Month: December 2020

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‘Tis The Season: Navigating Holiday Schedules and Time Off for Nannies

mom researching on computer how to book nannies during winter holidays while she fixes her daughters' hair

The holiday season is one of the busiest times of the year.  With so much to do in just a month or so, you may be relying on your nanny more than ever to keep your household running smoothly.  Maybe you need to find a nanny but don’t have a spare second to do it.  Twinkle Toes can help with both of those things.  Here are our tips on navigating holiday schedules and time off for nannies as well as the nanny services we provide.

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Plan Ahead

December can get packed full of events and activities seemingly before you have time to blink.  With things like shopping for gifts on your to-do list, you may be calling on nanny services more than you used to.  This is fine, but make sure to have a schedule and stick to it as much as possible.  Having your nanny come over to watch the kids more often during the holidays is one thing.  Springing last-minute requests on them all the time is quite another.  You can hardly expect your regular nanny to be available every second you need them during December.  Sit down with your nanny before the craziness of the holidays takes over too much and make a plan for what the next month will look like.  You’ll both be grateful later.

Don’t Expect Free Overtime

The holidays will probably have your nanny working overtime.  Again, this is okay, but make sure their new hours are reflected in their pay.  This is especially important to pay attention to with live-in nannies.  It can be easy to add in a few extra hours here and there and not realize how quickly they are adding up.  Nanny services should not be provided for free.  Every nanny should receive their regular hourly wage, whether they are full or part-time.  It can be nice around the holidays to give your nanny a little extra money as a gift and as a way to say thanks for all the help they’ve provided to your family.

Realize Your Nanny Needs a Holiday, Too

Some nannies may be available to work on holidays, and some won’t.  Don’t assume your nanny will be free.  Ask ahead of time.  Live-in nannies may want to go home for the holidays.  Expect requests for time off around this time of year.  Hopefully, you have discussed the protocol for this beforehand.  If your regular nanny is not around during December, Twinkle Toes can help you find a nanny for backup care.  You get the final say on whether or not you want a different person watching your children, but we strive to always have nanny services available for our families.

Find a Nanny During the Holidays  

Trying to find a nanny with all the other things on your holiday to-do list?  Twinkle Toes Nanny Agency is here to help.  We make getting nanny services fast, easy, and convenient.  All of our nannies undergo extensive background checks and interviews, so by the time you talk to them, you know that nanny is someone you can trust.  Twinkle Toes offers full-time and part-time nanny services. 

We also have babysitting services provided by our same qualified childcare workers.  Whether you have an office holiday party or a family event, Twinkle Toes can help find a nanny for babysitting for a few hours or all day.  Don’t wait until the stress of the holidays has overrun the joy of the season.  Visit Twinkle Toes online to find a nanny or babysitter that will fit your needs and your schedule.  

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Building a Relationship with Your Nanny: 5 Tips for Parents

Mother Giving Baby to Nanny Sitting on Sofa.

If you have a nanny, it isn’t only important for your kids to have a good relationship with them.  You should work towards building a positive relationship with your nanny as well; after all, they’re in your house most of the time.  This relationship starts as soon as childcare services begin.  Here are five tips for parents to establish good working relationships with their nannies.

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1. Establish Guidelines From the Start With Your Nanny

One of the best ways to start a parent nanny relationship is with a clear contract that both parties agree to.  Before they ever start providing childcare services, sit down with your nanny to discuss everything from pay to house rules to your kids’ likes and dislikes.  If both sides get the opportunity to make their expectations clear from the start, it is more likely that you will have a good experience moving forward.

2. Communicate With Your Nanny

Keep your nanny in the loop as much as possible.  It is better to over-communicate than under-communicate.  Nannies should know when they should call you and how to reach you.  They should also be informed about anything pertaining to the ins and outs of their day with the kids, from schedule changes to children’s moods.  You want your nanny to feel comfortable asking you any questions they might have, and you should not feel awkward talking to them either.  Frequent two-way communication is key to a successful relationship.  

3. Don’t Hover

Staying in touch with your nanny is one thing.  Constantly micromanaging them is quite another.  Once you have shown the nanny what to do and where to go, step back and let them be in charge.  Since you hired childcare services, you know that the person you chose has experience working with children.  Trust their judgment.  Nannies should be more than willing to take advice from parents, but you should respect their knowledge and experience as well.

4. Resolve Issues Quickly

If there is ever any kind of issue or conflict with your nanny, get it out in the open as soon as possible.  It is not good to let things fester and grow into a bigger problem than needed.  Be respectful but honest about what you are seeing and feeling.  At the same time, don’t be too quick to jump on your nanny for having an off day.  We all get tired sometimes, so if the energy is lower than usual one day, it is probably best to give your nanny the benefit of the doubt.

5. Say Thank You

A little thanks goes a long way.  Nannies do essential work for families.  It would be hard to do your job if they didn’t do their job.  Take the time to say thank you.  Your nanny will appreciate it.  Small gifts or bonuses around the holidays can help show how grateful you are for the help they provide.  Never underestimate the power of a little encouragement.

Looking for Nanny Services?

If you need a nanny, Twinkle Toes Nanny Agency can help. We provide professional, convenient childcare full and part-time.  All of our nannies go through a criminal background check, a civil background check, social security number verification, a driving record check, and are CPR certified.  They have at least three years of experience working with children and pass our extensive interview process.  When you hire childcare services from Twinkle Toes, you know you are getting childcare you can trust and depend on.  Visit Twinkle Toes online to learn more about our services. We are here to help.

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Hire a Babysitter and Try These 3 Fun Holiday Date Night Ideas

babysitter reading to a child next to Christmas tree

It’s officially the holiday season, one of the busiest times of the year.  This is especially true for parents.  Between braving the stores to decorating at home to just making it through the day with an energetic child, you’re bound to need a break.  Make sure to fit in time to hire a babysitter for a date night during your busy schedule.  Taking time for yourself is essential to relaxing enough to enjoy the holiday season.  Babysitting services can help with that.  Here are three fun holiday dates you can try while the kids have a blast at home with a babysitter.

1. Go ice skating

There’s nothing like bundling up in jackets, hats, and gloves to make you feel cozy and ready for the holidays.  If you live in Florida, you don’t get the chance to do this very often but ice skating can you make you feel like you live somewhere with colder weather. Find a local rink with public skating and hire a babysitter for a fun night out.  Whether you are a great skater or can barely stay on your feet, it is sure to be an evening to enjoy.  Many rinks are decorated for the season, making the experience extra festive.

2. Holiday activities at home to try with your babysitter

Just because you’re paying for babysitting services doesn’t mean you actually have to leave your house.  There are plenty of fun holiday activities you can do right from the comfort of your living room.  Make Christmas cookies or decorate gingerbread houses.  Enjoy a steaming cup of hot chocolate as you curl up on the couch in front of your favorite holiday movie.  Even something like wrapping presents can be enjoyable when done together without the stress of young children trying to help.  Have a babysitter hang with the kids in another room while you have a relaxing night in, or visit a friend’s house and make it a double date.

3. Look at lights

Even if you aren’t the family that goes all out in decorating your house for the holidays, there are those that do.  There is sure to be a neighborhood nearby with holiday decorations you can enjoy from your car.  Botanical gardens and parks often set up light displays you can walk or drive through.  Embrace your inner child while your children are home with a babysitter and find wonder in the simple joy of holiday decorations.

Babysitter Near Me

If you want to try one of these fun holiday date ideas or just need someone to stay with your kids while you buy them gifts, you need a babysitter.  Twinkle Toes Nanny Agency is here to help.  Our certified nannies are vetting beyond industry standards, so you know your kids are being left with a caretaker you can trust.  All Twinkle Toes nannies go through a criminal background check, a civil background check, social security number verification, and a driving record check.  They are also CPR certified and have at least three years of experience working with children.  Whether you need a babysitter for a date night or a day-long holiday event, Twinkle Toes is here for you.

Need babysitting services at the last minute and not sure where to turn?  Twinkle Toes can help with that, too.  We always have a nanny on call as a backup babysitter should anyone need emergency childcare.  Call (850) 272-5287 or visit Twinkle Toes online to get connected to convenient, professional babysitting services in the Tallahassee area. 

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Tallahassee Parents: How to Adjust to Having a Nanny in Your Home

nanny services, nanny taking care of a child at home in front of window

If you have more childcare needs than a typical babysitter can provide, you need a nanny. Childcare services can be incredibly helpful for everything from transporting kids to and from school to helping them with homework to feeding them dinner.  Families can have either a live-in nanny or a nanny who comes at certain times each day or week.  Whether your nanny is going to be moving into your house or just being present there often, you will have to adjust to having another adult in the space.  Here are some tips on how to get used to having a nanny in your home.

Setting Clear Expectations for Your Nanny

Having a nanny is a big adjustment for you, your children, and the nanny.  Be sure to sit down with your nanny before they start working and explain any house rules that they should know.  It is vital to be on the same page going in to prevent conflicts later.  Be honest about things like what your kids are and aren’t allowed to do, what household chores she will be expected to help with, and more.  When everyone has clear expectations going in, the transition is much smoother.

Don’t Expect Everything to Be Perfect Right Away

That being said, don’t expect things to be flawless on day one just because you had a good conversation before starting childcare services.  Adjusting to a new person takes time for you and your kids.  The children may not feel particularly warm towards the nanny at the beginning.  Give them time to form that relationship before calling it quits.  Odds are that everyone, including you, will fall into a routine within a couple of weeks.

Create Boundaries

It is important that you think about which parts of your life you want the nanny to be a part of and which parts you don’t.  This is especially true if you have a live-in nanny.  If your childcare services come from someone living in your home, creating boundaries can look like giving them their own space while you have your own space.  Parents who work from home should be proactive about this.  You will also have to decide how much of your personal life you want your nanny to know about.  That is something only you can answer, so it’s best to think about it before you are confronted with a situation.

Keep Communication Open

Parents and children aren’t the only ones adjusting to childcare services.  The nanny is going through a big change, too, especially if they have moved into a new place.  Communication is important to make sure the transition is going smoothly.  Make it clear that you are happy to answer their questions, especially for the first month or so.  It can also be helpful to develop a routine for communicating about your children.  For example, should they call you if your child is feeling slightly sick, or only in a more serious emergency?  Open communication can help everyone adjust faster.

Childcare Services Near Me

Looking for nanny services in the Tallahassee area?  Twinkle Toes Nanny Agency is here to help.  All of our nannies undergo extensive background checks and interviews, so you know you are getting only the best quality of childcare.  Twinkle Toes can provide both full-time and part-time nanny candidates as well as emergency childcare and babysitting services.  When it comes to childcare services, trust Twinkle Toes to keep your children safe.  Call (850) 272-5287 today to learn more to find someone that adjusts to your family’s needs and values.