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Nannies Join The Ranks of Essential Front-Line Workers

Nannies Join The Ranks of Essential Front-Line Workers

Family Advice
Today's busy nannies carry the additional burden of keeping themselves and their employer's families safe from COVID during an unprecedented...
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Celebrating National Nanny Recognition Week!

Celebrating National Nanny Recognition Week!

For Fun
In honor of National Nanny Recognition Week (Sept. 21-26), please enjoy these wonderful insights expressed over the years by our...
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COVID-19 Free Testing Sites

COVID-19 Free Testing Sites

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

COVID-19 Information

Family Advice Nanny Tips
The health and safety of our team, families, and nannies are of the utmost importance to us. As we continue...
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A New Chapter at Stanford Park Nannies

A New Chapter at Stanford Park Nannies

News
Dear SPN friends and clients, After 30 years in the business of referring nannies and household staff, I am happy...
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COVID-19 Nanny Employment Updates

COVID-19 Nanny Employment Updates

Family Advice
The following update is provided by the Law Office of Lisa Pierson Weinberger. Her boutique employment law practice is committed...
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How Nannies & At-Home Family Members Can Work Together

How Nannies & At-Home Family Members Can Work Together

Family Advice Nanny Tips
Whether a nanny works with a stay-at-home parent, a parent who works from a home office, or other family members...
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Coronavirus and Your Nanny

Coronavirus and Your Nanny

Family Advice Nanny Tips
The following blog was written by our preferred nanny payroll company, HomeWork Solutions: The spread of the coronavirus worldwide has...
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How to Be a Good Employer to Your Nanny

How to Be a Good Employer to Your Nanny

Family Advice
After a thorough candidate search, you’ve welcomed the right nanny into your family. Congrats! Your work isn’t over yet, though....
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4 Tips to Help Nannies Find an Agency

4 Tips to Help Nannies Find an Agency

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

Grieving the Loss of a Nanny Job

Nanny Tips
Are you leaving your current nanny family? Take it from us: leaving a nanny job can be difficult. For many...
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New Tax Advantaged Health Insurance Options for Household Employees

New Tax Advantaged Health Insurance Options for Household Employees

Employment / Tax Law
The following article was written by our payroll partner, HomeWork Solutions. To learn more about their company, please visit their...
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How to Leave Your Nanny Job Professionally

How to Leave Your Nanny Job Professionally

Nanny Tips
At some point in your nanny career, you will have to leave a family. Quitting any job is always tough,...
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The Impact of Just One Nanny

The Impact of Just One Nanny

Nanny Community
As the classic African proverb goes, “it takes a village to raise a child.” The saying is true now more...
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How to Find a Nanny Agency for Your Family

How to Find a Nanny Agency for Your Family

Family Advice
When you need help finding the right nanny for your family, you may want to work with a nanny agency...
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Add a Personal Touch to Your Resume With a Letter of Introduction

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

Nanny Tips
When you apply for a nanny position, it can be difficult to stand out amongst other nanny candidates. You know...
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How to Keep Your Nanny After the Kids Go to School

How to Keep Your Nanny After the Kids Go to School

Family Advice
It’s a difficult situation: you’ve had the same nanny since your child was a toddler, maybe even an infant, and...
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Expand Your Skills to Meet the Needs of Today’s Busy Families

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

Nanny Tips
Families today lead incredibly complex and busy lives. They are traveling extensively and filling their schedules with more activities, especially...
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5 Tips to Make Traveling with Your Nanny Easy

5 Tips to Make Traveling with Your Nanny Easy

Family Advice
It may be a vacation for the family, but traveling is still work for a nanny. That’s why, if you’re...
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Providing Health Insurance to Household Employees

Providing Health Insurance to Household Employees

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

My Nannypalooza Experience

Nanny Community
By Laurie Rasmussen 28 years ago, I accepted my first job as a nanny. I realize now what an isolating...
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To Flu or Not to Flu?

To Flu or Not to Flu?

Family Advice Nanny Tips
By Margaret "Shelly" Miller MD Myths about influenza circulate every fall when the discussion of whether or not to get...
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Happy National Nanny Recognition Week!

Nanny Community
What is National Nanny Recognition Week? Started in 1998 by Mary Clurman (Nanny News), Judi Merlin (A Friend of the...
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Ask the Expert: Back-Up Childcare

Ask the Expert: Back-Up Childcare

Family Advice
Jennifer asked: How do people go about having a back-up nanny? How is the stand-by time compensated? How does it work...
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Ask the Expert: Hiring a Nanny for Exclusively Breastfed Baby

Ask the Expert: Hiring a Nanny for Exclusively Breastfed Baby

Family Advice
Brigit asked: How well can a nanny integrate with a family that has a baby that doesn’t take the bottle, breastfed...
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Ask the Expert: How to Create a Compensation Package

Ask the Expert: How to Create a Compensation Package

Employment / Tax Law Family Advice
The Parents' Club of Palo Alto & Menlo Park (PAMP) has launched an "Ask the Expert" column featuring Stanford Park...
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2018 Financial Checkup for Nannies and Employers

2018 Financial Checkup for Nannies and Employers

Employment / Tax Law
Written by Lora Brawley, founder of Nanny Care Hub. The new year isn’t just the time to make new year’s resolutions....
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The Afternoon Chauffeur Everyone’s Looking For!

The Afternoon Chauffeur Everyone’s Looking For!

Family Advice
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!
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Stanford Park Nannies Receives Prestigious Childcare Industry Award!

Stanford Park Nannies Receives Prestigious Childcare Industry Award!

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

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

Child Development
  This is the second of a series of blog posts by Hannah Morrison. Hannah is a behavior therapist and...
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Why Emotional Intelligence Matters – Part 2

Why Emotional Intelligence Matters – Part 2

Child Development
How we address emotions cultivates how children identify and respond to emotions. Your acceptance teaches your child that their emotional...
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Why Emotional Intelligence Matters – Part 1

Why Emotional Intelligence Matters – Part 1

Child Development
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.
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Why the Trend Toward Gluten Free?

Why the Trend Toward Gluten Free?

Family Advice Nanny Tips
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.
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The Importance of Feedback in a Nanny/Family Partnership

The Importance of Feedback in a Nanny/Family Partnership

Family Advice Nanny Tips
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.
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Can I Bank Hours with My Nanny?

Can I Bank Hours with My Nanny?

Employment / Tax Law Family Advice
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.
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Nanny Industry Challenges, Here and Abroad

Nanny Industry Challenges, Here and Abroad

Employment / Tax Law Opinion
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!
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Nanny Up Session #1 Recap

Nanny Up Session #1 Recap

Nanny Tips
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.
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Writing A Letter of Recommendation for your Nanny

Writing A Letter of Recommendation for your Nanny

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

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

Family Advice
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.
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Guest Blogger: Dad on Third

Guest Blogger: Dad on Third

Client Perspective
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.
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Trusting Your Nanny Goes Beyond a Background Check

Trusting Your Nanny Goes Beyond a Background Check

Family Advice
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.
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Not the Babysitter

Not the Babysitter

Nanny Community Opinion
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.
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Don’t Let Job Creep Ruin Your Job

Don’t Let Job Creep Ruin Your Job

Nanny Tips
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.
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7 Tips for Successfully Working with a Nanny Agency

7 Tips for Successfully Working with a Nanny Agency

Nanny Tips
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!
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Starting Off on the Right Foot – For Families

Starting Off on the Right Foot – For Families

Family Advice
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.
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Starting Off on the Right Foot – For Nannies

Starting Off on the Right Foot – For Nannies

Nanny Tips
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.
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The Myth of Doing It All

The Myth of Doing It All

Family Advice Opinion
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...
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Add a Personal Touch to Your Nanny Resume

Add a Personal Touch to Your Nanny Resume

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

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

Employment / Tax Law
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.
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The Fire Behind Stanford Park Nannies

The Fire Behind Stanford Park Nannies

For Fun
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...
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Employer-Paid Health Insurance: Still Non-Taxable Compensation?

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

Employment / Tax Law Family Advice
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.
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Nanny Bonuses: The Nanny’s Perspective

Nanny Bonuses: The Nanny’s Perspective

Family Advice
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.
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How SPN Saved Me- A Client’s Perspective

How SPN Saved Me- A Client’s Perspective

Client Perspective
"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…
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Spooky Tales from the Nanny World

Spooky Tales from the Nanny World

For Fun
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!
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Instant Nanny—Priority Shipping, Please!

Instant Nanny—Priority Shipping, Please!

Family Advice
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?
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Where Have All the Afternoon Nannies Gone?

Where Have All the Afternoon Nannies Gone?

Family Advice
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?
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Excuse Me Miss – Your Pants Are On Fire

Excuse Me Miss – Your Pants Are On Fire

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

Interview Tips for Nannies

Nanny Tips
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.
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Helpful Tips for Traveling with Nanny

Helpful Tips for Traveling with Nanny

Family Advice
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.
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Nanny of the Universe

Nanny of the Universe

Nanny Community
I thought it appropriate to kick off our new blog with a heartwarming story. Each month we honor one nanny who has served as an example of exceptional nanny care.
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