Navigating our “New Normal”

There is already so much to navigate with childcare, add a global pandemic and so many of us our overwhelmed! If you are like me, you are thrilled to be done “homeschooling”, but still wondering what the fall will bring. Those of you with young kiddos at home, I can’t even imagine the new challenges all of this togetherness has brought you! With all of this in mind, Birch Nannies wanted to put together a list of resources to help parents and nannies navigate through our “new normal” and help everyone stay healthy, engaged and happy.

Safety:

We recognize that not every family has the same comfort level and that is okay. You have to do what you feel is best for your family. We also recognize that we have families in different states, who have different guidelines in place. Whether you are a family who has had their nanny for five years, or you are new to the nanny process, below are some helpful links if you have questions about safety/hygiene practices.

CDC guidelines for infant/toddler care: This link focuses on childcare facilities, but most of the information can still apply to in-home care.

CDC guidelines for disinfecting your home: Helpful information on best practices that are constantly being updated.

Keeping kids safe this summer: Great article from the University of Chicago, covering many different scenarios

Fun:

Running out of ways to entertain your kids? We’ve found a few fun ideas, that are both safe and fun!

87 things to do at home: This should keep you busy! Several of these ideas involve cardboard, which we all have a ton of right now…

Camp Covid: Amanda, at Queen of the Land of Twigs and Berries, has an endless amount of great ideas! This block schedule is a great way to break up the day, and could be used by both parents and nannies.

Too Cool For School- Virtual Kids’ Camp: TCFS is a Facebook group, that was started by two moms in Washington State, and has exploded into over 20k members worldwide! Many different experts have donated their time to create some amazing content.

We hope you can find a few new ideas in the links above, and this summer can still be full of fun memories, even if they look a little different than summers in the past. If you are in need of a nanny, even if it’s temporary, feel free to reach out. We will help find a nanny who meets your family’s needs.