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Welcome to the Nannies in LA Agency Blog - we're glad you're here!
You've found the place where we share industry advice and tips for nannies, babysitters, and families. .
We're always on the lookout for new and exciting material for our readers, so if you're interested in submitting a guest post please contact Christina

 

Finding a Great Nanny for Your Family: Cultural Considerations

by Christina Taylor

Cultural and ethnic considerations are very important when you are interviewing potential nannies. Before embarking on your search for a great nanny, it is important to get in touch with your own family's values and preferences. This includes your family's cultural identity and ethnic background. For example, your family may be of Jewish heritage, and it may be important for you to find a nanny who comes from the same cultural milieu. On the other hand, your family may be Christian, Buddhist or Muslim, and you may want to hire a nanny who shares in the same religious beliefs and practices.

When you hire a nanny, you are inviting somebody into your home who will become an integral part of your family for an extended amount of time. You may wish to teach your children more about their cultural or religious herit ...

Posted Date: 
Monday, August 27, 2012

Working as a Nanny, Tips and Advice: Travelling the World

by Christina Taylor

For the second instalment in the series “Working as a Nanny, Tips and Advice”, let's discuss the potential perks and concerns for jobs requiring a nanny to travel.

Positions for nannies come in many shapes and sizes. As you begin to interview for a nanny position, you will want to consider the type of position you prefer. Are you interested in travelling to many different areas of the world or one country in particular? Or do you prefer to stay close to home and not travel frequently because you have family obligations of your own? These are some of the questions you will want to ask yourself before interviewing with families.

Securing a nanny position with a family who is actively interviewing nannies is very exciting. However, you do want to make sure that it is the right mat ...

Posted Date: 
Monday, August 13, 2012

Working as a Nanny, Tips and Advice: Lifestyle Considerations

by Christina Taylor

Here at Nannies in LA we often get asked for advice by nannies and families, so I’ve come up with a series of posts which I’ll call “Working as a Nanny, Tips and Advice”. We hope you find them helpful!

As you begin a job search for the perfect nanny position, you will want to evaluate your lifestyle preferences as well as the lifestyles of the potential families with whom you are interviewing. As mundane as this may seem, lifestyle differences can make or break an otherwise optimal match between nannies and a family. You will also want to consider whether or not you would like to live with the family who employs you, or if you would like to live in your own home. Other lifestyle considerations before choosing a nanny position may include dietary habits, smoking, alcohol consumption, pets a ...

Posted Date: 
Monday, July 23, 2012

Weighing Daycare Against the Personal Care of a Nanny

by Christina Taylor

There are often many options to consider when families are seeking childcare solutions in Los Angeles. While daycare has been a popular alternative for many working parents, there is a growing trend toward hiring nannies in Los Angeles. There are many factors that have influenced this trend, and there are many considerations with respect to all childcare options.

Many parents have preferred daycare centers over the years because it was the prevalent option for professional care. Children have the opportunity to interact with other children, providing social engagement that many parents value. This is also a reason for parents deciding against choosing a daycare center, in many cases. Socialization isn’t always positive, and when children are exposed to poor behavior, they often learn to use similar beha ...

Posted Date: 
Monday, July 2, 2012

A Recommended Book List for Nannies

by Christina Taylor

Nannies can end up spending a substantial amount of time with their charges, and reading time can be a great way to teach children. There are thousands of books to choose from that can teach children important life lessons while engaging the child's imagination in amazing ways. Below is a list of our recommendations to start with.

Where the Wild Things Are

Written by: Maurice Sendak
This familiar favorite teaches children that even when they are naughty, their parents will always be there for them; loving them unconditionally. The book has some wild illustrations children love to laugh at with their nannies, and some they may relate to at the same time.

James and the Giant Peach

Written by: Roald Dahl
Babysitters can read ...

Posted Date: 
Monday, June 18, 2012

Babysitting Tips - Difficult Questions

by Christina Taylor

Anyone who works with children can testify that children really do say the darnedest things, and they sometimes seem to ask things at the moment most likely to shock the adult. Babysitters need to be able to think fast in some of these instances, being careful to answer in a way that does two things at once; maintain anything a parent may have said to the child, and keep within the babysitter's comfort zone of their own beliefs.

Some of the more common questions presented to our babysitters have been "Is Santa real?", "Is the Tooth-fairy real?", and "Where do babies come from?". There are many others that may come up, however, so in addition to having some neutral answers for these, it is a good idea to have some backup methods of answering the child.

One alternative for babysitters is to ...

Posted Date: 
Monday, June 11, 2012

Babysitting Tips - Establishing Routines

by Christina Taylor

As a babysitter, you should always portray a sense of professionalism in your dealings with clients. The more professional you are in your activities, the more likely you will be to obtain repeat jobs. Furthermore, you will establish an excellent reputation with your clients, allowing you to use them as references when you seek additional opportunities. One of the best approaches to developing a great reputation with your clients is by developing a babysitting routine. Successful Los Angeles babysitters are those who are creative and innovative in their approach to childcare, and routine allows both babysitter and client to know what to expect.

One of the most important elements of your babysitting routine is your arrival. It’s important to arrive on time, but it’s essential to know when your clients ...

Posted Date: 
Monday, June 4, 2012

Tips for Transitioning to Summer Care

by Christina Taylor

It's around that time again, and the Summer is almost upon us!

The transition from the school year to vacation time is important in the position of a nanny. While nannies will have established a relationship with their clients and their children, the nature of the interaction will be a bit different when school is not in session. It’s important to prepare now, as nannies have lots of ways to make their summer work easier and more rewarding, both for themselves and for the families they serve!

It’s important to recognize in advance the changes that can be expected when school children are on vacation. The biggest summer vacation challenge for nannies in Los Angeles is the duration. Months of vacation time can seem exciting to school kids ...

Posted Date: 
Monday, May 28, 2012

The Nanny Test

by Christina Taylor

At any time during this test, if a nanny finds it difficult to impossible to refrain from laughing, nodding, or consider #3 a great achievement over all others, the test will be over and the nanny will receive an A+.

You May Succeed as a Nanny if:

1. If a child has ever kicked you in the shins repeatedly during an interview with a parent and you maintained your genuine smile by channeling your inner Donald Duck, you have great potential to succeed as a nanny.

2. If you have ever attempted a Vulcan mind meld or meditation on a child who will not stop asking “why?” when you’ve given the answer 20 times already, we will most likely be able to find the perfect family for you very quickly!

Posted Date: 
Saturday, May 26, 2012