Meet Supermum Vicky from Boppin' Babies

Babies learn to understand through music long before they understand words. Through
cooing, lullabies, and humming, caregivers communicate with infants through
music every day whether they realise it or not. There have been many studies conducted suggesting that music positively effects linguistic, social, and cognitive development in children, further demonstrating the importance of music in our lives. 

I had the chance to interview Vicky, the founder and director of Boppin Babies in the midst
of her handing in her PhD paper- she's another incredible super-mum and local business
owner mini absolutely loves to support!

Vicky is a Registered Music Therapist and created Boppin' Babies as a music early learning program designed to harness the science of music therapy combined with the spontaneity of music and movement to empower parents to live a musical life with their babies.

What is music therapy, and how does it differ from music education?

I wouldn't call Boppin' Babies either.  We're somewhat in the middle of music therapy and music education. 

Music therapy is a research-based practice using a very specific plan with music as a treatment to sort through social and emotional issues. Music Therapy uses music in a planned way to help people reach their potential. Whereas music education teaches the learning of music. 

Infants are inherently sensitive to music so we don't teach an infant pitch or tonality, but we give parents the confidence to interact with their babies musically. 

I meet a lot of parents who aren't confident to use music. I see my main role is to empower and educate. Humans are engineered to interact musically with their babies. Parents who are attached to their child in a positive way will interact with their child in a naturally musical way without even knowing. 

Helping parents be in the musical moment and take delight in their child's musicality is
what we do. Music is proven to improve milestones in learning as well. You can only win.

How did Boppin' Babies come about?

When my daughter was an infant (10 years ago) we went to music programs, but the stuff I
took her to didn't offer the things I wanted out of a music program. There wasn't
anything wrong with them, but it wasn't what I wanted. These programs had more of an
educational focus which was not necessary for a 4-month- old.

Children are innately musical, we don't need to teach them. At Boppin’ Babies, we don't teach music until preschool, and by then they have been surrounded by music for so long they
can sing in pitch and have a great sense of rhythm.

I just wanted a space to be a mum and be musical. I was in a mother's group and brought
my guitar one day to sing to the bubs. One of the mums said it was  "sublime" and told me I
should be charging, so I started a little group, mostly for my daughter, and word of mouth
started to grow and Boppin’ Babies grew from there.

What are some of the activities Boppin' Babies puts together?

Coming from a music therapist background, a lot of what we do is research-based and
focused on parent-child attachment theory and early childhood development
philosophy.

We show how music can support a child's development, and we nurture the parent-child relationship through musical play and interactions.

Everything we do session plan structure, but we let the spontaneity of music and the children lead the program. That way the class is not prescriptive, rather it is but more child-led and flexible in how we use our session and lesson plans.

We use our voices to lead, and our guitars to accompany, and always start and
end the days with hello and goodbye. The class structure is repetitive because children
learn best with structure and like the predictability, but every day will be different.

Our classes have a goal to instil confidence to make music at home. Most of the toddler
and infant development happens at home, not in the one-hour session. Our job is to
enrich, empower and provide families with a space to practice each week.

Can you give any advice for first-time boppers coming to a class?

Our program is catered to ages 0-4. My advice for first-time mums is to have the
confidence to sing to your baby. Your baby is hardwired to hear you. They want to hear
your voice, even humming is stimulating physically in its vibration when holding your baby
as well as auditorily. Sing to your baby like no one (else) is listening.

For first-time mums coming to a class, my advice is: We won't over stimulate your baby. I
think there is a focus on "sensory" which has been a buzz word lately. Mums think they
need to do this, but they don't. Kids don't need constant stimulation, they're already
exposed to a lot of stimulation.

I have an article on my website talking about sensory programs.  We're not
a sensory program, we are a music program. But music is still sensory and provides
enough sensory stimulation. We just don't believe in overstimulating. We're more about a
gentle approach with live music and support through multi-modal stimulation.

How do you approach parents that might feel anxiety towards singing if you ever get any?

For the parents who don't feel particularly comfortable singing, we give them many
different resources to help them overcome that, and we'll give them options to make
different music at home like playing or listening to music, making shakers out of plastics. Containers for example, until they feel comfortable to hum and then sing.
 

What is the day in the life of Vicky, RMT/Founder of Boppin' Babies/ mum/ wife?

Depends on which day.  My days are busy but they're fun! Before school, my daughter and I get plenty of cuddles in and she practices her violin. When she's at school, I go to work either running music groups each day, teaching children music, or working on my PhD and research.

I run 11 music groups a week with babies, toddlers and pre-school schoolers at Chermside. A couple mornings a week, I teach music too. When I come home, I do the business administration and work on my PhD.

My husband or I will pick my daughter up and take her to sports, walk the dog together, or
do homework. My daughter goes to bed quite early, so I'll continue with research or work
on my business at night if I need to.

I use my time well. One thing that motherhood did for me was teaching me how to be
extremely efficient- I can get a lot done!

How do you find that work-life balance with Boppin' Babies and your family?

I take a day or two a week out just to study, but I have to pull back sometimes, other than
that it's been fine. What I research is closely aligned to what I do, so it never feels like
there's a pull.

My husband works from home, so we're quite flexible and equally parent like a partnership. This helps. I try to take afternoons off most days to be with my daughter, and then work at night when she is in bed.

What are some of your favourite activities to do with your daughter?

We love singing!I help out sometimes with her community choir and I love seeing the
musical side of her. It's becoming a real part of her personality.

She's great at sports. Hockey, swimming, touch football. We also like to go bush-
walking on weekends and camping. We like to get away from our phones and iPads.

Where would you hope Boppin' Babies to be in the near future?

Boppin' Babies is turning 10! We're throwing a party in September during school holidays
at Roma Street- so stay tuned for that.

Our business has really grown up in 10 years. We now offer music therapy and music
education to cater for our Boppers as they grow up. And we provide music therapy to
special education settings and adult disability services. I love that we can now support and as our little boppers musical journeys as they grow up.

I see us positioning ourselves to provide greater support to all families through a wider
capacity and more programs. We're running more community groups and holiday programs, as well as events and activities every day.

Do you have any advice for entrepreneurial mums out there?

If you have a passion and want to turn it into a business, my advice is to do a fair bit of
research and to look for something unique or niche to provide to the market. Go into
classes to get the skills, like social media and marketing that are so important these days,
and then go for it!

It can be overwhelming and stressful, but it makes you whole hearted. It's such a lovely
way to live if you can create an income and support your family from the very thing you're
passionate about. It will be your passion and lifeline.

Music is in our blood, it defines who we are as a family. I love this and would recommend that to anyone, to find their passion and make it their own.

Mini’s Science Corner: Flower & Food Dye Experiment

Welcome to mini’s science corner! Have you ever heard someone say “that plant is thirsty” when the leaves and petals begin to look wilted? In this experiment, we’ll take a closer look at how a plant “drinks” water by dying water with food colouring for white cut flowers to absorb. Teach your kids about some of the interesting science behind plants, and maybe learn a thing or two for yourself! 

Cut Flower & Food Dye Experiment 

This experiment is designed to show how plants absorb water. A white flower is placed into a vase of coloured water. After about a day, you will notice the white flower petals beginning to take on the colour of the food colouring. This shows the path the water has gone inside the stem of the plant. We're able to see the change of colour this because the food dye is made up of tiny molecules that are small enough to travel along the capillaries of the plant along with the water. 

You Will Need:

• Cut white flowers (roses and hydrangeas work very well for this but other species will work as well we used white chrysanthemums and a rose )
• Some glass vases
• Water
• Food coloring (try doing a few experiments with different colours)

How To Set It Up

This is an incredibly easy experiment to set up. Your kids can even do most of it themselves (you will likely need to do the food colouring step and cutting of the flower stems depending on the age of your child, use your discretion). 

Step 1: Prepare the food colouring

To do this you simply add warm water into the vase you are using, and add 20-30 drops of food colouring. Warm water is much easier for the plant to absorb, but perhaps try one vase with cooler temperature water and another with warm water to observe the results. We have chosen to do 4 different vases with 4 different colours for our experiment.

We mixed one part red dye and another blue to create a purple! 

Step 2: Prepare your flowers

You can buy white flowers from any flower shop or sometimes cafe. If you are lucky enough to have some growing in your garden, you can use those as well. Almost any white flower will do, but they do need to be white or you won’t notice the colour change. We had chrysanthemums and roses on hand and wanted to see which flower absorbed the colour better. 

Cut the flower stems so that they fit comfortably in the vase. Cutting the stems at a 45 degree angle will increase the absorption of water and make your petal change faster. This also ensures that the base of the stem is not sitting flush with the bottom of the vase, giving it room to take in water. 

Take a look at the stem. Is it dense and fibrous or does it look more like a straw? Stems act like the plant’s plumbing system, conducting water and nutrients from the roots and food in the form of glucose (simple sugar) from the leaves to other plant parts. 

Step 3: Place the flowers into the vase(s), wait, and observe!

We placed the rose in our home-made purple mixture. 

Once the flowers are in the vase, the next step is simply to wait. It takes time for the plants to take the water up the stems and place them into the petals. 

Observe and make notes like a scientist! 

• How long did it take for the flower to start changing colour? 
• Which colour seemed to have the best result in dying the petals?
• Which type of flower had the best result in changing colour? 
• What does the flowers' change in appearance tell you about how water moves through them?

This photo was taken after 3 days

This rose was starting to turn purple! 

EXTRA

• What happens if you increase or decrease the concentration of food colour in the water?
• How would you make a multicolour flower? Tip: You could try (1) leaving the flower for a day in one colour of water and then putting it in another colour of water for a second day or (2) splitting the end of the stem in two and immersing each half in a different colour of water.

Comparison of the colour change in the crysanthamums 

Here is the rose next to its un-dyed friends!

How To Explain What is happening To Your minis:

Plants need to drink water. The stem of a plant acts like a drinking straw. The capillaries are millions of tiny straws, each one leading up to the leaves and petals of the plant. When the plant drinks the water, the coloured water travels up the stem and goes into the leaves and flowers. You can see it because the white flower doesn't have any colour to get in the way. 

The water moves through a processes called transpiration, which is when the water from the leaves and and flower petal evaporates. The dye in the water doesn’t evaporate and is left in the petals of the flower. 

How to Raise Your Kids to Love Maths (even if you don’t)

Maths is that subject that kids either really love, or makes kids and even adults want to rip their hair out. Whether we like it or not, maths extends beyond the classroom into everyday life and developing a strong understanding of the basics of mathematics will be an asset in your child’s development. 

You’ve probably heard the saying “I’m not a maths person.” It’s one of those self-fulfilling prophecies if you find your child repeating the mantra. In a 2007 National Institutes of Health Public Access Twin Study the results estimate that genes account for 32%-45% of mathematical skill at the age 10. [see our article here on how intelligence is inherited from our mothers] This means that 55% to 68% of mathematical skill must come from other factors such as an individual’s interest and effort. These studies prove that inborn talent has much less of an impact than hard-work and self-confidence in higher test results. So if you and your child aren’t “maths people” good news, you can learn to love it and excel at it! 

What makes maths so difficult to grasp? 

Math seems difficult because it takes a lot time and energy to fully comprehend abstract ideas. Abstraction in mathematics is the process of extracting the underlying essence of a mathematical concept and removing any dependence on real world objects and thus generalising the principal for wider applications. This does not come easy to many people, and it’s a skill we need to exercise to strengthen. 

Maths is a cumulative discipline, meaning you need to have a good grasp in one area to understand the next level of maths because the applications build upon each other. Prematurely moving beyond an area leads to a shaky foundation for the next curriculum, and fast-paced classroom environments don’t always have the time to slow down and review concepts with students before opening up the next chapter in the unit making some children feel left behind and discouraged. This is why maths homework and bringing maths into the home beyond the school curriculum is so important for giving your child the opportunity to excel at math. 

What can we do to help our children with maths?  

1. Change your attitude about maths

Children mimic our attitudes in all kinds of ways. If you’re a parent who is not fond of math, shift your attitude into a more positive one. We’ve established that statements like “I’m not a maths person” is a self-fulfilling prophecy, so try to refrain from saying it around your children even if you don’t feel particularly good about helping your child with maths. Think about it as something to work on together. 

2. Make it fun! 

Maths is everywhere in our day-to-day life. Encourage mind-math games such as adding up numbers on license plates as quickly as possible or try grocery-shop budgeting with your older children. If we can only spend $50 at the grocery shop today, how can we make sure everything in our basket comes to under $50 given our shopping list. Or do some baking together for a tasty lesson in maths! 

3. Get your child some Legos or other building toys

Lego or block play fosters a wide spread of skills including creativity, motor skills, spatial skills, problem-solving, and communication. When a child is building, they must analyse the parts in front of them, perceive how it fits into a whole and how the pieces fit together. 

For 3-5-year-olds, you can put together a model of three lego blocks and ask your child to recreate your design in order to exercise the importance of counting tips and placing the next part on the proper section of the lego blocks. There is substantial evidence that spatial skills can be improved through play, so kids who spend more free time playing with puzzles or building blocks have increased scoring results. 

4. Play online maths games! 

If you have a child who is a gamer at heart, encourage some maths themed games! This website has everything from sudoku puzzles, basketball multiplication, and RPGs using maths to make your way through the adventure. 

Here is a list of our favourite iPhone maths games for on the go entertainment. 

Monster Maths

(available for addition/ subtraction and multiplication/ division)

Quick Maths Jr.

(Intended for kids aged 3-7)

Tricky Test 2: Genius Brain

Lumosity

Brain training for adults) 

---

What are some of your favourite maths games with you minis? 

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Best Plants to Grow to Teach Your Children How to Garden

Children are natural gardeners. They are curious, quick learners through hands-on experience, and love to get a little messy in the dirt. Gardening is a healthy and fun activity for all ages, but it's especially beneficial for kids. Gardening teaches a multitude of skills and fosters an appreciation for science and nature. 

Key findings suggest that when young children are participating in garden and greenhouse activities they are: (1) communicating their knowledge about the world to others, (2) conveying (and learning to process and manage) emotions, and (3) developing important skills (e.g., initiative, self-confidence, literacy, math, science skills) that will help them be more successful in school and better navigate the world. 

Benefits of Teaching your Children Gardening Includes:

1. Nurtures a sense of responsibility:

Without proper care, their plants will not grow. Gardening teaches them valuable life lessons at a young age. 

2. Reasoning and discovery skills:

Learning how to problem solve. discover science and nature of plants through research and real-life experiments. 

3. Self-confidence:

Gardening gives them the tools to grow their own food and achieve goals.

4. Love of nature:

Inspires awe and appreciation for the outdoors in a safe and pleasant environment.

5. Physical activity:

Gardening gets kids outdoors, using their hands to create.

6. Creativity:

Finding new and exciting ways to grow food and becoming inspired by nature.

Here are some of the best plants to start with kids:

1. Lettuce

Lettuce are quick and reliable crop with fast results. Lettuce likes party shady environments. Lettuce seeds will germinate in 7-10 days and the growing season is about 1-2 months.

2. Snow peas

can easily pick right off the vine and eat. 10 days to germinate and mature in about 2 months. They prefer cooler, partly shaded areas in the garden.

3. Sunflowers

Plant just a few 'confectionery' sunflower seeds (used for food), since sunflowers take up a lot of space in a garden. Their seeds can be dried and roasted for snacks. Be sure to save some seeds to grow the next season too. Sunflower seeds tend to sprout in a week and should be about 30 cm in a month. Harvest your sunflowers when their petals become dry and the green base of the sunflower head turns yellow to brown. 

4. Cherry tomatoes

Cherry tomatoes enjoy full sun, and if you can, purchase seedlings from the local grocery store rather than seed since they can be difficult to germinate. Plant a pole or a stake about 60 cm tall for the tomato vine to wrap around. Cherry tomatoes add vibrant colour to your garden, and they're a sweet, juicy treat! 

5. Potatoes

Potatoes are a versatile vegetable, and can be prepared in many tasty recipes. Red potatoes mature faster than white varieties. Cut seed potatoes into chunks with at least 2 'eyes' per and plant them about 35 cm apart with the eyes pointing to the sky and mound the soil up around the plant as it grows. It's ready for harvest when the plant collapses. 

6. Zucchini

Start these seeds in a small container indoors first. You can up-cycle egg cartons and plant the seeds in about 1 cm of soil. Keep the soil moist, and when you have a strong sprout with roots, you can transfer the egg carton directly into the soil outside. Make sure your soil is rich in nutrition, or you can add fertiliser to your soil. 

Other interesting plants to grow:

1. Avocado Pits

Wash your avocado seed and use 3 toothpicks to suspend it broad-end down in a glass of water covering about 2.5 cm of the seed. Place the glass in a warm place indoors out of direct sunlight and replenish the water as needed. You should see sprouts in about 2-6 weeks. 

2. Top of a pineapple

Once you bring your pineapple home and are about to cut it up into a snack, save the top to plant just about 3 cm below the leaves then remove some of the lowest leaves from the stalk and cut out the remaining fruit flesh. Plant in your garden or a decorative pot. Keep the plant soil moist until roots develop at around 6-8 weeks. Pineapple tops enjoy bright, indirect sunlight. 

3. Venus Fly Traps

Growing Venus Fly traps from seed can be a tricky, takes about a year, and requires special soil to germinate the seed. You can purchase Venus flytraps at almost any plant store and re-pot them in a terrarium. Place gravel below the soil to ensure proper drainage. Good air circulation is key for these plants and it's best to water with distilled water when caring for these plants because tap water tends to have too many minerals for this sensitive plant. They make for an interesting plant to add to your child's collection.

The fun thing about this plant, is that it actually eats bugs as it's a carnivorous plant! Fun fact: There are 54 species of these carnivorous plant in Australia. Learn how to feed your Venus fly trap here. 

Gardening teaches children about science and nutrition plus gives them a sense of responsibility and accomplishment. There are a variety of engaging activities in gardening your child can participate in such as buying seeds and equipment, planting, mulching, weeding, and cooking. 

Make sure your garden is a safe place. Store sharp tools away from child's reach, use suitable equipment, fences, gates, and paths for children to use. 

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How mini Makes the Perfect Nanny Match

Finding the perfect nanny match begins with you. We encourage families to get tactical when it comes to hiring a nanny and we want to help you make an informed decision. After all, childcare solution is an important matter considering your future nanny will also be partially responsible for raising your children. Weigh your options carefully and make sure it’s a decision your family feels good about.

Every client-family has a different idea of their perfect nanny, and it’s our mission as a nanny agency to uncover both the family and nanny’s values to make that perfect match. You can rest-assured that every nanny we represent has gone through the mini Nanny Agency screening process. We curate your nanny candidate shortlist based on your values and mini's high standards. 

Mini Nanny Agencies Nanny Requirements:

1. Love for Children

We only entertain the candidates that share our love for children. These people are inherently kind, nurturing, and creative. mini Nanny Agency employs a psychometric test that determines how suitable candidates are to the nannying field. This gives us a better idea of who the candidate is beyond their resume. 
 

2. Responsible

It’s essential for all nannies to have the right skills to make good judgment calls and know how to communicate with their employers. This includes being reliable and taking ownership of their actions. It’s the understanding that nannying is not a glorified babysitter and it’s certainly not a ‘slacker’ job.
 

3. Experience

All of our nannies will come to your short list with First Aid and Blue Card certifications, as required by the state of Queensland. They will also have previous experience working with children although the extensiveness every candidate's experiences vary. 

Preparation from the Family:

Communication 

Every family will have a different version of their perfect nanny. Communication with both your nanny recruiter and your candidates is essential. Tell us everything we need to know about your household and expectations to provide us with insight into what you’re looking for in a nanny. Think about your family’s routines and where you can use an extra pair of helping hands when it comes to supporting your children. 

Values

Consider what your values are. This is mini’s starting point for matching the perfect nanny for our clients. Values are inherently learned in the household and are passed on from generation to generation. These values might look like a family’s structure, function, roles, beliefs, attitudes, and ideals. Values create the foundation of how you want to live your family life and can solidify the bond your family has. We believe the key to a successful match is finding a nanny who shares your values.

Age vs. Experience

Both younger and older nannies have their advantages and disadvantages. Younger nannies tend to be livelier and much more energetic which is great if you have active kids. Since younger nannies are looking to gain more experience, they also tend to be the most cost effective option. 
 
The downside to hiring a younger nanny is that they may lack the maturity and experience for dealing with discipline and difficult situations. The university students and traveler candidates might have taken on nannying as a way to make extra cash so their level of dedication and availability might be limiting for your requirements, so keep all of this mind. 
 
While older candidates might lack in energy and relatability to your kids, they make up for in experience, especially moms who have dealt with the same matters as yourself first hand and tend to be much more understanding and can offer a different kind of support to you as parents. 

Budget 

Your budget can oftentimes determine the candidates available to you. The more experienced nannies have made a career out of caring for children and come at a higher cost for their services. While we can guide you on how much you should compensate your nannies, it’s really a conversation to be had between you and your nanny. 
 
mini Guide: Nanny Employment Agreement

Trial Period

Once you think you’ve met the perfect nanny for your family, you’ll still need see how you work as a team. It may take 2 weeks to see if you’ve made the right decision with your nanny. Remember to be fair, and give them a chance. After all, it is a new job and new routine for the nanny, children, and you, as parents, to adjust to. Use your instincts to determine if you’ve hired someone whose values don’t quite line up with yours. We will always respect your decision. Our nanny recruitment services include a satisfaction period; we’re determined to get that perfect match. 

The information you need to tell your nanny recruiters:

• When and how many hours will you be requiring nanny services? 
• What area will you be required a nanny in and what are their expected duties? 
• Will the nanny need a driver’s license and their own vehicle? 
• How many children and what ages? 
• Do your children have special medical requirements, allergies, dietary restrictions that your nanny needs to know about? 
• Do you have household pets?
• What is a day in the life like with your family? 
• Do you require your nannies to have special skills or additional qualifications? Ie. Tutor, child care development courses, speak additional languages, etc.. 

What you need to inform your nanny:

• Be clear on your expectations and scope of work
• Does your child have any health issues, allergies, or dietary requirements? 
• Give your nanny a tour of your home and where they can find medicine, first-aid kit, and important contacts
•  Write down all the children’s habits from everything they like to eat, temperaments, and daily schedule

 Try to keep an open mind. Everyone has something unique to offer to the role. We are Brisbane’s favourite boutique nanny agency and finding the right solution to your childcare needs is our specialty. Your nanny is a decision we ultimately want to make sure you feel good about. To ensure the most streamlined process, try to keep these tips in mind when embarking on your nanny search. 
 

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Catching up with Jeremy and Tim from City-Cave

Michelle and I caught up with James Street business locals, Tim and Jeremy, owners of floatation therapy centre City-Cave. If you've already had the experience of visiting City-Cave for float therapy and yoga, you're in for a treat at their newest studio in the works in Rosalie. There will be room for more float rooms, a yoga area, cooking space, an outdoor lounge, and on-site health and wellness experts for your guidance opening later this month!

Big and exciting things are happening for City-Cave and Mini Nanny agency is excited to announce new collaborations between our two businesses is in the works. With their bigger studio space in Rosalie, Tim and Jeremy are hoping to get more involved in the community especially with the Rosalie local school just across the street. Introducing kids to holistic approaches to health and wellness is one of many new branches that City-Cave is eager to explore with their new location.

How did you two get into floatation therapy and where was your starting point for City-Cave? 

J- We started out in the business of retail. It was a very stressful, cut-throat industry. You don't make many friends in it. 

T- I could see myself at 50-years-old now being on death's door because of the stress we were dealing with in our lives from our last business. It was highly stressful and we weren't living. We were living to work, so we sold the business. Everything happens for a reason and we came to the decision to sell our company to take some time off, and really decide on what we want to do. 

J- I've dealt with anxiety my whole life and there was no healthy outlet for me leave it behind. We caught wind of float therapy through by brother. We first tried it in the centre of CBD. Everything is a business to us and it all started from there. 

What were your initial goals with opening up City-Cave on James Street? 

T- In the early stages, we spent a lot of our resources educating people. Few people have experienced floatation therapy, but almost everybody has heard about, or know of someone who has floated before. Research and development were huge for us. We did a lot of our research in the States. It always takes a bit of time for Australia to catch on to new trends from America, and we want to be right up there as innovators in Australia. 

J- Our initial goals, and even now expanding into Rosalie, has always been building a brand and culture around wellness. Health should be an ongoing practice, not something people only think of when they need to see a doctor. We're certainly not the first people to think like this, but we just want to be one of the first to implement this and create spaces where people want to be comfortable to hang out and feel and excited about their physical and mental well-being. 

What is the most challenging aspect of starting a company?

T- You have to have thick skin and the right mindset.  I rung my mum and told her what I was putting my capital into and she cried because she had no idea what float therapy was because it's so new. But over the last 6 months, I've been getting text messages from her like "ooh, I just saw something on TV. You might be on to something!" I think especially for something new like this, it's just educating people and eventually, it catches wind. 

What are some of the benefits of floatation therapy? 

T- There are so many. Magnesium intake is a huge benefit. Australia is known to be being really low in magnesium. Floating weekly,  I've found a change in my energy levels, my sleeping was 10x better, and if you're going to the gym a lot, you'll find overall improvement in joint and muscle pain. Magnesium is a natural muscle rexalin found in the Epsom salt. It's antibacterial, and great for your skin. That's all the physical stuff. The mental stuff is also another large element. 

J- It's a forced meditation. Steph Curry uses float therapy for his mental game. It helps you cope with external pressure, visualisation, and finding that flow state. For high-stress jobs, it helps you step away from stress and regathers thoughts, prioritise, stimulate creativity, and become more efficient. 

T -  Floating makes me mentally bullet-proof. Brings inner peace. We're not hippies, this is just speaking as two regular guys.You have to learn how to do it, but there's no such thing as a bad float and it get's better the more you practice. It's hard because we juggle a lot of different personalities that walk through the door. It takes time, like anything. You need to learn and give it a change. 

Do you recommend kids to try floating and would you recommend it to someone with ADHD?

J- Absolutely. Floating is a great tool for managing your thoughts. I would love to get more kids and especially teens through those doors and open up a world of ways to approach health. It doesn't need to be a sterile doctor's room experience. 

T- Having a psych on board, nutritionists and other experts will really be an added benefit to anyone. Psychs are there help prepare the mind for your float and help you understand your thoughts. I think learning interpersonal skills, switching off, and understanding your thoughts are great tools for anyone especially if you learn them at a younger age. 

Do you have a recommended age for kids to float?

T- It's not so much about age, but more maturity. The teenage years are very important developmentally and something like this can really help them cope with gaining more responsibility and managing their emotions.

You mentioned wanting to get involved in the communities more especially with children's sports and health. What do you think that that looks like for you guys? 

J- There's so much potential to be had with this space (in Rosalie) and the school across the street. We just really want to get involved in the community at no cost to introduce kids to a holistic approach to health. We have a nutritionist who will be doing cooking demonstrations, kids' yoga, and we'd love to help out on their sports days!

What are some personal markers for success in your lives?

J- A smile. When it comes to success, it's a personal thing--knowing what your success is, know what you want, and achieving it.

T- I don't want to come up to the end of my life and say "cool I have a house a car, and all this money but I spent all my life working in negativity." It's not a nice way to make money. If I can sit back and enjoy the process and enjoy the company of people who have found something valuable in what we do, then I'm happy. 

T - We had a lady come out of a session with tears rolling down her face. She was on chemo for months and was experiencing chronic pain. She was so relieved coming out of her float and thanked us. She said it was the most amazing rest she had experienced in quite some time and she was able to feel relief from her pain. She came back every week. I get fuzzy over it. 
 

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A Note to the Hardworking Nannies Out There

Dear nannies, 

What makes a great nanny is not something you find on a CV, but is found in the nanny's story, personality, and values. Many nannies we recruit have post-secondary education in childcare, a long history of experience in professional nannying and are parents themselves, but it's truly your patience, compassion, and ability to anticipate the family's needs that make a great nanny. Every person has a unique set of skills, experience, and outlook they can bring to a family and the great thing about nannying as a career is freedom to let your personality and nannying style shine through. 

Childcare workers are one of the most undervalued career options; It's no doubt a problem in our society. Let's all work together to debunk this conception with a positivity and being informative. Nannying can be an under-appreciated job, and it's probably because most people's general conception of nannying is a glorified babysitter, paid to hang out with kids all day, or thought of as house-cleaners. We know, of course, these people could not be more wrong (have they ever cared for a child all day long?-- it's full on work, physically and mentally draining!) 

Never underestimate the significance of your role. As a nanny, you wear many hats in the household. Your role is to shape the next generation through patient guidance and role modelling in your everyday actions. Nannies are the cultivators of our future, chefs for some of the pickiest eaters, the chauffeurs for the kids' busy schedules, the nurses, the story-tellers, the teachers, the counsellors, the mediators, and the cheerleaders. 

When mom and dad are out of commission, it's your job to be the best version of their parents you can be. It's very rare that you're sitting around on the job because there is always something to do around the house to help the family's schedule run more smoothly. Mom and dad have entrusted you with the most important role, and that is being one of the pillars of support in their children's' lives. 

Caring for children is one of the most rewarding careers. Children look up to you as their hero, their confidant, and run to you in need of comfort. Nannies become honourary family members. The intimacy of caring for children in the family's home is a huge privilege, and families will never forget your commitment and love for their children. 

Thank you to the brilliant, big-hearted, hard-working nannies that make mini Nanny Agency one of the best nanny recruitment agencies in Brisbane. The most rewarding aspect of a recruiter's day at team mini is receiving that phone call from a happy family letting us know that we've found their perfect nanny. 

We have some interviews of some of the mini's best nannies on our blog so have a read! Each nanny has their own unique journey to tell and it's been such a privilege to share these stories and have them represent Mini Nanny Agency to such lovely families. 

Cheers to you nannies! 

xx
Mini Nanny Agency
 

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mini's guide to creating your professional nanny portfolio

Creating a nanny portfolio is one of the best ways to make sure you stand out from amongst other nanny candidates- it adds personalisation and a professional touch to your application. All you'll need is a binder for your portfolio, paper protectors to hold copies of your resumes and references that you can leave with either the nanny recruiter or the family. The best part about it is that it's so simple to do and only takes a bit of time, creativity, and organisation- and as a nanny, I'm sure these are your areas of expertise! 

What goes into your nanny portfolio? 

Letter of introduction

For any position you apply for, you should always create a cover letter which is written for that specific role and why you would be the perfect match. This letter of introduction will be slightly different to your cover letter. Your portfolio letter of introduction is a small bio of yourself as a nanny. Really sell yourself here and let your gorgeous personality come through. The mini Nanny Agency team loves a good story so make yours stand out! 

•Why are you a nanny?
•What is your nanny experience (newborn care, multiple children, years of experience etc...) 
•What are some of the activities that you enjoy doing with children? 
•What are your interests and skills that you can bring into the household?

Resume

You should definitely include your resume in your nanny portfolio and make extra copies should the nanny recruiter or nanny request one. Your professional resume should include your contact information, in depth job descriptions, timelines, relevant skills, education, certifications, and other relevant qualifications. 

Security Documents

Prove your qualifications! Save the nanny recruiters and families time and hassle by showing them right off the bat, that you are a qualified nanny instead of having them chase you down for documents. Include photocopies of your Blue Card, Driver's License, First Aid & CPR certificate, Life Guarding, Nanny and Car Insurance, ABN, diplomas, degrees, certificates and any other relevant documents you might have. 

Just make sure that these documents are relevant and presented in a logical manner. For example, you don't need to include all of your expired First Aid and Blue Card documents and you might choose to have them filled in your portfolio in chronological order. 

References

It's a nice touch to include reference letters in your nanny portfolio to vouch for your personality, character, and work ethic. Get in touch with your references before hand to get some reference letters printed. 

Be sure to also include contact information for your references should the nanny recruiter or family wish to speak with them. 

Nanny Log Samples

Nanny journals gives the family great insight on how you keep a schedule, communicate, stay organised, and demonstrates your attention to detail. 

These logs can be your daily schedules,  cleaning routines, notes, kids' progress and learning reports, sample menus for meal prep, grocery lists, and play time crafts. 

mini Nanny Agency has you covered with FREE nanny log book and meal prep printable worksheets. Enjoy!

Activities

Do a bit of research and put together a list of activities and ways to entertain the children around the family's local area. It's a wonderful addition to your professional nanny portfolio that will be sure to make your stand out. 

You can even check out mini's affiliate page for some ideas.  Make your list of activities age appropriate. This is as simple as organising the activities according to the age group. Be aware that different ages and stages of child development requires different types of activities. 

mini Nanny Agency has partnered up with amazing organisations such as Ginger Sports and Chess Mates! Get to know local kid friendly communities for the family to keep yourself and the kids engaged and entertained. 

Photos

Bring your experiences to life! Photos oftentimes have more to say than words so including photos will personalise and make your portfolio stand out from amongst the other nanny candidates.

Always get permission from the families first before including them in your professional nanny portfolio. 

Once you have all the juicy pieces to put together in your portfolio, it's just a matter of displaying the information in a neat and organised manner. Having a messy portfolio will do you no favours! 

Remember to create copies of documents that families and nanny recruiters might want to keep for their references as well as your contact information.

Be sure to read up on our article "How To Nail A Nanny Interview" here before going in to meet with the family and recruiter. The mini team wishes you all the best, and don't hesitate to contact us for any questions. 

mini's Hot Tips to Finding Your Perfect Nanny Match

If the thought of leaving your young children at home to return to the work routine has you feeling anxious, it's worth while looking into hiring an extra set of hands to help you care for your children! 

Don't fret--the girls at mini have you covered! We understand how nerve-racking it can be to trust a complete stranger you've met off of the internet with your treasures whilst you're at work for most of the day. mini Nanny Agency's mission is to offer you the best childcare solution for your family and give you that peace of mind.

We provide invaluable advice from over 10 years of recruitment and HR experience, ongoing support for your nanny concerns, and can proudly say we have the largest database and reach of talented nannies Brisbane, Gold Coast, and Byron Bay have to offer. 

If you're thinking about embarking on the nanny hiring process, we can't be more excited for you and your family! Nannies offer your children stability as a form of childcare because your nannies will work out of the comfort of your household. Most nannies are willing to help with light household chores, run errands, do the before and after-school drop-offs, pick-ups, and meal prep adding extra hours to your day. 

With a nanny, your children will receive more attention and have activities catered to their interests and skill levels. Most importantly, your family will have a pillar of support and hopefully gain a life-long friend. Invest in these tips if you're thinking about hiring a nanny on your own and don't hesitate to contact the mini team for any questions. 

Do your research

If you're going to advertise yourself, it's imperative that you do your research! Only post on trusted websites; ensuring that you are targeting nanny candidates who are in your ideal audience and demographic. Yes, it can be a time consuming and costly exercise, but take the time to read company testimonials and ask around on web forums to see if the website is right for you. 

When you hire a nanny, you take on the responsibility of an employer. It might be helpful to look into your tax responsibilities, average salaries, insurances, and other obligations. We have just the article for your to get you started! 

Read our employment agreement guide for a nanny employer  here

Be prepared and ask screening questions before you invite nannies for an interview.

It's exciting when you have responses to your ads and begin to contact your nanny applicants. Have a template in place with screening questions ready for your call. Here's some helpful questions to ask your nannies. 

On the first contact, briefly, discuss the nanny's motivations and work experience before inviting them into your home. If you felt that the conversation was flowing and you liked their answers, what are you waiting for? Invite that nanny for an interview!

The interview plays an instrumental part of the nanny hiring process. You want to make sure you and your nanny begin your relationship with clear, professional communication. Outline your expectations, any concerns, and determine what your values and interests are. These will be the foundations for finding your perfect nanny. 

Make the nanny interview a family decision

We advise your spend a minimum of 45 minutes at an interview with your nanny candidates. This is a lengthy process, but it's an important one. Have a notebook and jot down 5 questions highlighting your values and concerns for the role. 

Most nannies are typically available to meet in the evenings or weekends which might be an ideal time for your family to meet your nanny. Always make the nanny candidates feel safe and comfortable in your home and invite your children to observe the interview. 

The interview will be a clear indicator of whether the nanny match will work or not with your family. If you feel very positive throughout the interview, you can provide the nanny with important contact numbers and describe the "day in the life" in the household with a tour. 

Always follow through with reference checks

Trust your gut. Anyone can forge written reference checks. Don't be afraid to look into the person you are trusting to look after your children. Ask for contact numbers or email address of your nanny candidates' references. If they can't get in contact with their references, suggest for your candidates to reach out to them on social media-- the beauty of technology makes it easier to reconnect with people, so there should rarely be an issue in providing references from previous employers due to lost contact. 

Breathe and smile! When you've found yourself a gorgeous gem who meets your criteria and you have verified all the qualifications to care for your little treasures, you'll feel a large weight lifted off your shoulders. Adding a nanny to your household will be one of the greatest gifts you can give your family. Your nanny will be your children's extra cheerleaders and support systems. 

You can always rely on mini for any questions, concerns, or guidance for nanny recruitment. If you need a professional to recruit your nanny, look no further! Our passion is to find families their perfect nanny match. We have a streamlined process to ensure we save you the most time with honest and genuine service. 

mini Guide: to Hiring a Nanny & 12 Questions You Need to Ask in an Interview

The team at mini Nanny Agency are the nanny recruitment experts. Our job is to take the legwork out of job postings, preliminary interviews, reference and certification checks to save our clients time and extra resources. We present our clients with a short list of only the ideal candidates to best match your family's nanny needs and values. 

We've put together some points to consider when hiring a nanny for your household as well as 12 key interview questions you might want to ask to get a better idea of how this nanny will fit into your family's routines.

The hours of work

When will your nanny be required to work? Do you need an extra set of hands to help the kids prepare for school in the morning? Do you need them for after-school pickups, entertainment, and dinner until you get home for the evening? Or will they be staying with your young bub for a full-time role? 

Bear in mind, the more hours you can provide a nanny, the easier it will be to find someone who can commit more of their time for your children. 

If you are looking to fill in a part-time position say, twice a week for three hours, your candidates might be looking for more options to fill in work hours or will most likely be a uni student. 

Nanny Duties

Clarify the nanny duties ahead of time so your nanny better understands the offered role and your expectations. What do you consider “light house cleaning” Does this mean general tidying after the children or full on cleaning? Nannies don’t generally like to be full house cleaners but are happy to clean up after the children. Please let the mini team know in advance what you're after so we can find you a nanny to suit your household needs. 

This includes any pet duties: feeding, walking the dogs, changing the turtle cages. Some nannies are happy to do all, just let us know in advance for a heads up for any pet allergies a candidate might have. 

Special requirements: 

Do your children have any special requirements? Would you prefer a nanny who has experience in similar situations or are you willing to educate your nanny about any additional care requirements for your children? 

Interviews

The mini team will set up your interviews to meet with your potential nannies to best convenience your schedule, and we will provide support throughout the process. After all, hiring a nanny is a very important decision for your family and should be treated with the utmost professionalism. 

In the childcare industry, behavioural type questions are a common interviewing style. Behavioural type questions ask your candidates about their past actions and behaviours in specific situations to give you an idea on how they will succeed in future roles.

Read our mini Guide here on behavioural interviewing for nannies. 

12 Questions You Need To Ask

When we send you your shortlist of nannies and prepare for the nanny-family interview, we will provide you the copies of their reference checks, as well as our honest first impressions of the candidates and their overall nanny story. Here are some question to get a better idea of your nanny and clarify some expectations on your first meet and greet. 

1. What are you looking for in an employer? /What are you expecting from me as your potential employer? 

2.Why do you enjoy nannying?

3. Can you recall a specific time you had trouble communicating with a child or parent and what did you do to overcome the situation?

4. Are you willing to travel with us for family vacations? 

5. Can you tell me about the most difficult child/ parent you've worked with and how you handled the situation?

6. Have you ever had to handle an emergency? How did you react?

7. Can you give me some examples of unexpected issues that have come up in your previous jobs and how you and your former employer worked around it?

8. Are you willing to do overnight stays with the children? 

9. What additional responsibilities are you willing to take on as a nanny? (Family PA, house cleaning, tutoring, pet care etc...)

10. What is your child caring and discipline philosophy? 

11. What is your outlook on nutrition for children?

12. Are you willing to sign a confidentiality clause? 

Once you've found your perfect nanny, we will guide you through setting up an employment contract. Here's a quick read on our blog on Nanny-Employer agreements to give you an idea of what is expected from you as a nanny employer from how to pay your nanny, superannuation, insurances,  social media policies, and more.

We're offering peace of mind throughout the hiring process at mini Nanny Agency. So please let us know if you have any questions, comments, or concerns throughout any stage of the employment process. We're happy to help. 

mini Guide: How To Nail A Nanny Interview

Congratulations! Your crisp resume with stellar experience, impeccably written cover letter, and admirable references have gotten you to the interview stage of the hiring process. 

We don’t need to tell you that first impressions are everything when it comes to the job hunt. As a nanny, it’s even more important to present your very best as nannies care for the most important people in the parents’ lives in the intimacy of the family’s own home. Parents aren’t just going to let anyone into their private life, so coming across nurturing, trustworthy, and dependable is essential to nailing your nanny interview. 

Behavioural type questions are the most common interviewing style in the childcare industry. Behavioural interviewing is based on the philosophy that your past actions and behaviours will be a good indicator of your future actions. Therefore, how you handled certain circumstances in your previous roles will be used as an indicator of how you might perform in your new job. 

What are behavioural type questions? 

 Behavioural questions differ from standard interview questions as they focus more on emotional intelligence and social management from specific past experiences. For the interviewer, it will reveal whether you have the appropriate skills to fulfil the role successfully. 

How to answer behavioural type questions:

The best method to answering behavioural type questions is with the STAR method.

Situation: The interviewer wants you to present a recent challenge. 

Task: What did you have to achieve in this situation. 

Action: How did you behave in that difficult situation. The interviewer will be looking for information on what you did, why you did it, and what the alternatives were for your actions. 

Results: What were the outcomes of your actions? What did you achieve through your actions and did you meet your objectives? What did you learn from this experience and have you used this learning since? Are these results going to help with your role with the family as a nanny?

Pre-Interview Exercise using STAR method: 

Write down between 5- 10 examples of your education, professional experience, community work, volunteering, etc. where you added value to the team in a positive way. 

Now using the STAR format write out the Situation, Task, Action, and Result

Here’s a list of some behavioural style questions that you might want to read over and think about ways you can answer them:

•What have you done in the past to prevent a situation from becoming too stressful for you to handle?

• Describe a situation that required you to do a number of tasks at the same time. How did you prioritise? 

•Tell me about a situation in which you have had to adjust to changes over which you had no control. How did you handle it?

•What obstacles or difficulties have you ever faced in communicating your ideas or concerns to parents/children?

•When was the last time you thought “outside the box” and how did you do it? Why?

•Give me an example of a time when you had to be quick in coming to a decision. What made it difficult for you?

•What, in your opinion, are the key ingredients in maintaining a work-personal life balance?

It’s important that you’re prepared to answer these types of questions with concrete answers and confidence. Your interviewer will be looking to see that you are quick with an intelligent answer and are capable of coming up with a relevant solution to their problems. 

Body language

Body language is a form of nonverbal communication that oftentimes tell your interviewer more than your words can communicate. Your energy comes off from how you carry yourself, so make sure your energy exudes radiance, positivity, and confidence. 

There are subtleties you can practice that are known to psychologically help you genuinely bring out that beautiful positive energy from your body language. 

Posture: 

If you're sitting like this, you're doing it wrong!

Keep your core contained and engaged, your ribcage turned inward, and your shoulders rolled back gently. Carrying your body with good posture in an interview lets your interviewer know that you are interested, alert, put-together, and confident. 

Here’s a Huffington Post article on posture tips and tricks to work great posture into your everyday life. 

Eye Contact: 

Eyes can convey so much expression.

There are moments your close friends and loved ones can tell what’s on your mind by just a look. Locking eyes is a genuine form of communication as our eyes have so much to say. Eye contact with your interviewer demonstrates you are engaged with what they have to communicate. 

Mirroring: 

Mirroring is a non-verbal form of flatter.

The key here is in the subtleties-- you don’t want to come off looking crazy. Mirroring is a nonverbal form of flattery. It communicates that you and the interviewer are on the same page. It can make first impressions more comfortable for both of you. Mirroring posture, seating position, and facial expressions, and tone of voice are subtle forms of practice. 

Body Spacing: 

Don't be afraid to own up to some space. It will make you look more inviting and self-assured 

As a general context, this has a lot to do with how much space your body is physically occupying. Taking up as much space as possible with arms wide and relaxed on a backrest of a sofa, legs stretched out and sprawling is an obnoxious way of carrying yourself as it portrays arrogance and laziness. 

Taking as little space as possible: bad posture and crossed arms and legs will give off the impression that you are nervous, defensive, or have something to hide.

Try to be more conscious of how much space your body takes in your next social interactions and take note of others. 

Follow up quickly

Keep it professional. These families are busy. Which is the reason they are looking to hire a nanny in the first place. Send them a handwritten thank you or at the very least, an e-mail expressing appreciation for their time to meet with you and send it promptly after the meeting. 

Good luck on your interviews, nannies! Let us know if you have any nanny interview questions or tips that we can share in the nanny community. 

mini Guide: Nanny Employment Agreement

We believe hiring a nanny should have a similar process, (if not more important) to hiring any other employee for your business. We recommend you take a professional approach for your nanny search.

Upon finding the perfect nanny for your family, as with any hiring situation, an employment agreement should be established. This is a formal letter that will be signed by both parties in agreement to the clear expectations for role from the employer and the employee.

Let us help you iron out the key points that should be included in an nanny employment agreement.

How much do we pay our nanny?

In Australia on average, nannies earn $25/ hour + superannuation. This rate, of course, can fluctuate depending on how much experience your nanny has, their qualifications, and how many children they will be caring for. The casual rate currently is set at $22.86/ hour and the permanent rate currently stands at
$18.29 /hour. Nannies are award free and don't incur any penalities, although they are covered by the  National Employment Standard.

One of the  benefits of hiring a nanny over a babysitter or daycare is that nannies make their schedules more available to your family and are more willing to accommodate for extra hours. Sometimes life can get extra busy for your family. If you require your nanny to work outside of the set schedule or longer hours, include an agreed upon overtime rate or appropriate renumeration.

Car allowance

Will your nanny need to pick your kids up from school? Or drive your kids to their extra-curricular activities? Consider how much petrol your nanny will be using for the role and how you will reimburse for fuel / kilometers. The current kilometer rate stands at 0.66 cents. If it makes it easier, will your nanny have access to a family car and will you need to get additional insurance?

Superannuation

Superannuation, if you pay an employee $450 or more (before tax) in a calendar month, you have to pay super - 9.5% on top of their wages. You pay super no matter whether the employee is full time, part time or casual. You have to pay super for some contractors, even if they quote an Australian business number (ABN).

Superannuation is calculated at 9.5% of your nanny’s gross wage and is to be paid out quarterly. 

Income Tax

As the employer, you are required to register for a Pay As You Go Withholding (PAYGW) with the Australian Taxation Office (ATO). Once registered with the ATO, you will be required to withhold the necessary tax from you Nanny’s wage and forward the withholding amounts to the ATO on a quarterly basis.

Applications for PAYGW.

Insurances

•Domestic Workers Compensation or household workers insurance, is essential if you employ someone in your home environment; it can be obtained at an estimated cost of $40 per year from most insurance companies and covers you in the unfortunate case of the employee injuring themselves whilst in your home. Contact WorkCover QLD.

•Public Liability Insurance cover accidents in your home. You should check your Homes and Contents insurance policy to ensure your Nanny is covered. Alternatively you may arrange public liability insurance with an insurer such as NannySure.

•Motor Vehicle Insurance if your Nanny is going to be using your car.

•Nanny Insurance all nannies should have their own public liability/insurance. Nannysure – is a company that we recommend.

Behavioural Expectations

The Early Childhood Code of Ethics is a set of statements about appropriate and expected behaviour of childcare professionals. Your nanny will be spending a lot of time with your children and the code of ethics reiterates that acting ethical involves thinking about everyday actions and decision making and responding with respect to all concerned.

Behavioural expectations can also include policies on social media and matters of family privacy.

Other points to be considered in an employment agreement:

•Days and hours worked (including start and finishing time)

•When and how your nanny will be paid

•Specific duties and any additional duties (will housekeeping be a part of the role?)

•Annual recreation leave, sick leave, special leave, pay on public holidays etc

•Conditions of salary review

•Conditions of termination

According to the Queensland Government, as the employer, it is your responsibility to ensure that your nanny has a valid Blue Card for childcare or you will need to support your nanny’s application for one.

The mini team handles the preliminary screening process that comes with running the advertisement campaign in search of your nanny. The screening includes reference checks and qualifications (Blue Card, CPR certifications, Driver’s license, police checks) before we introduce you to your short list of nanny candidates.

We are also available to help you along the employing direct process should you have any questions concerning your nanny and your role as an employer.

Let us know if you had any comments or concerns regarding creating an employment agreement, and we will be happy to help you out.

Tips to Get Your Family Back into Routines

By: Katrina Lubiano

Summer holidays are coming to an end and kids are back in school. Here's some advice to help families get back on track.

Getting back into a routine from the holidays isn’t always the easiest, especially when you’re trying to get kids into their back-to-school mode as well w. Here are some helpful tips from the web for helping kids, parents, and nannies into early morning, hustle and grind routines-- hopefully without driving the household crazy.

Getting Up Early

Properly winding down is a key start to an early morning. This will help you and your kids destress from the day with some quiet time. Consistency is important in any routine. Getting your body ready for rest at least 30 minutes before bed will help you feel energised the next morning.

• Drink water before bedtime to stay hydrated for the night,  but make sure the kids use the toilet before bed.

• Create spaces with purpose. Keep your bedroom clear of work related things. This will help you get in the mental head space needed for a good night’s rest.

Inspire your kids to fall in love with reading

• Read a book in bed to your kids. This is great quality time and a sweet way to get some quality time in.

• When you’re ready to wind down from your kids, read a book that inspires you to be your best.

• Take a bath. It’s an overlooked, but really beneficial way to destress. Use epsom salts for sore muscles, or add lavender, german camomile, rose, or jasmine essential oils to the water for some aromatherapy.

Take in that sunshine to get you feeling more alert for the day! 

• Get sun as soon as possible. Let natural sunlight be apart of your morning routine. Open the curtains/blinds or better yet, eat your breakfast outside. Sunlight shuts of your melatonin production, making you more alert and primes your body to produce it again later that night.

Create Better Health Habits

We don’t need to tell you the extensive benefits of exercise and nutrition. Make it a family goal to create healthier habits than the year before, and make the goals fun and attainable.

Get kids involved in creating healthier health habits! 

• Ease into it. There’s no need to jump straight into fad diets, or begin an intense fitness regimen from the get go. Keep track of your family water intake, opt for fresh Queensland mangoes or in-season lychee after dinner instead of a processed sugary dessert.

Or a plate of colourful berries for dessert-- Nature's candy. 

• Don’t eat before bedtime. Eating before bedtime causes blood sugar spikes. This can keep you away because your body is focusing on digestion which makes it harder for you to enter deep sleep.

• Begin your morning with exercise. At home yoga, or a jog will help you feel energised and confident to take on the day.

Kids can practice yoga and meditation too! 

• Take the dog out for a walk as a family. A walk after a meal will aid in circulation, thus helping with blood sugar spikes in digestion and is a great way to begin winding down for the day.

Visual Planners

Writing down to-do and goals for the week is beneficial for keeping the family on track and is an excellent motivator to cross tasks off the list. Display the family planner in the kitchen. This will help the household prepare for upcoming events, appointments, and tasks that need attending to.

• Daily chores. Everyone in the household should pitch in on chores. Creating a visual chore board for kids will give them a sense of responsibility and pride in a well run household.

• Communication. Open and clear communication will help everyone achieve their goals getting back into a good routine. This way, everyone will know where everyone is supposed to be and when. This will save time and reduce stressful situations for those busy weeks.

• Download our free printable meal planners, and nanny-parent communication logs here to help your family stay on top of your routines.

Have a Nanny Help You Prepare for the Holiday

By: Katrina Lubiano

It’s that time of year again, the days are longer, the sun is even hotter and the children rejoice as it’s finally the last stretch of this school year, and Christmas is only around the corner. The kids may be done with school work for the year, but for many households, the holidays might be the busiest season. Don’t fret, mini Majer is here to help you find solutions to your family's schedule.

We can help you arrange childcare within only 48 hours so you can go to your company’s Christmas party. Or let us match your family with a nanny to help you get ready to entertain for the holidays.

Get your home into the Christmas spirit!

If you love to entertain during the holidays, here are some crafts to deck your halls get your kids engaged and into the festive spirit.

• Try these modern wreaths from Honestly WTF with your children. The best part about this project is that they are intended to be simple, yet this is what gives the wreaths their elegant, natural feel. Most of these examples simply involve collecting flowers, and foliage from your local florist or check out the selection at your local Cafe 63.

  • Just remember to keep it simple and have fun! These decorations look good in nearly any combination.

up-cycle your wine bottles for the holidays instead of buying decorations this season

• Get your recyclables out and create one of these 12 Amazing Wine Bottle Christmas Crafts. This is a good way to put those empty wine bottle to use.

• Who doesn't love a good mason jar project? These 12 DIY Christmas Mason Jar Lighting Craft Ideas are stunning. If you can't find pinecones don't worry! You can always buy them from a craft shop like this, or substitute the contents with orange peels, cinnamon sticks and cloves. The jars are both fun and easy for children and not to mention adds a beautiful, Christmas scent to your home or office, and even makes a great gift. 

Love this shade of Green! 

• We love these cute Christmas kisses as a fun way to keep your kids occupied and add some Christmas flavor to your home, but we wouldn't be surprised if those kisses disappear from the decor over the next few days!

etting your home ready for entertaining this holiday season shouldn't be stressful. Try keeping your kids entertained and excited during the holidays with these simple yet beautiful craft ideas.

Be sure to tag @mininannyagency on Instagram so we can see your beautiful creations! 

December not only means getting your home ready and into the Christmas spirit, it also means planning for all of those Christmas events and parties too! Don’t get caught without a nanny when you need to go to a corporate party, or attend a dinner with your friends and colleagues. Plan ahead this holiday season and keep mini Nanny Agency in mind when you need a nanny.

mini Nanny Agency is offering discount codes to subscribers for the whole month of December. Don’t wait until last minute before planing your Christmas get-togethers and company Christmas parties. Finding a nanny is easy with mini Nanny Agency Sign up with your email below!

Mini Goes to The Australian Nanny Association Convention

By: Michelle Moloney & Katrina Lubiano

The Australian Nanny Association (ANA) is a nonprofit professional association and the national peak body representing the Australian nanny community. The ANA has created an amazing support network for the nanny community and provides peace of mind for families, nannies, and nanny agencies in creating professional standards in the field of childcare.

The team at mini were very fortunate to have been invited by the ANA to attend their sold-out networking event, Growing Together down at the Gold Coast. What an exciting and busy day it was networking with other professionals in the field of childcare! Growing Together showcased the important elements in the nanny industry; namely, how isolated the industry is, yet such a rewarding industry to be a part of! The event came to life on the beautiful Gold Coast with the most inspiring guest speakers, innovative workshops, and some singing and dancing.

Needless to say, we had an overall ball at this event! Growing Together made us feel like we walked away with invaluable knowledge about the nanny sector and well informed about new regulated laws coming into effect in Australia. Thank goodness we have Ann Marie, the President of the ANA, for supporting what we do and for bringing the most engaged community of nannies together to support each other.

💕💥Agency owner gal pals! @thenannycollective #ANAConv16 #thenannycollective #minimajer #girlboss #sydney #brisbane

A photo posted by mini Majer (@minimajer) on Nov 4, 2016 at 3:52pm PDT

Michelle, our Director of mini had the privilege to have met the lovely, and gorgeous Daria, from The Nanny Collective-- talk about girl boss! Daria exudes authenticity and motivation. The Nanny Collective is a boutique referral nanny agency based out of Sydney, and we can’t speak highly enough of their team and how they conduct business. 

The future is only bright and exciting for our nannies and the girls at mini Nanny Agency. Take it from us and our personal experiences, the ANA committee are extremely supportive and are an encyclopedia of nanny industry knowledge, tips, and advice.

What Can a Nanny Do For Your Family?

By: Michelle Moloney & Katrina Lubiano

Choosing the right child care for your child is an important decision. For most families, becoming a stay-at-home parent is not an option. If you're living in a city, finding a day care center that is not over crowded can be a challenge, and of course, we all want what is best for our children. Nannies give your child that one-on-one attention and support in the comfort of your own home. The convenience of having child-care provided for your family at your home solves the pick-up and drop-off situation, especially if you live in the city and have to deal with rush-hour traffic. 

Less Germ Exposure

Your child won't be exposed to as many germs at home compared to a day care center. This means significantly less sick days for everyone, allowing you to focus more on your day job and quality time with your children. Some children find it difficult to settle into unfamiliar environments. Hiring a Nanny to care for your children in your home will ensure your child is settled in their familiar and safe environment and stay on track with a regular home routine.

More Help Around The House

Nannies also go the extra mile in helping out around the house with light household duties- now, isn't that a bonus!? It will be such a great feeling to know that your home will be tidy, and your children will be well taken care of when you come home from a long day of hard work.

Create A Sense Of Harmony In The Household

It's a nanny's duties to support your family. This means ensuring the minute you get home, everyone is feeling settled with the sense of peace and harmony. Let's face it, who wouldn't want that every day? Arriving home never sounded so exciting! Nannies not only love, but enjoy making families feel at ease the moment they step into their household.

A photo posted by mini majer (@minimajer) on Sep 3, 2016 at 2:25pm PDT

Extracurricular Activity Support

Most nannies will have access to their own vehicle and are available for work purposes. This may include picking up the kids to and from school, or their extracurricular activities. However, it is usual for the family to provide a suitable car seat and may prefer the nanny to use the family car. This is something that can be discussed at interview. It's also advisable to discuss a petrol allowance – some nannies will want to be reimbursed but not all!

More Flexibility

The beauty of hiring a nanny is that they offer the flexibility when required because they understand that work can be busy and that sometimes, you need to put in those extra hours at work to meet that deadline. When you feel like there aren't enough hours in the day, your nanny will be there to lend a helping hand with as much notice as possible!

The most important benefit of hiring a nanny for your child is the fun! 

That’s a given! Nannies love to have fun with children and ensure they are provided with access to their activities of interests, going to the library, parks and museums. Hiring a Nanny allows your children to be outdoors more often, rather than kept indoors and who wouldn’t want that? We all would love to play more outdoors. Not only is it a great way to learn about nature but it's FUN!!

So, how long does it take to find a Nanny?

Finding the right nanny for your family can be a challenge, however, working with an agency can eliminate the stress and hassle that goes along with interviewing, background checking, and creating ads online. 

Mini Nanny Agency is a reputable brand and has an excellent pool of network channels to source nannies quickly. We understand that each family situation is different, and it's all about timing. At Mini, we're all about efficiency, responsiveness, and personalization! We recommend you call Mini Nanny Agency with your vacancy as soon as you can to allow us plenty of time to interview.

What is the cost of hiring a nanny?

Care for Kids recommends, "When comparing costs it is also important to think about peripheral expenses such as the price of traveling to and from the child care service in terms of petrol, public transport, and/or convenience. These factors can have a considerable effect on the total price you end up paying for your child care." Care for Kids also created a chart on their site depicting the average costs of different types of childcare in Australia. 

We can give you guidance on pricing, but we generally recommend somewhere between $24-28 per hour depending on the nanny's level of experience and the number of children being cared for. This is something you discuss with the nanny directly as to hourly rate, superannuation, method of payment etc. mini Nanny Agency can provide you with extra informational support along the way. 

If you have any other questions about the hiring process of our nannies and the services we provide, please don't hesitate to give us a call or an e-mail!

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The Importance of a Balanced Diet for Your Children

By: Katrina Lubiano

The human brain undergoes significant growth and development up until 21 years of age. In the early years of development, it is crucial to ensure that your child is taking in enough vitamins, minerals, and protein in their diet. Good nutrition is essential in helping our bodies perform optimally. Establishing healthy habits at a young age, and incorporating a wide variety of different foods in your child's diet will help make a happier and healthier child. 

Getting in all of the essential nutrients your child needs is easier said than done, especially if your family is prone to a busy lifestyle. Planning your meals ahead of time, and ensuring parents, nannies, and children are on the same page, will simplify your lives.

Meal prepping snacks and meals will save you time in the week, and you'll be less likely to opt for fast-food meals. Subscribe to mini blog to receive our fortnightly newsletter, and we’ll send you our printable pdf Weekly Family Meal Planner. 

Growing Children Need Protein

Proteins are amino acid chains, the building blocks of life. The human body is basically a chain reaction of amino acids. Not having enough protein in a child's diet can affect growth and development. Great protein sources includes:

• Meat products
• Egg
• Dairy
• Legumes like peanuts and soy
• Algae
• Avocado

Vitamin C Supports Immune Function

Vitamin C supports the immune system and is needed to form collagen. Collagen is a protein that is used to hold your cells together, making it essential for the development of your child’s strong and healthy bones, cartilage, and blood vessels. Vitamin C also aids in iron absorption in the gut. It’s common knowledge that citrus fruits are excellent sources of vitamin C. Non citrus sources of vitamin C includes:

• Strawberries
• Papaya
• Bell peppers
• Broccoli
• Brussel sprouts

Keeping easily accessible fruit around the house for after-school snacks may help your child reach for these healthier options when a sugar craving strikes. Mandarin oranges are easy to pack into backpacks and lunch boxes making them an ideal, kid-friendly, vitamin C snack. 

The B Vitamins Drive Growth In Children

There are 13 B vitamins needed in your body. B vitamins help the body convert the food we eat into energy. This is essential for a child’s active lifestyle. Vitamin B12 and B6 are well known to aid in healthy brain development. 

Vitamin B deficiencies are common, yet not easily diagnosed. It can affect a variety of organ systems and produce a range of symptoms including forgetfulness, moodiness, nausea, vomiting, and skin irritation.

Dr. Schwontkowski from The Recommended Daily says, “most nutritionists could tell you that the mass of worldwide studies that looks at children’s nutritional status often find some type of nutrient deficiency; B vitamin deficiencies are usually at the top of the list.” 

B vitamins are crucial for the development of mental health and help regulates mental functions. B vitamins occur naturally in animal products such as:

•  Fish
• Poultry
• Beef
• Eggs
• Dairy
• Algae

If your child is on a vegetarian diet, you can find vitamin B from these sources: fortified vitamin B cereals, nutritional yeast, whole grains, almonds, spirulina, and avocados. 

Multivitamins Are A Great Option For The MIcronutrients

One Green Planet is a great online resource to help you find what foods contain high amounts of specific B vitamins. A good multivitamin will help supplement your child’s diet. This is especially helpful if your child is a picky eater. Kid’s multivitamins even come in gummy form, which can make practicing a healthier lifestyle fun for your children. Healthy does not always need to "taste healthy”. 

Zinc Build Blood

Zinc is an essential co-factor in a lot of your body’s enzymatic processes, some of the most notable, being the immune system and blood-cell production. Pumpkin and flax seeds are great sources of zinc. For meat sources, beef and shrimp are excellent. 

You can sprinkle seeds into cereal, oatmeal, salads, baked goods and even smoothies for added zinc to your child's diet.

It’s important to maintain healthy gut flora with probiotic sources such as fermented foods like: 

• Yogurt
• Kefir
• Kombucha
• Fermented applesauce
• Natto (fermented soy beans)

Homemade Mommy has a great article on kid-friendly probiotic rich foods. While probiotic supplements seem like an easy fix, the truth is that most of the supplements available on the shelf are simply not as effectiveand can be quite expensive. 

Making frozen yogurt with your kids is an easy activity and makes a delicious dessert! For a great summer treat, you can mix in their favourite fruits and maybe sprinkle in some chia seeds.

A photo posted by mini majer (@minimajer) on Jun 28, 2016 at 2:52pm PDT

You can modify this recipe by dipping your bananas in yogurt, and freezing them. 

Expose your Children To A Wide Range Of Foods

Exposing your children to a range of different foods as young as possible might prevent your child from becoming a picky eater. Think about it like this, Australians grow up on Vegemite. It’s a pretty strange-tasting spread if you're not used to it. Vegemite has a salty, yeasty taste, with a slightly off-putting colour. If you haven’t grown up on the stuff, your first experience of it might not be so pleasant. This same concept of training your palette at a young age applies when introducing children to healthier food options. 

Make Your Own Babyfood!

Instead of purchasing pre-packaged, jarred baby food off the shelf, (who knows how long they’ve been on the shelf for) mash up the food you regularly incorporate into your healthy diet like eggs, avocados or fruit. You can mash it up yourself with a fork, or use a food processor. Not only are you more aware of what is in the food that your kid is eating, you are teaching them love healthy food! 

Be Patient With Your Children

When it comes to introducing new foods to your kids, be patient. Children are usually apprehensive when it comes to new smells, sights, textures on their plates. They might not like it the first time, but if you reintroduce foods to them and let them try it again, and again, in different forms, it encourages a more adventurous palette. It’s also a good idea to serve new foods with their favourite meals and start small. They might be more prone to giving the new food a try if you make it a positive experience.

Stay tuned for upcoming recipes on the mini blog, and don’t forget to subscribe to our fortnightly mailing list for exclusive goodies. 

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How to Introduce Your Pets to Your Baby

By: Katrina Lubiano

I think most pet owners (myself included) consider their cats and dogs their fur-babies. You fall into this category if your pets are spoiled with attention and can often be seen spammed throughout your social media feed (of which I am also guilty). Increasing your family size with two little feet will undoubtedly be a stressful transition. Making sure your pet is ready for the baby will help with this transition go much smoother.

For happier pets and less stressed out parents, it’s best to begin integrating new routines and training for your pet gradually and as early as possible.

It's going to be challenging for your pets to understand that they'll no longer be the centre of your world. To avoid jealous pets, you can begin making changes around the household during pregnancy. Early preparation will help reduce the anxiety animals can experience when drastic changes happen. Consider how your routine will change when the baby arrives and moderately begin to alter your pet's routine.

1. Setup Your babies Digs As Soon As Possible

Baby gear will introduce new sights and smells to your pet; set up the baby’s digs as soon as possible so your family can adapt to the new space.  Remember, dogs and cats are much more sensitive to scents and the energy surrounding them-- keep it a positive one! When you have fashioned the baby's new space, you can begin to establish boundaries by keeping the baby's belongings and room off-limits.

2. Ensure Your Pets Understand basic Obedience

Teaching your pet some basic obedience skills seems like the obvious, but it’s crucial to ensure your pet has the control and behavioural skills to be around the baby. Being confident that your pet will not bring any harm to your baby, will reduce your anxiety for when your baby comes home. Your pet needs to know that it is not okay for them to jump into the crib, or chew on the baby’s new things.  

3. Consider Crate Training your Dog

The ASPCA suggests that you crate train your dog: “If you crate train your dog, you’ll know that she’s safe when you can’t supervise her, and she’ll have a cozy place of her own to relax when things get hectic.” Command your dog with the word “crate” or “bed” (hand signals may be helpful) and show your dog to their crate. Once in the crate, reward your dog with a treat and praise them. When beginning the training, leave your dog in the crate for 10-15 minutes, and as training progress, and they begin to feel comfortable with their space, you can leave them alone for longer periods.

3. Prep Your Pet For Your Babies Touch

It’s also recommended that you prepare your pet for the baby’s touch and movements. When your child is old enough, teach them to handle the household pet gently. In the meantime, you can help your furry friend anticipate the clumsy touch of a young child by introducing your pet to these sensations yourself. Infants will pinch, poke, pull, and push your furry friend-- it’s an inevitability. Teaching your pet to tolerate these new sensations with a reward, will help your pet tolerate it when your pet and infant begin to play together.

You can also invite your friends’ infants over to introduce your pets to children. It also would be great if your little helpers are experienced around animals, so they’ll know how to be gentle. It's all about imprinting the positive experiences for your pet, and rewarding good behaviour and immediately rooting out the bad.

4. Tire-Out Your pup Before The First Encounter

Upon the first encounter between dog and baby, if possible, ask a friend or family member to take your dog out for a long walk to exercise off some energy and have the baby in the house for when your dog returns home. Animals are very perceptive to the emotions and energy of their owners so be mindful of your body language and feelings. If you’re jumpy around your dog in anticipation of your dog harming your baby, your dog may feel your anxiety. The ASPCA suggests, “[You] choose a quiet room, and sit down with the baby in your arms. Have a helper leash your dog and bring her into the room. Again, avoid any nervous or agitated behaviour. Talk to your dog in a calm, happy voice as you invite her to approach. Convince her that meeting and interacting with her new friend is fun, not stressful.”

5. "Claim Your Babies Scent"

Caesar Milan encourages parents to “claim” their baby's scent. The practice maintains your alpha status to the dog and establishes boundaries. Milan recommends you do this before you introduce your baby to meet your pet. The idea is that you are giving your dog permission to sniff an item with the baby’s scent to demonstrate that its importance to you: “this [scent] belongs to me, you will need to follow my rules when around it." This helps start the process of creating respect for the baby.”

6. Give Your Pets Enough Attention

The new baby will take up a lot of your attention, but try your best to not cut out on the quality time with your fur babies. You may be tempted to catch up on the cuddles with your pets while your baby is asleep or away, but try to avoid exclusively giving your pet attention during these times. Your pets may begin to recognize the pattern of their cuddle sessions with you and that of the baby’s presence and develop jealousy. Give your pet a lot of attention while the baby is around by talking to your pet or tossing them a toy. You can keep rewarding your pet’s good behaviour as well as positively affecting your pet’s experience with the baby. Interacting with your pet around the baby will help teach your pet to love the new baby.

7. Don't Leave Them Alone

I think this next piece of advice is common sense, but please don't leave your babies alone with your pet! Life will no doubt, be chaotic upon the arrival of your baby, but remember to give to give your fur-babies some love too!

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If you need an extra pair of hands or a sitter for a well-deserved date night keep mini Nanny Agency in mind for your all your nanny needs.

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