Cycling is going uphill. In the UK, as we fight the obesity challenge and climate change, we’re being encouraged to get on our bikes rather than stepping into the comfort of our cars and public transport. Cycle lanes on our roads are more commonplace and cycling helmets are standard – if you’re anything like me you might tut at those cyclists who don’t wear one!
Did you know that today is National Walking Day? It’s a day to encourage us all to ditch the car and walk instead, the simplest and cheapest way to stay active and fit.
Learning to walk is such a milestone for babies. For convenience, you will still use a buggy – otherwise a trip to the supermarket could take several hours! – but it’s good to encourage your little one to walk as much as possible.
If you haven’t got a family pet by now, then you’re bucking the trend! By March 2021, 3.2 million households had bought a pet since lockdown began, it was reported in the press taking the UK to 17 million pet owning households! Were you one of those 3.2 million?!
Pet ownership isn’t something to enter into lightly, but it can transform a child and a family, and be a great source of joy.
People say that there’s a book in all of us but not everyone explores that and actually puts pen to paper. It’s World Book Day and this year we wanted to showcase some authors who are mothers. They all have a different story about why they write and what they write about and some of these stories may resonate with you.
I watched the programme the other evening on BBC TV about Jay Blades of The Repair Shop and his quest to learn to read aged 51. He had never been able to read stories to his children but wanted to try to read a story to his youngest daughter before she turned 16. It was an interesting documentary and well worth a watch.
This week has been National Storytelling Week: reading stories to children is so important, as Jay identified and here are some reasons why.
When you discover that you’re expecting a baby, there are lots of emotions and, over time, a growing to do list. As your due date approaches, the baby’s nursery will climb that list and you might start thinking about how to decorate it. Here are some ideas for you on how to decorate your new born’s room but believe it or not, firstly, I’d recommend that you don’t rush.
Tax Free Childcare
One of the most frequently asked questions that I receive is on tax free childcare. This is really quite a generous scheme from the government and you might be surprised to find that you are eligible.
The scheme pays up to £500 every three months or £1,000 every three months if your child is disabled and this can be used to pay for nannies, as well as other types of childcare.
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.
Before we know it Bonfire night is upon us again and amid the ‘oooh’s and the ‘aaaah’s we need to know the safety of our children is not compromised.
Lockdown may be easing and the world may be reopening to us but virtual, rather than in person interviews, are continuing.
Holidays might be a bit of a taboo subject this year with the government’s traffic light system in place when it comes to trips abroad but a break from work is still a legal requirement for all employees. Regardless of whether you’re going abroad or planning a staycation, your nanny’s holiday rights must still be observed and it’s something that I am asked about a lot. Here are some frequently asked questions and answers on nanny’s holiday entitlement, including some information on what to do regarding amber list holidays and quarantining.
When you decided to become a nanny, you might not have thought about the details of being paid but I receive a lot of questions about pay and in particular pay slips. They can look very complicated, full of jargon and technical language, but I have worked in the childcare industry for a long time and have seen a lot of payslips, so I put together this handy payslip guide to help you.
Wednesday May 5th this year is International Midwives’ Day. I’m pretty sure that each and every one of us has come into contact with a midwife, either when we were having our own children or when we were born ourselves!
When my mum had me, it wasn’t possible for her to know whether she was having a girl or a boy. I know lots of you like to be surprised about the gender of your baby and want to wait until the baby is born but I also know that lots of people find out in advance.
The last blog was on the impact of COVID lockdown on babies but this time, I want to focus on the impact on parents, and mums in particular. Babies don’t know life any other way which could be seen as a blessing, but parents do remember life before lockdown – they will have a support group of family and friends and not being able to see those people, especially during such a life-changing time, is likely to have had an impact.
But first of all, let’s start with before baby is born.
In my first nannying role I used to care for a little girl called Scarlett, who I’m still in touch with, and she has just become a mum – a baby girl called Arabella! That’s made me think about all the babies that have been born during lockdown and the new families that have been formed or families that have grown during this difficult time. Scarlett has helped me write this blog about the impact of COVID on babies and also, the next blog on how it’s affected new mums.
There’s a funny old saying that has always struck a chord with me: some say that when they pull the placenta out, they shove guilt in. When I write that down, my mind’s eye instantly conjures up an unwanted visual!
Happy 25th Birthday East Green!
25 years, 5 difference offices, two awards and hundreds of nannies, families, and placements! I can’t believe that East Green Child Care has reached a quarter century! Yes, we are 25 years old this month and although we’re in lockdown, I wanted to share it with you so that maybe you can raise a glass of some fizz if you’ve worked with me over the years.
Here is the second instalment in our expert top tips from friends of East Green Childcare. If you missed the first, it’s here https://www.eastgreenchildcare.co.uk/expert-tips-on-managing-lockdown-part-1/ In this one we’ll cover children’s sleep, snacking and how to cope as a new mum or with a new baby in these strange times.
2021 has not got off to the best start and as you read this in lockdown, you’re perhaps looking for some ways to make life easier! I have been in touch with some friends who happen to be experts in their fields to ask for their top tips on a few day-to-day hurdles that you might be facing. In the next two blogs we’ll be covering a range of topics: how to manage as a new parent, the daily food challenge and how to still be productive as well as managing difficult behaviour, home schooling tips and helping children to sleep.
I am receiving lots of questions on what nannies can and can’t/should and shouldn’t do in these COVID times and similarly for families, so I thought I’d put together a brief guide of questions and answers.
I stress that one of the most important things that nannies and families can do is communicate! If this is proving difficult then feel free to call me to discuss.
Let’s start with the essential steps that must be taken to mitigate infection before moving onto pay and sick leave.
The coronavirus has had a huge impact on our lives this year and one of the biggest changes we have seen is more people working from home. Businesses across the country have realised that working remotely can actually work as they have continued to deliver their product or service, whilst employees have woken up to the idea of moving to the country since they no longer need to live near their office or place of work.
This, combined with the Chancellor’s stamp duty holiday, has meant that we have seen an increase in people moving from London to Kent and Sussex.
The Coronavirus pandemic has really shaken up the world of childcare and one of the things to come out of it, that I am noticing, is the increase in demand for temporary, or temp nannies. If you feel as though you need some help at home for a little while, this could be the child care solution for you.
After a very odd few months in the childcare industry, it was a pleasing distraction on the evening of Saturday 12 September 2020 to attend Nanny UK’s 2020 virtual awards’ ceremony. Imagine my delight when East Green Child Care Services won Best UK Nanny Agency 2020!
At East Green, we like to help you with all aspects of being a nanny and employing a nanny … and all the fun stuff in between! In this blog, though, we’re talking about when the nanny relationship comes to end – I know that for some of you, both nannies and families, it’s hard to imagine it happening but one day it will.
Every child is demanding at times, but some children require extra help all the time. There is a whole range of reasons why this might be from childhood mental health issues to physical disabilities and the extra needs vary too from child to child, but there are nannies out there who have the right skills and a positive attitude to help.
Your CV should be a living and breathing document and not something that you only update when you’re looking for a new family. Situations that you have resolved, special scenarios that required a particular skill, new qualifications – these should all be added to your CV as examples of your strong performance and often if you leave it until you really need your CV, you’ve forgotten all the relevant details
Prince Louis does it, as does singer Rihanna and Kelly Osborne and even actor James Nesbitt! What am I talking about? You might be surprised to hear that it’s thumb sucking!
Have we ever known a world event that has impacted every single family on the planet since World War II? There’s a whirlwind of emotions in each home at the moment but we can take comfort in that we are not alone in our fears or worries. Many of the fears we carry are justified and begin as reasonable concerns because our brain loves certainty and sameness to feel safe. But for some of us our worries can evolve into the irrational beast that is anxiety.
Nannies and employers have been asking about how covid-19 effects their pensions, please see below info from Payroll For Nannies Payroll for Nannies
In these strange and scary times the information we are receiving is changing daily. As and when we get it we will be posting it on here and our Facebook page. Please see the Link below for the latest from Nannytax re nannies and employers.
These are strange times in which we’re living at the moment and they might become a whole lot stranger when, on top of two parents being at home full-time, you add the children into the mix! If schools shut, I want to give you some ideas of things you could do to fill the time while you’re in self-isolation and activities that you can prepare for. Here are ten ideas but I’m sure there are more out there so feel free to share them with me: if we’re in this situation for a while, I’m sure we’ll need fresh ideas over the coming weeks and months!
Happy Birthday East Green Child Care!
I can’t believe that this month East Green Childcare is 24 years old and we’ve been nominated for Best Nanny Agency 2020 in the UK Nanny Awards! What a great birthday present!
It’s been a busy 24 years for me – I gained a husband, now have two lovely children as well as the time I’ve invested in growing the business. But just in case you were curious (or maybe nosey!), here’s how it all began …
Your tax code determines the amount of tax you pay each pay period and for current tax year the standard tax code is 1250L.
Whatever your tax code the numbers denote the amount you can earn each year before you are liable to pay tax, you just need to add a zero to the end of code and this then means the 1250 code gives you a figure of £12,500 you can earn before you pay tax.
I was going to call this, what to expect from a nanny agency but then I realised that I don’t know if other agencies work like me! I want to explain the way I work, what you can expect from me, the expectations and standards I have, and why it might help you to find a nanny through a childcare agency rather than ‘going it alone’.
Cranial osteopathy is something that many new mothers hear bandied around as a painless method of curing babies’ sleep problems, feeding problems and general maladies. Following on from the piece by local osteopath Claire Terry, I wanted to learn a little more about osteopathy centred around the skull and in particular, the cranium.
I’m not afraid to tackle the big childcare issues here at East Green and after speaking to a nanny the other day, I wanted to cover nanny surveillance and the issues surrounding nanny cameras. You might have security cameras in your home to capture footage of criminals at work (hopefully never required!) but did you know that you need to inform your nanny? Perhaps the cameras were installed to keep an eye on your nanny – do you know your obligations and their rights? You could be breaking the law and damaging a very important relationship at the same time.
Have you heard of BYOB Comedy? No, it’s not bring your own booze but Bring your own Baby, an excellent idea that allows parents to feel like adults again without having to find a babysitter (although I could definitely help you with that!).
I found out about these comedy events through one of my families and they were raving about it! But first, I interviewed the creator of BYOB Comedy, Alyssa, to understand more about the inspiration behind it and how it works.
When Hazel asked me if I would write a guest blog for her about how to look after yourself physically once your new baby has arrived I was delighted to say yes. I remember only too well how physically demanding having a new baby can be, even though my two are now both teenagers, and I see many new parents in my clinic suffering with baby-related aches and pains.
Here at Little Big Sports, I am passionate about children and sport – for me they go together like strawberries and Wimbledon! It’s so important for children to be active but I appreciate that not everyone ‘gets’ it. Why does it matter whether children are active or not?
Here are my top ten reasons …
Remember, remember, the 5th of November…. first aid kit, water and gloves!
Imagine: a beautiful envelope lands on the door mat, mid October, inviting you to the neighbours’ Christmas party. These parties are legendary on your street and you’re thrilled to be invited! You’re so busy planning your outfit and what constitutes a suitable gift that you forget to organise any childcare, assuming that your parents will be free to babysit.
All employees must be allowed to take time off for jury service, including nannies.
When families first set out on their childcare journey and are exploring all the options, they can be overwhelmed and confused by the jargon. I understand, don’t worry!
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.
One of the things which shocks many families when they take on a nanny is the fact that they become an employer. Many families think that recruiting a nanny is like hiring a babysitter for the night – cash in hand, say goodbye when you come home and see you next time.
Employing a nanny is much more involved than that – you are an employer, you need to pay tax, issue payslips etc. There is help at hand along the way, don’t worry, not just from me but from other organisations like the nanny payroll companies, however, one subject which still causes a stir, is dealing with a pregnant nanny and all that that involves.
Recently I’ve started gardening with my nine year old daughter and it’s been so lovely. My daughter and I, luckily, have a great relationship anyway – I know it will all change as she hits the teenage years! – but this has given us time away from the indoors and helped us connect in a different way.
When I was pregnant with my first child I wanted to do everything I could to make sure the baby was safe, I guess that is a mother’s natural instinct and number one priority and so it should be. There are many arguments for and against exercising whilst pregnant and it is a completely individual choice. Here are my thoughts, for what they are worth….
I had two quite large babies (7lbs11 & 9lbs3) and I was pretty big with both of them, putting on around two stone with each. I, like many mothers was very keen to shift the extra weight as soon as possible, which leads me nicely to point one:
I had two quite large babies (7lbs11 & 9lbs3) and I was pretty big with both of them, putting on around two stone with each. I, like many mothers was very keen to shift the extra weight as soon as possible, which leads me nicely to point one:
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have chosen their son’s name and shared it with the world. It is definitely breaking from tradition when it comes to royal family member names but I’m sure they agonised over it just as much as I did with mine!
I started Googling sleep quotations for this piece and became very distracted! The one that caught my eye, though, was “People who say they sleep like babies, usually don’t have them.” It made me chuckle but, after talking to my friend Alison Humphrey-Walters, infant sleep coach, it made me wonder whether maybe we could all sleep as well as her baby clients.
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?
It might be three weeks’ away but, as we all know, time flies and Mother’s Day on 31st March will be here before you know it! Yep, I know, last year you said you’d be more organised this year so here’s your chance! It’s NOW!
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 […]
‘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 […]
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.
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!
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.
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.
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?
Taking on a nanny might seem daunting. You’re used to working with others in your day job; you might even be used to recruiting and hiring at work, but hiring for your family – how do you approach that?
Remember, remember, the 5th of November…. first aid kit, water and gloves!
Before we know it Bonfire night will be upon us and amid the ‘oooh’s and the ‘aaaah’s we need to know the safety of our children is not compromised.
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.
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.
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.
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.
For a child to be able to write, there are so many requirements, including a combination of gross and fine motor skills to help with both mental and physical development.
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.
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.
Are you feeling challenged?! Do you have a baby that isn’t feeding well? Do you have a toddler who’s struggling to sleep through the night? Or perhaps, you’re feeling more than challenged, overwhelmed in fact, and you just need someone to talk to.
‘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.
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.
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!
At East Green Child Care Services, we not only help you find childcare that fits your family, we like to try to help you manage the costs that accompany such a relationship. Tax-Free Childcare is a Government scheme that was launched in 2017 to help working parents/carers with the cost of childcare. Tax free childcare can save up to £2,000 per child so it’s worth checking to see whether your family is eligible!
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.
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.
Most parents I work with tell me I am very patient, but this project had me hopping from foot to foot wanting to tell you all about it!
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.
One of the many advantages of our digital world is just how easily we can record our lives and our children’s.
Boys and Girls clothing range is relatively new to us but we are well and truly hooked.
This week I thought I would let you in on a new Sussex company that delivers freshly prepared meals to your door DAILY!!
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.
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.
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.
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….
