According to Edina Stone of Au Pair ClearningHouse au pairs with good English skills are one of the “top” priorities for host parents. When she surveyed parents in their au pair polls, parents rate English as the most important childcare skill. An overwhelming majority of host parents (93%) rate English skills as their Number One priority when choosing an au pair for their children. There is no question that hosting an au pair is much more successful if the au pair can speak English and is serious about improving her language skills. It becomes even more important for families with very Read more
What Are Your Favorite Picture Books?
How to Use Picture Books It’s the start of a new year and Be the Best Nanny Newsletter suggests nannies and au pairs make a New Year’s Resolution to read more to their charges. According to Bank Street College’s Guide to Literacy, young children can greatly benefit from reading experiences that use picture books with an easy-to-follow narrative sequence or storyline. Use quality picture books to encourage budding language arts skills in the young child. Encourage discussion about the pictures and story. Remember that pictures, like letters, are symbols. Reading Read more
Radio Listeners Sound Off On Moms Mistaken As Nannies
Does Radio Interview Show Prejudice Towards Interracial Children and Parents? National Public Radio.LEE HILL: Hey, Michel. Well, I think it’s fair to say this week’s parenting conversation made a lot of jaws drop, and it definitely inspired people to get online and share their feedback. Tuesday, we talked to a group of moms who share a unique experience. They were mistaken for the nannies of their multiracial or simply different-looking children. Here’s a clip from that conversation with featured mom, Jamila Bey. Ms. JAMILA BEY: I am African-American. That’s Read more
What’s Your Vote?
Should the Be the Best Nanny Newsletter Blog Continue to Allow Anonymous Comments? Vote:“Yes” to Allow Anonymous Comments“No” to No Longer Allow Anonymous Comments To reduce the risk of “flaming” from anonymous visitors, readers of the Be the Best Nanny Newsletter blog have asked that commenters be required to register. Registration would not require any private contact information be revealed. Registration would require the commenter to have one of the following: 1. Google account, (gmail address or easy to make with any current email address and Read more
For Nannies, Hope for Workplace Protection by The New York Times
Click here to see article. Read more
"I’m Jealous Of My Nanny:" A Mom’s Honest Confession
Check out this link to parenting.com with a quote from fellow nanny Michelle LaRowe. Read more
How Important is it to for Au Pairs Working In America to Speak English?
Posted by on January 25th, 2011
Bottled Water Scorecard – Only Filtered Water Gets an A
Posted by on January 24th, 2011
What Bottled Water Do You Drink? How Does Your Bottled Water Stack Up? Labels on expensive bottled water may lead us to think the water inside comes from pristine springs or has amazing healing powers. But, bottled water companies don’t have to tell us what is in those bottles. The Environmental Working Group (EWG) decided to look at what they do tell us. And the story can be summed up in a few words — not much. Among the ten best-selling brands, nine — Pepsi’s Aquafina, Coca-Cola’s Dasani, Crystal Geyser and six of seven Nestlé brands — don’t answer at Read more