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Stanford Park Nannies

July 9, 2020

During the COVID-19 pandemic, families and nannies may consider the option of COVID-19 testing before the in-home working relationship begins....

COVID-19 Information

Stanford Park Nannies

June 9, 2020

The health and safety of our team, families, and nannies are of the utmost importance to us. As we continue...

A New Chapter at Stanford Park Nannies

News

Stanford Park Nannies

April 21, 2020

Dear SPN friends and clients, After 30 years in the business of referring nannies and household staff, I am happy...

COVID-19 Nanny Employment Updates

Guest Blogger

March 23, 2020

The following update is provided by the Law Office of Lisa Pierson Weinberger. Her boutique employment law practice is committed...

How Nannies & At-Home Family Members Can Work Together

Stanford Park Nannies

March 13, 2020

Whether a nanny works with a stay-at-home parent, a parent who works from a home office, or other family members...

Coronavirus and Your Nanny

Stanford Park Nannies

March 12, 2020

The following blog was written by our preferred nanny payroll company, HomeWork Solutions: The spread of the coronavirus worldwide has...

How to Be a Good Employer to Your Nanny

Stanford Park Nannies

February 12, 2020

After a thorough candidate search, you’ve welcomed the right nanny into your family. Congrats! Your work isn’t over yet, though....

4 Tips to Help Nannies Find an Agency

Stanford Park Nannies

January 9, 2020

Because families have unique needs, expectations, and child-rearing styles, finding the right one for you is critical as a nanny....

Grieving the Loss of a Nanny Job

Stanford Park Nannies

November 14, 2019

Are you leaving your current nanny family? Take it from us: leaving a nanny job can be difficult. For many...

New Tax Advantaged Health Insurance Options for Household Employees

Employment / Tax Law

Stanford Park Nannies

November 4, 2019

The following article was written by our payroll partner, HomeWork Solutions. To learn more about their company, please visit their...

How to Leave Your Nanny Job Professionally

Stanford Park Nannies

October 15, 2019

At some point in your nanny career, you will have to leave a family. Quitting any job is always tough,...

The Impact of Just One Nanny

Stanford Park Nannies

September 25, 2019

As the classic African proverb goes, “it takes a village to raise a child.” The saying is true now more...

How to Find a Nanny Agency for Your Family

Stanford Park Nannies

September 12, 2019

When you need help finding the right nanny for your family, you may want to work with a nanny agency...

Add a Personal Touch to Your Resume With a Letter of Introduction

Stanford Park Nannies

August 21, 2019

When you apply for a nanny position, it can be difficult to stand out amongst other nanny candidates. You know...

How to Keep Your Nanny After the Kids Go to School

Stanford Park Nannies

July 17, 2019

It’s a difficult situation: you’ve had the same nanny since your child was a toddler, maybe even an infant, and...

Expand Your Skills to Meet the Needs of Today’s Busy Families

Stanford Park Nannies

June 21, 2019

Families today lead incredibly complex and busy lives. They are traveling extensively and filling their schedules with more activities, especially...

5 Tips to Make Traveling with Your Nanny Easy

Stanford Park Nannies

May 22, 2019

It may be a vacation for the family, but traveling is still work for a nanny. That’s why, if you’re...

Providing Health Insurance to Household Employees

Stanford Park Nannies

March 1, 2019

As household staffing experts in this increasingly competitive market, many families come to us asking, “How can we attract the...

My Nannypalooza Experience

Guest Blogger

November 9, 2018

By Laurie Rasmussen 28 years ago, I accepted my first job as a nanny. I realize now what an isolating...

To Flu or Not to Flu?

Guest Blogger

October 16, 2018

By Margaret "Shelly" Miller MD Myths about influenza circulate every fall when the discussion of whether or not to get...

Happy National Nanny Recognition Week!

Stanford Park Nannies

September 25, 2018

What is National Nanny Recognition Week? Started in 1998 by Mary Clurman (Nanny News), Judi Merlin (A Friend of the...

Ask the Expert: Back-Up Childcare

Daryl Camarillo

February 21, 2018

Jennifer asked: How do people go about having a back-up nanny? How is the stand-by time compensated? How does it work...

Ask the Expert: Hiring a Nanny for Exclusively Breastfed Baby

Employment / Tax Law Family Advice

Daryl Camarillo

February 15, 2018

Brigit asked: How well can a nanny integrate with a family that has a baby that doesn’t take the bottle, breastfed...

Ask the Expert: How to Create a Compensation Package

Daryl Camarillo

February 7, 2018

The Parents' Club of Palo Alto & Menlo Park (PAMP) has launched an "Ask the Expert" column featuring Stanford Park...

2018 Financial Checkup for Nannies and Employers

Employment / Tax Law

Guest Blogger

January 25, 2018

Written by Lora Brawley, founder of Nanny Care Hub. The new year isn’t just the time to make new year’s resolutions....

The Afternoon Chauffeur Everyone’s Looking For!

Stanford Park Nannies

November 8, 2017

This scarcity of afternoon nannies, along with the increasing need to move children from point A to point B, has paved the road for several local transportation options catering to families just like yours. Although they won’t provide you with all of the services a nanny would, they can certainly take your child from school to soccer, and from soccer to home. The attached list outlines the features and benefits of the local kid’s ride service options. We hope this will be a useful tool, and a way to alleviate some after school stress!

Stanford Park Nannies Receives Prestigious Childcare Industry Award!

News

Stanford Park Nannies

November 3, 2017

Each year, the Association of Premier Nanny Agencies recognizes one agency in the country with the Honors Award for Excellence. The purpose of this award is to acknowledge an agency that not only meets but also exceeds APNA standards in its daily business practices. As Stanford Park Nannies celebrates their 20th year with these standards as their guide, they not only talk the talk, but they walk the walk of excellence. They are the proud recipients of the 2017 APNA Honors Award for Excellence.

Why Emotional Intelligence Matters – Part 3: Helping Children Respond to BIG Emotions

Child Development

Guest Blogger

June 2, 2017

This is the second of a series of blog posts by Hannah Morrison. Hannah is a behavior therapist and...

Why Emotional Intelligence Matters – Part 2

Child Development

Guest Blogger

May 23, 2017

How we address emotions cultivates how children identify and respond to emotions. Your acceptance teaches your child that their emotional...

Why Emotional Intelligence Matters – Part 1

Child Development

Guest Blogger

April 18, 2017

Have you ever been at a loss when a child seems to overreact to something that seems so small? The logical part of their brain is still maturing, which makes it difficult to cope with overwhelming emotions. Emotional intelligence and self-regulation doesn't just happen; it is modeled, taught, and practiced. So what can we do about that? We teach them, and we can help them practice it over and over again.

Why the Trend Toward Gluten Free?

Guest Blogger

March 20, 2017

Why are gluten free food products becoming increasingly common in our grocery stores? Is this just the latest food fad or is gluten a potential dietary villain? Let’s begin by understanding what gluten is.

The Importance of Feedback in a Nanny/Family Partnership

Employment / Tax Law Family Advice

Stanford Park Nannies

January 4, 2017

Giving feedback is often seen as an uncomfortable obligation, and is therefore avoided altogether. Receiving feedback can be equally difficult, often viewed as a personal attack. However, a healthy feedback exchange will not only strengthen your working relationship, but it also allows for individual, personal, and professional growth.

Can I Bank Hours with My Nanny?

Guest Blogger

December 13, 2016

The simple answer is no. But let’s take a big picture look at the issue and hopefully it will all make sense in the end.

Nanny Industry Challenges, Here and Abroad

Employment / Tax Law Opinion

Guest Blogger

November 30, 2016

We have always benefited from the relationships we have built with others in our industry. Louise Dunham, CEO of Placement Solutions in Australia, recently interviewed Daryl and found that we share common goals and challenges while promoting best practices, even with over 7500 miles between us!

Nanny Up Session #1 Recap

Stanford Park Nannies

November 8, 2016

Early Childhood Educator Robin Jurs shared stories from her rich background to help us better understand the concept of the competent child. Here we share a few takeaways from Robin’s session.

Writing A Letter of Recommendation for your Nanny

Stanford Park Nannies

September 27, 2016

A letter of recommendation is an opportunity to recount details of your nanny’s employment, such as their schedule, and responsibilities; and it is a great way to memorialize your overall experience. As time goes on, a letter of recommendation frees you up from providing a verbal reference to every family or potential employer your nanny meets. Lastly, a letter of recommendation serves as a detailed thank you note to your nanny following a positive experience!

Use your Phone App to Order a Ride, Not a Nanny!

Stanford Park Nannies

August 25, 2016

In our current gig economy, it is amazing to see families “ordering” a nanny as casually as they would a cab ride. Just as we require the nannies we represent be assessed through a rigorous vetting process, APNA requires it’s members to adhere to the strictest standards in our industry. We are excited to share this video about the value of working with an APNA agency.

Guest Blogger: Dad on Third

Client Perspective

Guest Blogger

August 4, 2016

On New Year’s Day, Alex’s birth mom emailed us to let us know she had another baby, a girl, and that mom and baby were doing well. Well, that’s an interesting way to start the year. My son has a new baby sister, but my own family has not grown at all. That’s not a sentence one writes every day…or ever.

Trusting Your Nanny Goes Beyond a Background Check

Stanford Park Nannies

June 14, 2016

1 Reply

A common mistake we see from families is, after speaking with or meeting a nanny candidate and feeling like she is a match, they feel that running a background check is enough to establish trust. As we have seen in horrific incidents like what happened recently in Livermore, this is not a thorough enough process.

Not the Babysitter

Nanny Community Opinion

Guest Blogger

May 26, 2016

Advocating for nannies is of great importance to us at SPN. While this is something that we handle on a daily basis, it always makes us proud to see nannies advocating for themselves as well! We are proud to give nanny Stefanie the opportunity to share her perspective on experiencing a common issue facing nannies today.

Don’t Let Job Creep Ruin Your Job

Stanford Park Nannies

February 22, 2016

Job creep is a challenge in most jobs. You start off with a well-defined job description and then slowly, the boundaries of that job description begin to fray. Most times these asks happen so gradually that you don’t fully realize how far off track you’ve gotten until you take a look at your “official” job description. Then you realize the gap between what you’re doing and what you’re supposed to be doing is actually a pretty big deal.

7 Tips for Successfully Working with a Nanny Agency

Stanford Park Nannies

June 15, 2015

Nanny agencies have changed a great deal in the past five years. With the rise of internet sites many of the lesser quality agencies have gone under, and what we see now are agencies that have stood the test of time or newer agencies that are trying to break into the business. Follow these steps and you will have not only a happy relationship with your nanny agency, but a successful one at that!

Starting Off on the Right Foot – For Families

Stanford Park Nannies

May 6, 2015

You have invested a lot of time and energy in your search, and have hired the right nanny for your family! With the goal of building both a strong foundation and a lasting relationship, we have compiled a list of suggestions to consider during your first few months.

Starting Off on the Right Foot – For Nannies

Stanford Park Nannies

April 28, 2015

You have invested a lot of time and energy in your search and are ready to start your new job. Knowing that you would like to build a lasting relationship with your new employers, we have compiled a list of suggestions for your first few months on the job.

The Myth of Doing It All

Family Advice Opinion

Guest Blogger

March 11, 2015

Lots of working moms struggle with feeling like they just can’t keep up with everything at home like they want to or feel they should. Here’s a story from Sarah Salisbury, a nanny from upstate New York, that sheds light on what happens when your nanny leaves your home and heads to her own...

Add a Personal Touch to Your Nanny Resume

Employment / Tax Law Family Advice

Stanford Park Nannies

February 9, 2015

You’re applying for a nanny position; you know you have great experience, but your resume just isn’t standing out amongst the rest. We recommend you take the time to create a thoughtful letter of introduction. We have put together some dos and don’ts to help you get started…

Why Should I Pay Nanny Taxes if My Nanny is OK with Being Paid “Off the Books”?

Employment / Tax Law

Guest Blogger

January 26, 2015

When a nanny who has earned her wages under the table is fired and files an unemployment claim, nanny taxes can become a big deal for the former employers (your family!). Read on about how-- and why-- paying your household employees on the books is the best choice for you and your family.

The Fire Behind Stanford Park Nannies

For Fun

Stanford Park Nannies

December 23, 2014

My name is Jennifer, and I have been with this agency for about 11 months. I wanted to take the reigns on this blog post because I was truly touched by the following story, and wanted the opportunity to share it. Little did Rowan and I know that going to a job fair would be the catalyst to a wonderful reconnection and a new annual SPN tradition in what is definitely the story of the year...

Employer-Paid Health Insurance: Still Non-Taxable Compensation?

Stanford Park Nannies

December 19, 2014

For years, many savvy household employers have included health insurance as part of their compensation package in order to capitalize on the tax advantages of employer-paid health insurance. However, a recent ruling from the IRS on the Affordable Care Act triggered a mild panic. Get the facts here.

Nanny Bonuses: The Nanny’s Perspective

Stanford Park Nannies

December 16, 2014

It's that time of year again. In the past week I've read 8 or 10 articles giving advice on the end-of year bonus or tip for your nanny. But the nanny bonus isn't as simple as picking a number that seems about right, writing a check and sticking it in a card. Most employers would be surprised at how much the nanny bonus impacts the long term success of the employment relationship. So let's talk about how the nanny sees things.

How SPN Saved Me- A Client’s Perspective

Client Perspective

Guest Blogger

December 12, 2014

"From the minute I found out I was pregnant I was worried about how I was going to be able to run my business AND be a mother. All my friends told me how easy it was to join the local parent’s group, and that they send members daily e-mails about current available nannies. I’m not going to lie—this terrified me! My husband, also an entrepreneur, and I understand that it is a lot of work, especially to find the best employees." In comes SPN…

Spooky Tales from the Nanny World

For Fun

Stanford Park Nannies

October 31, 2014

Everyone loves a good ghost story, right? After so many years in this industry, I have encountered some horror stories that I wish I could forget! I have found that some people portray themselves as a certain character, whilst hiding a monster beneath their mask! So picture the flashlight shining up on my face as I share some of these stories, in the spirit of Halloween!

Instant Nanny—Priority Shipping, Please!

Stanford Park Nannies

October 14, 2014

In this day and age, we are accustomed to having our needs filled in an INSTANT, and often times we will settle for nothing less. I can’t tell you how often we see our busy clients growing more and more anxious about the time it takes to hire a nanny. After all, you can post an ad online and see hundreds of available nannies ready to hire now, so why, oh why, does it take so long to hire YOUR nanny?

Where Have All the Afternoon Nannies Gone?

Stanford Park Nannies

September 24, 2014

You are not alone in the exhausting search for after school help! The need for (and lack of) afternoon nannies has risen to crisis level. It raises the question, where have all of the afterschool nannies gone? And also, what can families to do to get by?

Excuse Me Miss – Your Pants Are On Fire

Stanford Park Nannies

September 15, 2014

With over 20 years of experience interviewing and vetting nannies, we could write a book on the various mistruths we see on candidate applications!

Interview Tips for Nannies

Daryl Camarillo

March 28, 2014

I could spend hours regaling you with stories of nanny interviews gone good, bad and just plain crazy. They are rarely a typical corporate appointment.

Helpful Tips for Traveling with Nanny

Daryl Camarillo

February 25, 2014

It may be a vacation for you, but….. It is work for your nanny, so, think about that when you negotiate travel terms ahead of each trip.

Nanny of the Universe