The recent events in Boston, Hurricane Sandy, as well as other horrific events in recent years can lead kids to ask many questions. It’s important to talk honestly with your children about tragic events like this to keep them aware and to inform them of some of the dangers out there. Below are several websites that you can visit to get great tips on having these discussions with your children: Mister Rogers talks about how to discuss scary news (video). Dr. Rosemarie Truglio, VP of Research and Education at Sesame Street Workshop, on how to answer children’s questions about scary news (video). PBS Strategies for talking to kids about the news. Be sure and give your children big hugs and kisses and remind them that the world is also full of love and kindness.
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Posted on May 1st, 2011 in category Ask Mary Poppins (aka MaryPat) |
Ask MaryPat Mary Pat doesn’t fly around with a black umbrella, but she does have over 20 years of experience as a Child Development Expert. These post will answer questions about child development concerns & managing your employer/employee relationship. Q. As my Nanny’s anniversary date nears, I want to give her an evaluation. How do I give her appropriate feedback and a fair compensation adjustment? A. Managing a household employee is a very personal business. Your Nanny is, after all, caring for the most precious part of your life: your children. Regular, open communication is essential to creating a healthy, long-lasting relationship between employer and employee. We recommend giving your employee feedback and praise on a frequent on-going basis. Conducting regular meetings with your employee creates a forum to discuss issues about the children, your family and job satisfaction. When you first hire someone, you may want to meet as often as once a week and then gradually extend it to once every month. At minimum, we recommend three to four informal meetings to “check-in” throughout the year, with a written evaluation on their anniversary date. Prior to the meeting, review their work agreement, previous performance evaluations, and fill out …
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Posted on April 1st, 2011 in category Ask Mary Poppins (aka MaryPat) |
Ask MaryPat Mary Pat doesn’t fly around with a black umbrella, but she does have over 20 years of experience as a Child Development Expert. These post will answer questions about child development concerns & managing your employer/employee relationship. Q. Help! My Nanny is habitually late. She is a terrific Nanny for my son, however, she is typically ten or more minutes late everyday. How do I resolve this issue? A. Managing a Nanny can be a delicate business. It can be challenging to maintain the balance between having her as a part of your family and being her employer. If you haven’t already done so, I would recommend setting up a regular time for a meeting to discuss the children, household, and employment issues. Many Nannies find it hard to speak up and will appreciate the opportunity to communicate openly with you. Having weekly meetings can help you manage situations pro-actively and develop a solid working relationship. Meetings should always start with the positive aspects of your employment relationship. This is a time for you to acknowledge your Nanny and thank her for specific contributions and work towards positive solutions to the challenges of family life. Rather than saying, …
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