Welcome
WELCOME to the BOSTON AREA NANNY SUPPORT GROUP (BANSG) (This site updated March 22, 2012
Register for National Nanny Training Day at
http://bbbnntd2012.eventbrite.com
As of 2011, BANSG organizes the occasional nanny event but is now primarily a clearinghouse of information for MA nannies and a networking resource through the twice-monthly email newsletter. Meet other nannies in your community for playdates or after-work get-togethers! FInd out about other local nanny groups and their activities! Find out about helpful online resources for nannies, many offered by career nannies! To sign up for the newsletter, email janstclair at aol dot com, with “Nanny News” in the subject line.
Begun in 2000 with monthly social/educational events for nannies, after working together to create the Nannypalooza Boston 2010 conference, BANSG has passed the torch to MAPN (Mass. Alliance of Professional Nannies) for hosting regular nanny events in the Greater Boston area. The BANSG email newsletter is a great way to keep updated on these and other nanny events in MA.
******CHECK OUT OUR NANNY CONFERENCE PAGE for information about our final big event! NANNYPALOOZA BOSTON was SEPT. 19, 2010! What a great way to celebrate the 10th anniversary of BANSG!
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UPCOMING NANNY EVENTS:
1) NATIONAL NANNY TRAINING DAY: Saturday, APRIL 28, 2012
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Register for National Nanny Training Day at
http://bbbnntd2012.eventbrite.com
Over 1,000 Nannies Gather in Local Communities For Training That Promotes Quality Care
Saturday, April 28th, 2012 – Boston’s Best BabySitters celebrates National Nanny Training Day
to recognize the needs of young children and to raise awareness of the positive correlation between
nanny training and quality care. This national initiative is part of Week of the Young Child, an
annual celebration sponsored by the National Association for the Education of Young Children.
NAEYC is an early childhood education association of almost 90,000 members and a network of
more than 300 local, state, and regional affiliates.
On Saturday, April 28th over 1,000 nannies in more than 30 cities will gather in their local
communities at training events designed to meet their unique needs. Boston’s Best BabySitters is
proud to be the local sponsor for the Boston event.
While professional development is required in other childcare settings, the informal nature of
nanny care often leads parents and caregivers to believe that ongoing training isn’t necessary for
nannies. However early childhood researchers such as Dr. Laura Berk, retired Professor at Illinois
State University Psychology Department, tell us a different story. Her research shows that child
care providers become skilled professionals when hands-on childcare experience is combined with
training and education.
Lora Brawley, owner of Nanny Biz Reviews, says, “Of course a great nanny must have a loving
heart and nurturing personality. But it’s just as important that she have a working knowledge of
how a child develops physically, socially, emotionally, and intellectually and knows
developmentally appropriate ways to create a safe, engaging environment where kids can thrive.”
The Boston event will offer sessions on Creative and Interactive Play, Family-nanny Challenges,
Infant & Child CPR and First Aid, Infant Massage, Infant and Toddler Safety, Newborn
Specialties, Nurtured Heart Approach, Pediatric Nutrition, Portfolio Building and Professional
Development. This event is open to nannies throughout the community and will also offer
caregivers the opportunity to network, share resources and be appreciated for their
professionalism. These trainings will tackle some of the profession’s unique challenges and
celebrate its unique rewards.
Jennifer Garnache of Boston’s Best BabySitters says, “There is no other job as important as raising
a child, whether it is your own or someone else’s. General awareness and appreciation of the
critical impact an in-home, professional childcare provider has on the future of our children is not
where it should be. It is time to spread the movement of legitimizing and promoting the
professionalism of our industry, starting with professional development support and training. We
at Boston’s Best BabySitters are really excited to offer both our in-house nannies as well as other
nannies throughout the community the opportunity to participate in a full day of exciting, cutting
edge training sessions tailored to the private home environment.”
National Nanny Training Day is a national initiative sponsored by Nanny Biz Reviews, a site
offering free user reviews and up-to-date profiles of nanny-related businesses plus expert advice
and practical tips on a successful search, effective screening, important hiring issues, and a longterm
nanny/family relationship. For more information please visit www.nannybizreviews.com
BOSTON’S BEST BABYSITTERS
Register for National Nanny Training Day at
http://bbbnntd2012.eventbrite.com
www.bbbabysitters.com
info@bbbabysitters.com
617.268.7148
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2) BANSG Annual NANNY VOLUNTEER PROJECT: also Saturday APRIL 28, 2012
Visit the Volunteer Page (click on the tab above) for full information.
Given the unavoidable scheduling conflict, I recommend that nannies attend the Nanny Training Day. However, if there are nannies who have their hearts set on volunteering childcare for this year’s conference for parents of visually impaired young children, please contact me. I expect there will be enough actual volunteers, but nannies are especially valued as volunteers for having experience in childcare. (Most of our volunteers are fulfilling school community service requirements.) Email me at janstclair at a o l dot com.
BANSG annual volunteer project, providing childcare in a 1-day well-organized “camp” for blind and visually-impaired children and their siblings at Perkins School for the Blind in Watertown, while their parents attend a conference nearby on campus. It’s a lot of fun, you can choose your favorite age range, and whether to work with one impaired child or 1-2 typical kids. There are craft and cooking supplies, toys, lovely playgrounds, gym time, music and other organized activities. Caregivers receive a certificate of appreciation for their portfolio.
For some of the parents, it’s their first time being with other parents of handicapped children and having a break from childcare. Our service and our experience with children is very much needed and appreciated!
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CELEBRATING US!
May 6th, 2011 was National Child Care Provider Appreciation Day!
The Massachusetts Alliance of Professional Nannies spearheaded a local effort to highlight and openly appreciate the work nannies do. MAPN organized a relaxed meet-and-greet celebration of National Child Care Provider Day on May 6th, 2011 from 7:00-9:30pm in Jamaica Plain, MA, open to all nannies (this includes au pairs and babysitters as well); regardless of MAPN membership. Pizza, drinks, and other lights foods were be served. If interested in upcoming events, visit: mapn@mapnannies.com.
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OTHER LOCAL NANNY GROUPS:
Join MAPN Free!
The Massachusetts Alliance of Professional Nannies (MAPN) is a non-profit organization that believes in strengthening the voice of the nanny in the workplace and within the childcare field as a whole. MAPN sponsors workshops, informational sessions, social connections, and activities with the express intent of fostering leadership among nannies and breaking the isolation imbedded within the nanny industry.
Information at http://www.mapnannies.com
MAPN is just starting a book discussion group. For more information, join MAPN and inquire about the group.
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Greater Boston Nanny Dinners: now officially a function of MAPN!
Join MAPN for free, and sign up for weekly announcements of when and where that week you can meet up with other nannies at a restaurant. Locations rotate all around the greater Boston area and suburbs, so a location will be convenient to everyone sometime. Information at http://www.mapnannies.com
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***NEW NANNY GROUP***:
Nanny and Friends of Rhode Island & So. Massachusetts
This group is to help connect local Nannys, parents and other providers for play dates, clothing swaps, field trips, information-sharing and general support.
JOIN ON FACEBOOK AT http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=111570888875212
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Nanny group for Western MA! Contact Judy at original nanny dot com.
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*****And the group for the area north of Boston:
NORTH OF BOSTON NANNY SUPPORT GROUP
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WAKEFIELD, MA AREA NANNY GROUP!
Check out the group on yahoo groups http://groups.yahoo.com/group/MaNannyandMoms/
We are an independent social and educational group for local nannies, by local nannies, since 2000. We are also a loose association of nannies connected via an email list (used only to send the twice-monthly newsletter).
All nannies and au pairs are welcome anytime: experienced, new to nannying, full-time, part-time, live-in, live-out, young and ‘vintage’ and all ages in between, currently working or seeking work, etc. Nannies don’t have a water cooler we can gather around to discuss the job. Come to nanny events, and brainstorm and chat with the only people who understand what we do for a living: other nannies!
No dues or fees! We keep our costs down to almost nothing (free meeting space, free speakers, pot luck, etc.) so I can pay them out of pocket, and no one has to stay away from not being able to afford to come. And other nanny groups’ events that are posted in the Nanny News are also either free, or low-cost.
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WHAT WE DO:
****Click on the tab at the top of the page FOR NEWS OF A MINI-NANNYPALOOZA CONFERENCE IN SEPTEMBER 2010, RIGHT HERE IN THE BOSTON AREA!
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*Free twice-monthly local “NANNY NEWS” email newsletter, to sign up email janstclair@aol.com with “Nanny News” in the subject line. Your email address will not be spammed or sold, and all BANSG group emails are “blind copied” so your address stays private.
*IN-PERSON GET-TOGETHERS (Click on the “EVENTS” page, at the top right side of this page.) **IMPORTANT UPDATE!**
*IN-PERSON GET-TOGETHERS- Sign up for the Nanny News emails for notice of get-togethers in coffee shops, restaurants, playspaces, and other meeting sites!
*NANNY NETWORKING- Find nanny friends in your neighborhood for playdates and after-work get-togethers. Click on Nanny Networking at the top of this welcome page for details.
*RESOURCES -We will be adding pages and files to this site over time. Currently there are hardcopy resources brought to in-person events, such as sample work agreements, nanny newsletters, etc.
* WEEKLY NANNY DINNERS- A group of MAPN nannies host a get-together at a different restaurant every week, all around the various communities in and around Boston so that distance will not be a barrier to any nanny attending at least some dinners. (See “EVENTS” for more information.)