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Allo Nanny focuses on building longterm relationships between nannies and families but our current health crisis has left many parents in need of temporary in-home care. Allo Nanny has developed a temporary, abridged nanny placement protocol to help you get the childcare you need and trust as soon as possible. We are offering a reduced service fee of $350 plus the cost of running your new nanny's background check ($100). We will utilize our wide reach to recruit, vet and match temporary nannies for your family. *Resume Review *Video Interviews *Background Check *Reference Checks *Contract Development We will recommend up to 3 qualified candidates that match your family's logistical needs and have at least 2 glowing references and a clean background check. Our focus will be on finding trustworthy, reliable nannies for your family. How is this different from Allo's longterm placement model? When developing longterm matches, Allo spends ample time getting to know both families and nannies on a personal level. Personality, life philosophy, parenting and nanny styles are assessed and matched. These are very important components of building successful longterm relationships. For the short-term, we are omitting extensive compatibility matching, nanny training and ongoing support services and we are focusing on recruiting reliable, experienced and trustworthy nannies. Sign up for a free phone consultation here.
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Allo Nanny is offering virtual activity sessions to help parents and kids get through their time at home! These are fun and educational!
Topics Reading Support Math Concepts Arts and Crafts Movement Homework Help How it Works Sign up for a 30 minute session Receive a link to a Zoom Meeting Set your child up with an iPad/Tablet/computer & headphones Take a break! Pay online Cost $25 session Class pack (5 sessions) $100 Email info@allonanny.com for more information!  It's getting cold outside and finding activities to keep kids away from the screen can be tricky. I've had great success year after year making dough ornaments with kids ages 3 to 13!
Make the dough, cut it out with cookie cutters and bake on day 1. Paint and decorate on day 2! Dough Ornaments Four cups flour 1 cup salt 1.5 cups warm water Mix, knead, roll. Use cookie cutters to make shapes! Don't forget to poke a hole in the ornament so you can hang it! Bake at 325 for an hour. Hang on your tree, make a mobile etc! You can buy cookie cutters on Amazon that pique your child's interest. Baseball, Star Wars, Peppa Pig, Frozen etc. They even have 3d versions! If you're a parent looking for a nanny, please reach out! Allo will recruit, vet, onboard and support you every step of the way! Sign up here for a phone consultation.  Tips for offering Reading Support Patience and positive attitude: respond positively to the child’s frustration. Show your enthusiasm for the book/story and the experience of reading. Create a cozy learning center with fluffy pillows and minimal distractions. Use a variety of instructional approaches (see below). Pay attention to Teacher feedback, assessments etc. Let the child choose what she wants to read. Know when to stop. Don’t push the child too far. Allow breaks. REWARD effort, do-overs, & improvement (verbal praise, stickers etc) Instructional Approaches You can select one or two of these approaches for each session. No need to try to do too much all at once! Fluency-oriented reading instruction (FORI) Reading the same text over and over in different modalities. Partner Reading Take turns reading/listening. The listener can ask comprehension questions. You can read the same paragraph to each other. Tutor goes first. This preloads new vocabulary and models fluency. Choral Reading Read aloud at the same time. Make it a game to stay synchronized. Reading Aloud Child reads aloud while you listen. Ear Reading Listen to an audio book while reading along (Raz kids etc.) Fill in the Blank Tutor reads while child follows along. The tutor will stop at certain words and the child has to read that word. You’re the Author Take turns making up sentences and create a paragraph or story. Record this on lined paper or type it. Read this to the child and have the child read it to you. The child can illustrate the story as well. New Vocab Note Cards Create note cards with the word and a picture/image to represent the word. Keep adding to your list of vocab and you can use these for flash cards or make this into a game. These can also be added to a word wall. Word Wall Fun, craft project for new vocab. Can be on the child’s bedroom door etc. Decorate this! Physical Gesture This is paired with a difficult word. Example: child is struggling with the word “neighbor”. Wave your hand (like you are saying hi to the neighbor) each time the child encounters this word. Comprehension Checks Ask thoughtful questions, you can make them funny as long as the answer reflects what is happening in the story. What are the key details? Charades Ask the child to act out what happened in the story. Annotated Reading Photocopy or print an excerpt and have child annotate the text. Diction-Pictionary Tutor reads a page to the child. The child draws out what she thinks is happening in the story or the key points. This promotes auditory comprehension. Record the Child Use this strategy only if the child seems excited. It is not meant to make them feel bad. Tape record your child as they read. Play it back and have them point to the words as they listen to themselves. Cut-up Sentence This activity includes active learning about words as part of a sentence. Teachers prepare a sheet of simple sentences printed out with a large-size font. Students cut apart the words from a sentence, and then move the individual word cards around, manipulating the words to re-create the sentence in proper order. This helps encourage students to recognize that each word is a separate entity, has meaning, and is separated by a space within each sentence. Tools to Play with: Sight Words Flash Cards These can be made into a game for prizes or reward. Buy two sets and play Memory. Letter Tiles Build (spell with tiles) new vocab or practice words the child is struggling to pronounce. Start by giving her the correct letters to build a word. She can put them in order. Dry Erase Jumbo Lined Paper Write out funny sentences or fun paragraphs and do choral reading, fill in the blank reading etc. Mad Libs This is a great motivator for children to reread paragraphs. Terminology Reading Decoding Spelling Encoding Sight Words Words, like come, does, or who, that don’t follow the rules of spelling or the six syllable types. These words have to be memorized because decoding them is really difficult. High Frequency Words Words that are most commonly found in written language. Although some fit standard phonetic patterns, some do not. Phonemic Awareness The ability to notice, think about, and work with the individual sounds in spoken words. Phonological Awareness Allows one to attend to, discriminate, remember, and manipulate sounds at the sentence, word, syllable, and phoneme (sound) level. Fluency The ability to read a text accurately, quickly, and with expression. Fluency is important because it provides a bridge between word recognition and comprehension. Phonemes The smallest units of speech sound that can convey a unique meaning. There are 44 English phonemes. Phonogram A letter or combination of letters that represent a sound Phonics Approach Teaches word recognition through learning grapheme-phoneme (letter-sound) associations. The student learns vowels, consonants, and blends, and learns to sound out words by combining sounds and blending them into words. By associating speech sounds with letters the student learns to recognize new and unfamiliar words. Linguistic Method This method uses a "whole word" approach. Words are taught in word families, or similar spelling patterns, and only as whole words. The student is not directly taught the relationship between letters and sounds, but learns them through minimal word differences. As the child progresses, words that have irregular spellings are introduced as sight words. Learn more! https://www.readingrockets.org/ https://www.edutopia.org/discussion/7-strategies-use-struggling-readers https://blog.allaboutlearningpress.com/break-the-word-guessing-habit/ https://www.edutopia.org/article/6-elementary-reading-strategies-really-work https://www.edutopia.org/article/driving-deep-reading-comprehension-k-5 
Back To School-After School Special
for families seeking part-time nannies to help with afternoon/evening care Allo will cast a wide net to find a great nanny that fits well within your unique family. And, we will iron out all the details!
What's Included?
Service Fee Total: $750 $100 non-refundable deposit is due to initiate search. The remaining $650 is due when you sign a contract with your new nanny. Sign-up here for a free consultation! PROMO CODE: Back to School 
Valid through September 15th, 2019
*Part-time placements only (less than 20 hours per week) *Does not include ongoing support or nanny training  Insider Tips From The Nanny's PerspectiveMore and more parents are working from home with a nanny as a direct result of the Pandemic. Many parents prefer (or simply can't avoid) this arrangement. There are many perks: convenience, safety and ability to maintain proximity to children. While ideal/necessary for many parents, this can be very stressful for nannies! In fact, many nannies will not accept these types of positions because it often makes their days "more difficult". As a recruiter, one of the first questions I'm asked is "Do the parents work from home?". Although this presents a set of unique challenges, it can be a very positive experience! When approached with open communication, clear expectations and boundaries, working from home with a nanny can lead to amazing partnerships! The below advice is written for parents to help them see their nanny’s perspective in hopes of avoiding thorny situations down the road that can lead to turnover. Thinking through logistical details will help you communicate your needs, offer support and enable your nanny to rise to the challenge. Of course, parents face their own set of obstacles in this situation and those should absolutely be part of the conversation. The purpose of this article is to help parents see the other side in hopes of finding some common ground to build a strong partnership! Advice has been gathered from over 100 nannies in the field most of whom have worked in both situations: parents working inside and outside of the home. This by no means encompasses all viewpoints but is meant to be a starting point for thoughtful reflection. I've complied advice into 5 categories. 5 Points to Consider Interruptions to the routine Who is the “boss” when you are present? Aligning parenting/nannying styles for consistency Building healthy parent/nanny relationships Micromanaging 1. Interruptions to the routine Nannies develop a routine in your home. Ideally, they have strategies and rules, time-tables and goals. Nannies plan transitions from one activity to the next to avoid meltdowns, to increase learning and to provide positive social interactions. This routine takes time to establish and sticking to it is critical to a successful day. When you work from home and pop in and out, the routine is interrupted. Children can easily get off track from homework, naps, snacks etc. Many nannies will tell you the day will be going well (happy child) until a parent surfaces for some coffee or a quick hello. This can lead to a major meltdown because your children ultimately prefer you! Your nanny is left to pick up the pieces when you exit. My advice: Clearly communicate your desired schedule/routine. Give your nanny a heads-up so she can plan for interruptions to the routine. Be mindful of her plans and schedule. Be mindful of your child’s behavior when you enter/exit. If there are issues, minimize these interruptions and work with her to develop a plan for the transition. If you plan to participate in daily interactions, create a schedule and stick to it. That way, your child knows he/she gets to spend 15 minutes with you just before nap time etc. Lastly, ask your nanny how she is feeling. This can go a long way in boosting morale and keeping your caregiver onboard long-term. 2. Who is the “boss” when you are present? Your nanny has the challenge of gaining the status of an authority figure in your home. In a perfect world, you are promoting the same rules and utilizing the same strategies. Often times, children will look to their parents instead of their nanny. This can unintentionally undermine the nanny’s authority. Consider this: the nanny has told your child “no, you must clean up your toys before you can have a treat.” You enter the room and enjoy a quick embrace and hello. Your child then asks “can I have a treat?” to which you reply “yes!”. This is a huge step backwards for your nanny. Children know how to play this game and they will! To avoid this type of parent-nanny undermining, you can say something like “Did you ask [Nanny]?”. More advice: Select a home office that is not part of the common space and establish clear boundaries for your children. Some parents lock their office door or have door knob signs (Hugs Available, Quiet Please or Red/Green). This can be really useful in teaching your child that you are not available at certain times of the day. Plan your outings so they do not disrupt the flow. Your nanny will be happier and your children will adjust faster/better to her presence in your home. If you are more comfortable with a communal style of parenting/nannying, be sure to have weekly discussions about what's going well & what can be improved! 3. Aligning parenting/nannying styles for consistency Aligning styles/strategies is critical to promoting a healthy caregiver/child/parent dynamic. This should be discussed before your nanny’s first day on the job and then fine-tuned as time goes by. Consider the issues that can arise from varying styles of parenting. If you are a “clean your plate” type of parent and your nanny is a “you don’t have to eat what you don’t like” caregiver, you are going to have some problems at mealtime. Making sure your nanny knows how you want her to react to common scenarios is really important for your child’s learning and your nanny’s success/happiness. Advice: Create clear house rules and establish a discipline/reward plan that both you and your nanny will use. Debrief daily or weekly. Support your nanny when she disciplines your child. Hopefully, you are already in agreement about appropriate rules & disciplinary techniques. If you are dealing with behavior issues or trying to teach a new skill, let your nanny in on your struggle. She can support your efforts when you are working. Consistency is key! Be open to some text communication if your nanny needs clarification about how you would like her to handle a new situation. 4. Building Healthy Parent/Nanny Relationships Inviting a nanny into your home can be very awkward. It’s intimate. This is an unusual setting for an employer/employee relationship. As such, special attention needs to be directed at its uniqueness in order to keep everyone healthy and happy. Clear and thoughtful communication is so important! When co-parenting with a nanny, the line between healthy employer/employee relationships and disastrous relationships can be easily crossed. Nannies may be present for fights between you and your spouse. They may see you at your worst; sick with the flu or suffering the loss of a loved one. You might be extremely stressed out about a project at work or going through a divorce. Nannies can end up in difficult positions. They want to help you; they've grown to love you. But, they are also professionals working in your home. Establishing clear boundaries is important. My Advice: maintain a professional relationship wherein you abide by your contract. This doesn't mean you can't develop a close relationship with your nanny. You are your nanny’s supervisor and she will look to you for praise, guidance and respect. Communicate openly and don't just brush things under the rug. 5. Micromanaging Knowing your management style and where you fall on the micro versus macro management spectrum is really important when selecting your nanny. If you know you are a micromanager, it’s important to make sure you select a nanny who appreciates close supervision. Allowing your nanny to have some autonomy regardless of your style will help her to feel empowered and also teach your children there is more than one right way to approach a task. Advice: Provide feedback to your nanny in private, not in front of the children. Pick your battles! What is important and what can you release? Or, if you are a removed manager, make sure your nanny has enough information to do her job well and in a way you would like it to be done. A Sampling of Quotes from Nannies in the Field Empower the nanny by letting her know she is in charge and clearly communicating this to the child(ren). When nanny’s role is not undermined then there’s a healthy dynamic and the work environment is pleasant. Those boundaries need to be respected. And, it starts with parents. -Nanny Do not come out to the rescue if the child is crying or upset. This is a huge part of a child bonding with the nanny and learning that the nanny is there to care for them and comfort them when they are upset and odds are the child will act out much worse if the parent comes out. -Nanny I find that micromanaging can be a huge problem when a parent works from home. Of course as a nanny I'm always open and responsive to any requests or changes that need to be made but some parents need to understand the concept of not "correcting" or asking for a modification of *everything* their nanny does just because it's not the way the parent usually does it. As long as it's not something that's endangering the kids or a detriment to the household and the outcome is to the parents satisfaction, there really shouldn't really be any micromanaging as to how the nanny feels it's best to perform her work (again as long as it's not detrimental to anything) -Nanny Carving out a specific time to take a break and see the kids vs popping in and out at different times during the day is a great way to build a routine for everyone. ie: always joining us for lunch and then heading back to the home office during clean up. Getting the kids out the door after post nap snack time can be a struggle, so if dad has a break in his day, coming down to help with getting everyone’s shoes on and out the door can make nanny’s life easier. Kids have a 6th sense for mom, so her voice chatting on a conference call and getting baby down for nap time don’t mix well! Consider taking calls during the nap hour out of range from the babe if you can, so he will be a well rested guy when you are done with work for the day. And keep the communication loop between parent and nanny open since we are effectively sharing a workspace! You're on the same team, and there is upside in this working scenario for everyone when communication is good. -Nanny Communication! It can work really well as long as parents communicate with the nanny and listen to their problems and struggles and work together to solve them. -Nanny Invest in a good white noise machine so your child is unable to hear you when you’re on the phone. -Nanny Allo Nanny has an intensive compatibility matching process to set you up for success! We will get to know your parenting, communication and management styles in order to match you with appropriate candidates. We will also prep your nanny for working with your unique family, provide training and offer consulting services as you navigate your new employer/employee relationship. If you are interested in a consultation, please click here.  Supporting Nannies To Be The Best They Can Be When I was a Teacher, I bounced ideas off of my colleagues all the time. There were inservice training days, week long conferences in the summer and happy hour venting sessions. Nannies often work long hours in isolation. Parents can be really strapped for time and everyone is ready to be “off” at the end of the day. I remember feeling overwhelmed as a nanny. Looking back, I can see how having outside emotional support, training and structured communication with my family would have really improved my work. I developed Allo Nanny’s methodology with this in mind. -Lacey Worel, Founder of Allo Nanny Allo knows professional development increases employee performance and retention. We believe nannies should be given the support and tools necessary to provide the best possible care for your children. And when nannies feel supported and are excelling in their roles, they stick around! Allo nannies participate in one-on-one training sessions with Allo Consultants or "Coaches". Nanny Coaches tailor training to your family’s specific circumstances. Getting to know your family is a critical component! We will educate your nanny on your family’s parenting style, logistical needs and emergency plan prior to your nanny's first day on the job. Additionally, parents can select specialized trainings for their nanny. Topics include Infant Care, Behavior Strategies, Special Needs Care and Building Healthy Caregiver/Child Relationships and Reading Support. Specialized trainings take place after your nanny has been in the trenches for about a week to give her the opportunity to assess the situation and think of relevant questions. Ongoing support is available for the first 3 months of your nanny’s contract. This includes follow-up calls, feedback facilitation and actions plans. Sign up for a free nanny placement consultation here.  Summer is Coming! Many families utilize their nanny's services to supplement summer camp hours. If this sounds like something you are interested in, here is a list of camps around Philadelphia. These have been loosely organized into categories. Some camps offer more than one type of activity. Half day, full day and overnight camps are included. Allo Nanny isn't personally familiar with many of these camps so please vet them before enrolling! HOT TIP: Find out if the camp you chose is ACA (American Camp Association) accredited. ACA accreditation means camps have gone through a peer review process. You can find ACA accredited camps using this search feature. They have great resources on camp readiness, coping with homesickness (sleep-away campers) and more! If you are looking for a nanny for your summer care needs, sign up here for a free consultation! Camp categories listed: Art, Nature, Sports, Multi Activity, Academic and Other 1. Art Camps Wayne Art Center Nature and Art: Connecting with Our World Ages 3-16 Wayne, PA The Handwork Studio Where Kids Learn By Making Ages 5-12 Narberth, For Washington, Philadelphia, Newtown Square... PA The Center on Central Creative Arts Day Camp Grades K-2 and 3-6 Paoli, PA Philly Art Center Art Adventure Camp Ages 4-14 Cherry Hill NJ, Fairmont PA, Queen Village PA University City Arts League 2D Art, 3D Art, Wearable Art, Media Arts, Pottery, and Dance & Theatre Ages 6-14 Philadelphia, PA Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts Summer Art Camp Ages 5+ Philadelphia, PA Abington Art Center Summer Art Camp for Kids Ages 7-12 Creative Arts Camp Ages 4-6 Jenkintown, PA Young Playwrights Learn how to write a play through theatre games and hands-on activities Grades 6-8 and 9-12 Philadelphia, PA Sing Philadelphia Summer Camp Choir Camp Ages 7-12 Philadelphia, PA 2. Nature Camps Miquon Day Camp Experience the joys of the great outdoors Ages 4-11 Conshohocken, PA Riverbend Environmental Education Center Grounded in nature-based STEM education programs Ages 4-11 Gladwyne, PA The Schuylkill Environmental Center Nature Ramblers and Adventure Treks Ages 3-9 and 10-15 Philadelphia, PA The Barn Nature Center Get up close and personal with over 80 rescued animal residents Ages 6+ Doylestown, PA Briar Bush Nature Center Scientific discovery, hikes, crafts, live animal encounters, games, and playtime Ages 2-15 Abington, PA Awbury Adventures Outside+ Unplugged + Engaged Ages 6-13 Philadelphia, PA Morris Arboretum Adventure Camp Inspire new generations of citizen scientists Ages 4-11 Philadelphia, PA Indigo Nature Arts Magical World of Fairies and Gnomes Ages 5-10 Music Jam Camp Ages 8-12 Photography and Art Ages 8-12 Germantown, PA Elmwood Park Zoo Summer Camp Fun, with crafts, stories, snacks, animal visitors, and in-depth tours of the zoo Ages 3-5 and 6-13 Special Needs Camp Ages 6-13 Norristown, PA The Academy of Natural Sciences at Drexel University Learn about natural science at Philly's Dinosaur Museum Ages 5-12 Philadelphia, PA Tyler Arboretum Fostering a Love of Nature 5+ Media, PA 3. Sports Camps Young Sports Multi sport camp Ages 2.5 to 14 Wayne, PA Philadelphia Rock Gyms Kids learn technical climbing and climbing safety skills as well as team building, sports challenges, field trips, yoga, nature programs and arts and crafts Ages 4-7 and 6-14 Multiple locations around Philadelphia Flag Football Ages 5-16 Philadelphia Cheer Camp Ages 6-16 Philadelphia, PA Phillies Baseball Academy Summer Camp Creating the most exciting and informative baseball experience Ages 6-14 Multiple locations around Philadelphia Friends Central Basketball Camp Basketball, Reading, and Math clinic Grades 2 -10. Wynnewood, PA Summer Fit Camp Learn the importance of physical activity, and a healthy lifestyle Ages 5 -15 Philadelphia, PA Kehler's Gym Gymnastics, Karate, Kids Fun Factory, Arts & Crafts, Fun & Games Survival Island Rocks & Ropes Challenge, Moon Bouncers, Trampolines, Rock Climbing, Computer Lab, Games & Dance, Giant Turbo Rush Inflatable Obstacle Course, Real Indoor Mini Golf Ages 3 1/2 to 13 Broomall, PA The Little Gym Combining fun physical activity, games, and arts & crafts Ages 3-12 Multiple locations including Narberth and Abington, PA Marple Sports Arena Wide range of activities from dodgeball to hamster balls to rock climbing Ages 4-13 Broomall, PA The Penn Tennis Camp Advanced teaching techniques, intensive drill work and game / match play Half and Full Day Camps Ages 3-6 Philadelphia, PA Legacy Youth Tennis Skill building, tournaments Ages 7 + Philadelphia, PA Seaport Summer Camp Learn all about history, science, and how to row or kayak on the Delaware River Ages 6-12 Philadelphia, PA Mercersburg Academy Summer Sport Camps Basketball, Lacrosse, Soccer and Swim Camps Ages 8-17 depending on camp Mercersburg, PA United Soccer Academy Classic Soccer Camps, Specialist Camps, and High School Ages 2-19 Many locations 4. Multi Activity Summer Camps Early Childhood Environments Art and Academic Enrichment Summer Camp Unique blend of art, academics and athletic activities Ages 3-11 Philadelphia, PA Friends Central Rich and varied summer programs filled with endless fun and excitement Ages 3+ Wynnewood, PA YMCA Choose from a variety of camps Ages 4+ Multiple locations 5. Academic Camps Experiences for Life Explore the depths of science, physics, engineering and innovation Ages Kindergarten + Multiple locations Bricks 4 Kidz Built around exciting themes like Amusement Parks, Space and Robotics, children will enjoy using LEGO® Bricks to build specially-designed Bricks 4 Kidz models, play LEGO® games and explore the world of engineering, architecture and animated movie-making Ages 5-13+ Multiple locations Lavner Camps Wide range of camps in tech, science and sports All age groups Multiple locations Mad Science Summer Camp Children have the opportunity to become junior scientists for the summer and embark on a series of science adventures Multiple age groups Multiple locations Digital Media Academy Experience college life, from working on projects in university classrooms to eating in the dining hall Ages: Elementary, middle school and high school Philadelphia, PA LocoSummer Modern Robotics Robotics and Drone Camps Ages 10-13 and 14+ Center City and Mainline locations Young Achievers Learning Center Build self-confidence and self-esteem by removing the kind of academic, athletic and social competition that shapes their lives at school Multiple locations around Philadelphia, PA Spanish Camp Philly Each camp is designed to enhance children's natural ability to learn Spanish and to immerse them in the language for the entire day Ages 5-10 Philadelphia, PA Camp Invention STEM Summer Program That Turns Curious Students Into Innovative Thinkers Multiple age groups Multiple locations The Franklin Institute Immersive, educational, iconic science summer camp Grades k-9 Philadelphia, PA 6. Other Kitchen Wizards Cooking camp that encourage creativity, patience, and listening skills Multiple Ages Blue Bell, PA Butcher's Sew Shop Each themed camp explores the art of sewing in innovative ways Ages 5-15 Philadelphia, PA The Business of Doing Good Social entrepreneur program for middle school students Philadelphia, PA
Behavior: A child’s response or lack of response to something Antecedent: What happens right before the behavior Consequence: What happens right after the behavior Please note the following tips have been pulled from a variety of strategies and are intended to give you ideas. There is no one size fits all approach. Parents and nannies dealing with severe situations should consult a Certified Behavior Analyst, Psychologist or other relevant professional. Punishment versus Reinforcement Remember, a behavior is a child's response or lack of response to something. There are behaviors you will want to encourage and behaviors you will discourage. Punishment decreases the frequency of a behavior. There are two types of punishment. 1. Positive punishment is adding a negative consequence after the behavior. Cara pushed her sister. Cara was sent to time-out (aversive stimulus). 2. Negative punishment is removing something the child enjoys. Cara pushed her sister. Cara lost her favorite toy for the day (reinforcing stimulus removed). Reinforcement increases the frequency of a behavior. There are two types of reinforcement. 1. Positive reinforcement refers to adding something pleasant. You give a child a sticker for going potty in the toilet. 2. Negative reinforcement refers to removing something unpleasant. Sammy takes out the trash to stop his mom from hounding him about it. 1. Ask all caregivers about their observations. Define the problem behavior in specific, observable and measurable terms. 2. Pay attention to the antecedent! What happens right before the behavior? Notice the environment, the people around, objects or toys, the child’s internal feelings/thoughts/state of being, your own behavior etc. 3. What are the consequences? Different consequences can affect whether or not the behavior will happen again. You might be unknowingly reinforcing the problem behavior! For example, if you send a child to her room when she yells at her sister, you may be giving her what she wants which is to get away from her sister! The goal is to minimize reinforcement of the problem behavior and teach replacement behaviors. Consequences (reinforcers and punishments) should be delivered with in 10 seconds of the behavior. 4. What is the child is trying to communicate? What are his/her needs and wants? Is the child’s behavior helping them fulfill their needs/wants? Is he frustrated because he doesn't understand the directions of his homework? Does she want more time to play at park? Does he want your attention? 5. Use proactive strategies. Modify tasks. If a child is throwing a tantrum when she is unable to successfully play a game, simplify it. Make changes in the setting. If a child isn’t completing homework when his siblings are around, create a quiet homework space. Teach routines and expectations. Create a visible calendar, post simple house rules and review them regularly; teach the rules. Prepare Children for Transitions. 10 more minutes of free time, 5 more minutes of free time, 1 more minute... Change the schedule. If a child is resisting brushing her teeth before bed in an attempt to stay up longer, ask her to brush teeth after dinner and provide a reward. Provide more choices. If a child is refusing to eat his vegetables, give him 3 options to choose from. 6. Positive Reinforcement. Celebrate the desired behavior with a reward that is meaningful to the child. This could be a high-five, a sticker, a happy dance, free time etc. You are aiming to increase reinforcement of a new replacement behavior while decreasing reinforcement of a negative behavior. Again, reinforcers should be given within 10 seconds of the behavior. 7. Create a positive climate. A good rule of thumb is to provide 4 positive interactions for every 1 correction. 8. Redirect. Redirect a child's attention to provide opportunities for a positive interaction. For example, if a child is distracted during homework time you might praise the work she did on an earlier problem. 9. Ignore the Behavior. If you choose to ignore a behavior, it might get worse before it gets better. A child that has been crying to get out of something she doesn't want to do may begin screaming before this problem behavior decreases. If you try ignoring a problem behavior, it's important to also teach positive communication and social skills to replace it. This gives you an opportunity to reinforce the desired behavior. 10. Noncontingent Reinforcement. This just means that you can give the child access to the thing that is reinforcing the negative behavior at different times through out the day when negative behavior isn't happening. The child will be less likely to use the negative behavior as a strategy because he already has access to what he wants. Maybe this means 5 minutes of solo play time sprinkled through out the day.  The above chart is from the Rehabilitation Research and Training Center on Positive Behavioral Support PBS Positive Behavioral Support Set of research-based strategies used to increase quality of life and decrease problem behavior by teaching new skills and making changes in a person's environment. ABA Applied Behavior Analysis Therapy based on the science of learning and behavior that helps us understand how behavior works, how behavior is affected by the environment and how learning takes place. FBA Functional Behavior Assessment Gathers information and uses it to create a plan to help your child behave in more appropriate ways BIP Behavior Intervention Plan This is a plan that’s designed to teach and reward positive behaviors. A BIP is based on the FBA. Consequence Interventions Consequence interventions are used to minimize reinforcement for negative behavior and increase reinforcement for desirable behavior. ABI Antecedent-Based Interventions Environmental modifications are used to change conditions in the setting that prompt the behavior. The idea is to identify factors that are reinforcing the behavior and then change the environment so that the factor no longer prompts the behavior. The use of punishment as a consequence has decreased. Research shows relying on punishment without positive interventions can lead to more problem behavior. Knowing why a child engages in a certain behavior can help you modify things that trigger the behavior and also teach new replacement skills so the child can get the outcome they desire. If you are a parent looking for a great nanny, sign up for a free consultation here. Resources The Child Mind Institute 10 Things to Consider About Nanny Compensation  1. Experience, education, special certifications and skills Things like college degrees (especially relevant ones), useful certifications and language skills can up a nanny’s pay. 2. The number of children she will be watching More kids often means a higher wage. 3. Extra duties and chores Many families have combined the roles of nanny and house manager. More responsibility usually means a higher wage. Most nannies are asked to do light meal prep and clean up. Deeper cleaning, cooking and extra errands can lead to higher compensation. 4. Will she need to care for an infant or help with potty training? Consider the varying demands of different developmental stages. Infant care or potty training require extra attention and skills. 5. Are you a demanding employer? You know who you are; ) If you want to call your nanny on her days off or expect a lot of flexibility with last minute changes etc, you may want to offer her a little more money for the extra pressure. 6. Cost of living Wages vary from state to state and from city to city. There are also differences in pay for live-in and live-out nannies. 7. Glowing references If people love your nanny, she is coveted and will not be on the market long! 8. Paid sick days, holidays, vacation and health insurance Any of these perks are greatly appreciated and can incentivize your nanny to stay with your family. However, federal law does not require you to give your nanny paid time off. Small employers are not required to offer health insurance but there is a tax benefit for doing so. The money spent is not considered taxable income for you or your nanny. If you contribute at least 50% to your nanny's health insurance costs, you can receive a tax credit of up to 50% of your contribution. The total credit is determined by your nanny's average annual salary. 9. Guaranteed hours not fixed salaries Nannies are considered household employees and must be paid for every hour they work. Families should expect to guarantee a fixed number of hours that compensate nannies appropriately for the max time she might work in a week. In other words, if you invited her to work 20 hours a week but only needed her for 17, she will rightly expect to be paid for the total time she reserved for your family (20 hours). Hours can not be banked for another time. If your nanny works more than the expected 20 hours, she should be compensated for the additional hours at the hourly rate you have agreed upon. Overtime pay or time and a half is required for all hours worked over 40 in a 7 day period. The frequency of nanny pay depends on which state you live in. PA has a maximum lag time of 15 days meaning you must at least pay your nanny semi-monthly. Learn about paying taxes on household employees here. 10. Will she use her own car to transport your kids? Wear and tear on a vehicle, mileage, gas, insurance… all of these factors should be considered when assessing your nanny’s compensation. Standard reimbursement is 58 cents per mile driven. Average Hourly Nanny Compensation
The below chart is from the International Nanny Association (INA)
Hourly Rate by City of Employment in PAIf you are searching for a great nanny, sign up for a free consultation here. |
