Festivals are one of the highlights of summer, especially in the UK, where we get so little opportunity to enjoy the outdoors in good weather. But taking children to a festival can feel challenging, so we’ve compiled top tips from some of our nanny candidates who’ve mastered the art of festival-going with kids Pick your festival with care The best festival for you is a a blend of cost, size, line-up, travel, facilities … each festival, and each family, are different, and picking the festival that will meet your families needs is a very personal choice. Do your research, get opinions from those ..read more

It’s May, and the bane of many a parent and nanny has arrived – hay fever. The medical name is allergic rhinitis, suggesting an allergy that mainly affects the nose, but many people also have difficulties with their eyes, throat and even ears. 30% of children will experience hay fever and if your child has asthma, eczema or food allergies they are more likely to be hay fever prone too. Hay fever symptoms Most commonly: bouts of sneezing a runny and/or blocked nose itchy nose headache itching, swollen and or watering eyes. Less commonly: itchy ears, throat and/or roof of mouth. As if that w ..read more

Every parent wants to do the best for their children, which is probably why the weekend nanny is on the rise. The extra support offers a chance for busy working parents to enjoy their children at the weekends without the added stresses of juggling commitments and family organisation – especially with multiple children having various activities and social engagements! Benefits of a weekend nanny Extra support at busy times – weekends are when people get social invitations, and children do too! Sometimes it feels like you need to be in five places at once, and this is where a weekend nanny can ..read more

Halloween is becoming a bigger celebration every year in the UK, partly because it comes at just that time of year when we all really need a reason to have fun. However, Halloween also present problems for some families, such as more fundamental Christians, Jehovah’s Witnesses and those for whom traditional celebrations of the Día de los Muertos have been culturally appropriated into sugar skull make-up etc. But there are easy ways to have a Halloween that is both fun and sensitive to others. How to make Halloween happy Consider working with your nanny to help the children make Halloween mask ..read more

At The Elite Nanny Company, we’re committed to finding you just the right nanny, that’s not always the perfect one because, let’s be honest, who’s perfect?  So there may be times when you and your nanny aren’t in agreement and that’s when a tough conversation needs to happen. What kind of thing are we talking about? Maybe you and your nanny have different views about risk, or you need to change her duties or hours, or perhaps something has come up concerning the children that you are nervous about discussing. It can feel like a confrontation and that’s the place to start developing your t ..read more

There are many great reasons to have your children close together: Shared experiences like playtime, naps etc Close developmental stages (and shared toys) Getting through the tougher stages (broken sleep) in one go More offers of help, because your friends and family haven’t burned out either! However, there are definitely challenges and here’s The Maternity Nurse Company guide to overcoming them with style. Coping with the birth Whether you’re going into hospital or aiming for a home birth, it’s likely you’ll have a friend or family member taking care of your toddler when you go into labour ..read more

Parents divide into two camps over Easter – those who love it and those who dread having to find activities for the kids. If you’re in the latter camp, don’t worry, we’ve got you – and your nanny!  Historical Easter activities Forget the day when the National Trust was a place where you had to take a reverential tour through a stately home. In 2023 there will be over 190 Easter trails to explore right across the country, so there’s bound to be something for everyone – each trail is different but they all offer beautiful scenery, a change to discover the past and of course – an Easter Egg ..read more

For some parents after school activities are a way of enriching a child’s experience and wellbeing, for others, it’s about finding a way to give a child quality activity around a demanding parental work schedule. Whatever the reason, understanding how – and when – to choose an after school activity is crucial to success. Age appropriate activity Parents, and nannies, know a child best. Choosing the right time to enrol a child into an after-school activity helps to balance the needs of the child with the excitement and stimulation of doing something after school. Many children start these activ ..read more

Did you make a New Year’s Resolution? Have you already broken it?  No matter in a recent survey we discovered that 55% of Americans don’t manage to keep their resolutions for a whole year and 11% don’t even make it to the end of January. However, there’s a great reset button for the New Year’s Resolution that we’d like to share with you. Resolution setting as a learning tool There’s lots of evidence that setting an active goal is more achievable, and more rewarding, than a negative one and this is a tool we can help our children to develop, which will serve them well throughout their live ..read more

The holidays are here – and families with small children at home are rushed off their feet with all the excitement (and pressure) that this season brings. But expressing some appreciation for your Nanny is never more important than at this time of year, when they are probably taking up the slack around your home to help you cope with the Nativities, Carol Concerts, Hanukkah and Kwanzaa celebrations, Yule festivities and everything else that the season brings!  It’s traditional to give your nanny an end of year bonus and that should be a serious consideration if he or she has done a good j ..read more