Nanny this Christmas
It is not too late to find a great gift for your nanny or babysitter. Your nanny takes care of your precious kids. It is time to give her something to let her know how much you appreciate her.
Below find our Top 10 for 2022 when it comes to Nanny Gifts! 
- Holiday Bonus
- Homemade gifts from the kids
- Extra paid time off
- Membership to a gym or club she enjoys
- Monthly Allowance toward Health Insurance
- Entertainment tickets (movie passes, concert tickets, sporting events)
- Updated phone, I-pad, computer
- Reimbursement for continuing education or seminar expenses
- Items from the Nanny Tees, AliceJoy Creations Etsy Shop, My Nanny Gift, or Nanny Years shops.
- Gift Cards – favorite store, Amazon, local bookstore, coffee shop, spa!
You can check out our Pinterest boards for cute craft ideas the kids can make too!
The professionals at TLC Family Care personally assist nannies, babysitters and families in St. Louis, Atlanta, Chicago, Nashville, Memphis, Charlotte, Miami and Orlando to find the right childcare arrangement. Our mission is to provide a safe and personalized approach for families and caregivers to connect with each other that is not an internet search. TLC has worked with families, nannies, sitters, newborn care providers, and tutors for over 35 years and looks forward to working with you! To find great nanny and babysitting jobs visit us at tlc@tlcforkids.com or Call 314-725-5660.
Making the Holidays more Meaningful
With the holidays looking much different than years past, families are getting creative in how their holidays will be spent this year. We have put together some ideas on 
how you can make the holidays more meaningful for all.
Giving Back
One of the best ways to make the holidays more meaningful is to give back. Make baked goods or a meal for someone in need, or just to let someone know you’re thinking of them. Donate winter clothing and toiletries to a local shelter. Buy gift cards for first responders and essential workers to purchase meals at local restaurants. Adopt a local family hit hard this year, and purchase gifts and groceries.
Get Creative
Set up a family craft night and everyone make holiday decorations for the tree and around the house or make for others as gifts. How about a family gingerbread house making contest? Make holiday cards for essential workers and senior citizens who can’t be with their families this year. Make someone’s holiday special letting them know you are thinking of them.
Holiday Traditions
Create new holiday traditions this year! Maybe a family scavenger hunt? Or how about a family sing-along via Zoom? Have each family member write down what they are thankful for this year and place on the tree. On Christmas morning, everyone reads their contribution.
Family connection
We may not be able to be with extended family in-person this year, but we can still be together. Set up Zoom calls or Facebook video chat. Set up games you can play from afar. Have your children interview their grandparents and get to know more about when they were children and share memories of holidays they remember. Record and write these down to share in years to come. Place photos of family members who cannot be with you on the tree, around the table, or make a festive display.
Celebrate a Different Culture
Consider celebrating another culture this holiday season. Research how other cultures celebrate the holidays – traditions, foods, songs, language, and clothing. Embrace one, or more different cultures into your holiday celebrations this year.
Furry & Feathered Friends
Decorate the outdoors with handmade bird feeders made of seeds, pinecones, and peanut butter. How about a garland of popcorn and apple and orange slices? Set out apples and carrots for other wildlife to enjoy a holiday feast
Record Your Memories
Take all the photos and video you have taken this year and create a holiday greeting for friends and loved ones. Let each family member make a special message for loved ones and share. Email to friends and family to enjoy and encourage them to do the same.
While the holidays will be different this year, new and exciting traditions and memories can be made. Happy Holidays from all of us here at TLC Family Care.
The Benefits of Nanny Care
Our guest blog comes from Sue Downey, Nannypalooza
Happy National Nanny Recognition Week. It is a week of celebrating in the nanny community. Last year I wrote a blog post about what NNRW means to me. I love celebrating nanny care. It has 
been a great career for me and the community of nannies means quite a great deal to me.
But NNRW is also a great opportunity for us and I am not sure we are doing enough to capitalize on it. The nanny industry as a whole has changed immensely in the past few years. Big sites like Care dot come have increased not only our visibility but also have made having a nanny something that even more families desire. There are more and more nannies across the U.S., and not just in the big East and West coast cities where they have been for decades. It is not uncommon to find families looking for nannies in cities like St. Louis, Cincinnati and Dallas. It is not only for the ultra wealthy families anymore either. Certainly, having a nanny is more expensive than other forms of child care, but more and more upper middle class families see the benefit and decide to make the sacrifice necessary.
Read more benefits of Nanny Care by Sue.
The professionals at TLC Family Care personally assist nannies, babysitters and families in St. Louis, Atlanta, Chicago, Nashville, Memphis, Charlotte, Miami and Orlando to find the right childcare arrangement. Our mission is to provide a safe and personalized approach for families and caregivers to connect with each other that is not an internet search. TLC has worked with families, nannies, sitters, newborn care providers, and tutors for over 35 years and looks forward to working with you! To find great nanny and babysitting jobs visit us at tlc@tlcforkids.com or Call 314-725-5660.