Category: Blog

Could an Au Pair Solve Your Childcare Dilemma?

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au pairGuest post from Nanny Parent Connection member Wendy Poleski who is an Educational Consultant focused on connecting families with that special au pair.

Where do culture, conversation, family, food, and laughter come together? Right at your dinner table! Bring the world to your doorstep with an au pair and watch your child experience the world at her fingertips. Are you intrigued by learning about people from different countries? Do you think it’s important for your family to learn a different language? Although there are countless benefits to hosting an au pair, these are just a few of the things that you will gain from hosting an au pair! 

Families all over the country have latched on to this form of childcare and while it has been around for many years, the idea of an au pair is becoming more and more mainstream.  The word au pair is a French word meaning “on par”.  This means that your au pair literally becomes part of your extended family. While they…

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Care Provider Pay: Answers to YOUR Questions!

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Thanks again to Becki Brack and Growing Numbers for answering our questions on care provider pay! Learn more about the services that Growing Numbers offers by clicking here. To reach Becki, you can email her. 

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care provider pay

Have you heard of any upcoming changes from the IRS, state government, etcetera, that may affect how care providers are paid?

There are no recent developments from the IRS for Publication 926 about household employees. However, there is a new wage threshold for 2018. In 2018, the wage threshold will increase to $2,100 (from $2,000). So if you pay your nanny, caregiver, babysitter, etc. $2,100 or more in a calendar year, you are required to withhold Social Security and Medicare taxes from the individual’s pay. If  you fail to do so, you (the employer) are liable for these taxes.

There is also a new Washington state sick leave law that nearly every employer in Washington will have to comply with beginning January 1, 2018. There are also city laws that may apply to household employers within the city limits that are already in effective or effective January 1, 2018. See below for more information on sick leave laws.

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Discussion: Children and Race (UPDATED)

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UPDATE:

Jasen from Kids and Race just released a video discussing how to use books to talk to kids about race. What books should I buy? How do I talk about race and difference with my children?

His comment about Thomas the Tank Engine and that all of the people in that book are white truly struck me. That is weird and a great teaching moment! Watch the video below:

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ORIGINAL POST:

Guest post from Kids and Race, an organization that empowers adults and children to take responsibility for dismantling racism through honest conversations and loving action.

Note from Laura: Recently, my three year old has started pointing out people of color at the park, store, etc. He calls them “brown mommies” or “brown daddies”. This greatly troubled my husband and I. We contacted Jasen Frelot who is the Executive Director of Kids and Race and asked him if he would be willing to write a guest blog post on how to talk to kids about race. He did us one better!  Below is a discussion between parents of three different races from the Kids and Race team—Jasen (Black), his wife, Operations Manager Hannah Hong Frelot (Asian American), Grantwriter and Blog Editor Katy Strange (white), and her husband Ryan Strange (white) about race, parenting, and identity. Thank you Jasen, Hannah, Katy, and Ryan!

children and race
Jasen Frelot, Executive Director of Kids and Race
What is your name and racial or ethnic background?

I’m Jasen Frelot and I’m Black.

I’m Hannah Hong Frelot and I am Asian American, Taiwanese American.

I’m Katharine Strange and I’m white.

I’m Ryan Strange and I’m white.

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Seattle Area Nanny Pay Rates – Nanny Shares

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Over on our Facebook group page, it seems like we are constantly discussing nanny share pay rates for the Seattle area. Over the past couple of weeks, we have surveyed our members to gather some current data regarding childcare costs for nanny shares. The results are in!

As the graphic below states, please DO NOT use this as a definitive guide to nanny share pay rates in our area. We did not ask respondents to include variables such as benefits, number of hours worked, the specific location in our area where the care occurred, etc. Use this as a general idea of current trends in the Puget Sound region.

As you can tell, there is a vast difference in nanny pay across our region. Parents – what do you pay for a provider to care for one child in a two child nanny share? Nannies – what are you paid per child in a two child nanny share? Comment below!

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5 Tips for Nannies Choosing Health Insurance

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Guest post from Three Kings Financial Group

As a nanny, life keeps you busy. So below, we’ve listed 5 tips to make it easier when navigating your choices this year.

Tips for Nannies Choosing Health InsuranceChoosing health benefits may be one of the most important decisions you make every year. The current uncertainty about healthcare premiums, deductibles, and coverage may seem like good reasons to wait on making important health insurance decisions. But that hesitation could end up costing you more in the long run. By assessing your health needs and budget now, you will be better prepared to make health insurance decisions that work for you and your family now that Open Enrollment is upon us.

When it comes to deciding what health insurance plan is best for you, one of the first things you probably think about is cost.

However, cost should not be the sole basis for choosing medical coverage. Just as important are having the right network of physicians, pharmacies, and hospitals. Making sure that all the elements of your healthcare work together can ensure improved convenience, efficiency, and ultimately reduce overall costs.

Below are 5 tips when choosing a health insurance plan this year:

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Laura Tried It: AmazonFresh Pickup Review

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I received no compensation for this review.  Opinions expressed here are solely my own.

AmazonFresh Pickup ReviewWhen I found out I was having twins last March one of my go-to lines to tell my dental patients was, “Yeah…you know when you see a mom with four kids…in the grocery store…with two shopping carts…and you feel a little sorry for her?  So that’s going to be me!”  I say that with plenty of humor because my children mean the world to me. 

However.  Any time that all four must accompany me to the store, it is not my ideal situation as it makes for a lot of moving parts (mostly my toddler).  Also, you can’t fit two carseat carriers in the cart and have room leftover inside for the actual groceries, so then one has to go in the Ergo, etc, etc.   

Shopping for groceries is lovely if I can do it alone.

It’s like a mini spa day for me if I can get a coffee to sip as I stroll through the aisles at a leisurely pace (yes my definition of things that are like a mini spa day has evolved quite a bit over the last few years.  Seriously, no – let me go to the post office.  Please!).  Basically with four kids you are never going to go grocery shopping alone again.  Ever.  Again. 

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Seattle Area Nanny Pay Rates – Caring for Two Children

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Over on our Facebook group page, it seems like we are constantly discussing Seattle area nanny pay rates. Over the past couple of weeks, we have surveyed our members to gather some current data regarding childcare costs for two children. The results are in!

As the graphic below states, please DO NOT use this as a definitive guide to nanny pay rates in our area. We did not ask respondents to include variables such as benefits, # of hours worked, the specific location in our area where the care occurred, etc. Use this as a general idea of current trends in the Puget Sound region.

As you can tell, there is a vast difference in nanny pay across our region. Parents – what do you pay for a provider to care for two children? Nannies – what are you paid to care for two children? Comment below!

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Are Nanny Shares Illegal in Washington?

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If you are involved in a nanny share or are considering joining or starting one, take the time to read the important information below. I am not an attorney and the information I provide below should be used at your own risk. 

nanny shares illegalWhat is a Nanny Share?

A nanny share is defined as two or more families sharing the expense of employing one nanny to care for their children as a group.  A nanny share can be a more cost effective option for utilizing a nanny.  Care is provided at one family’s home or a combination of both.

There are many benefits to belonging to a nanny share, both for the parents and the children including:

  • For parents, it means a lower hourly wage than shouldering the entire cost of a nanny alone
  • For the children, a nanny share can be a great opportunity for socialization and having a playmate

Note: A nanny bringing his or her child to work with them is considered a perk of employment and not a nanny share.  If you are bringing your child to the nanny’s house, that is considered to be in-home childcare that requires the care provider to obtain a license and is not a nanny share.

Illegal?

Over this past summer, I set out to learn more about nanny shares as many of our members are turning to this option due to the high cost of childcare in our region. What I learned was troubling.

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Seattle Area Nanny Pay Rates – Caring for One Child

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Note: We resurveyed our members in May 2018 to see if the average pay rate changed. To see the results of that survey, click here.

Over on our Facebook group page, it seems like we are constantly discussing nanny pay rates for the greater Seattle area. Over the past couple of days, we have surveyed our members to attempt to gather some current data to share with you. The results are in!

As the graphic below states, please DO NOT use this as a definitive guide to nanny pay rates in our area. We did not ask respondents to include variables such as benefits, # of hours worked, the specific location in our area where the care occurred, etc. Use this as a rough snapshot of current trends in the Puget Sound region.

As you can tell, there is a vast difference in nanny pay across our region. Parents – what do you pay for a provider to care for your little one? Nannies – what are you paid to care for one child? Comment below!

Continue reading “Seattle Area Nanny Pay Rates – Caring for One Child” →

Dealing with Fall Sleep Disruptions by Audra Juraska

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sleep disruptionsSummer is most notorious for bringing disruptions to our children’s sleep. Between vacations, later evenings, and long hours of daylight, many families make peace with some sleep disruptions for their little ones.

We know that once the vacation is over or the nights become longer and darker, most family members (hopefully) fall back into a predictable and appropriate sleep routine, especially if older kids are in school and adhering to a bedtime and waketime all week.

However, I find that Fall often brings its own set of challenges for baby and child sleep. Let’s talk about those today!

Stay the Course

First and most importantly, no matter the sleep disruptions, I always recommend that families stay the course in pursuing their sleep goals or sticking with the framework that is working for their family. You could even call this my mantra as a sleep consultant: stay the course!

Keep the big picture in mind and steer your child’s sleep in that direction, even if it’s a little up and down over time. No matter what you’re working on or dealing with, be it a ‘sleep regression,’ a time zone change, an illness, or a late-night family event, keep your goals in mind.

Make exceptions as needed or as appropriate (life happens!) but be aware of when things should be getting back to normal. For example, after a child has recovered from an illness, don’t let those middle-of-the-night exceptions you rightfully made become the new norm.

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