The 'all posts' archive

Why a Nanny?

Why a nanny?

I understand that there is a plethora of child care options available to parents and I am often asked, “Why would I choose a nanny over, say, a nursery or child minder?”.  There are hundreds of reasons why a nanny works well for so many families but here are my top 5.

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First day of school – preparation and expectations

First day of school – preparation and expectations

Does your child start school in September?  If it’s your first child to start school, you may have mixed emotions about what that all means, I’m sure.  It’s a milestone in their and your lives, they’re gaining some independence and at the same time, perhaps freeing up some time for you, allowing you to focus on your own pursuits, your other children.  There’s no denying that the first day can be emotional but I’ve compiled a list of practical steps to help you, as well as some thoughts on what to expect from your child come September.

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Why nannies lose out on net pay rates

Why nannies lose out on net pay rates

Some nannies and nanny agencies still talk in terms of net pay, yet nannies that agree a net rate almost always lose out. Parents don’t like it either – with good reason – so why does the practice continue? And how much more could a nanny get by agreeing a gross rate?

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A passion for reading – how to nurture a book worm

A passion for reading – how to nurture a book worm It goes without saying that reading is an essential skill but a passion for reading is not. It needs to be nurtured and encouraged which, isn’t as hard as you think. Firstly, children want to be their parents. I know – when they’re telling […]

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The Importance of Learning to Swim at an Early Age

‘Drowning is still one of the most common causes of accidental death in children, so being able to swim is an essential life-saving skill’ Swim England 2019. Pupils should leave primary school able to swim 25 metres unaided and be knowledgeable and safe around water. The annual census from Swim England, based on a survey […]

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Returning to work…..

Happy new year!  I know it’s already January 21st but hopefully it’s not too late to be saying that.  There’s always a great deal of chat around January about resolutions and what you’re going to achieve in the year which can feel over-whelming to the point of off-putting.  But if, as a mother, one of your goals for the year was returning to work then read on as there may be some people who can help.

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Ten things you didn’t know about….Mary Poppins!

It’s a cliché I know but I can’t say I’m not excited about the new ‘Mary Poppins Returns’ film that’s out on release on 17th December.  Here are some little known facts about the original Mary Poppins that you can impress your family with this Christmas when it’s on TV again!

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Christmas is coming…..

Christmas is coming – I think the ‘C’ word is definitely allowed with less than five weeks to go!  As an independent business based in Kent I wanted to share with you some other local independent businesses that have great products for Christmas and gift ideas.

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Pensions for nannies

The government have been phasing in legislation across the last 8 years that requires all employers to provide a pension scheme, no matter how few employees they have. This means nanny employers must set up a pension scheme in their name, to facilitate contributions by both the nanny and the employer.

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10 Great Emergency Meal Ideas

10 Great Emergency Meal Ideas 

You’ve got a million and one things to do as soon as you get through the door. You turn the key in the lock, take a deep breath and pray that you can all get through the next couple of hours without loosing it….

One of the first things you need to do is sort the evening meal. Groan. What to do?

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Struggling to get your children to eat well? Let’s get them in the kitchen!

My name is Carol, I am the proud owner of children’s cookery school, Cookies Kitchen and I am passionate about the importance of encouraging children to cook.

Today’s headlines are full of shocking facts and figures about childhood obesity, Public Health England say that nearly a third of children aged between 2-15 years are now over-weight or obese and with that figure only set to rise we really have to step up and change children’s relationships with food and exercise.

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I need some help!

If you read the guest blog from Alice Backlog a few weeks’ ago, you’ll know that she talked about having suffered from post-natal depression and anxiety.  I wanted to give you some pointers on who to turn to should you be feeling like this and share some stories of women who have been on their own mental health journeys as mothers.

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Life Casting, all you need to know…..

Would you like to know a little more about life casting and how to capture a moment in time??

 My name is Christine Sharman and I own Babyprints Tunbridge Wells.  My job is to capture memories for you. I am a life caster, which means I create 3d replicas of the hands and feet of your loved ones, whatever age they are.

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Having babies abroad – an ex-pat’s experience

Having babies abroad – an ex-pat’s experience

Clare White has lived quite literally all over the world.  She was born in Kent, moved to Switzerland when she was one, later came back to Kent and then once married, embarked on a worldwide adventure with her husband Roger that would take them to Austria, Trinidad , Mumbai, Egypt, Singapore and Thailand.  Clare has three sons who were born in different countries, Egypt, Singapore and Thailand and here she recounted to me some stories of having babies abroad and how she took inspiration from a Thai hospital to start her business.

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We’re only human!

We’re only human!

Nannies are brilliant!  I’ve been one, I’ve worked with lots and now I place lots to families in Kent, Sussex and beyond.  But nannies are only human and just like any working relationship, the smooth relationship between parents and nannies is critical to success.

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Simple Self Care By Alice Backlog

As we journey through parenthood we are faced with so many shifting and conflicting ways of being. A new phase with our child creates a new phase within us. I am a mother of two, Co- creator of Kingdom Yoga, Freelance Photo Editor, friend, daughter and Wife.

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Hypnobirthing……….what’s it all about??

‘Hypno’ what?? That’s the response I tend to get when talking about hypnobirthing. If I’m honest it’s the ‘hypno’ bit of the word which tends to put people off. Perhaps it’s the images of pocket clocks on gold chains, tie dyed skirts, incense diffusers and chanting which spring to mind for most people, confirming that hypnobirthing is definitely not for them. “A little bit weird and alternative” or “definitely not for me as I am not that type of person” are often quoted.

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East Green Child Care Services; our story

East Green Child Care Services has been around for 22 years!  It is one of the longest running child care agencies in Kent that has remained under the same ownership & management.  Over those 22 years I’ve enjoyed lots of nannying roles myself and had my two children, so life has never been dull!  Throughout it all I’ve continued to offer the same service that I committed to in 1997 – I’m passionate about creating placements that really work and I also aim to deliver quality customer service to all my clients.

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The benefits of swaddling

For thousands of years, mothers all over the world have swaddled their babies. Swaddling helps your baby to feel safe and secure and is a great way to soothe them. It can even help your baby sleep longer!

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You’ve heard of baby day care but have you heard of baby night care?

You’ve heard of baby day care but have you heard of baby night care?

You might be preparing yourself for your baby’s arrival or perhaps reading this whilst your new baby sleeps – either way, you may be considering help with your new addition.  East Green Child Care Services can offer you a variety of childcare options, one being a maternity or night nurse.

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5 Top Tips For Fussy Eaters

If you’re the parent of a fussy eater (and most parents I know are, including me) then chances are you’ve tried lots of different ways to get your child to eat different foods.

Maybe you started off quite patiently, being very encouraging and trying a variety of tactics to make mealtimes fun. Several months on though, maybe nothing has worked, you’re anxious your child isn’t getting all the daily nutrients he or she needs, and mealtimes have become a constant battleground, with tears and tantrums and stress.

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TOP TIPS ON WHAT TO EAT DURING LABOUR

I have been planning a blog about what to pack in your hospital bag for a while now and one of the things everyone agrees on taking is snacks. It got me thinking so I asked my friend Chloe Stephens who runs the bootcamp I go to, if she had any advice on this.

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SIGNS OF REFLUX

June is Reflux Awareness month so I felt it apt to focus our blog on this subject. Sadly it seems to be all the more common these days, but that does not mean that you will generally have an easy ride getting it recognised or diagnosed and then finally treated. 

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Twins

TWINS ­ A MUM’S PERSPECTIVE
I was asked to write a blog…something about having twins.   So I did what any person does. I Googled. There are plenty of  Top
Ten Tips sites and literature. The word that seem to be mostly associated with this experience is survival.

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WHAT IS A MATERNITY NURSE?

A maternity nurse is somebody who specialises in the care of newborn babies and will literally move into your home when you come home from hospital with your new baby or babies! She will be on hand pretty much 24 hours a day for up to 5 or 6 days a week and will stay for as long as you choose to book her for.

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ABOUT EAST GREEN CHILD CARE SERVICES

So here we are, established for 18yrs and a newly (well fairly new) revamped website and now a Blog!

We want to hear from you about the things you would like us to blog about, but to start with we thought we would start with a bit about ourselves and the business….

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