Meet Nanny Manda

This spunky nanny has an Instagram video of herself dancing to the noise of power tools.
It’s apparent upon meeting Manda that she’s the kind of person who finds music and movement in everything she does. 

We caught up with Nanny Manda and her pup, Meeku. Manda moved to Brisbane from Adelaide earlier this year, and we had the pleasure of matching her with a down-to-earth family with two minis. 

We talk about how she got into nannying, the importance of communication with parents, and what it’s like to be a children’s entertainer. 

How did you get into nannying?

I’ve always looked after children ever since I was old enough to do so. I helped bring up my younger brothers and taught dance—nannying seemed like the obvious thing for me.

How did you come across Mini Nanny Agency and Michelle?

I found Mini online. I was looking for a nanny agency because I’ve worked with one before—it was nothing like Mini! 

Mini’s website is inviting, and I could see Michelle’s values come from the photos and blog posts. 

Why do you love working with kids?

I’m a kid at heart. I also want to help bring kids up learning the right things so that the world has more decent human beings.

Can you describe a favourite nanny moment? 

Only one? I loved being there for the kids’ “firsts.” I’ve been around to watch kids take their first steps and when they’ve said their first words. It’s so exciting! 

What are some challenges you've experience nannying?

Being at the same level as the parents when it comes to discipline can be a challenge. I’ll always work with the parents when it comes to discipline, but sometimes the communication can get lost. It’s important to maintain your boundaries.

I don’t want to come across as too bossy or harsh with the kids, but I also to be taken seriously. 

Ask lots of questions and set boundaries up from the start with what you’re comfortable with. 

Generally, I only want to work with families with the same values. I think Michelle did a great job finding the right family for me in that sense.

What’s something a parent has done to make you feel really appreciated? 

The little gestures like being invited to birthday parties mean so much and the thoughtful gifts for Christmas and birthdays. It shows they have really been listening and makes me feel like part of the family. 

Dancing to the powertools and loving it! ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- #clockworkmanda #feelthemusic #powertools #dancingtosounds #dancemagicmanda #brisbanedancer #brisbanesounds #adelaidetobrisbane #adelaidedancer #brisbanehiphopgirls #brisbanecontemporaryladies #brisbanehiphopdancer #brisbanecommercialdancer #freestyledance #dancevideo #danceroutine #egypt #newfarm

A post shared by ClockworkManda. (@_clockworkmanda_) on Apr 18, 2018 at 9:41pm PDT

What you do outside of nannying? Your Instagram says you’re a choreographer, dancer, children-entertainer?

I love to hike Mount Coot Tha with my husband and Meeku in my spare time. 

I haven’t done much children-entertainment lately, but I did clowning and suit-work for ABC kids. My claim to fame was Lulu from Bananas In Pyjamas for meet & greets in the city.

Unfortunately, a lot of these shows are now computer generated, so this costume work is not as popular anymore because the character won’t look like the show in person.

I also love to perform dance if I had the time to. Right now, my main focus is committing my time to the family I’m currently working with. 

I will sometimes take on relief work for dance instructors if an instructor is sick or away and they need someone to fill in. 

What’s your favourite activity to do with kids?

We do lots of playgroups. South Bank does “Little Days Out” on Thursday mornings. It’s different every week. They’ll have tents and set up play stuff and activities. The kids love it, and it’s a nice way to spend the day. 

What advice would you give someone who is looking to become a nanny?

Communication is so important with the parents, to communicate as much as you can. 

For kids, treat them like equals. Don’t be patronising or talk down to them. They like to think they’re “little adults” and they appreciate it when you listen to them. 

Anything upcoming you want people to know about?

I’d like to do performances, but I don’t have anything coming up. I’m still discovering what I can do in Brisbane. 

I’m doing a clothing endorsement with a clothing company out of the UK, so I’ll be looking to do photo shoots and videos for social media. 

Manda and Meeku

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If you want to keep up with Manda and Meeku's adventures you can follow her Instagram @_clockworkmanda_
 

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Recent Blog Posts:

How To Teach Your Minis House Chores and Enjoy It!

The word “chore” tends to have a negative connotation. I can think of a million other things that are more fun than washing the dishes, folding laundry, or cleaning out the fridge—but it has to get done.

Teaching the value of chores to your kids can be a positive experience. It will require lots of patience, encouragement, and open communication. Household chores are about giving your kids the opportunity to participate in something greater than themselves which will foster a sense of life purpose.

Having your children participate in chores also teaches them responsibilities, basic household skills, and the value of hard work that they will take with them into adulthood.

Start as early as possible

Children are capable of doing a lot more than we realise. We need to give them the opportunity to show us.

You can teach basic chores to your child as young as 2 years old. Have your toddler put away their toys, toss rubbish in the bin, and fetch their own diapers and wipes.

Have patience

Your child’s “assistance” might take twice as long to complete than you doing it yourself, but resist the urge to shoo your toddler away when they volunteer to help you with chores.

Accept your child’s enthusiasm. If they’re younger, their work probably won’t be the best or the most efficient way to complete the job, but at least they’re eager to help you!

Demonstrate gratitude

This ties into teaching your children gratitude which extends above good manners. It’s a matter of perspective. Demonstrating gratitude to your children for their thoughtfulness and efforts is the best way to instil gratitude into their daily lives.

Practising gratitude teaches that the toys, food, and comforts in the home don’t manifest out of thin air. Everything takes effort and work— when children realise that, they’re less likely to have that sense of spoiled entitlement and can begin to develop a healthy understanding of how interdependent we are.

Create a routine

If you want these lessons to stick with your kids, make a routine out of it. Take the nagging out of chores and make some chores a non-negotiable action.

For example: Get your children to automatically used to picking up after themselves once they’re done playing; have everyone in the family assemble to the dinner table and clear it away after meals, or emptying the trash bin if they’re the last to fill it up.

You can also schedule a family cooking night on Sundays where the kids help prepare the meal, teach your kids to maintain the garden, or take the dog on the evening walk together after homework.

Give more responsibility and autonomy

Chipping into household chores teaches your children how to work, be accountable, and earn a sense of pride for their efforts.

The more accustomed they’ve become to doing simple chores, the better they’ll be at learning new complex tasks. Like taking on extra jobs to earn spending money, teaching family budgeting, and cooking meals.

Avoid nagging

Practice makes better! Sometimes we can’t help but nag when frustration builds, but learning to use our words effectively will have a better effect on your children’s willingness to participate in chores.

Clearly communicate your expectations to your children ahead of time. You can also opt for one-word reminders instead of lengthy nags to prompt your kids to complete a task.

Set a good example

Motivation and emotion play a huge factor in getting your children to participate in chores. Children have a natural drive to be productive and are drawn to ask with clearly set goals.

If you show your children how to do your chores around the house in a timely manner without complaints, they are likely to model these behaviours after you. Let them know what tasks you’re working on and why it’s important to the family.

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Having your children participate in chores also teaches them responsibilities, basic household skills, and the value of hard work that they will take with them into adulthood.

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Conclusion

Manual tasks and learning to go hand in hand. Cooking, cleaning, laundry, equip your children with the skills they’ll need to function as an independent adult. These are skills that aren’t taught in school but are taught in the real world and in your home.

Download our Free Family Planner and place it on your fridge to help establish a family routine with chores. 

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Recent Blog Posts:

Super-mum Nina of F45

Meet Super-mum Nina of F45 Stafford, Newstead, and West End

Nina own three F45 studios in Brisbane: West-End, Stafford, and Newstead. She’s an entrepreneur, fitness trainer, and proud mum to Alastair and Harriet. We caught up with this busy super-mum to talk about finding her work-life-family balance, maintaining a fitness regime as a mum, and her entrepreneurial journey. 

What started your entrepreneurial journey? How did you end up owning 3 wildly successful F45 studios?

My partner and I were working in jobs we weren’t passionate about. We weren’t happy with what we were doing with our careers, so we decided we needed to take a risk and do something that we loved. 

When we first started we never envisioned owning three studios! We weren’t sure what F45 was all about, but after visiting a studio in Sydney and training in the first F45 studio in QLD (F45 Mooloolaba) for 2 weeks we thought we’d give it a go. It was a major risk and we even worked out how long we’d have to pay the loan off if it didn’t work out for us. It was a huge decision, but it was so worth it!  

Drew had to keep working for the first 6 months to support our family and I was doing 80-hours a week on my own to get the business up and running. I was teaching every single session of the day, but it was amazing! We made it work—After 6-months, Drew got to leave his job and come on board full-time.

As avid gym-goers, we saw that typical gym environments lacked a sense of community. F45 is all about service and helping people achieve their goals and building a meaningful relationship while at the same time pushing our members beyond their personal limits.

A year and a half after we bought Newstead, we bought Stafford. And a year and a half after that, West End (the first studio in Brisbane) went up for sale. 

We had a meeting with one of our trainers, Kat who has been with us originally as a member at Newstead, then a trainer at Newstead and Stafford. We thought she would be perfect to be a business partner for West End and now she’s part-owner. This journey has been incredible. 

What would be your advice for aspiring entrepreneurs?

Know what your goals are and stay true to them because there will be bumps in the road, but if you stay true to your standards and values, you’ll get there in the right way.

Our values are ‘The relentless pursuit of results’. When we relentlessly pursue results for our community, our team, for our business and our family, we know we’re pursuing things important to us especially during the times where it can be challenging.  

What do you think is essential for maintaining that work-life-family balance? 

Communication is key between myself and my Fiance Drew.  Both of us have fitness goals and work responsibilities so it’s important that we communicate openly so that neither of us misses out on the things that are important to us. 

We are super supportive of each other and that makes achieving a work-life balance possible (most times). Something’s always got to give; If you put too much into work, your family will suffer. If you put everything into your family, your work will suffer.

I’m still figuring this out. For me, scheduling and prioritising is key, otherwise, I end up chasing my tail and always being late. 

Training advice for mums that are pregnant who want to keep active?

If you are already training, there’s no need to stop. Being pregnant is not an illness— your body can handle it if you’ve been training prior to pregnancy.

At every trimester there are some things that you will need to ease up on so make sure you get advice from a trainer that has experience with pregnancy and training as every pregnancy is different.

I would offer different modifications to make mum and baby feel safe, but also to ensure that you respect what is happening with your body during as your progress with your pregnancy. A lot of it is about having awareness of what feels right for your body and ensuring you have someone experienced to guide your training.

As a trainer and mum yourself, with a 6-week old. Can you tell us about coming back to the gym after childbirth?

The Golden Rule for returning to training after childbirth is 6-weeks postpartum for a natural delivery or 8-weeks if you’ve had a C-section. We always request a clearance from your doctor after a C-section as it’s a big surgery and we want to make sure your body is ready.  

I felt comfortable enough to get into weights again after 3-weeks and at 6 weeks postpartum I am still taking it very easy.  I am mainly focussing on upper body, pelvic floor and maintaining a body weight program for lower body. 

I am still not ready to add in exercises like lunges as my pelvis and joints are still very loose and this causes me discomfort so keeping both legs on the ground for stability at all times!  I am slowly building my core strength again with advice from my chiropractor and haven’t started cardio yet.

It’s all about listening to your body and being comfortable with your capabilities. Do what’s right for you and be willing to take advice from professionals.

I know many mums can relate to putting too much pressure on themselves. I need to realise when I’m putting too much pressure to look a certain way or be a certain way. I need to stay true to my work and look after my body And respect where I am at physically.

Can you share some advice for new mums that you've found helpful? 

Don’t be so hard on yourselves. It can be daunting being a new mum. You read all the books, and they’re all conflicting and confusing. You feel like you’re not doing anything right, but this is your baby and your baby is different to the baby in the book.  Just do you and don’t be so hard on yourself. 

Build a community of support. Surround yourself with other mothers. At my Stafford studio, we run a 9:30 am class which is mainly filled with beautiful supportive mummas.  

We have someone looking after their babies and children while they’re working on their fitness and focusing on themselves for 45 minutes. The mums go for coffee afterwards, and it’s a great sense of community and support. 

What has been your favourite moment as a mum so far? 

The first time we went on a holiday with our son, Alastair when he was 3 years old. It was the first time we’ve spent more than 3 days with him. Prior to that, it was all work and building the business.

It was 7 days of being at the beach and hanging out as a family, and we thought “Shit! This kid is crazy!” 

We had so much fun with him and have focused heavily on a lot more family time since that holiday. It’s my favourite and memorable family moment, and now that we have Harriet, we’ll create more. 

You’ve started a new membership program at F45 made especially for new mums. Can you tell us a bit more about that? 

It’s the active mum’s membership that’s currently only at Stafford. It’s designed for new mums 6-weeks postpartum with clearance from their doctor. It can be hard to find the balance of what your body is capable of after 6 weeks, and generally, mums stop training part way through their pregnancy, so you don’t want to get back into training so quickly. 

We designed this membership with 2 sessions with us at F45 Stafford and 2 yoga sessions with Jamie at Living Well Hub—located up the road from us.

Jamie will help rebuild strength in your core and pelvic floor and we will work on building strength everywhere else! It’s a great way to bring mums together and provide an environment where they can feel comfortable. 

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Nina is all about entrepreneurship, fitness, motherhood, and community building! 

If you're interested in the Stafford F45 Active mums membership or would like to connect with Nina click on the button below! 

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Recent Blog Posts:

Home Adaptations and Preparations for Disabled Parents

Much of parenthood involves learning as you go, and that holds true for parents from all walks of life, including those who have a disability. At the same time, welcoming a little one into your life is a huge change, and it requires making some changes around your home, too. Taking the time to prepare now will help you feel ready and make it easier to adapt to the role of parenthood when the time comes.

Preparing Your Home

It’s completely normal to have some jitters about parenthood, especially when you wonder how you will care for a baby with a disability. The good news is that with options for adaptive equipment and online resources at your fingertips, there are ways to overcome just about any parenting challenge. Start by making some simple home modifications that will keep little ones safe and help with childcare skills.

1. Wheelchair accessibility

Your goal with home preparation is to anticipate the daily babycare tasks and find ways to do those effectively. Those primary needs are accessing the baby’s crib, changing diapers and holding and feeding them. Many parents choose to buy an adaptive crib that is accessible in a wheelchair, while others may choose an alternative option for the early days, such as a Moses basket or bassinet. In some cases, you may forgo special baby equipment altogether, like the mom at AbleThrive who recommends using a desk as a changing table.

2. Vision

If you have vision impairment, labelling children’s food with textured tape or Braille labels will make meal preparation easier. Other simple modifications can make everyday care easier such as installing grab bars in tubs and showers will assist in bathing your children.

3. Safety

Other changes around your home may be necessary to ensure your safety, as well as your child’s. Removing any tripping hazards is important in the early days when you will carry your child often, as well as later on once they are toddling. Using non-slip rugs and mats is another way to reduce falling hazards. Preventing falls is one of the top safety concerns with small children, so be sure to childproof your entire home carefully. If you have sight limitations, ask a friend to help with this checklist.

Prepare For the First Few Weeks

In the first few weeks with a newborn, focusing on their needs and trying to get enough sleep while also caring for yourself can feel overwhelming. Plan ahead by stocking your pantry and freezer so you have quick and easy meal options, as well as all household necessities. Gather up anything you need for postpartum care as well. And don’t hesitate to line up help! It still takes a village to raise a child, and all new parents find that enlisting the support of friends and family makes those first few weeks much easier.

Lean on Resources and Connections

Along the same lines, don’t forget that the Internet can be your friend when it comes to finding guidance. Even if you don’t know any other parents who have a disability personally, they are out there. Blind Motherhood is an excellent blog with all kinds of tips and tricks for parenting little ones. If you or your partner use a wheelchair, you can find inspiration from this family featured on She Knows.

While the Internet provides an amazing source for learning from others, don’t let that be the only place where you turn for support. Ask around in local parenting groups to find other parents who have disabilities. Of course, connecting with other parents doesn’t have to be limited to parents with disabilities. Invest in a good baby carrier or find an adaptive stroller so you can get out to parks and play dates. Simply getting out of the house and socializing is important for adapting to parenthood.

Making these connections and preparing your home now will help ease the transition to parenthood. Those early days are exhausting but wonderful, and preparing now will allow you to focus on bonding with your baby. Disability may make your experience of parenthood different in some ways, but that doesn’t have to mean limitations.

Guest post by: 
Ashley Taylor
http://disabledparents.org/

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Brisbane, Gold Coast, Byron Bay, & Sydneys Premium Nanny Agency. 

Recent Blog Posts:

Meet Nanny Sam

Meet Nanny Sam

How did you fall into nannying? 

I’ve had 6 children. They’re 24-35 years old now, so I guess you can say I’ve had a lot to do with kids; Caring for children comes naturally for me. 

When we moved to Sydney for my husband’s work, I applied for a nanny/housekeeper position and worked with the family for 8 years! I became part of the family, and it’s a real privilege to experience that and be there for the good and the bad. 

I started working with a family with twins in Brisbane 18 months ago and really enjoyed coming back and being a nanny for a family that reached out to Mini Nanny Agency online. I’m working with beautiful families here. 

How do you feel inspired to be the best nanny? What keeps you inspired? 

Every child and every family is different, so no two days are the same. I love the fun days I get with kids and the challenges that keep me on my toes. 

For me, it’s knowing that I get to support parents and be there for the kids and have fun with them and watch them grow up that makes nannying really rewarding and the job so inspiring. 

What’s been your favourite moment as a nanny?

I love moments when we can let our imaginations run wild! 

I love the moments when the kids are just showing so much love. Just recently, I had a bit of a cold and I received a voice message from the boys that said, “Hi Sam. I hope you’re okay. We love you!” It just shows that they are thinking about me and it’s really nice. 

Your greatest challenge as a nanny? 

I think you have to put your own ideas aside on disciplining most of the time and support the parents with the way they discipline the children so that we are on the same page, and that can be very challenging. 

Saying "no" and working through temper tantrums are not pleasant, but you have to hang in there because the child will be okay.

What’s the best thing a parent has done to make you feel appreciated? 

This is with the family that Michelle had placed me with earlier this year--they are just gorgeous! In the second week, the family bought me a massive bouquet of flowers. The mum said, “thank you for being part of the family and for everything you do.”

I had only been with them for a short time, but it was such a beautiful gesture. It was really special. 

When you’re not on nanny duties, what makes you happy?

Sam and her beautiful grandson

Spending time with my kids. I love spending time with my family and reading. I also volunteer and do a lot of work with my parish. I enjoy decorating the church for holidays like Easter and Christmas. 

Favourite activities with kids? 

Dress up as superheroes and listen to stories at the library with the minis!

We love going to the parks and libraries. 

Making parachutes out of tissues and Lego men is always a hit with the kids! Every household with a kid will have a Lego man--they make really good parachute guys.

Lego parachute men are always a hit in the household! 

You take the tissue or napkin and tie string to the four corners and attach it to the little Lego man and we go to the top and the stairs and send them down. The kids love this. 

I also love playing the made-up games with the kids. Their imaginations are amazing and it’s all about going with the flow.

What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received? 

Just be honest and be yourself. You can’t go wrong with that, especially working with families.

What is your advice for aspiring nannies? 

If you enjoy working with kids, just go for it. It’s such a rewarding thing to do to support families and watch children grow. 

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Recent Blog Posts:

The Difference Between a Nanny and a House Cleaner (there is a big difference!!)

A nanny and a house cleaner have two very different jobs. Sure, a nanny takes on some tidying tasks around the house, but they are always centred around the children’s activities.

It’s their role to provide a safe, nurturing and stimulating environment for the children in their care.

We believe this is a topic not spoken of enough, or people are generally unaware of. It’s time we set some records straight for nannies, babysitters, house cleaners, and families out there.

Nanny & Housecleaner Costs/Wages

An average house cleaner wage in Australia earns on average $25/ hour, and a nanny earns $25/ hour (depending on the nanny’s experience and skill set of course). We understand that raising a child is costly, but hiring one person to do both the role of a house cleaner AND a childcare professional for the cost of one person’s wage is simply unreasonable.

Some nannies are keen to do both roles, but when you’re finding the candidate to fill the position, make sure it’s clear from the start that you are looking for both a house cleaner and nanny. We can’t stress enough how important it is to establish an employment agreement contract with the people who work in your household. This clearly communicates the job description and so much more essential information.

What should go into an employment agreement contract? 

What are a nanny’s responsibilities?

• Create a safe and stimulating environment for children
• Run errands
• Light housework (general tidying, dishes, taking out the trash, etc…)
• Reinforce appropriate discipline for the children
• Help with homework
• Tidy children’s bedrooms and play areas
• Plan and supervise nap and bedtimes
• School and activity drop-offs and pickups
• Take the children out for outdoor activities and schedule children’s activities
• Wash and clean up after the children’s meals
• Prepare meals and snacks for children
• Dress the children appropriate to the child’s activities
• Bathe babies, change nappies, and prepare bottles, and feed

Although cleaning is not on this list, the reality is nannies clean a lot--all day, in fact. We all know kids and babies are messy. Nannies clean up the crumbs and spills after each meal, load and unload the dishwasher, tidy and organise the kids play rooms, disinfect toys, do the children’s laundry, wipe down the kitchen counters, and clean up after activities.

Manageing Expectations

You wouldn’t ask your house cleaner to pick up your child from school or expect them to cook dinner for your minis, so it’s not appropriate to ask your nanny to clean the bathroom or do the whole family’s laundry.  

Most nannies are happy to do household chores like the dishes, tidying up after the children’s things, and light washing. If you’re asking your nanny to go above these duties, you will need to pay them for more for their time and workload, as nannies typically don’t look for positions to clean up after the whole family.

Your Nanny is a Part of the Team

Messes that happen before a nanny is on duty, should be the parents’ responsibility. Please do not leave a mess behind for the nanny to pick up when they come on the clock. A great nanny will go above and beyond for their families because they are eager to help the family, but there is a point where the nanny begins to feel taken advantage of especially when families begin to take the nanny’s extra efforts as expectation. A little appreciation goes a long way, and teamwork is key to a happy household.

Are you a nanny who is doing more chores than you are comfortable? Please, speak up. Most the time, parents don’t understand it is not typical for nannies to pick up after the parents too, so have a meeting to voice your concerns. Are you willing to take on more household chores if the family compensates you with a raise? Or do you want your duties to remain childcare oriented?

If your nanny is happy to do so, you can schedule one day a week when you need your nanny to do some extra tidying up on top of their childcare duties and pay them a higher rate for that day.

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Parents, are you thinking this might break the bank? Consider what is more important to your household at this time: a house cleaner or a nanny?

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Brisbane, Gold Coast, Byron Bay, & Sydney Premier Nanny Agency

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Recent Blog Posts:

6 Mindfulness Practices To Teach Your Minis

I’m sure you’ve heard the buzzword, ‘mindfulness’ being thrown around lately and for good reason. A mindfulness practice has proven to increase mental health and cognitive function, increased emotional regulation and self-control, and a decrease of stress and psychological distress in adults.

What exactly does it mean to be mindful?

Mindfulness is the state of being fully awake to life and being aware and focused on the present rather than thinking about the past or worrying about the future, which often is our brain’s default mode. It's the human ability to be fully present in the moment and to be aware of ourselves and the space we occupy without being overly reactive to thoughts, emotions, or other stimuli.

In children specifically, mindfulness has shown to mitigate the effects of bullying, enhance focus in children with ADHD, and improve mental health and social skills. Teaching children how to practice mindfulness will set your children up with a strong foundation for emotional mitigation, empathy, and focusing techniques they will need later in life.

The best thing parents and nannies can do to help children establish a mindfulness practice is by committing to a practice yourself, and role modelling your behaviour. Headspace is our favourite guided meditation app for a hectic schedule. All you need is a comfortable space and 5-10 minutes for your meditation with this app. You can also find community events for meditation classes and workshops in your area.

Try not to complicate mindfulness activities with your children. Establishing a mindfulness routine takes significant time and practice, and is especially beneficial to you and your minis if you practice together. You can use these exercises before doing homework, settling down for bedtime, or getting over a fear or uncomfortable moments.

Mindful Hearing

Annaka Harris is a children’s book author and a volunteer mindfulness teacher for the Inner Kids Organisation. She has a guided mindful hearing meditation activity on her website that encourages children to guess the sources of a wide range of sounds to improve concentration. With practice, children can implement mindful hearing in their daily lives to connect them to the present.

Mindful Play

This is an activity the whole family can partake in. Dedicate a block of time for mindful play with your children by tuning out all distractions and making it a tech-free zone. If you find your mind wandering, simply bring it back to the present sensations of being with your child.

Mindful Cooking

Cooking is a whole sensory experience and a great way to spend quality time together for some mindful play. You can help your mini notice colours, smells, textures, and sounds in the kitchen.

Mindful Breathing

Deep and slow breathing stimulates the nerve that connects the brainstem to the heart, lungs, and organs in the abdomen, the vagus nerve (part of the parasympathetic nervous system). In addition to slowing the heart rate, the vagus nerve controls the release of various neurotransmitters.

Left Brain Buddha shares a video of her son teaching different styles of mindfulness breathing. It helps your children visualise their breath and gives them something to focus their attention on. This is a skill they can take anywhere to relax both the body and mind in times of stress, pain, or concentration.

Mindful Stroll

Take your mindfulness practice outdoors with and engage your “spidey-senses.” You can both point out observations you’ve never noticed before in the neighbourhood and then commit another portion of your walk to complete silence simply noticing the sights, sounds, and smells from your walk.

Mindfulness Journals

This is where you can let your child’s creativity run free with their mindfulness practice. You can both commit to a mindfulness journal where you write or draw the things you’ve noticed on your mindful stroll.

The journal can also be a gratitude space where you write or draw something you are grateful for that day. Practising gratitude enhances empathy and reduces aggression. According to a study published in Applied Psychology: Health and Well-Being, people who practice gratitude journaling have better sleep.

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Keep your family organised with our free family planner. 

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Brisbane, Gold Coast, Byron Bay, & Sydneys Premium Nanny Agency

Recent Blog Posts:

Protect Yourself With Nanny Insurance: How to get covered and why it’s important

Child care regulations for nannies and babysitters are not always clear because every household situation is unique, and every family has different requirements to support their child’s routines.

No one likes to entertain thoughts of worst-case scenarios, let alone have them become a reality. In a split-second, lives can change, and when it does you want to have the piece of mind that you are protected from shelling out significant expenses. We’re here to point you in the direction of getting the right information regarding your nanny and employer insurance.

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For Nannies

Should I take out nanny insurance coverage?

If you are a self-employed nanny with an ABN number, nanny insurance is a must but not a legal requirement. As a childcare professional, you understand that nannies wear many hats. Your job encompasses everything from chef, chauffeur, educator, cheerleader, confidant, and entertainer.

Even if you’re a natural Mary Poppins, the fact remains that accidents can occur even when you and the family are cautious of any potential danger. When the child is under your watch, as the paid childcare professional, you could be held responsible if something were to go awry. Insurance is key to protecting yourself and your livelihood should an accident occur.

What kind of insurance should I have as a nanny?

Public Liability Insurance

Public liability insurance typically covers your legal costs and expenses in the event you are found negligent for personal injury or property damage to another party. Most insurance plans offer millions of dollars in coverage for Public Insurance at an affordable premium.

For example:
Administering the wrong doses of medication that leads to injury
Damaging property while cleaning or starting a cooking fire

Personal Accident Insurance

This insurance is popular among those who work in accident-prone environments, but as a nanny running errands for the family, working the before school and after school drop-offs and pick-ups, and extracurricular activities, this coverage is something you should carefully consider.

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Personal Injury Insurance gives you peace of mind should anything happen to you while at work. You and your family won't have to worry about the medical or living expenses in the event of an accident.

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Where do I go to find a nanny insurance plan?

Our go-to nanny insurance provider is nannysure by finura. You can find their insurance coverages and their premium pricing guide for child care professionals here. Nannysure has packages that cover both Public and Personal insurance, and if you are a member of the Australian Nanny Association, you are eligible to receive up to 30% off the insurance plans.

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For Families

If I hire a nanny do I need employer insurance?

If you employ a household worker, it is required by law that you take out a Household Workers’ Insurance Policy to protect against potential compensation costs in the scenario your employee is injured while working in your home. The employees include nannies, babysitters, cleaners, gardeners, tradespeople, and other in-home care providers.

Among many the things that should be fleshed out in the early stages of interviewing and negotiating the employer agreement, insurance should definitely be a top priority. When you decide on employing a nanny, you must meet the obligations of employment.

Read our guide to navigating nanny employment obligations here.

Household Workers Insurance policies are governed by the state. So to learn more about employing a household worker please visit these websites:

WorkSafe Queensland
WorkCover New South Wales

If you have any other questions or concerns about nanny insurance or employment insurance, please don’t hesitate to contact the team. We’re happy to answer or refer you to the right people.

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Meet Nanny Kate: Nannying is the best job for her work-life balance

Kate Waud is a nurturing soul and mother of three kids: 12, 14, and 16. As her kids are getting older and gaining more independence, Kate reached out to mini Nanny Agency for part-time work that allowed for a work-family life balance and provided an outlet for expressing her creativity.

How did you fall into nannying?

My life is very family-oriented so, nannying is the perfect part-time job for my lifestyle. I homeschool my kids, and I love the flexibility this job offers.

I  appreciate the time Michelle took to figure out who I am. I think she does a great job matching nannies to families because the connection is such an important aspect of the job.

How do you feel inspired to be the best nanny or caregiver?

I love kids. It’s the little moments of connection I have with the kids that inspire me and remind me why I do what I do. The other day, the kids and I were playing school. I was the student and the kids were the teachers. It was so much fun to play pretend with them and watch their imaginations take over.

Having older kids, I understand the importance of play at a young age. When you’re parenting and are in the midst of it all, you don’t think the craziness ever stops, but when it did, I really missed it.

Kate  with her sleeping nephew and son. 

What has been your favourite moment as a nanny?

I’ve only been working with the family for a couple of months, which is not a long time in a kid’s life, but when you have moments of pure love you know you’re doing something right. I love the moments filled with cuddles and kisses.

What has been your greatest challenge as a nanny?

You have to learn the routines and personalities of the family members fast. When you come into someone's life, you need to figure these things out to make that transition as smooth as possible.

I also needed to remind myself that my experiences with my kids are not the same with the kids I'm caring for now, and it's always a learning experience.

What’s the best thing a parent has done to make you feel appreciated?

This is my first nannying job. The first week I worked with this family, the parents bought me a bottle of wine as a "cheers, you made it through the first week!" It was very thoughtful. 

When the parents notice my efforts around the house and the play time with the kids, it makes my job feel very fulfilling. 

When you’re not on nanny duties, what makes you happy?

I’m all about family and spending quality time with hubby. We love being outside and staying fit. We rock climb and I’m currently learning how to surf!

Kate and her beautiful family at the beach

What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?

If you don’t appreciate the little moments, you’re not going to like what you do. I don’t love sweeping someone’s floor, but I love knowing that I’m making someone’s life easier; and that's incredibly rewarding.

You have to love what you do, so you can easily put the boring chores into the context of the big picture.

Finally, What’s your hot 101 nanny tip/ advice to other aspiring nannies?

If you’re not willing to get on the floor and be a tiger, you’re going to have a hard time! I’m joking, but I think it’s all about making the effort to find points of connections with the family, especially the kids.

I first met the family right before Christmas, and I gifted the kids strawberry plants. I love gardening, and it’s something I wanted to share with them, and they love it! Gardening was our first point of connection and they still have the plants today. 

The Single Dad's Guide To Navigating the Challenges of Parenting

Written by: Daniel Sherwin

Parenting is one of the most amazing experiences in life, and yet it’s also incredibly challenging. As a single dad, those challenges are multiplied, but the rewards often are too. The trick is to find balance in everything from work to childcare and having a life of your own. That’s certainly easier said than done, but it is possible when you face these challenges head-on.

Challenge: Work/Life Balance

When you’re parenting solo, you may feel like the weight of the world is on your shoulders. You have to work and provide for your kids, be there when your kids need you, and then still find time for yourself. The key to making it all work is flexibility. With telecommuting easier than ever, more employers are offering options where you can work from home. If working from home isn’t an option, ask employers if they can be flexible with your hours so you can work around your children’s schedules.

Flexibility also means being willing to ask for and accept help. Team up with other parents, especially other single parents, to help each other out. Chances are they can use the help just as much as you can. Create a carpool for school/activity drop-offs and pick-ups or swap childcare on a regular basis so parents can have scheduled times for childcare, freeing up a little time for themselves. Leaning on help from others and connecting with other single parents is beneficial to your mental health by keeping you from feeling isolated.

 

Challenge: You’re Stretched Too Thin
 

Work/life balance is about more than just making sure you support your family. It’s about making sure your own needs are met, too. The way we eat, drink, love, and cope with stress, depression, and anxiety all play a big role in the state our mental health. Sometimes, it’s necessary to take a step back and ask yourself if you’re doing the right thing for you, and not the easiest thing.

It’s clear that many single dads struggle to prioritize self-care. A 2016 study found that single dads were twice as likely to report poor physical and mental health compared to dads with partners.Sometimes doing something simple and easy to care for yourself is all you need for a mental health boost.

Physical fitness is the ultimate in self-care because you’re taking care of your body, lowering stress, and boosting your mood all at the same time. To squeeze in some fitness, look for a gym that provides childcare or get active together with your kids. The Good Men Project recommends setting goals for yourself. Whether for fitness, simple daily self-care, or larger life goals, setting goals and working toward them keeps you focused on improving your own life.

 

Challenge: Do-It-All Parenting
 

In two-parent families, each person often takes on different roles in parenting responsibilities. As a single parent, you have to do it all, including being sensitive to kids’ emotional needs while still maintaining discipline. While this may not always be the case, many men are not raised to be nurturing caregivers, so you may not know how to handle this role.

One single dad at the National Fatherhood Initiative recommends letting go of your expectations for parenthood. If the sensitive side of parenthood doesn’t come naturally to you, accept that and be willing to learn from your children as much as they do from you. The thing to keep in mind is that as you learn to be nurturing, sensitive, and strong all in one, you are showing your daughters and sons that men can do all of these things.

Being a balanced role model for your kids is just one example of how being a single dad can actually make you a better parent. It still isn’t easy, but going through these highs and lows together will make your relationship with your kids stronger, too. Just remember to care for yourself because you can’t be the parent you need to be if you’re running on empty.

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) 

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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.