Summer Tips

1. Remember “Safety First” as you plan for summer activities. Make sure children use sunscreen, with a parent-approved product. Stay out of direct sunlight on very hot days and around noon. Have first aid supplies available, perhaps in a fanny pack for on the go. Have water available for all children and yourself throughout the day. Know the signs and first aid for exhaustion and heat stroke.

2. Discuss safe and unsafe practices before you go out on a “field trip”. Be sure plan ahead for nature walks, knowing what to do in a sudden thunderstorm. Remember insect repellent!

3. Record stories on cassette tapes. Include bells for tuning the page if a book accompanies the tape, or let the children listen to the cassette alone for “easy listening” under the shade of a tree.

4. Let children prepare snacks to serve outside in fun ways such as popcorn vendor boxes, pretend ice cream trucks and snack wagons.

5. Make summer equipment such as sun visors or “shoo hats” (if gnats are a problem) and showering cans. Create mud pie making stations and safe barefoot walking paths.

6. Let children make their own water paints, mud clay, natural display areas for outdoor arts and crafts. Add hanging sheets for water spray painting. Be sure to plan for lots of barefoot painting while it’s easy to clean up!

7. Create chalk games on the blacktop or cement areas. Include games such as hopscotch and foursquare. Start each day with a shape that children can draw into something using the chalk and their imagination.

8. Play music of all types, outside, throughout the day for music and movement activities as well as to inspire pretend play.

9. Create a “car wash” for bikes, trikes and wagons. Invite neighborhood kids to go through the wash, too!

10. Let children make cardboard signs for GO, STOP, WALK, YIELD, etc. to use when playing with toys on wheels outside.

Congratulations!

Lynn Steerman, TPNN’s NannyTemps Placement Counselor, had her baby, Justin Blake, April 14, 2003. Although the birth was more than two months early, mother, father and baby are doing fine. Justin spent the first 10 weeks in the hospital under loving care of the fabulous staff at Bryn Mawr Hospital. He went home on June 27, a very happy and healthy boy weighing 4lbs 8oz! Well wishers can e-mail Lynn at Lynn@nannyagency.com.

Please Help!

Please help us find others just like you to work as a nanny. If you have any friends, relatives, neighbors interested in finding a rewarding job caring for children, call us. When we successfully place your referral, we compensate you $75. Call us with the candidate's name and telephone number, or have her call us. She needs to let us know that you referred her. Our toll free number is 800-765-6269. We always have great, interesting positions available. Be certain the candidate has childcare experience beyond their own family members, is a non-smoker and has a valid driver's license.

Suggested Reading

Fun Books for the Summer

Parade by Donald Crews
From Sea to Shining Sea: A Treasury of American Folklore and Folk Songs by Amy L. Cohn
Can’t You Make Them Behave King George by Tomie dePaola
Lily and Miss Liberty by Carla Stevens
Froggy Learns to Swim by Jonathon London
Tuck in the Pool by Martha Weston
Albie the Lifeguard by Louise Borden
Ben Goes Swimming by Jan Ormerod
Maisy’s Pool by Lucy Cousins
Edward in Deep Water by Rosemary Wells

International Nanny Association News

Each year the INA Conference is the forum for announcing the Nanny of the Year nominees and winner. This year in San Diego congratulations went to our own Veronica Neri, whose employer nominated her for this coveted award. Neri, originally from Massachusetts, has been working with children for the past 10 years. Most of her work has been in private homes, although she also brings day care center experience to her job.

INA President, Pat Cascio, said, “It was very difficult not to choose Veronica. Her commitment to her current family for the past three years was very evident in what her employer had to say about her.”The nanny chosen for the award was Michelle McNabb, a nanny of 11 years. Her story of overcoming her own learning disabilities, growing up being told that she would never be successful as a student, has come full circle. She holds an AS degree in Education from North Idaho College, a BS degree in Family and Consumer Sciences Education from the University of Idaho, has attended Early Childhood workshops at Spokane Community College and passed the INA Nanny Credential Exam with flying colors! She has taught children through her various nanny positions. Currently she cares for twin babies as a fulltime live-in nanny. In her spare time she reads, sews, travels, enjoys craft projects and has an interest in all sports.

Other kudos go out to Donna Saunders who serves on the INA Board of Directors. She was active in all aspects of the conference planning and the smooth running of the event. Her devotion to her profession shines through her contagious enthusiasm and involvement in the industry. She was also lucky in the raffle prize drawings walking away a big winner!

For INA membership information call Membership Services Office 800-297-1477 or visit the web site www.nanny.org.

Seeking Feedback

What would like to see in the newsletter? Which articles have you enjoyed? Anything you feel we should have left out? What would you like to see more of? Please call me at 888-299-0628 or e-mail:wsachs@nannyagency.com with your feedback. It helps!!