holiday gifts Archives - AV Family Care Where Family Comes First Fri, 18 Apr 2025 13:56:29 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.8.5 /wp-content/uploads/2017/08/cropped-hearts-for-favicon-32x32.png holiday gifts Archives - AV Family Care 32 32 Honoring Martin Luther King Jr.: Teaching Kids About Equality and Social Justice /blog/honoring-martin-luther-king-jr-teaching-kids-about-equality-and-social-justice/ Tue, 14 Jan 2025 12:15:00 +0000 /?p=13175 Martin Luther King Jr. Day is a time to honor the legacy of a man who dedicated his life to fighting for equality and justice. It’s also an opportunity to educate children about the importance of these values and inspire them to contribute to a more inclusive society. Here’s how you can teach kids about…

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Martin Luther King Jr. Day is a time to honor the legacy of a man who dedicated his life to fighting for equality and justice. It’s also an opportunity to educate children about the importance of these values and inspire them to contribute to a more inclusive society. Here’s how you can teach kids about equality and social justice in meaningful and age-appropriate ways.

Understanding MLK’s Legacy

Begin by introducing children to Martin Luther King Jr.’s life and achievements. Explain his role in the Civil Rights Movement and his efforts to end racial segregation and promote equality. Use age-appropriate books, videos, and discussions to convey his message of peace and justice.

Engaging Activities

Incorporate engaging activities to make learning about MLK’s legacy interactive and memorable. Consider organizing a craft project where children create posters with messages of equality and kindness, or host a family discussion where everyone shares what they have learned and how they can apply these principles in their daily lives.

Reading Together

There are numerous children’s books that beautifully convey the themes of equality and social justice. Books like “Martin’s Big Words” by Doreen Rappaport and “I Am Martin Luther King Jr.” by Brad Meltzer provide valuable lessons through inspiring stories. Reading together not only educates children but also opens the door for meaningful conversations about these important topics.

Promoting Diversity and Inclusion

Use MLK Day as an opportunity to promote diversity and inclusion within your community. Participate in local events or volunteer as a family at organizations that support marginalized communities. Encouraging children to engage with diverse groups and learn about different cultures fosters empathy and a broader understanding of the world.

Modeling Respect and Kindness

Children learn by example, so it’s essential to model respect and kindness in your daily interactions. Treat others with fairness, stand up against discrimination, and practice inclusivity in your own actions. By demonstrating these values, you instill a sense of responsibility in your children to contribute positively to society.

Looking Ahead

Martin Luther King Jr.’s legacy is a powerful reminder of the ongoing struggle for equality and justice. By educating the next generation about his life and work, we can inspire them to continue his mission and create a more just and inclusive world.

The professionals at AV Family Care personally assist nannies, babysitters and families inSt. Louis, Atlanta, Chicago, Nashville, Memphis, Charlotte, Miami and Orlando to find the right childcare arrangement. Our mission is to provide a safe and personalized approach for families and caregivers to connect with each other that is not an internet search. AV has worked with families, nannies, sitters, newborn care providers, and tutors for over 35 years and looks forward to working with you! To find great nanny and babysitting jobs visit us attlc@tlcforkids.comor Call 314-725-5660.

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Embracing New Beginnings: Fresh Starts for Your Family in the New Year /blog/embracing-new-beginnings/ Tue, 07 Jan 2025 14:06:47 +0000 /?p=13171 The New Year is a time of reflection and renewal, offering a unique opportunity for families to set new goals and embrace fresh starts. As we turn the page to 2025, it’s important to focus on creating positive changes and meaningful traditions that strengthen family bonds and foster a sense of togetherness. Setting Meaningful Goals…

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The New Year is a time of reflection and renewal, offering a unique opportunity for families to set new goals and embrace fresh starts. As we turn the page to 2025, it’s important to focus on creating positive changes and meaningful traditions that strengthen family bonds and foster a sense of togetherness.

Setting Meaningful Goals

Begin by setting family goals that promote growth and happiness. These could range from health and wellness objectives, such as incorporating more outdoor activities, to educational aspirations like reading together every night. Involve everyone in the goal-setting process to ensure that each family member feels invested and motivated.

Creating New Traditions

New Year’s resolutions don’t have to be limited to individual goals. Establishing new family traditions can create lasting memories and bring everyone closer. Consider starting a monthly family game night, planning annual trips to explore new places, or even volunteering together in your community. These traditions provide a sense of continuity and shared experience that strengthens family connections.

Nurturing Positive Habits

January is the perfect time to introduce positive habits that can improve daily life. Encourage open communication, establish healthy routines, and prioritize quality time together. Simple practices, such as having dinner together without distractions, can make a significant difference in fostering a supportive and loving home environment.

Supporting Each Other

Change can be challenging, especially for children. Be patient and offer support as your family adjusts to new routines and goals. Celebrate small victories and provide encouragement during setbacks. Remember, the journey towards new beginnings is a collective effort that requires understanding and cooperation.

Looking Ahead

As you embark on this new year, keep in mind that the most important aspect of setting goals and creating new traditions is to enjoy the journey together. Embrace the opportunities that 2025 brings, and cherish the moments of growth and connection with your loved ones.

The professionals at AV Family Care personally assist nannies, babysitters and families inSt. Louis, Atlanta, Chicago, Nashville, Memphis, Charlotte, Miami and Orlando to find the right childcare arrangement. Our mission is to provide a safe and personalized approach for families and caregivers to connect with each other that is not an internet search. AV has worked with families, nannies, sitters, newborn care providers, and tutors for over 35 years and looks forward to working with you! To find great nanny and babysitting jobs visit us attlc@tlcforkids.comor Call 314-725-5660.

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Teach Your Children the Importance of Giving /blog/teach-your-children-the-importance-of-giving/ Tue, 26 Nov 2024 12:03:00 +0000 /?p=6089 Everyone says that it’s better to give than to receive. But, it can be easy to lose sight of this during the holiday season, especially for kids. So much of the Christmas season is focused on toys and presents, kids tend to catch a case of the “gimmies.” Are you having a hard time teaching…

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Everyone says that it’s better to give than to receive. But, it can be easy to lose sight of this during the holiday season, especially for kids. So much of the Christmas season is focused on toys and presents, kids tend to catch a case of the “gimmies.” Are you having a hard time teaching your kids about how important it is to give? If so, here are a few ways you can encourage them to be more giving, during the holidays and beyond.

Start with a Small Act

Many people have a hard time getting motivated to give because they feel like theircontribution won’t matter in the long run. Prove to your kids that every little bit counts when it comes to donating either time or resources. Look for someone in your community that your kids can help with something like yard work or other chores around the house.

Don’t forget to reward them for their good deeds and show them the ways that even a small act of kindness can be a big help to someone. That way, they’ll probably more willing (and excited) to help the next time.

Set a Good Example

Kids often want to follow in the footsteps of their parents. If you want your kids to pick up on how important it is to give, make sure that you practice a bit of giving yourself. Let them see you putting aside time to help others or donating to a charitable organization. Remember, it’s sometimes more difficult to get your kids to want to give when they’ve never seen you do so. All it takes is once, to set a good example.

Find Other Kids

It will be easier for your kids to connect with the idea of giving if they’re involved in a project with their peers. Look for opportunities like food banks or toy drives in your community. Check to see if they allow children to participate in their programs. If there aren’t any kid-friendly charitable organizations in your area, consider taking it upon yourself to organize a volunteer event. You also have the option of seeking out online charities or volunteer organizations that kids can relate to.

Make Them Feel Empowered

The greatest motivator for giving is the feeling that you can make a difference. If you want your children to feel good about giving, make them feel good about themselves. Let them know that the things they have to say are important and encourage them to incorporate their talents into giving back to others. If they feel empowered, they’ll feel like they definitely can and will make a difference.

If you practice the act of giving on a regular basis, you make a habit out of generosity and charity. This is especially true of kids, who are growing up and developing into the people they will be later in life. Talk to your children about how important it is to give today and they will almost certainly make you proud of their compassion in the future.

Contact us today so we can help you find the best nanny for your family.

The professionals at AV Family Care personally assist nannies, babysitters and families inSt. Louis, Atlanta, Chicago, Nashville, Memphis, Charlotte, Miami and Orlando to find the right childcare arrangement. Our mission is to provide a safe and personalized approach for families and caregivers to connect with each other that is not an internet search. AV has worked with families, nannies, sitters, newborn care providers, and tutors for over 35 years and looks forward to working with you! To find great nanny and babysitting jobs visit us attlc@tlcforkids.comor Call 314-725-5660.

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Teach Kids Important Values Through Activities: 6 Traits That Build Character /blog/teach-kids-important-values-through-activities-6-traits-that-build-character/ Tue, 25 Jan 2022 12:48:17 +0000 /?p=9913 As a nanny, you have the opportunity to make a positive impact on the children you care for. You can act as an inspiration, example and a mentor for the kids, so they can learn important virtues. There are six main pillars of character– trustworthiness, respect, responsibility, fairness, caring and citizenship. You can engage in…

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As a nanny, you have the opportunity to make a positive impact on the children you care for. You can act as an inspiration, example and a mentor for the kids, so they can learn important virtues. There are six main pillars of character– trustworthiness, respect, responsibility, fairness, caring and citizenship. You can engage in different activities with the kids that will teach and test them in these areas.

Provide anecdotes for each virtue-related activity, so the story can serve as an example and help to further understand why these are important values. Here are some of the ways you can instill the six pillars of character:

Trustworthiness

Trust is a vital foundation for every relationship. Explain that the child will receive more freedom and will be considered more mature in relation with their level of trustworthiness.

For older kids who receive homework, provide them with an initial independent studying time. Explain that this time can be used for organization of assignments and be clear that you expect a certain volume of homework finished by the time you check in with them. Leave the room and return at the agreed time and check whether or not they’ve completed their work. If they’ve engaged in other activities and distracted themselves, explain they must now be monitored for assurance that the homework is properly completed.

If you work with smaller children, play a board game with them and then leave the room. If the pieces on the board have moved, point this out to the children and ask why or how it happened. Read ato further illustrate your point.

Respect

Respect is seen in many forms — respect of the environment, respect of others and respect of yourself. Teach kids how they can respect the environment andat home. Explain how landfills overflow with trash and how their contents can be reduced through recycling and composting.

Teach the kids about respect for others and take them into a restaurant. Have them order for themselves and remember to say please and thank you to the server.

Explain the importance of self respect and create a list where they add a characteristic they like about themselves every day. They will gain a greater appreciation for their own self and through that positive reinforcement, they’ll have a solid foundation for self respect.

Responsibility

Responsibility teaches kids how they can muster willpower and why it is important to do tasks properly. Chores are an excellent introduction for the foundation of responsible behavior. Create a weekly chore list and post it in a visible area. Establish the expectation that the child must remember their chores and complete them.

Fairness

Explain that everyone must be treated equally — no one is more important than anyone else. Play a game together in which the kids can earn a prize, like 12 pieces of candy. Have one of the children divide the prize amongst all the players and make sure everyone receives the same amount. You can also put a child in charge of dishing up dessert and make sure he doles out the same amount for each person.

Caring

Caring and kindness reduces the negativity that is spread throughout school, the workplace or your personal life. Talk with the children about helping others and set up a time, every week, where you can volunteer within the community together. You can also utilize the, where you and the child can take daily strolls and rack up points. The points turn into money that you can give to a charity that you choose together.

Citizenship

Children should understand at an early age that they are a citizen of their community, country and the world. Visit a variety of museums to help children see how people from all time periods and all parts of the world have contributed to civilization. Both art museums and natural history museums will provide children with enhanced worldly knowledge and instill the idea of citizenship.

 

This post originally appeared on RegardingNannies.com. Used with permission.

 

The professionals at AV Family Care personally assist nannies, babysitters and families inSt. Louis, Atlanta, Chicago, Nashville, Memphis, Charlotte, Miami and Orlando to find the right childcare arrangement. Our mission is to provide a safe and personalized approach for families and caregivers to connect with each other that is not an internet search. AV has worked with families, nannies, sitters, newborn care providers, and tutors for over 35 years and looks forward to working with you! To find great nanny and babysitting jobs visit us attlc@tlcforkids.comor Call 314-725-5660.

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5 Steps to Kick Off the New Year Right in Your Job /blog/5-steps-to-kick-off-the-new-year-right-in-your-job/ Tue, 28 Dec 2021 12:47:55 +0000 /?p=9150 We’ve bid farewell to 2021 and eagerly look forward to what 2022 will bring. Now that we’re in the New Year, this is a great opportunity to take a look around your personal and professional surroundings and make some excellent changes to build and enhance your nanny job. Take stock of your surroundings. All those…

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We’ve bid farewell to 2021 and eagerly look forward to what 2022 will bring. Now that we’re in the New Year, this is a great opportunity to take a look around your personal and professional surroundings and make some excellent changes to build and enhance your nanny job.

  1. Take stock of your surroundings. All those new toys and books that arrived but nowhere to put them? Discuss with the parents a plan to “Keep, Donate or Trash” old items and create new play spaces, e-learning spaces, reading nooks and quiet space. Get the kids involved and make it a special, fun project.
  2. Do you struggle with the day-to-day communications? Consider a daily diary for writing out your day, concerns, observations, events and more. is a great tool made by nannies for nannies for this exact purpose!
  3. Review time. When was the last time you had a review with your employers? What is working? What isn’t? Set up a time to sit down and discuss. can help address certain areas of concern or prepare for what’s coming up.
  4. Make self-care a priority. If we learned anything from 2021, it’s that we do so much in the day-to-day, that we often let our own personal care come last. Make self-care a priority for 2022. Take up a new hobby. Pick a day to unplug – literally. No phones, social media. Read a book, binge on Netflix. Reconnect with friends and family. Send cards with handwritten notes. Make a phone call vs texting or emailing to a loved one. And when it’s safe to do so, book a day at the spa, a weekend away with your besties, fly in and surprise a loved one, or consider !Make it a point to do something for yourself each month and make yourself a priority in 2022.
  5. Invest in your education. Whether you’ll be staying for a long while or looking for a new job this year, continuing education is vital to a nanny’s career. Consider an online course, subscribe to for current news and articles. How about a webinar hosted by Zero to Three or NAEYC? Or check out the , or ?According to the :

    Experience and education affect a nanny’s hourly pay rate
    +More experience and/or more education means higher hourly rate
    +Those completing & get higher hourly rate

And don’t forget … AV Family Care is here to help you along the way with your job or job search in 2022.

The professionals at AV Family Care personally assist nannies, babysitters and families inSt. Louis, Atlanta, Chicago, Nashville, Memphis, Charlotte, Miami and Orlando to find the right childcare arrangement. Our mission is to provide a safe and personalized approach for families and caregivers to connect with each other that is not an internet search. AV has worked with families, nannies, sitters, newborn care providers, and tutors for over 35 years and looks forward to working with you! To find great nanny and babysitting jobs visit us attlc@tlcforkids.comor Call 314-725-5660.

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Can You Require Your Nanny to Get the COVID Vaccine? /blog/can-you-require-your-nanny-to-get-the-covid-vaccine/ Tue, 19 Jan 2021 12:36:15 +0000 /?p=9198 With new information coming out daily on the COVID vaccine, we want to share with you information for Employers requiring their Nannies to have the vaccine when it becomes available to them. AV Family Care is providing the following as information only. We encourage you to check your state and local requirements. Our friends at…

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With new information coming out daily on the COVID vaccine, we want to share with you information for Employers requiring their Nannies to have the vaccine when it becomes available to them. AV Family Care is providing the following as information only. We encourage you to check your state and local requirements.

Our friends at put out this helpful information …

COVID-19 vaccinations have begun to be administered across the country with tens of millions of Americans expected to be vaccinated in the next several months. Healthcare workers and the elderly living in long-term care homes have been prioritized first. Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, says. For household employers, this development brings up the question: can I require my nanny to get a vaccination?

The simple answer is yes. You can make a COVID-19 vaccination a condition of employment for your nanny.

 

Additionally, the came out last week with their findings and recommendations.

As the vaccines for COVID-19 roll out around the world, many nannies and domestic childcare workers in the industry are finding it challenging to know when they will be eligible to receive the vaccine. While every country, state/province, county, or city will be different, we want to be a supportive partner in sharing information for those of you who want the vaccine.

 

AV For Kids, Inc. has been St. Louis’ premier nanny and babysitting agency for over 30 years. AV For Kids’ dedicated staff is ready to assist you in finding nannies, tutors, newborn care specialists, sitters and more in Atlanta, Charlotte, Chicago, Ft. Lauderdale, Jacksonville, Miami, Orlando, Palm Beach, Sarasota, St. Louis, Tampa and more!. Reach us attlc@tlcforkids.comor 314-725-5660.

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Healthy Habits for 2021 /blog/healthy-habits-for-2021/ Tue, 12 Jan 2021 12:34:08 +0000 /?p=9168 The start of the New Year always brings around the question of resolutions and improvements. We’ve pulled together a few of our tips you can start the New Year with Healthy Habits for your work and personal life. You Can Only Change One Person – The fact is we only have control over one person:…

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The start of the New Year always brings around the question of resolutions and improvements. We’ve pulled together a few of our tips you can start the New Year with Healthy Habits for your work and personal life.

You Can Only Change One Person – The fact is we only have control over one person: ourselves. When you realize that, you’ll start taking more control over your own needs without worrying about how that affects everyone else. For example, if you need to lose weight, but your spouse or family isn’t very supportive even though they could stand to lose a few pounds too, putting yourself first in this case will rub off on them – especially if you happen to be the cook in the family.

You Teach People How to Treat You – Dr. Phil is most famous for saying that if people are treating you poorly it may be because you’ve given them permission to do so via actions, if not words. Once you start treating yourself better, your friends and family might decide that they also deserve better. They may start treating themselves better as well as you better solely based on your attitude.

Communicate – The new year is a great opportunity to communicate what is working and not working in your work life and personal life. Ask to set up a meeting or annual review with your employers to go over the past year, suggestions for improvement – on both sides – and discuss the plan moving forward. How are things with family, friends and relationships? Take time to let others know how you’re feeling – good and bad – and how you can move forward for the new year.

Mirror the Behavior You Want to See – You might not learn about mirroring if you aren’t actively reading about self-help. But, as you learn more about yourself and how you want to be treated, you will learn how to act in such a way that demonstrates to others how you want them to behave. This works especially well with children.

Brighten Someone’s Day – When you study self-help techniques and how to build self-esteem in yourself, you’ll learn that an honest compliment can go a long way. As you feel more secure in yourself, you’ll find that you have more good things to say about others. As you compliment them, they will also feel better about themselves and a circle of positivity will begin.

Learn to Ask Questions the Right Way – Instead of trying to convince someone of a fact by debating them, learn to ask leading questions. Questions that make the person think about their answers deeply will work a lot better than making demands on them. As you read self-help books and practice self-help, you’ll learn the right techniques.

Set Boundaries – As you study self-help, you’ll learn more about healthy boundaries which will keep you from taking any of the other lessons you’ve learned too far in the wrong direction. Boundaries keep us from either being abused or being abusive to others. We realize that our rights end where someone else’s begins.

As you seek to improve yourself, and put to practice the things that you learn, you’ll find that your friends and family often follow your lead as long as you aren’t demanding of them. Instead of activity trying to recruit anyone into your new-found self-knowledge training, just be the example and they’ll come around all on their own.

 

AV For Kids, Inc. has been St. Louis’ premier nanny and babysitting agency for over 30 years. AV For Kids’ dedicated staff is ready to assist you in finding nannies, tutors, newborn care specialists, sitters and more in Atlanta, Charlotte, Chicago, Ft. Lauderdale, Jacksonville, Miami, Orlando, Palm Beach, Sarasota, St. Louis, Tampa and more!. Reach us attlc@tlcforkids.comor 314-725-5660.

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10 Internet Safety Rules for Kids /blog/10-internet-safety-rules-for-kids/ Mon, 17 Dec 2018 22:58:15 +0000 /?p=6228 For many kids this holiday season a new phone or tech device is high on their wish list.Monitoring your kids’ use of the internet by sitting with them is the most ideal way to keep them away from all the threats possible online. But this isn’t possible all the time. So, to make sure that…

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For many kids this holiday season a new phone or tech device is high on their wish list.Monitoring your kids’ use of the internet by sitting with them is the most ideal way to keep them away from all the threats possible online. But this isn’t possible all the time. So, to make sure that your kids are safe using the internet when you aren’t around, there are a number internet safety rules that your kids should know.

1. Follow the specific time to use the computer. Explain to them why there is a need to set internet time. Let them develop obedience as a virtue and a sense of responsibility for their actions.

2. Never share personal information to strangers you meet online. These include: name, home address, phone number, email address, password, school information, bank account information, and credit card numbers. Online predators are everywhere and their main targets are your kids who are innocently giving their personal information that can put their safety on the line.

3. Never engage in online gambling. Gambling is simply, taking risks. And most of the time the risks are high.

4. Use a pseudo name or nickname when using instant messaging or entering chat rooms.

5. Avoid filling out online contests, surveys, and registration forms. They ask too much personal information including email address. Take note that spammers can collect email addresses from the web using programs such as bots, crawlers, and spiders.

6. Never open, download attachments, and reply to emails from unknown senders. The best way for spammers to know if the addresses are correct is by receiving a reply. So teach your kids to remove spam immediately from their inbox. Also, attachments from spam usually contain viruses that can cause damage to your file and computer.

7. Stay in moderated public chart rooms and avoid private chats. This will keep your kids away from harassing other people.

8. Teach them to ask permission first before meeting up with someone you meet online. The rule of the thumb is clear: never trust anyone you meet online. People may not be who they say they are.

9. Check before downloading anything. There are free downloadable programs on the internet with free spyware and viruses as well. Ask your parents first about the program even if the programs come from reputable sites.

10. If they see some images or web contents that are disturbing, instruct your kids to tell you right away.

 

AV For Kids, Inc.has beenSt. Louis’ premier nanny and babysitting agencyfor over 30 years. AV For Kids’ dedicated staff is ready to assist you in finding nannies, tutors, newborn care specialists, sitters and more. Reach us at tlc@tlcforkids.com or 314-725-5660

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