15 Ways to Make Boring Foods Fun

Convincing kids to eat healthy foods when they’re constantly bombarded with marketing tactics promoting preservative-laden novelty items isn’t easy, but it can be done. There are a variety of ways to make healthier fare more fun, encouraging kids to eat better while still allowing them to enjoy their food. Childhood is the time when eating habits are established, so helping kids make healthier choices on their own is one of the best things you can do for them. These 15 tactics can add some visual spice to run of the mill foods, saving the long-term health of your kids and your pocketbook in the process.

1. Cookie Cutters Aren’t Just for Cookies – Turning an ordinary, wholesome sandwich into something exciting can be as easy as making fun shapes with a cookie cutter.
2. Buy Baby Varieties – There’s something inherently fun about miniature food. As an added bonus, the strong flavors that can cause kids to turn up their noses with foods such as veggies may not be as pronounced in baby varieties because they’re often harvested before the taste profile fully matures.
3. Learn Food Origami – Turning radishes into roses and boiled egg slices into daisies are just two examples of ways that creative knife work turns ordinary food into a treat.
4. Dress Up Lunch Bags – Who says that lunch bags have to be brown? Decorate them together with stamps or drawings to make the contents within seem more special.
5. Make Faces – Making a face out of a food item is a whimsical way to encourage kids to eat things they might ordinarily refuse.
6. Create Animal Shapes – When in doubt, make food look like an animal. With a bit of imagination and some creative prep, you can turn an ordinary snack into something exceptional.
7. Play With Your Food – Your mother may have forbidden the idea of playing with your food, but that doesn’t mean you have to. An inverted apple slice with toothpicks through the bottom and a single grape on each end of the toothpick turns ordinary fruits into a car kids can enjoy playing with before they chow down.
8. Sweet Sushi – Fruit leathers are healthier than rolled up gummy fruit treats and can make adorable wrappings for “sushi” made of crushed rice cereal.
9. Freeze! – Frozen foods are just more fun than those at room temperature! Before serving foods that are frozen solid, make sure that all of your pint-sized diners are able to chew them without difficulty to prevent choking.
10. Get Experimental – You can draw inspiration from a variety of sources, but there’s nothing like coming up with your own innovative food design. If cooking is a hobby of yours, you may even find that the process is fun and soothing.
11. Splashes of Color – The primary draw of many processed foods marketed to kids is the bright coloring. Unfortunately, those attractive hues are almost always the result of chemical dyes and additives. Take a cue from the food manufacturers and make your kids meals colorful. Steamed vegetables tend to hold their color when they’ve been blanched, so work with the natural colors of the veggies and come up with a fun arrangement.
12. Take a Dip – Even the most pedestrian foods become fun when dipping is part of the eating process. You don’t have to opt for fat and preservative filled processed dips, either. Organic offerings and hummus are great choices.
13. Creative Containers – Kids love things that are just their size, so buying small containers or ones with a unique twist can make mealtime more fun. Small ramekins, re-purposed containers and other innovative methods of plating can make an everyday snack seem new and exciting.
14. Toppings are Tops! – If it can be squirted, shaken, sprinkled or dusted over food, kids will almost always love it. Sometimes the addition of a few fun toppings alone can be enough to convince kids that a run-of-the-mill meal is something special.
15. Group Prep – When kids have a hand in preparing their food, they’re automatically more invested in it and less likely to think that it’s boring. Letting little ones assist with assembly may create more work when it’s time for clean-up, but it keeps them engaged and involved with the preparation of their food. It’s also a great way to spend quality time together, passing on basic food prep skills and tricks.

If you’re running low on inspiration, there’s no shortage of kid-centric recipes and plating ideas on the Internet. Entire blogs are dedicated to the idea of fun kid-cuisine and are filled with techniques for every skill level.

This post was proposed to me for  publication by Sophie Leake. If you want to know more about it please go to the underlined sight:

http://www.aupaircare.net/blog/15-ways-to-make-boring-foods-fun/ 

How to Snoop on Your Kid While He’s Online

As kids approach adolescence, their need for privacy and insistence upon keeping parts of their life away from the prying eyes of a parent can make it difficult to monitor their activity. With the advent of smartphones that allow your child to carry the Internet around with him in his pocket, the need to make sure that he’s not getting into online trouble can feel even greater. While it’s usually more effective to attempt an open dialogue about what is and is not considered appropriate online behavior before resorting to spy-level surveillance, there may be times when snooping feels like the only choice.

Monitoring Software

Even less than tech-savvy parents can learn to navigate parental monitoring software, which is designed to run in the background and be undetectable by users. There are several varieties of monitoring programs, all with different features and levels of functionality. One thing that they all have in common is an ability to reveal all the things your child is doing online when you’re not there to look over his shoulder.

Limit Computer Use to Common Areas

If you’ve opted not to give your child a web-capable smartphone or a laptop, then you may find it easier to snoop while he’s online if the main computer is located in a high-traffic area of your home. When your child knows that a simple glance his way could reveal questionable web content he’s viewing, he’s more likely to think twice about what he looks up. Not only will you be able to keep an eye on what your child is looking at, but you’ll also be able to influence him into making better choices based solely on your nearby presence.

Check Your Browser History

Older kids with more advanced computer knowledge may be savvy enough to delete their browser history, but younger kids and tweens may not yet have the required know-how. After your child uses the computer, take a moment to scroll through the browser history. You’ll be able to access all of the pages your child has recently viewed, allowing you to get a good idea of what areas need to be addressed most.

Fake Social Networking Profiles

If your children haven’t deleted you from their Facebook friends list yet, there’s a strong possibility that they’ve learned to manipulate the safety and security settings so that they can block what you’re able to see. One way to make sure that you’re seeing everything posted on your child’s timeline and every interaction he has is to sign up for your own fake profile and use it to add your child. Unless he’s naturally suspicious of strangers, he probably won’t block the visibility of his posts to a new friend.

Keystroke Recording Software

Every email, every message and every web search can be recalled with a keystroke recorder, along with your child’s passwords. If you have a serious reason to believe that something is wrong and you’ll need to be able to confront your child with concrete evidence to make a difference, keystroke software may be the way to go. Be warned, however, that a child who’s not actually involved in questionable activities will almost certainly feel that she has no privacy or grounds for trusting her parents. In the event of an emergency, these programs can be quite valuable tools for parents.

Webcam Monitoring

There are ways to remotely view everything the webcam in your child’s computer sees, but it’s wise to think long and hard before resorting to such things. No invasion of privacy is as personal or as upsetting as being actively watched when you’re not aware of it. Furthermore, there are some sights a parent just doesn’t need to see.

Smartphone Apps

Do you want to track your child’s movements with an online GPS service connected to his phone or block content he’s able to view with the device? There are a slew of kid-monitoring apps available for smartphones that can help you keep tabs on your child when he’s away from home.

These methods will help you track and monitor what your kids are doing online, but there is no app or program to replace the trust that is almost certain to be lost when your child discovers the depth of your investigation. Before resorting to underhanded means of finding out what your youngster is up to, you may want to attempt having an open, judgment-free conversation about boundaries,

 appropriate behavior and the implications of being careless on the Internet.

This post was suggested to me for publication by Lindsay Samuels. If you want to know more about this very sensitive subject, please go the sight linked below

http://nannybackgroundcheck.com/blog/how-to-snoop-on-your-kid-while-hes-online/

 appropriate behavior and the implications of being careless on the Internet.33

10 Signs Your Child May Need Eyeglasses

Adults know when they’re having trouble with their vision, but young children may not realize that anything is wrong. They may think that the poor quality of their sight is normal, or they may be too young to communicate that there’s a problem. That’s why it’s important for parents to pay close attention to tell-tale signs that their child is having trouble seeing so the problem can be corrected quickly. Early detection is crucial, so here are 10 signs that your child may need glasses.

1. Squinting – The most common sign of vision problems is squinting. Anyone who has trouble seeing will squint to try to focus better. If you notice your child squinting a lot, you may want to make an appointment with the eye doctor.
2. Rubbing eyes – Another tell-tale sign to watch for is excessive eye rubbing. Most children will rub their eyes when they’re tired, but if this begins to happen frequently, then it could be an indication of a bigger problem. Two potential reasons a child may frequently rub his eyes are a subconscious reaction to blurry vision or it could just be allergies.
3. Tilting head – Children with double vision may tilt their head to see more clearly. This could be caused by a muscle imbalance in their eyes that can be corrected with eyeglasses.
4. Headaches or dizziness – Constant eye strain from poor vision can cause headaches and dizziness. If your child complains of frequent headaches in the forehead area or is irritable after reading or watching TV, he may need to see an optometrist.
5. Sits close to TV – Does your child constantly insist on sitting in front of the television? This could be a sign of nearsightedness that can be easily corrected with eyeglasses. Nearsightedness is identified when there is a problem with seeing things in a distance, so kids will sit closer to compensate.
6. Closing one eye – Another clue to vision trouble is closing or covering one eye when reading or watching TV. This could mean there is a problem with one eye, so a child will close it to see more clearly. Because this could be a serious condition, it should get immediate attention.
7. Holds books close – Most children should be able to read books at a comfortable distance, so holding books up to their face is a sign they may need eyeglasses. If your child is a bookworm with her nose continually in a book, she may need a visit to the eye doctor.
8. Problems in school – Quite often children who are having problems in school are facing these issues because of undiagnosed eye trouble. If they’re having trouble seeing the blackboard or reading they can become disinterested or even disruptive. Be sure to have your child’s vision checked if he is suddenly having trouble with school.
9. Lazy eye – When kids have a weakness in one eye it will show up when they’re tired. A droopy eyelid or one eye drifting out of alignment is a sign of a lazy eye that can often be corrected with eyeglasses.
10. Finger reading – Some kids will use a finger to follow the words when they read. This isn’t a clear sign they need glasses, but if it persists, there could be a problem. They may need the finger to keep their place when reading if they have astigmatism or amblyopia.

Many vision problems are hereditary, so if parents need glasses, chances are the kids may be prone to the same fate. Nobody wants their kids to have to wear eyeglasses, but left unchecked, vision problems will only worsen over time. It’s much better to have an eye doctor give a clean bill of health than to let your child suffer with poor vision. Merely asking your child if they can see alright won’t work if they don’t know what clear vision is like. Routine vision screenings at school don’t always catch less common eye problems, so a visit to the optometrist may be necessary. Wearing glasses is no fun, but not being able to see clearly is worse. Watch for these signs to make sure your child doesn’t have a vision problem that’s left uncorrected.

This post was proposed to me for publication by Kathleen Crislip. If you want to learn more about this subject please go to the site linked below:

http://www.nannycare.org/blog/10-signs-your-child-may-need-eyeglasses/ 

How to Ask Tough Questions During a Nanny Interview

The nanny interview is your opportunity to really get to know a nanny you’re considering hiring. It’s the time to ask about her education, her childcare experience, her philosophy on raising children and what’s she’s looking for in a position. It’s also the perfect opportunity to learn more about her personality and her value system. But how do you get to that information?

Encourage a conversation. Your nanny candidate will have questions about your family and job. She’ll want to get to know you as a person and as an employer. This mutual interest makes it easy to turn the formal interview into a more informal conversation. By engaging the nanny in a real conversation rather than simply asking her a series of standard questions, you’ll get more honest and in-depth information.

Ask open ended questions. If the nanny is able to simply answer with a yes or no, you won’t get a lot of information during the interview. However, if you ask open ended questions that require a longer, more narrative answer, you’ll discover much more. Giving the nanny the opportunity to interpret the questions in her own way gives you a glimpse into how she thinks and feels about the topic. Often the nanny will mention something in her answer that will prompt additional questions about a topic you didn’t originally think of covering. These additional questions often lead to information that plays a key role in your hiring decision.

Dig deeper and ask follow up questions about her childcare approach. During the interview, you’ll ask the nanny about how she disciplines, how she helps children through age and stage transitions, her feelings about and reactions to challenging behaviors and much more. Most nannies are able to give the correct textbook answer to these types of childcare questions. They know what they’re supposed to do in different situations. However, there’s a big difference between knowing what you should do and being able to actually do it when you’re faced with the situation, especially if you’re feeling angry, impatient, overwhelmed or just tired of the struggle. To get a more accurate picture of how the nanny will do in the real world, ask her follow-up questions that push her to come up with a solution beyond the textbook answer, like how she handled specific situations in previous positions.

Don’t be afraid to get personal. Let’s face it, your nanny’s personal beliefs matter. She will be working in your home and caring for your children. What she believes about a variety of topics will influence what your child is exposed to. In many cases, her personal life will intersect with your family’s life. Of course, like other employees, nannies are entitled to personal privacy. Balancing your right to know about her personal beliefs with her right to privacy is a tough but necessary line to walk. During the interview, don’t be afraid to ask her personal questions that you wouldn’t ask an IT professional or accountant. If you have a seven year old son who loves playing with dolls, it’s probably important for you to know how she feels about boys that embrace what society defines as female traits. If you’re a devout Christian family, it’s probably important for you to know how she feels about daily prayers and discipline lessons based on the teachings of the church. Make sure you always ask in a respectful way, but also make sure to ask about things that are important to you.

Cover in-depth what she wants and what she doesn’t want in a job. Most nannies agree that the childcare part of a job is easy. It’s the nanny/family match part that is the most difficult. Make sure you ask direct questions about what the nanny is looking for in a job. Some nannies have put many of their needs on the back burner because they need to find a job sooner rather than later. They’re willing to compromise to land a position. Unfortunately those unaddressed needs often come back to cause dissatisfaction and frustration 4 or 6 months into the job. Talk to the prospective nanny about the schedule including late nights and extra babysitting; the nanny’s responsibilities and how much flexibility you need within the task list; the kind of day you envision for your child, including how much control over planning the day your nanny will have and how comfortable you are with the nanny taking your child to outside activities; and your employer style, including how much input and involvement you plan on having into how she carries out her job.

The nanny interview is your best opportunity to get to know your potential nanny. With the right approach, it can give you the information you need to make the right hiring decision for your family.

This post was proposed for publication by Savannah Lee. If you want to know about this subject please go to the link below:

 http://www.nannyinterviewquestions.com/blog/how-to-ask-tough-questions-during-a-nanny-interview/

12 Inspiring Nanny Stories of 2012

By the end of 2012, the nanny news story that had received the most media exposure was the tragic tale of the Krim children, who were stabbed by their nanny before she turned the knife on herself. Parents around the nation mourned alongside the Krim family, and counted their blessings not to be in their shoes. There were, however, far more stories of courage and inspiration to be found that didn’t receive the same sensational attention of this grisly tale. These 12 nannies were among those to be celebrated, even if their stories didn’t receive national coverage.

Emily Rogers – When Emily Rogers learned CPR in order to take a nanny job, she likely never realized that the skills she attained in order to ensure the safety of her charges would one day save a life. Jorge Pedroso was turning blue when Rogers and a bystander, Rebekah Tucker, began the CPR that helped him to survive.

Kaitlyn McGrath – Chris Powell may be the celebrity trainer of Extreme Makeover Weight Loss Edition, but the courage of his nanny Kaitlyn McGrath saved his one-year-old son from a carjacker. McGrath escaped her work vehicle with little Cash before anyone was injured.

Susane Lavinia Bowden – Great nannies become more like members of the family than employees, a fact that’s proven by the tale of Susane Lavinia Bowden. For 40 years she served as a live-in nanny and housekeeper to the Hoare family; now, as she celebrates her 100th birthday, her years of service and dedication are being rewarded as her employers care for her.

Michael Kenny – Norland College is a renowned British institution for the training of nannies, and was established more than a century ago. Over the decades, Norland has exclusively trained women. Michael Kenny, the first male to be admitted to the school, set a new precedent for breaking down traditional gender roles.

Nikki Gribble – Each year, the International Nanny Association chooses one nanny to receive the honor of Nanny of the Year. This year’s recipient, Nikki Gribble, was nominated by her employers for her dedication and excellent professional performance.

Cindy Gatson – When a stolen Jeep careened towards Cindy Gatson and her four-year-old charge, she risked her own life to save him. Gatson was clipped by the Jeep’s bumper and was forced to use crutches until she recovered, but her charge escaped the situation unscathed.

Vivian Maier – Chicago nanny Vivian Maier might not have received any attention from the media during her 40 years on the job, but she became something of an enigmatic figure of interest after a book full of her photographs was posthumously published.

Alexis Barry – She may not be an inspiring figure for nanny employers, but Alexis Barry’s courage in standing up to her A-list employer Robert DeNiro demanding fair payment for more than $40,000 in withheld overtime pay definitely makes her a hero to nannies struggling with job creep and unfair pay.

Alyson Myatt – When the Kentucky home of single parent J.B. Hawes caught fire while he was away on business, his 22-year-old nanny rushed barefoot through soaring flames to save her five-year-old charge Aden. While Myatt suffered serious burns, Aden escaped unharmed. Local authorities assert that any hesitation on Myatt’s part would have resulted in Aden’s death.

Nosrat Dezfoulian – When a metal roll-down gate collapsed in the Park Slope neighborhood of Brooklyn onto Nosrat Dezfoulian and the toddler she was caring for, she shielded him with her body to the best of her ability. Her head was split open and bleeding profusely, but her charge escaped with only a broken leg due to her quick thinking.

Jennifer Anton – The driver of a Chicago Streets and Sanitation truck was clutching an open bottle of brandy and had a blood-alcohol level of more than twice the legal limit when he sped towards Jennifer Anton and her 20 month old charge Tyler. Tyler sustained no serious injuries, but Anton’s legs and pelvis were shattered.

Sandra Samuel – The terrorist attack on Chabad House Jewish Community Center in Mumbai left only two survivors, two-year-old Moshe and his nanny Sandra Samuels. Samuels carried Moshe to safety after rescuing him from between the bodies of his parents, risking her own life in the process.

These 12 nannies showed themselves to be truly outstanding members of not only the professional childcare community, but also the world as a whole. In some way or another, they all showed great courage and strength, proving that great nannies far outnumber dangerous ones.   P.S. This post is published by appointment and authorisation of Olivia Lewis. If you want more about the subject please go to the main source clicking on the link below   http://www.nannynewsnetwork.com/blog/12-inspiring-nanny-stories-of-2012/

How to Choose a Godparent That Isn’t a Family Member

While the tradition of choosing godparents for a new baby is typically affiliated with the Roman Catholic faith, there are some parents who are of different religions or no religion at all that are eager to confer the honor upon someone close to them. Choosing godparents for your child can be a difficult task, especially if you are worried about offending members of your family by passing them over. There are a few ways that you can manage the situation with as much grace as possible, however, hopefully staving off any hurt feelings or family feuds.

Look Outside of the Family

Sometimes choosing godparents outside of your family is the best option. Make it known to your relatives that you’re doing so because there are too many of them that you’d like to honor and no way of deciding fairly without offending someone. Under Catholic tradition, a sibling of the mother and a sibling of the father are generally chosen as godparents. This is an especially good tactic if you and your partner have several siblings. Because part of the godparenting tradition for some families also includes caring for your children in the event of your untimely demise, many new parents feel more comfortable opting for a couple to act as godparents, over tangentially-related adults. Explaining to your respective siblings or other relatives that you feel more comfortable leaving the future of your children in the hands of an established couple may also take some of the sting out of a perceived rejection.

Honorary Title Versus Legal Guardianship

For some parents, choosing godparents is a strictly ceremonial gesture with other plans made for the legal guardianship of their child in the event of a tragedy. For others, the primary reason for choosing godparents is to designate a legal guardian to prevent confusion. If you’re determined to choose a godparent outside of your family, you should consider what capacity you’ll be expecting them to act. For the purely ceremonial purposes of being a special person in your child’s life, you can feel a bit more secure asking a friend who is very close to you. If you will be moving for legal guardianship as part of your godparents’ duties, the decision justifiably becomes a bit more difficult.

The Question of Faith

If you’re choosing godparents as a tradition connected with your spirituality and have strong convictions about your children being raised in that faith, should you be taken from them, it’s wise to consider the implications of choosing godparents from outside of your faith. If you expect your child’s godparents to be responsible for his upbringing in the event of a tragedy, you should also expect that they would naturally be likely to instill more of their own religious beliefs than your own. If your family members don’t share your religious affiliation, this can be another talking point you bring up in order to gently explain your choice to opt for godparents outside of the family.

Stand Firm

While it’s obviously important to be considerate of your relatives’ feelings, it’s also important that you not allow yourself to be manipulated or dissuaded from a decision that has significant meaning to you. If you’re closer to your childhood best friend than the sister you rarely see, there is no shame in naming your best friend the godmother. Keeping a grasp on your composure in the face of blatant disappointment or disapproval is never easy, but refusing to argue or be drawn into a debate can prevent dramatic scenes that are difficult to overcome. Stating that you have made your decision and that you hope your family members can respect it as one of your first major choices as a new parent can help to diffuse some anger, especially if you remain calm and respectful throughout the conversation.

This post was proposed to me for publication by Kaitlyn Johnson. If you wanto know more about this, please just click on the belowed link:

http://www.newborncare.com/blog/how-to-choose-a-godparent-that-isnt-a-family-member/

7 Holiday Traditions to Start with Your Family

Some families have holiday traditions that go back generations.  Other families don’t really have any traditions at all.  Regardless of which camp you fall into, why not create a few new holiday traditions this Christmas season?  Traditions give everyone something special to look forward to year after year.  If you are at a loss as to what kind of things you can do to start a tradition, check out this list.

1. Look at the lights.  Magical twinkling lights are all around in the weeks leading up to Christmas.  Pick a night to take the whole family on a drive around the neighborhood or a drive through one of those huge displays that you pay by the car load.  You might want to bring along some popcorn and hot chocolate to enjoy during your drive.
2. Serve dinner at a soup kitchen.  Check with your local shelters to find out when they serve dinners and look into if you and your family can take part in helping those less fortunate.  Check early, because sometimes shelters take the first 50 people to help and then turn other volunteers away.  Christmastime is a popular time to help serve at the soup kitchen, and a lot of places will take reservations for volunteers.
3. Go Christmas caroling.  It doesn’t matter if you can carry a tune or not.  Dress warmly and print out the lyrics of some popular Christmas songs, then take a stroll around the neighborhood singing to folks.  This doesn’t happen as regularly as it once did, and people will surely be thrilled to hear a holiday song.  Ask some of your friends to come along if you are shy about your abilities.  There is strength in numbers.
4. Watch a tree lighting.  Most cities have a central square or other location where they have a big Christmas tree lighting ceremony.  Sometimes it’s tied to other winter activities that you might join in on as well.  Check with your city or online to see where the different tree lightings are in your area.
5. Go on a sleigh ride.  If you live in an area where there is no snow then you can look for a carriage ride and go on one of those with your family.  Check the yellow pages in your area and see where you can find a sleigh ride or carriage ride this holiday season.  It’s magical listening to the sleigh bells ring.
6. Invite friends over for Christmas Eve.  Get together with some friends on Christmas Eve and play games or watch a Christmas movie with some popcorn and candy.  Make it a potluck or order Chinese food for something completely different than what everyone will be eating on Christmas day.
7. Bake cookies for the neighbors.  If you love to bake why don’t you and the kids make up a bunch of cookies, candies and bars to take to the neighbors?  People usually like homemade food and will be excited to see someone from the neighborhood bringing them goodies.  You never know, the way to a cranky neighbor’s heart might be through their stomach!

Anything can become a tradition if you make it a point to do it every year.  Bake cinnamon rolls on Christmas morning or mix up a batch of homemade fudge.  You will be amazed how much fun it will be to anticipate these traditions year after year.

 P.S. This post was  proposed to me for publication by Sandra McAubre.  I'm therefore publishing it by her invitation and under her permission. See also the link below fore more information:

http://www.hireananny.org/blog/7-holiday-traditions-to-start-with-your-family/ 

10 Creative Places to Hide the Kids’ Christmas Gifts

When the kids are little it usually isn’t all that difficult to keep their gifts a secret, but as they begin to get older and understand that Christmas entails receiving gifts, they tend to get a little more inquisitive and may start poking around trying to find out where you’re hiding the presents.  If you think your kids are going to be poking around before Christmas in an attempt to locate their gifts, try these 10 different places for hiding them away from their prying eyes:

1. Trunk of the car – If the present isn’t going to be affected by heat or cold, keeping it in the trunk of your car is a great hiding spot because the kids rarely have a reason to be in the car without you being there too. Just don’t forget you stashed them there and send the kids to get something out of your trunk!
2. Empty suitcases – These are the best hiding places! Those suitcases sit there day in and day out and no one has any need to move them or look at them.  You can hide quite a bit of small gifts in one of the larger suitcases, however, if you have an overly bulky item you may need to think of another spot for it.
3. Under bed storage boxes – Most kids don’t have any reason to go under mom and dad’s bed, and the under the bed storage boxes will hold a lot of stuff.  If you have a typical bed, you won’t be able to store very big items underneath it, but Barbie dolls and video games fit well!
4. The neighbor’s garage – If you and your neighbor are friends, this is the ideal hiding place for big items.  You can put your item in a corner and cover it with a blanket.  This is especially great if their kids aren’t little anymore so they can tell their kids the present out there isn’t theirs.
5. A box in the attic – Attics offer a perfect hiding space as long as it doesn’t double as a play area for the kids.  Also, be sure that you don’t store things up there that might be affected by extreme heat or cold. Big items work well in an attic as long as you are strong enough to get them up there.  Cover them up with a blanket and you are good to go.
6. Behind your clothes in the closet – Keep the kids out of your closet this time of year! Hiding presents behind long dresses and suit bags is a smart place to stash them because at first glance, the closet looks the same, and only you will know where you stashed the secret items.  You can even use this spot to hide stuff for your spouse since it’s not likely he will move all of your dresses and shoes looking for his gifts.
7. Your work place – If you pick up some gifts on your lunch hour don’t bring them home, just leave them under your desk at work.  Or, if they are expensive, you can lock them in your desk or file cabinet.  Make sure the cleaning crew can be trusted.
8. Storage box in the garage – Buy a few extra storage boxes that match the ones you have in the garage already and hide the gifts in there.  Then, store the boxes behind normal storage boxes in case someone would happen to look in one.  Add an X or something on the box so that you will know where you stashed the gifts; it’s not good to lose the gifts you went to such lengths to hide!
9. High shelf in the closet – Use a coat closet or a guest closet to hide gifts in a box up on a high shelf.  Put some blankets or other storage items in front of it so it won’t stand out if one of the kids is playing hide-n-seek and decides to hide in that closet.
10. Linen closet – Most kids probably don’t venture into the linen closet very often, and if they do it’s probably just to grab a towel.  Hide small items on the top shelf in the back and no one will be the wiser.  Closets in the laundry room work well for this too, as the kids rarely would have any need to go into the laundry room, let alone the closet in there.

Make sure you keep a list of your hiding places somewhere so that you know where everything is hidden. You don’t want to be scrambling around in the days leading up to Christmas trying to remember where you so carefully hid everything!

 P.S. This post was  proposed to me for publication by Paul Taylor. I'm therefore publishing it by his invitation and under his permission. See also the link below fore more information:

http://www.babysittingjobs.com/blog/10-creative-places-to-hide-the-kids%E2%80%99-christmas-gifts/ 

10 Ways to Teach Young Children to Be Nice to Pets

When kids learn to treat animals with gentleness and respect, they also learn about compassion and caring on a larger scale, which are traits that can later be applied to the relationships that they have with fellow humans. For parents of toddlers and young children, imparting these lessons can be a bit of a challenge; here are 10 ways to help your little one understand the importance of treating animals well.

1. Set a Good Example – Children learn primarily through mimicry. They watch their parents and other authority figures, and then model their own behavior after their observances; one of the best ways to instill a love of animals is to have that same love yourself and to exhibit it often.
2. Research Local Programs – Your local Humane Society chapter or other animal activism organization is likely to have a program or two specifically directed at helping small children understand the proper treatment of animals. A cursory glance at a local message board or search engine results could net dozens of options.
3. Take Advantage of Story Time – Most kids love a bedtime story, and there are tons of books on the market written with this very subject in mind. A colorfully illustrated, well-written book about animals and the humans that love them can do wonders for explaining the concept of animal kindness to kids.
4. Teach Proper Handling of Small Animals – Helping a child to properly hold and handle a small or newborn animal while emphasizing the importance of being gentle is a great way to teach a hands-on lesson about carefully handling animals and never being too rough.
5. Visit a Petting Zoo – Spending an afternoon at the petting zoo can be a fun and informative experience for kids of all ages, but especially for little ones who wouldn’t ordinarily have the opportunity to interact with such an interesting array of animals or have access to professionals that are trained to help kids learn about them.
6. Share Interesting Facts – Learning that baby goats are also called “kids” or that butterflies taste with their feet not only entertain children, but also help them to see that animals have their own unique, interesting qualities.
7. Help at a Shelter – Taking a trip to your local animal shelter to help walk the dogs, feed the cats or do other fun and interactive chores not only makes a difference in your community, but also in your child. It might be best to stick to a privately run no-kill shelter or to be sure that no animals are scheduled to be euthanized during your visit, however, to avoid a traumatic experience.
8. Study Local Wildlife – A trip to a local nature preserve or national park not only provides kids with a day of no-television fun, but can also help them understand the very important concept that wild animals are not pets, but should be treated with the same respect.
9. Watch Kid-Friendly Television Programming – While you might want to skip the program chronicling the antelopes’ encounter with a hungry lion, there are plenty of kid-centric animal documentary shows that can provide strong talking points and valuable information.
10. Get a Pet – After you’re certain that your child understands the basic treatment of animals, introducing a pet into your home is a great way to keep their education going. Even if you live in a small space or urban environment that isn’t conducive to traditional pets, a small hamster or a goldfish can still help give your child a sense of responsibility.

Most small children need to be reminded to be gentle more than anything else, as deliberate cruelty is quite rare in children so young. Kids that show signs of harmful behavior might be struggling with a larger issue. If this is the case the child’s pediatrician should be consulted.

 P.S. This post was  proposed to me for publication by   Molly Cunningham. I'm therefore publishing it by her invitation and under her permission. See also the link below fore more information: 

 

 

http://www.liveinnanny.com/blog/10-ways-to-teach-young-children-to-be-nice-to-pets/ 

How to Hire a Nanny without Using an Agency

While nanny agencies are a popular way of securing private, in-home childcare, there are parents who would prefer to find a nanny on their own, without the services of such placement agencies. Fortunately for those families, there are a wide variety of ways to find a nanny without the assistance of an agency. From the best ways to find a nanny without agency assistance to the ins and outs of running the hiring show yourself, here are a few tips to help you along the way.

• Take Advantage of Nanny Websites – Nanny agencies typically charge families a fee in exchange for placement services because the agency does the job of sifting through their pool of available childcare providers and sending over the contact information of those they feel would be the best match for the household. Nanny job sites, however, operate on a different model, generally offering prospective nanny employers access to a master list for a nominal fee. While a job site designed specifically for nannies and their employers won’t cull candidates that aren’t likely to make the grade, they do charge far less. Some of these services are even free, existing solely on advertising revenue.
• Peruse Online Classified Ad Sites – While online local classified ad sites like Craigslist have been on the receiving end of a bit of bad press from time to time, they’re still one of the more popular ways to find a nanny without using a placement service. These sites allow users to post and respond to classified ads for free, and are broken down into cities or regions to ensure that most respondents live locally.
• Don’t Forget About Print – Taking out an ad in a local newspaper or free press publication might not be completely free, but it does tend to be fairly cheap and can still net results, despite the prevailing idea that print is a dying medium. The trick is to choose a publication with a fairly wide readership in order to reach the highest audience.
• Don’t Underestimate the Power of Word of Mouth – Ask around and you may be surprised at what you find. Friends-of-friends that are experienced and capable career nannies or the college student studying child development who lives on the next block could turn out to be a perfect fit for your family, and one that you never would have found through an agency. Social media is a great way to spread the word you’re looking for a nanny.
• Never Skip the Background Check – One thing that most nanny agencies do handle is the criminal background screening and driving record check that helps to ensure that you don’t inadvertently hire a nanny with a documented questionable past, a criminal record or a suspended license due to unsafe driving or poor decisions. Because nanny job websites and online or print classified ads offer absolutely no screening of the candidates that reply, it’s of the utmost importance that you never choose to forgo a background check.
• Be a Stickler for References – There’s nothing stopping a respondent to any advertisement from creating an entirely fictitious job history, so it’s imperative that you make every effort to comb through references submitted to you by promising candidates. Ensuring that an applicant is who she says she is, and that she actually possesses the level of education and childcare experience that she claims she does is solely your responsibility when you choose not to use a full-service nanny agency.
• Insist On Certifications – CPR and first aid certifications are required by all applicants in the hiring pool of reputable nanny agencies, but are not required by law for private childcare providers. There’s no standard licensing or certification process for nannies, so it’s up to you to ensure that a nanny applicant has up-to-date CPR certification and first aid training. This ensures that she is capable of handling any emergency situations that may arise.

While a nanny placement agency does take a lot of the hassle and guesswork out of hiring a nanny, it can also diminish the scope of your hiring power and be quite expensive. Rather than being restricted to a relatively small list sent over from an agency, you can cast your net wide and have a hands-on hiring experience. Provided that you take the proper common-sense precautions, are willing to invest the time and energy into screening nannies, and are vigilant about checking a candidate’s background and references, hiring a qualified nanny without the services of an agency is possible.

 P.S. This post was  proposed to me for publication by   Carol Watson. I'm therefore publishing it by her invitation and under her permission. See also the link below fore more information: 

http://www.nationalnannies.com/blog/how-to-hire-a-nanny-without-using-an-agency/ 

30 Blog Posts from Breast Cancer Survivors

Facing a breast cancer diagnosis can very easily be one of the most terrifying and stressful situations of your lifetime. It’s easy to feel isolated and alone in your struggle, especially if no one you know has endured a similar battle. Thankfully, the global village created by the blogosphere has an entire community that acts as a breast cancer support system through the blog entries of actual breast cancer survivors. From the earliest days of your diagnosis to the victory of remission, and everything that happens in between, these 30 blogs offer support, information and real-life advice to help you every step of the way.

Dealing with the Diagnosis

Immediately after receiving the news of your breast cancer diagnosis, you will probably run the gamut of emotions, experiencing everything from fear to outrage. There’s no “right” or “wrong” reaction, as these five bloggers explain in their own diagnosis stories and advice offerings.

• Dealing with Diagnosis
• Breast Cancer: Diagnosis
• It Started With a Delayed Diagnosis
• What to Expect After a Breast Cancer Diagnosis
• Breast Cancer Diagnosis: Where Can You Turn?

Chemotherapy

You’ll naturally want to learn as much as possible about one of the most common forms of cancer treatment, but scientific journals can be difficult for a layperson to decode. These five bloggers explain chemotherapy and share their own stories or the fruits of their research in plain language that’s relatively easy to understand.

• Does Chemotherapy Deserve Its Bad Rap?
• Tummy Troubles Linked to Chemotherapy
• Chemotherapy and Exercise
• For Those About to A/C…
• Experimental Biology Blogging: Cancer Chemotherapy and Cognitive Deficits

Managing Hair Loss

One of the most dreaded aspects of cancer treatment is the possibility of hair loss as a result of chemotherapy. Unfortunately, many women are hesitant to discuss the matter when they’re facing that anxiety, usually for fear of appearing vain. These five blog posts take on the subject of hair loss resulting from cancer treatment honestly, giving you practical and useful advice for handling this difficult situation.

• Raw October — Day 21 (Hair By Chemotherapy)
• Breast Cancer, Hair Loss, and Dismissive Doctors
• Coping With Hair Loss as a Result of Cancer Treatment
• A Shaved Head is Worth a Thousand Words
• Coping With Hair Loss From Cancer Treatment

Preparing for a Mastectomy

Even if you’re not yet sure whether or not a mastectomy is in your future, it’s wise to begin gathering information and familiarizing yourself with the procedure while learning to manage the resultant emotional fallout as early as possible. These five blogs approach mastectomy candidly and frankly, pulling no punches.

• Preparing for a Mastectomy
• Prepare for Mastectomy
• Top 10 Tips – Pre-Mastectomy
• “Preparing for Mastectomy”, After Mastectomy and Lymph Node Dissection
• Preparing for Your Mastectomy Surgery

Alternative Treatments

While most women that turn to alternative treatments are in the later stages of cancer, there are those that want to pursue holistic or alternative treatment from the moment of their diagnosis. In the interest of making sure that you have the best possible chance of emerging on the other side of this battle as a breast cancer survivor, these five blogs approach the subject of alternative treatment. Keep in mind, however, that most bloggers are not medical professionals, and that their advice is no substitute for that of your oncologist or physician.

• Less Invasive Breast Cancer Treatment
• Alternative Medicine Use and Breast Cancer
• Breast Cancer Treatment Options and Alternatives
• Looking Towards Alternative Breast Cancer Treatment
• An Alternative Therapy for Some Breast Cancer Patients

Remission

The ultimate goal after receiving a breast cancer diagnosis is to reach the Holy Grail of remission. These five blog entries discuss several aspects of remission, both from a personal and scientific perspective.

• Thank You, Remission
• Breast Cancer Survivor ROC – 25 Years in Remission
• Remission
• When Cancer Disappears: The Curious Phenomenon of “Unexpected Remission”
• Living for Years With Late-Stage Cancer

 P.S. This post was  proposed to me for publication by   Hannah Anderson. I'm therefore publishing it by her invitation and under her permission. See also the link below fore more information: 
http://www.fulltimenanny.com/blog/30-blog-posts-from-breast-cancer-survivors/ 

10 Tips for Interviewing a Nanny

The nanny interview is a hugely important piece of the nanny screening process. A comprehensive interview helps parents gather the information they need to make an informed hiring decision. As you begin the interview process, keep these 10 tips in mind:

1. Conduct a phone interview before you move onto a face to face interview. Your time is in short supply, so make sure to talk with a nanny on the phone before you invest in a longer face to face interview. During the phone interview you can cover the basics and see if your personalities mesh well.
2. Write down some key topics you want to make sure you cover. There are lots of things you need to cover during a nanny interview. It’s easy to get caught up in the conversation and forget to ask about things that are important to you. An easy way to make sure you hit all your points is to go into the interview with notes. It’s easy to refer to your notes throughout the interview or quickly review them at the end to make sure you’ve covered all you want to cover.
3. Ask open ended questions. You want to learn as much about the nanny as possible during the interview. One of the best ways to do that is to ask open-ended, situational questions rather than yes or no questions. Doing so forces the nanny to really put thought into her answers. It also gives you a better view into how she feels, what she thinks, and how she makes decisions. Instead of asking “Do you use time-outs?” ask, “Tell me about a time you had to discipline a two-year-old.”
4. Carve out time to talk with the nanny without your kids. It’s important that your attention is focused on the nanny during the interview. This is an important decision, and the information she’s offering during the interview will help you evaluate her and decide if she’s the best choice for your family.
5. Keep the interview conversational. It can be nerve-wrenching for nannies to interview for a job they really want. By keeping the conversation casual, you can help put the nanny at ease. Why is that important? When a caregiver is comfortable and doesn’t feel guarded, she’ll be much more likely to share her true self. That will give you the best view into who she really is and will help you make an informed decision.
6. Give the nanny the chance to ask questions too. There are lots of things the nanny needs to know about your job. Hopefully, you can cover many of the job description details during the initial screening process. However, as you talk during the interview, encourage the nanny to ask questions about issues that come up. It’s essential that the candidate have all the information she needs to make the best decision.
7. Ask the nanny back for an additional interview where she can interact with your child. Although it’s important to meet with the nanny without your child, clearly her ability to connect with your child is the biggest factor in your decision. Regardless of your child’s age, invite the nanny to spend time with your child. Observe her comfort level with your child, how hands-on she is, if she knows about the developmental stage your child is in, and how your child reacts to her. Remember, she knows she’s being evaluated, so chances are she’s nervous and won’t be as relaxed with your child as she normally would be.
8. If your children are old enough, involve them in the interview process. The focus of the nanny’s job is your child. If your kids are old enough to understand you’re choosing a new nanny, ask them to participate in the selection process. It can be something as simple as asking the nanny a question or two or having a real voice in the decision making process.
9. Don’t skip the working interview. When you find the nanny that fits your needs and meshes well with your family, ask her to come back for a working interview. Seeing how she actually is on the job will give you that last bit of information you need to make your final hiring decision. A working interview also gives the nanny a chance to see if your job is the best choice for her. This two way match is the key to a long-term, successful nanny/family relationship.
10. Let the nanny know how you’re feeling after the interview. If you absolutely love a nanny, let her know it. Highly qualified nannies are generally interviewing with more than one family, so let a great candidate know you want to pursue her. Give her a timetable for taking your next step and let her know when you’ll be contacting her.

A well-thought out interview strategy can help parents learn about the nanny and make the best choice for their family.

 P.S. This post was  proposed to me for publication by  Maureen Denard. I'm therefore publishing it by her invitation and under her permission. See also the link below fore more information: 

http://www.findananny.net/blog/10-tips-for-interviewing-a-nanny/ 

Should You Let Your Nanny Bring Her Child To Work With Her?

Many nannies who are also moms look for families that will allow them to bring their own child to work with them. This is a valuable benefit to the nanny and, under the right circumstances, can also be a benefit to the employer. Here are the things you should think about when deciding if this situation is right for your family.

Consider some of the possible advantages.

Parents may save money by allowing their nanny to bring her child to work. When hiring a nanny who has a child she wants to bring along with her, parents can often negotiate a lower hourly rate in exchange for the benefit. The nanny should still be paid fairly, however the benefit is often worth taking a lower pay rate or forfeiting another benefit like additional paid time off.

If your current nanny wants to bring her child, either because her current childcare arrangement has changed or she’s pregnant and planning for her return after maternity leave, there are a generally two ways to approach the money issue. In most cases the nanny forgoes an upcoming raise or bonus. If the new arrangement makes it impossible for your nanny to continue with her current responsibilities (e.g. she can no longer take the adult /child water class because that would leave her child unsupervised or she can no longer do school drop off and pick up because her car doesn’t have space for the extra car seat), a pay cut may be appropriate.

A nanny who brings her child to work with her can usually give parents more scheduling flexibility. Like all parents, the limits of your nanny’s childcare arrangement impact her work schedule. If your nanny has to be at her child’s daycare no later than 6:30 PM, she won’t have the option of staying late because you have a client meeting or need to finish a big project. If she’s able to bring her child to work with her, she has a lot more flexibility with her work schedule.

The nanny’s child can be a built-in playmate. If your child is an only child, having your nanny bring her child to work may be the beginning of a great relationship. Many parents say their nanny’s child becomes part of the family and is thought of like a cousin or close family friend. This can be a great advantage to both the nanny and her employers.

You can keep a beloved nanny who might otherwise quit. This is a very personal and important issue to your nanny. It can be very hard to care for someone else’s child when your own child is in daycare. Many nannies will leave a position they’re otherwise happy in to find a family that will allow them to bring their child to work. By allowing your nanny this option, you can keep a nanny that you and your child love, value and trust.

For all the advantages that allowing your nanny to bring her child to work offers, there are also some possible disadvantages that should be explored as well:

The nanny’s time and attention will be divided. Even if your nanny is completely devoted to your child, adding another child to the mix means there will be times when her attention will be divided. That doesn’t mean she can’t still provide high quality care. It simply means there will be times when she has to attend to her child before yours. It would be the same case if your child welcomed a new sibling into the house.

There will be an additional child to consider when deciding on activities. Adding an additional child to the mix, especially one that is not the same age as your child, may limit the activities the nanny can plan or participate in. A new baby can’t be outside all day at the lake like a 5-year-old can. A toddler can’t keep up with an 8-year-old on an afternoon bike ride. How much this affects your child’s daily environment depends on the nanny, her child and the things your child normally does.

The nanny may not be able to take on additional tasks. It takes more time and energy to care for two children than it does for one. If you were planning on asking your nanny to take on more tasks like grocery shopping or family meal prep as your child got older, that might not be feasible if she brings her child to work with her.

Allowing your nanny to bring her child to work can be a positive or negative experience. It’s an important decision for both you and your nanny, and it should be discussed honestly and in-depth before any decisions are made. There’s not a right or wrong path. In this case, the right decision depends on your needs and personal preferences.

P.S. This post was  proposed to me for publication by  Isabella Harris. I'm therefore publishing it by her invitation and under her permission. See also the link below fore more information: 

http://www.nannyjobs.net/blog/should-you-let-your-nanny-bring-her-child-to-work-with-her/ 

How to Make a Snow Ball Wreath

Make a statement on your front door this winter by creating a snow ball wreath.  These frosty snow balls will shimmer in the sun just like the real thing.  It won’t matter whether there’s snow on the ground or not, you will have the perfect winter accessory for your front door.  Get in the mood for winter and create this snowy wreath today.

Step 1

Gather up the supplies you will need for the project:

• 12” Styrofoam wreath
• 20 to 30 total- 2” and 1 ½” Styrofoam balls (other sizes will work)
• Epsom salt
• 3 yards of wide ribbon (for hanging)
• Mod Podge
• Toothpicks
• Paint brush
• Hot glue
• 2 bowls
• A fork or skewer
• Newspaper for covering work surface

Step 2

Cover your work surface with newspaper.  Pour some Mod Podge into a bowl.  Pour some Epsom salts into a bigger bowl.

Step 3

Stab a Styrofoam ball with a fork or skewer and while holding it over the Mod Podge bowl use the paint brush to paint a light coat of the glue over the entire ball.  Take the ball over to the bowl full of Epsom salts and roll it around to coat.  Tap the fork on the edge of the bowl to knock off any loose salt.  Set aside the coated ball to dry.  Continue coating the rest of the balls.  When finished, allow all of the balls to dry overnight.  If you would like the balls to look snowier you can add a second layer of Mod Podge and salt.

Step 4

Stick a toothpick in each finished ball about halfway in and start pressing them into the Styrofoam wreath.  Start on the inside of the wreath and work your way around.  You will want to put them very close together and try to alternate the 2 inch with the 1 ½ inch balls. Continue covering the wreath until most of the surface is covered.  You will want to make sure that the wreath will hang well so leave the back of it plain if you can or cover it evenly so that it will still hang well on the door.  Plug in your hot glue gun.

Step 5

Hot glue additional balls on top of those that are already stuck onto the wreath.  You will want to try to cover the entire wreath form.

Step 6

Loop the center of the ribbon around the wreath.  Leave some space and tie a bow.  The amount of space you need to leave will depend on where you want the wreath to hang on your door.  If you already have a hanger on your door you can adjust the ribbon and try it out on your door.  If you are using one of those removable self-adhesive hooks to hang this you can hang the hook wherever you need it to be.  Hang your wreath on your door or in your home.

Tips

To store your wreath you will want to fill the bottom half of a box with crumpled up white tissue paper and then lay the wreath on top.  Put another layer of crumpled tissue paper over the wreath and close the box.

To dress up the wreath you can add in some silver ornaments that would hang below the wreath or in the center.  Airy open ornaments like snowflakes or spirals will work best for this idea.

Your completed wreath will add a touch of sparkle to your front door and greet your guests all winter long.  To give this wreath a holiday look you can wire in an elf sitting in the center and change the ribbon to something appropriate for the holiday.  Then to extend the life of the wreath you can remove the elf and change the ribbon to a wintery blue.  Once you’ve gone to the time and expense of making this wreath you may want to leave it up for as long as possible.

 P.S. This post was  proposed to me for publication by Kathleen Crislip.  I'm therefore publishing it by her invitation and under her permission. See also the link below fore more information:

 http://www.nannycare.org/blog/how-to-make-a-snow-ball-wreath/

Tips For Teaching Kids About Compassion

Helping your child learn to feel compassion and empathy for others is one of the most important lessons you can instill in them as a parent. As bullying and cruelty become more prevalent, and children and teens are resorting to extremes to find relief from the torment of their peers, helping your child to understand how important it is to respect the feelings of others can make a very real difference in the world around her. While it’s not always easy to help a child grasp such an abstract concept, there are steps you can take, as a family, to make the concept of being compassionate more understandable.

• Model Compassionate Behavior – Just as your child learns to mimic your mannerisms and speech patterns, she’ll also take most of her cues about how to treat her peers, elders, animals and the environment from you as well. Making a conscious effort to model compassionate, altruistic behavior in everyday life is one of the most effective ways of ensuring that your child also learns to behave in such a manner. When your child sees you treat the world around you with compassion, she will instinctively follow the shining example you’ve set for her.
• Take Opportunities to Talk about Caring for Others – When your child is confronted with images of violence, cruelty or bullying through television, movies and even her everyday interactions with the world, it’s important to take the opportunity to talk about how she thinks the victims of those actions feel and how she might be able to help. With these examples to examine as points of reference, a largely abstract notion can become more concrete and easier to understand. Take the time to discuss empathy and compassion every day, especially when events or images bring the issue to the forefront.
• Volunteer as a Family – Spending time as a family performing volunteer work can give your child not only an up close and personal view of compassion and empathy in action, but also the satisfied feeling that comes with making a positive difference in the world. Making an effort to choose volunteer activities based upon your child’s existing interests, the age-appropriateness of the tasks involved, and her ability to immediately see a perceptible difference due to her actions can help your child understand that helping others is both important and rewarding. Working together as a family can also strengthen bonds, give you an opportunity to continuously model compassionate behavior, create talking points for later discussion, and allow you to monitor what she’s exposed to in the course of her volunteer work.
• Teach Kids to Stand Up to Bullying – While your child should understand that it’s never acceptable to approach a bully in a confrontational or violent manner, and that retaliation isn’t a solution to the problem of bullying, you should also encourage her to make an effort to stand up to school bullies in a compassionate and productive way. Reporting harassment of another child to school authorities, making an effort to befriend children that aren’t easily accepted by their peers, and never engaging in bullying activities are all effective ways of combating the problem without retaliation. It’s also important to explain that standing aside and doing nothing to assist a victim of bullying or laughing at cruel pranks is the same as condoning the treatment her classmate is receiving.
• Donate Outgrown Toys and Clothes – When your child outgrows her toys and clothing while they’re still in serviceable shape, it’s a good idea to get her involved in the sorting and packing process, and then let her accompany you when you go to make a donation. Seeing that the belongings she no longer needs are finding good use in a needy home can instill the importance of charitable giving, and ease any pangs of separation anxiety she feels.
• Practice Random Acts of Kindness – Keeping your eyes open for small acts of unexpected kindness that you and your child can perform together can not only help her understand the concept of altruism, but can also help to make it an everyday practice. Look for ways that you and your child can help whenever you’re out together; in no time, she’ll be spotting potential random acts of kindness herself.

While it’s not always a popular notion with harried parents, allowing your child to keep a pet can provide her with an everyday incentive to be compassionate and caring for a living being that needs her help to survive. Smaller pets, like fish or hamsters, can be just as effective as dogs or cats. Depending on your living situation and schedule constraints, adopting a pet for your child to take responsibility for can be another very effective way of passing along a lesson in compassion.

 P.S. This post was  proposed to me for publication by  Martina Keyhell. I'm therefore publishing it by her invitation and under her permission. See also the link below fore more information:

 http://www.becomeananny.com/blog/tips-for-teaching-kids-about-compassion/