Request Callback
020 7870 1044

Nannies! Why register with an Agency?

January 24, 2018 | Leave a Comment

Nannies! Are you registered with an agency? Have you ever thought that it would be a good idea to do so? Perhaps you have considered it but have no idea where to start or which agency to choose?

Fear not! This guide is there to help you understand the importance and benefits of registering with an agency.

Benefits: What are the benefits of joining a Nanny agency?

Endless job opportunities

Being registered with an agency has the ability to open up endless job opportunities. If you are registered with an agency, you will be able to apply for any jobs listed on their vacancy page that you are interested in.

Takes the stress away

Being registered with an agency takes away the stress of having to find a job on your own. With new jobs being listed daily, you are set to find your ideal position.

Attractive to employers

If you are registered with an agency and are interested in a particular job, you will be presented to the family/ employer. Prior to this taking place, we would have made sure that a thorough pre-screening process took place. References will be followed up, CV’s will be reviewed, and DBS’s will be checked.

Employers like to know who they are employing and knowing that work seekers have been pre-screened and checked can be very attractive and a huge relief for families.

An agency offers support and guidance

Not only is an agency there to help you find your dream job, they also offer support and guidance throughout the process. Whether you are a new nanny looking for your first job, or if you have been a nanny for the past 20 years and just looking for something fresh, an agency is there to offer support, guidance and answer any questions or queries that you have.

Agencies will also be able to offer you support throughout your placement.

Industry Knowledge

If you choose to work with an agency, you can be expected to be treated as a professional. A nanny agency will have first hand knowledge on topics such as wages, benefits and employee rights.

If you are interested in finding out more or if you would like to register with us, click here!

Written by Emily Martin for Harmony at Home Limited. All Rights Reserved, 2018

How to be an organised Nanny

January 24, 2018 | Leave a Comment

Being an organised nanny can not always be an easy task. For some, organisation is not a skill they find comes naturally.

Organisation is essential in any job and being a nanny is no different. Some nannies are required to do a lot; run errands, school pick ups, prepare meals, attend social activities. It can be hard to remember everything that you are required to do.

So to kick off the new year, we have put together a few top tips for how to stay organised

Top tips for being an organised nanny:

Put together your very own Nanny time table

If you are a nanny looking after more than one charge, you may find that creating a nanny time table is the perfect way to know where and when you are required to be.

Save your favorite recipes

If as a nanny one of your duties is to cook and prepare healthy meals, it can be a good idea to keep your favorite recipes on hand. Save the recipes that you love and enjoy to cook.

Having a few favorite recipes saved means that if you suddenly find your self struggling to find something to cook, you have something to rely on.

Keep a Nanny diary

If you find it hard to remember certain things or events, you may find a nanny diary a great benefit.

A nanny diary allows you to record all key information from the day.

For example:

  • Notes from the day – food, potty training information
  • Medical records
  • Events/ activities from the day

Keeping a nanny diary allows you to store all notes from your day regarding your charge, in one place.

Get yourself ready for the next day

When possible, prepare yourself ready for the next day ahead. Take a look  at your schedule and see what the next days events might consist of.

If you have an early start the next day, getting yourself prepared the night before can save you time and stress. It may even give you a little extra sleeping time!

Written by Emily Martin for Harmony at Home Limited. All Rights Reserved, 2018

Valentines Day Crafts for Children

January 24, 2018 | Leave a Comment

Celebrate this Valentines Day with your children or charges by getting involved with these fun Valentines Day themed crafts!

Discover our Valentines Day Craft ideas below:

Heart Wreath

To make your very own heart wreath, you will need:

  • A paper plate
  • Coloured card
  • Scissors
  • Glue
  1. To begin, cut out the middle of the paper plate so you are left with just the outer ridged part.
  2. Cut out a number of heart shapes using the coloured card. Create a variety of different sizes, using different coloured card.
  3. Position your heart shapes around the wreath. Once you are happy with your arrangement, stick down with glue.
  4. Decorate further or simply hang up.

Valentines Day cards

The perfect craft for children to make, is there very own valentines card.

You will need:

  • A piece of card – any colour of your choice
  • Your choice of decoration – pom poms, felt tips, tissue paper.
  1. To begin, fold your piece of A4 paper in half.
  2. Decorate and design as you choose! Get creative with your own designs.

We made our very own Valentines Cards:

Love heart paper chains

Paper chains are super easy and fun to make. Children of all ages love to make them so why not have a go at making some for Valentines Day this year?

You will need:

  • Stripes of paper
  • A pair of scissors – With adult supervision
  • A stapler

To make love heart shaped paper chains:

1. First thing you will need to do is create your strips of paper. Choose 2 different colours of A4 card, and cut strips of the same width out. We would recommend cutting across the paper landscape.

2. Depending on how long you would like your chain, make sure you have the appropriate amount of strips. Once you have your strips, you can now create your chain.

3. Grab your first colour strip and fold in half. To turn your strip into a heart, fold over the 2 flaps and staple together.

Discover our attempt below:

4. Now you have your first heart, simply repeat! Remember to thread your next strip through the previous heart to create a chain.

5. Carry on until you have reached your desired chain length.

6. Decorate your chain and hang up this Valentines Day.

Written by Emily Martin for Harmony at Home Limited. All Rights Reserved, 2018

Top Tips for Traveling with Children

January 24, 2018 | Leave a Comment

Taking children on holiday with you, is not always a simple task. In fact, it can be quite a challenge and can cause stress levels to rise, which is the last thing you want when going on holiday. Whether you are jetting on to a sunny resort or just taking a trip across the county to a remote cottage for a few days, traveling with kids can take some serious planning.

Our ‘how to’ guide is here to relieve this stress and help make your pre-holiday planning prep, a little easier.

Discover our top tips to ensure a smooth holiday getaway!

Pack a bag of things to do!

Whether you are traveling by plane, car, boat or train, always pack a bag of things to do. Especially when traveling with children.

Pack it full of things to do; games, colouring, devices, the works!

Whenever you hear those dreaded words ‘are we there yet?’ or ‘I’m bored’ be confident that you have come prepared with a bag of tricks to keep them happy and to combat boredom.

Think of some traveling games

If you are taking a long trip somewhere, we would highly recommend thinking of some fun journey games to play to pass the time.

Children love games and they are the perfect way to pass the time. Discover our long journey game guide below:

1). Eye spy

This game is perfect for any type of journey. Long or short, this is the perfect game to play to pass the time.

2). The number plate game

Ideal for long journeys on the motorway. Try to make a word out of the letters on another cars number plate. See who can be the most creative!

3). Spot the object

Choose an object and the first player to spot it wins! To make it more competitive, keep track of the points scored by each player.

4). The alphabet game

This game can be played on any type of journey!

The first player has the think of an object starting with the letter A, the next person would then think of one beginning with the letter B, but before saying it would have to say what’s been said previously. For example:

  • Person 1 – A: Apple
  • Person 2: A Apple, B: Bike
  • P1: A: Apple, B: Bike, C: Car

And so on…

Consider taking your Nanny on holiday with you

If you have a nanny employed to work with your family, why not consider asking her on holiday with you to take care of the children and to minimize the stress to you when it comes to traveling to your destination.

Allow your nanny to keep them occupied and happy whilst traveling to relieve the pressure from you.

Plan ahead your journey

Whatever type of getaway you are making, make sure you plan ahead and know what you might face.

If you are flying, prepare for a long wait at the airport. If you are driving, prepare for long delays on the motorway and for traffic build ups.

A top tip to keep children happy is to plan regular stops. Have a look ahead of your journey and see if there are any service stations or towns that you can pull in to take a break from driving, stretch your legs and grab a quick snack.

Take it at your own pace

The key to a successful journey is to take regular breaks and take it at your own pace. This might be difficult if you have to get be somewhere at a certain time or if you have to board a train or a plane, but always allow a little bit of extra time. 

 

So, if you are planning on making a getaway with your children, try to consider a few of the above to make your holiday travel as smooth and stress free as possible.

Written by Emily Martin for Harmony at Home Limited. All Rights Reserved, 2018

Chinese New Year Lantern Craft

January 24, 2018 | Leave a Comment

This year, Chinese New Year is celebrated on Friday 16th February 2018 and it is the year of the dog.

Nannies, get in the spirit with your charges and make your very own Chinese style lanterns. Not only are they easy to make, they are fun and effective and work perfectly as decorations.

How to make a paper Chinese Lantern:

You will need:

  • Coloured card
  • A pair of scissors
  • A stapler
  • Decorating materials

1). Turn your piece of card landscape and cut a strip out. Put this to one side, as you will need it later to create the handle for your lantern.

2). Fold the piece of card in half.

3). Make a number of cuts down the paper. Do not cut all the way to the end.

4). Unfold your paper.

5). Now fold the paper round and staple the top and bottom

6). Take your strip of paper that you put to one side and attach to the top of your lantern.

7). Get creative and decorate your lantern!

Written by Emily Martin for Harmony at Home Limited. All Rights Reserved, 2018

Top tips to stay safe in the Winter

January 2, 2018 | Leave a Comment

Get set in time for Winter this year with these top tips.

Nannies and parents, with the weather as unpredictable as it it, it is important to be prepared for bad weather conditions that could strike at anytime! Winter often brings with it cold and severe weather conditions so it is always recommended to take precautions.

To Prepare for Winter:

  • Put together an emergency kit. This should be filled with food, clothing & equipment. Keep this kit safe in a safe place. It is advisable to have a kit for the house and a separate one for the car.
  • Keep updated with the weather forecast and flood reports. Know what weather is predicted so you can prepare and get supplies in if necessary.
  • Have an emergency contact ready. Keep a hard copy of an emergency phone number for someone that you know you can call on if needed. It is important to have a hard copy of this in case you are unable to access a device or the internet.
  • Check workplace and school polices to see if you have a plan in place in case of severe weather. Know who to contact in case you are unable to get in to work or your children are not able to get to school.

What to do if Severe Weather Strikes:

Nannies and parents, if bad weather is predicted it is vital you know what to do to ensure the safety of yourself and your children and charges.

  • If you have to travel, make sure you check the weather conditions prior to setting off. Know what you might have to face.
  • It is advisable to check travel updates and the latest news as well. Their may be road closures or issues with transport that may effect your journey.
  • Avoid going out all together and stay at home enjoying a range of indoor activities like crafting and baking
  • Keep a emergency kit and supplies with you in your car or while you travel. Keep enough essentials in the car for you and your children and charges.
  • Inform someone where you are going and how long you expect to be.
  • Make sure your mobile phone is fully charged
  • Make sure you have enough petrol in your car
  • Consider alternative methods of transport. What is going to be the safest
  • Look out and check in with neighbors, friends and family, the elderly and the community
  • Help out in the community – do what you can for others.

Written by Emily Martin for Harmony at Home Limited. All Rights Reserved, 2017

Harmony at Home