February 26, 2018 | Leave a Comment
Snow is forecast and more wintry weather is expected! Employers and Nannies, discover what needs to be considered…
If your nanny or housekeeper is unable to travel to work, you should advise and make them aware that unless specified differently in the employment contract:
It is important to be aware that if your nanny asks to leave work earlier than usual due to the weather conditions, the same conditions would apply.
If one of your nanny’s duties is to collect your children from school or drop them off in the mornings, they need to be aware of the places they can check to keep updated with last minute school closures.
For information from the school and nursery, always check:
All schools and nurseries will have a procedure in place for such events. It is worth making sure your nanny is aware of what this is.
Communication is key! Have a snow plan in place in case of any last-minute closures due to the weather. Some nannies are only employed to work before and after school. If this is the case for you, talk to your nanny to see if they can look after your children during the time they should be at school. Factors including additional pay need to be consider and agreed.
It is important to have a plan put in place for such events, as alternative options might need to be considered.
One of the most important things to remember is to only drive in the snow if the journey is crucial! Do not drive unless you have to – check the Met Office website and weather websites for snow warnings and advice. Be sure to call your employer and let them know that it’s unsafe for you to travel, don’t risk having an accident.
It is also a good idea to consider the possibility of staying over at your employer’s house. Think ahead, check the weather forecast and plan for adverse weather conditions.
Remember to ensure you keep safe and warm in the snow. The impacts of the cold weather are worse for young children, babies and those with pre-existing medical conditions.
Make sure you:
Written by Emily Martin for Harmony at Home Limited. All Rights Reserved, 2018
February 22, 2018 | Leave a Comment
On a day to day basis, your nanny is there to look after and care for your children.
Many nannies work long hours so their birthday is the perfect occasion to celebrate and show your appreciation for them.
So, this year add your Nannies birthday to your diary and celebrate it by doing something special.
One of the most popular ways to celebrate a persons birthday is by giving them a gift. So why not do the same for your nanny?
It does not have to be anything fancy or expensive, but just a little something can really mean a lot.
It is completely up to you how much you spend. Discover our gift ideas below:
If you don’t feel that a gift would be appropriate for your nanny, why not consider just getting them a card? A card is simple way of acknowledging their birthday, without having to worry about a gift.
Your children might like to right, sign or leave a special message in it. Card are always greatly received and show that you have acknowledged their birthday, without making a fuss.
Every birthday should be celebrated with a cake, so why not arrange one? Especially if you have a live in nanny, arrange to celebrate their birthday with them. Organise a special birthday meal to celebrate with them and present them with a cake for them to enjoy.
Another way to make their day special is to make your children part of it.
Finally, if you can, see if you are able to offer your nanny some time off on or around their birthday. Even if it is just a few hours, a little bit of extra time off on their birthday, will be greatly appreciated.
So, why not find out when your nannies birthday and arrange a few little treats for them. Even the smallest of gifts are appreciated.
Don’t forget to wish them a ‘Happy Birthday’ on their special day!
Written by Emily Martin for Harmony at Home Limited. All Rights Reserved, 2018
February 22, 2018 | Leave a Comment
World Book Day is back for its 21st year and is a day to celebrate writers, illustrators, authors, reading and all book lovers out there.
Celebrate World Book Day 2018 in style by dressing up as a character from your favorite book or novel.
It doesn’t have to be a well known story or one that everyone knows about, you just have to love it.
Nannies and parents, encourage your children to get involved this year and have fun dressing up and discovering new books to read and love.
If you are looking for a few ideas, discover our top dress up ideas below:
For more ideas of how to celebrate WBD 2018, visit their website. Full of fun ideas and activities for children and the latest news and events.
Discover other ways to celebrate WBD with your children HERE
Written by Emily Martin for Harmony at Home Limited. All Rights Reserved, 2018
February 13, 2018 | Leave a Comment
To celebrate, we have come up with a list of top activities that children can do to show an act of kindness to a friend, a family member, their Nanny or neighbour:
These are just a few simple things that you can do to celebrate Random Acts of Kindness Day.
Just the simplest of acts can have a positive impact on someones day.
So, nannies and parents why not get involved and encourage your children to make someone’s day this year?
Written by Emily Martin for Harmony at Home Limited. All Rights Reserved, 2018
February 6, 2018 | Leave a Comment
Nannies and Families, it’s nearly time for Pancake Day. This year Pancake Day (Shrove Tuesday) falls on Tuesday the 5th of March 2019. It is the one day of the year that it is acceptable to have pancakes for dinner. It is a day that all children, nannies and families can enjoy and get involved with cooking and creating pancakes. It is a perfect opportunity for nannies and families to get the children involved with cooking. Nannies can use the day to encourage the children they care for to help in the kitchen, cooking up some delicious pancakes. Children can also be encouraged to put their creative minds to the test and see what topping flavours they can come up with.
Here are some pancake toppings that are known and loved by all children, nannies and families… and some slightly more obscure ones:
Sweet: Lots of different combinations that children will enjoy…
Savoury: Some people have their pancakes savoury… check out some of these topping ideas…
There are so many flavour combinations that can be created. Why not try a few different combinations and see which one is your favourite!
To make your pancake that little bit extra special, why not create an exciting design/shape with your pancakes or use your toppings to do so?
Here are a few deigns/shapes that you can have a go at creating:
A fun way to try out new designs and get creative with children. All you need to do is draw the outline of your desired shape with pancake mixture onto a heated pan, let it cook for a few seconds, fill in with more pancake mixture, cook further until golden brown and then flip to cook the other side. It may take practice and may not work out the first time, but it is a great way to be inventive and have fun in the kitchen.
You will need:
100g of plain flour
2 eggs
300ml of semi skimmed milk
1 tablespoon of sunflower or vegetable oil (plus extra for frying)
A pinch of salt
To make:
https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/3374/perfect-pancakes
If you or someone in the family has a special dietary requirement, maybe you have an intolerance to gluten, dairy products or eggs, you don’t have to miss out on Pancake Day. These recipes are tailored to suit almost all requirements:
You will need:
125g of gluten free flour
1 egg
250ml of milk
Butter for frying
To make:
https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/2920665/glutenfree-pancakes
You will need:
125g of plain flour
1 egg
300ml of help of coconut milk (used as a replacement for regular milk)
Sunflower or rice bran oil for frying
To make:
https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/2920663/dairyfree-pancakes
You will need:
125g of gluten free flour
An egg replacer equivalent to 1 egg
250ml hemp of coconut milk (used as a replacement for regular milk)
Sunflower or rice bran oil for frying
To make:
https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/2920662/egg-dairy-and-glutenfree-pancakes
Written by Emily Martin for Harmony at Home Limited. All Rights Reserved, 2017