Blog

The Story of our Household Management Service

Placement Solutions today is probably best known as a nanny agency, but it wasn’t always that way. We actually started out providing a cleaning service, which eventually developed into the home management service that we offer today.

School Holiday fun

Not all parents can afford to go away for school holidays or maybe one parent can have time off from work but the other can't. Travelling with children can be difficult enough let alone trying to travel with the children without your partner. This being said you don't have to leave the kids feeling bored over the school holidays and that last thing you want is nagging children.

So if school holidays are spent at home then devise a list of activities that you can do with the children, this way you have a plan and the children will have something to look forward to, especially on the down days when they is no activity planned. You can't have an activity every day, money doesn't grow on trees.

To help you out we have developed a list of great holiday activities that can be done with children from different age’s groups, especially if you have a toddler or school aged children.

 

Could you go handsfree this Summer?

A couple of weeks ago I found myself unexpectedly locked out of my daughter’s house with my grandson. It was no big deal. We just sat on the couch on the front verandah for an hour while we waited for mum to come back. The best part of the situation was that I did not have my mobile phone with me so the whole time spent with Reuben was ‘hands free’. We just spent the time looking at each other, laughing and having fun.

It reminded me of an article I read not long ago entitled ‘What a “Hands Free” summer looks like’ by Rachel Macy Stafford. The article is from a few years ago and was written from a northern hemisphere perspective, but it is very relevant as we head into our own summer and holiday period.

The Sun is shining!

With spring upon us and the sun shining there is no better time to get the kids outside and play in the sunshine. Of course it is important to remember to Slip on a shirt, Slop on the 30+ sunscreen, Slap on a hat, but once that is done get outside and enjoy playing with the kids.

Whether you are a mum, dad, nana, grandpa or the nanny, children love to play outdoors with you and other children, however coming up with new games to play each time can be difficult. We've listed 10 of our favourite games to play that will be fun for the big and little kids!

Dads and perinatal anxiety and depression

While we’re still trying to get the last crumbs of the Father’s Day breakfast out of the bed, we thought it would be worth reminding our readers of the phenomena of perinatal anxiety and depression (PND) in men. 

Grandparenting and Nannying Today

I will soon become a grandmother for the first time – an exciting prospect.    Like most expectant grandparents I look forward to being able to dote on my grandchild without having to take on the onerous responsibilities and sleeplessness of parenthood.   I did feel well prepared, too – at least until my daughter, the mother-to-be, asked me whether I would attend a ‘preparation for grandparenting’ class with her. 

Highlights from Nannypalooza

I’ve just returned from the Nannypalooza conference in Cleveland, Ohio with a head full of new ideas and insights. Nannypalooza is an American organisation dedicated to supporting nannies through education and networking, and I was very grateful to be invited to their conference representing an agency. Very few agencies are involved in this conference as it really is all about the nannies.

Placement Solutions takes the lead on child protection

I have to admit to feeling quite proud on August 9 when we launched our new Child Protection Policy and accompanying booklet. Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse.

Child Protection Policy and Booklet launched

Placement Solutions Takes The Lead On Child Protection

I have to admit to feeling quite proud on August 9 when we launched our new ChildProtection Policy and accompanying booklet. We are, as far as I am aware, the first agency of our kind in Australia to document such a policy.

Placement Solutions, Louise Dunham to Childcare Productivity Commission

 I am the CEO of Placement Solutions a private Nanny agency in operation since 1988 and an inaugural government approved In - Home care service since 2000.

Nannies,In home childcarers and the Productivity Commission into Childcare

The facts on government funding of Nannies

I would like to clarify a few of the facts relating to Nannies and in-home child care generally.The Productivity Commisssion into childcare are now in their second phase of  speaking to the public about the way forward for child care in Australia. I presented at the Commission  on behalf of Placement Solutions.

Nannies in the USA

An Australian perspective following on from the conference of the International Nanny Association in Las Vegas.

Following on from Louise’s article last month focusing on legallynanny.com and 4nannytaxes.com, both of which we met at the INA conference, I thought this month I would talk a little bit about what I learnt about the Nanny industry in the USA as a whole during my time in Las Vegas. As Louise mentioned, the industry in America is enormous. There are thousands and thousands of Nannies working in a whole range of situations.