In a season that celebrates care and connection, seeking support isn’t a sign of weakness or failure. It’s a powerful act of love for yourself, your children, and your family as a whole. At °µÍøAV Family Care, we see every day how support transforms households, strengthens relationships, and brings more joy into family life.

Why Asking for Help Matters

Modern families juggle so much: work, school schedules, household responsibilities, emotional labor, and the constant needs of growing children. When parents try to carry everything alone, stress rises and connection suffers.

Asking for help creates space for:

• More patience and presence
• Healthier routines and calmer days
• Quality time with your partner or children
• Rest, recovery, and emotional well‑being

Support doesn’t replace love, it protects it.

How Support Strengthens Families

1. It Models Healthy Boundaries for Kids

Children learn by watching. When they see adults ask for help, they learn that collaboration and self‑care are normal and healthy.

2. It Reduces Stress for Everyone

A trusted caregiver can ease the daily load, giving parents room to breathe and reconnect.

3. It Creates More Meaningful Moments

When parents aren’t overwhelmed, they have more energy for the moments that matter: bedtime stories, family dinners, and weekend adventures.

4. It Strengthens Relationships

Support gives couples time to nurture their partnership, which benefits the entire family.

Let °µÍøAV Family Care Support Your Family This Valentine’s Day

Whether you need a date‑night sitter, weekend help, or ongoing support, our experienced caregivers bring calm, care, and connection into your home.

Asking for help isn’t giving up, it’s giving your family the gift of balance, joy, and love.

The professionals at °µÍøAV Family Care personally assist nannies, babysitters and families in St. 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. °µÍøAV 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 at tlc@tlcforkids.com or Call 314-725-5660.

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At °µÍøAV Family Care, we encourage families to understand and support this process. When families invest in their nanny’s growth, everyone benefits.

Why Nanny Goals Matter

Nannies are professionals who dedicate their time, skills, and energy to caring for your children and supporting your household. Like any professional, they benefit from clear goals that help them stay engaged, confident, and fulfilled in their work.

When families support these goals, it leads to:

• Greater job satisfaction and retention

• Stronger communication and trust

• Higher quality care for children

• A more positive working relationship overall

Supporting Financial Stability

Financial stability is a common goal for many nannies. Families can support this by:

• Offering fair, competitive wages based on experience and responsibilities

• Properly classifying nannies as W-2 employees

• Paying overtime, mileage reimbursement, and guaranteed hours when applicable

• Having transparent conversations about compensation and benefits

Clear financial practices build trust and create a stable foundation for the working relationship.

Encouraging Self-Care and Balance

Nannying is emotionally and physically demanding work. Supporting your nanny’s self-care helps prevent burnout and supports long-term success.

Families can help by:

• Respecting agreed-upon schedules and boundaries

• Encouraging time off and rest

• Being supportive of wellness-focused opportunities, such as retreats or professional breaks

When nannies are well-supported, they are better able to show up fully for your children.

Investing in Professional Development

Many nannies set goals around continuing education and professional growth. This may include:

• Newborn care certifications or specialized courses

• Industry exams through the

• Attending professional conferences or training events such as , Nannypalooza, or

Families can support this by offering flexible scheduling, professional development stipends, or simply expressing encouragement and interest in their nanny’s growth.

Strengthening Communication

Clear communication is one of the most important components of a successful nanny-family relationship. If your nanny is working on improving communication skills, families can support this by:

• Scheduling regular check-ins

• Creating space for open and respectful dialogue

• Using shared tools or resources that support communication, such as a

Strong communication helps expectations stay aligned and issues get addressed early.

Growing Together

Supporting your nanny’s goals is not just an investment in them. It is an investment in your family, your children, and the long-term success of your household.

At °µÍøAV Family Care, we believe the strongest placements happen when families and nannies grow together. If you would like guidance on supporting your nanny’s professional goals or building a healthy working relationship, we are always here to help.

The professionals at °µÍøAV Family Care personally assist nannies, babysitters and families in St. 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. °µÍøAV 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 at tlc@tlcforkids.com or Call 314-725-5660.

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At °µÍøAV Family Care, we believe nannying is a profession, and like any profession, it benefits from clear goals that support your financial well-being, personal care, and professional growth.

Below are a few areas to consider as you set goals for the year ahead.

Financial Goals: Building Stability and Confidence

Financial stability is a foundational goal for many nannies, and it looks different for everyone. This year, you might consider:

• Negotiating a fair wage that reflects your experience and responsibilities

• Ensuring you are properly classified as a W-2 employee

• Setting savings goals or contributing regularly to an emergency fund

• Tracking overtime, mileage reimbursement, and benefits

Understanding your finances allows you to advocate for yourself and build long-term security in your career.

Personal Goals: Prioritizing Self-Care and Balance

Nannying is deeply rewarding work, but it is also physically and emotionally demanding. Setting personal goals around self-care is not a luxury, it is essential.

This might include:

• Creating boundaries around your work hours

• Scheduling regular rest and downtime

• Connecting with other nannies who understand your work

One meaningful way to focus on yourself this year is attending the , a space designed for connection, rest, and renewal within the nanny community. Investing in yourself strengthens not only your well-being but also the care you provide.

Professional Goals: Investing in Your Education

Continuing education helps you stay current, confident, and competitive in your career. Professional growth can take many forms, including:

Certifications and Courses

• Newborn Care Specialist (NCS) certifications or courses

• Infant and toddler development training

• Specialized care education for sleep, multiples, or special needs

Industry Credentials

• Maintaining or pursuing INA credentials demonstrates commitment to excellence and professionalism

Conferences and Community Learning

These events offer education, inspiration, and the chance to build meaningful professional connections.

Communication Goals: Strengthening Nanny-Family Relationships

Is one of your goals this year to improve communication with the families you work with?

Clear, respectful communication is one of the most valuable skills a nanny can develop. It supports trust, reduces misunderstandings, and helps working relationships thrive.

If this is an area you want to strengthen, we encourage you to check out , a thoughtful resource filled with insights, real-life experiences, and tools designed to support healthy nanny-family communication.

Setting Goals That Work for You

When setting goals, remember:

• Start small and be realistic

• Write your goals down and revisit them regularly

• Celebrate progress, not just perfection

Your career is a journey, and each step you take toward growth matters.

At °µÍøAV Family Care, we are proud to support nannies who are invested in themselves, their profession, and the families they serve. Whatever your goals are this year, we hope you give yourself permission to pursue them with confidence and intention.

If you’d like guidance, resources, or support along the way, °µÍøAV Family Care is always here to help.

The professionals at °µÍøAV Family Care personally assist nannies, babysitters and families in St. 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. °µÍøAV 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 at tlc@tlcforkids.com or Call 314-725-5660.

The post For Nannies: Goal Setting for Your Nanny Career This Year appeared first on °µÍøAV Family Care.

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 a  to 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 and  at 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 °µÍøAV Family Care personally assist nannies, babysitters and families in St. 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. °µÍøAV 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 at tlc@tlcforkids.com or Call 314-725-5660.

The post Teach Kids Important Values Through Activities: 6 Traits That Build Character appeared first on °µÍøAV Family Care.

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 … °µÍøAV Family Care is here to help you along the way with your job or job search in 2022.

The professionals at °µÍøAV Family Care personally assist nannies, babysitters and families in St. 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. °µÍøAV 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 at tlc@tlcforkids.com or Call 314-725-5660.

The post 5 Steps to Kick Off the New Year Right in Your Job appeared first on °µÍøAV Family Care.

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.

°µÍøAV For Kids, Inc. has been St. Louis’ premier nanny and babysitting agency for over 30 years. °µÍøAV 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 at tlc@tlcforkids.com or 314-725-5660.

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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.

°µÍøAV For Kids, Inc. has been St. Louis’ premier nanny and babysitting agency for over 30 years. °µÍøAV 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 at tlc@tlcforkids.com or 314-725-5660.

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