Today it is officially AUTUMN! Autumn is the season for knitted sweaters, scarves, and thick socks in boots. And of course, a knitted bobble hat. But not only is Autumn great for fashion, it is also a time of year full of great facts and fun for children. 8 Facts about Autumn: In North America, The post The 1st official day of AUTUMN! appeared first on Harmony at...

Today it is officially AUTUMN!

Autumn is the season for knitted sweaters, scarves, and thick socks in boots. And of course, a knitted bobble hat. But not only is Autumn great for fashion, it is also a time of year full of great facts and fun for children.

8 Facts about Autumn:

1. In North America, Autumn is known as the fall and many Americans celebrate Thanksgiving and Halloween during the Autumn season.
2. Autumn is mostly known for the change in leaves and the shedding of these leaves from trees.
3. In ancient times, autumn was one of the most important periods of the year as many cultures/individuals practiced rituals and offerings to their gods and goddesses so that they would have a successful harvest to feed them through winter.
4. There is less sunlight in Autumn because the days are shorter.
5. The Autumn season starts on the 23^rd September and ends on the 21^st December!! Only 4 days before Christmas!!
6. Autumn nights are great for stargazing as the skies are much clearer.
7. In the U.S. Monarch butterflies are the only insect to migrate to a warmer country during the colder season.
8. Common Autumn harvests are pumpkins, corn and apples.

REMEMBER in October there is a half term,which means a week of entertaining the children.

Family days out, arts and crafts and activities to celebrate Autumn and keep the children entertained:

1. Pumpkin Picking and Carving: whether its finding your pumpkin in your local supermarket or taking a day out to go to your local farm, finding the perfect pumpkin and spending time decorating and carving it is a great way to pass the time. A great activity to do as a family! You can even make a pumpkin family 😉
2. At the Science Museum in London, 7-11 year old’s can experience a sleepover of a life time. With hands-on experiments, watching different shows and sleeping among the exhibits. As well as breakfast and a movie in their iMAX theatre the next morning to finish the experience. Running on October 7^th and November 11^th– get booking!
3. In Kent, at Leeds Castle, spend the day watching different birds of prey soaring through the air. Great day enjoying the crisp air and watching some of the most incredible birds take to the sky.
4. Lewes Bonfire night on November 4^th. A procession through Town, lighting of 6 or more bonfires all over the town, as well as a firework extravaganza!
5. Days out in a maze, no better way to enjoy the changing season and the growth in crops that adventuring round (and getting lost) in cornfields.
6. When staying at home, use fallen leaves to create fantastic images and paintings. Whether its painting leaves and creating prints or making leaves look even more beautiful by adding glitter and using them as decorations.
7. Re-create a childhood favourite using chestnuts to play conkers. Hours of entertainment and you can re-live your childhood. As well as this, you can decorate them to again make decorations.
8. Finally, trick or treating! This tradition is big in America, but it is great to do in the UK too. Dress up and enjoy the American tradition. Fun to do with a group of friends or as a family 😊

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Celebrate National Nanny Recognition Week 2018! Are you aware that the fourth week in September (23rd – 29th) 2018 is National Nanny Recognition Week? This special week created in 1998 recognises the work that Nannies do for families. National Nanny Recognition Week gives families the opportunity to celebrate the work that their Nanny does for The post Get set for National Nanny Recognition Week 2018 appeared first on Harmony at...

Celebrate National Nanny Recognition Week 2018!

Are you aware that the fourth week in September (23rd – 29th) 2018 is National Nanny Recognition Week?

This special week created in 1998 recognises the work that Nannies do for families.

National Nanny Recognition Week gives families the opportunity to celebrate the work that their Nanny does for them.

National Nanny Recognition week is not necessarily a time to give your Nanny a gift, it is however, a time to reflect on the amazing work that Nannies do, and a time to say ‘thank you’.

How to celebrate National Nanny Recognition Week

Tell your Nanny how much they mean to you.

Make an effort to tell your Nanny how much they mean to you. There are many ways in which you can do this:

Give them words of encouragement – throughout National Nanny Recognition Week, give your nanny a few extra words of encouragement

Be positive – When your Nanny helps you out, praise them for the job they have done.

Personalise a special gift for your Nanny

Put your creative minds to the test and see what gifts you can make with your children. Creating a personal gift is an ideal activity to do with children to show how much their Nanny means to them personally. It gives them the opportunity to get involved and make something special that their Nanny can treasure.

Give your Nanny a bunch of flowers

A bunch of flowers is a simple gift to give your nanny to show your appreciation. Choose a bouquet you think they would love and give it to your Nanny some point during National Nanny Recognition Week.

Let your Nanny have a surprise half or day off

In celebration of National Nanny Recognition Week and to show how much they mean to you, why not see if you are able to let your nanny have some time off. Any time off you can offer would be appreciated.

Invite your Nanny to have a meal with you and your family

The perfect idea for a ‘live in Nanny’ to show your appreciation. Invite them to join you for a meal at breakfast or dinner, don’t forget to prepare their preferred meal.

The Simplest Gift of All…

Having a great Nanny employed to work with your family is a something that cannot be taken for granted. Over National Nanny Recognition Week, make sure you make the effort to tell your Nanny how special they are to you and how they are a valued member of your family. A little bit of praise and appreciation, really can go a long way. Offering praise can help them to feel appreciated and know that they work they are doing is not going un-noticed.

Written by Emily Martin for Harmony at Home Limited. All Rights Reserved, 2018

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Sunday 7th October is National Grandparents Day! Nannies & parents, do your children know how special their grandparents are? NGD allows them to show off their love and appreciation for them. Grandparents are so special, so it is important to recognize and celebrate all they do. Not only do they offer love and support, but The post How to Celebrate National Grandparents Day appeared first on Harmony at...

Sunday 7th October is National Grandparents Day!

Nannies & parents, do your children know how special their grandparents are? NGD allows them to show off their love and appreciation for them.

Grandparents are so special, so it is important to recognize and celebrate all they do. Not only do they offer love and support, but they also offer time, patience, guidance and most often or not, TREATS!

Grandparents love to shower their Grandchildren with gifts & treats, so it is nice to say ‘thank you’ and show a bit of appreciation for a day!

How to celebrate with your children:

Spend the day with them

Spend quality time with your grandparents. However you decide to celebrate, enjoy spending time together.

• Go out sightseeing
• Take a trip to the cinema/ theater
• Go out for a meal or simply stay in.

Make them a special gift

• Decorate a photo frame and place a your favourite photo with them in there.
• Create your family tree
• Make your own puzzle for them to do

Design a card for them

Make them a special card. Include a personalised message, a poem, a song or a picture to show how much you love and appreciate them!

Cook them a special meal

Show your appreciation by making their favourite meal for them.

Relive special memories with them

Take a trip down memory lane and list out your special memories you have with your grandparents. You may remember a certain day or place that you visited. Re-spark and re-live the day with them.

Tell them you love them

One of the simplest ways to celebrate and show your appreciation is simply to tell them how much you love them.

Nannies & parents, however you decide to celebrate National Grandparents Day with your children, get involved, have fun and make them feel special. Find out more about this event HERE!

Written by Emily Martin for Harmony at Home Limited. All Rights Reserved, 2018

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Camping with children! A great holiday idea? For some, going on a camping holiday is exciting, fun and adventurous. Children love camping. The thrill of sleeping outside with just a layer of canvas separating them from the outdoors. Camping is certainly an adventurous holiday and one that can take a lot of planning and consideration, The post Top tips for Camping with Children appeared first on Harmony at...

Camping with children! A great holiday idea?

For some, going on a camping holiday is exciting, fun and adventurous.

Children love camping. The thrill of sleeping outside with just a layer of canvas separating them from the outdoors. Camping is certainly an adventurous holiday and one that can take a lot of planning and consideration, especially with young children.

In preparation for going camping with children, ensure you follow these top tips:

Top Tips for camping with children:

• Make sure your tent is spacious and is big enough to sleep everyone
• Pack extra blankets to keep warm at night
• Take plenty of games and entertainment for the children
• Pack things for children to do in case the weather is bad.
• Make sure you have enough warm clothing. Prepare for all weathers. Unfortunately, British weather is never predicable. Make sure you have packed clothing to cover you in all weathers
• Give your tent a ‘homely’ feel by taking home comforts. You may end up spending a lot of time in your tent so it is a good idea to have a few essentials around you.
• If you are self catering, pack enough food supplies to last you. You will also need to consider if you will need to pack cooking equipment as well.
• Get to know the area that you are staying in. What is there around the campsite for your children to enjoy? Where is the nearest play area, supermarket, hospital?
• Get ahead of yourself and have a go at setting up your tent prior to go on holiday. This allows you to make sure you have all the necessary parts and also gives you an idea of how to put the tent up, saving you time when you get to the campsite.
• Conduct a test run with your children by camping out in the garden. This is especially a good idea if your children have never experienced sleeping in a tent before. This allows them to get a feel for what it might be like
• Try and follow the same routines as you would at home. If you have young children, try and stick with the same bed time, nap and meal routine

Plan Ahead

When going on a camping holiday with your children, one of the most important things to remember to do is to plan ahead. Make sure all details are finalised and ensure:

• You know where you are staying
• You have all the equipment that you need (tent, chairs, crockery)
• Know what facilities you have available to you
• Have an idea of what there is to do around the campsite (what activities can children get involved with?)

Written by Emily Martin for Harmony at Home Limited. All Rights Reserved, 2018

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Looking for Birthday Party theme ideas? Celebrate your child’s Birthday in style! Many children’s birthday parties have a theme. With fun new crazes being introduced, party planning is being taken to a whole new level. Take the stress out of having to think of a suitable birthday party theme, by checking out our ideas: Birthday The post Best Birthday Party Ideas for Kids appeared first on Harmony at...

Looking for Birthday Party theme ideas?

Celebrate your child’s Birthday in style!

Many children’s birthday parties have a theme. With fun new crazes being introduced, party planning is being taken to a whole new level.

Take the stress out of having to think of a suitable birthday party theme, by checking out our ideas:

Birthday Party Themes:

• Superheros – Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman
• Fairies
• Princesses
• Unicorns
• Cars
• Trains
• Star Wars
• Peppa Pig
• Animals – favourite pet or zoo animal
• Disney
• Beach/ summer time
• Vintage
• Circus
• Neon
• Pirate
• Cowboys
• Under the sea
• The great outdoors
• Space
• Sport – football, dance

So, if you are planning a party but stuck for a theme, why not consider some of our awesome themes? Remember, your never too old for a themed birthday!

Written by Emily Martin for Harmony at Home Limited. All Rights Reserved, 2018

The post Best Birthday Party Ideas for Kids appeared first on Harmony at Home.

If you have discovered your dream Nanny job and have an interview scheduled, discover our top tips to show off and impress your perspective employers. One of the main aims of an interview is to show off and impress to your employers. It is no secret that going for an interview can be stressful and The post Nannies – How to impress in an interview appeared first on Harmony at...

If you have discovered your dream Nanny job and have an interview scheduled, discover our top tips to show off and impress your perspective employers.

One of the main aims of an interview is to show off and impress to your employers.

It is no secret that going for an interview can be stressful and frightening. To limit this stress, it is a good idea to get prepared before hand and organise all the essentials that you will need.

What you bring to your interview will signal to your potential employers your organisational skills, which are very important for being a Nanny.

Many nannies decide to create a Nanny Portfolio to showcase themselves. This is a great way to store all your certificates and documents and is sure to impress. So, grab a ring binder and a few plastic wallets, and get organising.

What you should keep in your Portfolio?

Your CV

First of all, the most important pieces of information to be displayed, should be your CV.

It is especially important to maintain your CV and keep it up to date. Your CV should clear, concise and easy to read. Yet that being said, make sure all your experience is listed. Include past and current work placements, work experience and any temp/ short term positions.

Top Tip – Keep multiple copies of your CV in your portfolio as some employers like to keep a copy of it.

Certificates

Clearly display your Qualification Certificates that you have obtained. These may be from qualifying as a Nanny, Maternity Nurse, or even as a teacher.

In addition, don’t forget to display those especially relevant certificates from courses you have been on.

These may include:

• Paediatric First Aid
• Safeguarding
• EYFS
• E-Safety
• Food Hygiene/ cooking
• Sleep Training
• Nanny Training
• Babysitting
• Child protection
• Domestic Violence
• Lone Worker
• Nanny Driving

ID Documents

It is also a good idea to keep a photocopy of your passport and drivers license in your portfolio. Many employers like to see these documents.

Top Tip – Keep a photocopy of these to give to employers.

Other Documents

Don’t forget to include other documentation including:

• DBS
• Ofsted Registration
• Drivers license
• Insurance – Nanny or driving insurance

Outstanding References

In addition to displaying your certificates, show your references from previous employers. Including your references gives new employers the ability to gain an understanding of your performance and work ethic.

Top Tip – It is recommended to display them in date order to make it as easy as possible for employers to read.

If you don’t have a written reference from your employer, make a note of their contact details. Almost all Nanny Agencies like to obtain their own references anyway.

Show Off!

Finally, don’t forget to showcase your previous work.

Consider: What makes you a stand out Nanny? Why should you get this position? What can you bring to the table?

Make a note of previous craft activities, recipes and activities that you like to do. Show off what makes you unique, and why an employer should therefore employ you.

So, nannies, don’t forget to get organised and put together a portfolio. Gather all your documents and display in a folder or organiser.

Written by Emily Martin for Harmony at Home Limited. All Rights Reserved, 2018

The post Nannies – How to impress in an interview appeared first on Harmony at Home.