As parents and nannies, it’s essential that we’re prepared to talk to our kids about tragedies like what happened today in Boston. It’s our job to reassure them, provide a safe space for them to share their feelings, ask questions, and get honest yet appropriate information. However there’s more that we can do. On days like today we have to talk to our kids about the fact that there are people in the world who purposefully hurt others. We shouldn’t have to but it’s a reality of the … [Read more...]

April is Autism Awareness month. Unfortunately there’s a huge need for more public awareness. Did you know: Autism now affects 1 in 88 children and 1 in 54 boys. Autism prevalence figures are growing. Autism is the fastest-growing serious developmental disability in the U.S. Autism costs a family $60,000 a year on average. Autism receives less than 5% of the research funding of many less prevalent childhood diseases. Boys are nearly five times more likely than girls to have … [Read more...]

I talk a lot about feelings. As a mediator, naming and acknowledging a client’s feelings around the conflict is often the first step towards resolution. My Connection Centered Discipline Nanny Certification class shows nannies how to teach kids a feeling vocabulary and offers lots of tips on how to validate a child’s feelings during challenging situations. Again, that’s often the first step towards resolving the issue. Turns out that the needs of kids and adults aren’t all that … [Read more...]