Industry Insights

September 21, 2018 by Kim Tran

Gift Ideas For Your Nanny For National Nanny Recognition Week

We will be celebrating nannies all over the nation next week for National Nanny Recognition Week. According to NNRW.org, National Nanny Recognition Week is a week during which “families, businesses, and the media will be encouraged to focus on the positive aspects of the nanny profession, the important role nannies play in the lives of the families and the wonderful contribution they make in the lives of the children they care for.”

Did you know nannies are legally recognized as household employees? That means our nannies are and should be acknowledged as professional childcare providers and caregivers.

Nannies and other childcare providers play a vital part in the children’s life. Busy working families rely on nannies to provide the attention and care for their kids during the most important stages of the child’s development. The significant role nannies play is crucial in the family’s life and with NNRW happening next week, this is THE perfect time to show your love and appreciation to them.

Trusting Connections have gathered up some great gift ideas that you can give to your special nanny next week! Trust me, these gifts will leave a big smile on their faces!

Nanny Bag

Drive to your local Target and pick up one of these super cute Nanny Bags. They are so versatile and fashionable. This way, your nanny doesn’t have to carry three different bags every time she takes the kids to the park!

Personalized Jewelry

Nothing says we appreciate your hard work and love you as much as a personalized jewelry piece. Check out Something Remembered to see all the selections and items you can choose from. They are known for their special and customized items for any occasion to make a person feel special on their day!

Spa & Salon Package

We all know nannies are super hard workers. Running around and chasing after the kids every day can leave the body sore. Reward your nanny with a spa package so she can take a long and deserving relaxation session! Reach out to your local spa and salon to purchase some gift certificates/package today.

Bath Relaxation Gift Basket

A nanny deserves a much needed long bath. Gift her/him a gift basket filled with her favorite scented candles, lotion, bath bombs, and essential oils. Bath and Beyond carry numerous gift baskets you can choose from, including some DIY items so you can customize!

More Vacation Days

Make her/his day by surprising her/him with a few days off. Add some vacation days to their agenda so they can enjoy making personal plans! Rewarding a nanny a few extra days off can drastically influence their job motivation and increase job satisfaction. Show your appreciation by giving him/her some personal time.

Adult Coloring Books

Almost all nannies engage in some form of arts and crafts activity with the kids they are looking after. It can be fun, but also stressful when it comes to the mess! Adult coloring books will help relieve the nanny’s stress and help them focus and relax. You can easily purchase one on Amazon as well as your local craft store, so grab one today! The nanny can also enjoy coloring her book while the kids color theirs!

Keurig – Cofee & Tea Set

From helping the kids get ready for school all the way to help parents tuck them into bed, the nannies’ schedule can be quite busy and sometimes, they may need a bit of a pick-me-up. And you can help by gifting them a Keurig! Whether they are a tea person or a coffee fan, having a Keurig within reach can give them a quick coffee/tea break before getting back to their hectic daily schedule.

There are so many other ways you can show your love and appreciation to your nanny next week. Reach out to her/his friends and family and see what’s her favorite perfume, her favorite artist, restaurant, hobbies, etc. This will make your gift more personal and special, knowing that you put thought and research into this. Let show our nannies all the love and acknowledgment they so deserve!

August 24, 2018 by Kim Tran

Reliable Childcare Parents Can Trust – Phoenix’s Newest Nanny Agency

Make way Arizona, Phoenix just got the next Mary Poppins. Well, a team of Mary Poppins to be exact. Trusting Connections Nanny Agency have opened our doors and settled in Phoenix, serving families all over The Valley. With office operating in Dallas-Fort Worth and Tucson, Phoenix will be our third and newest location.

Trusting Connections is an award-winning sitter and nanny agency, providing safe and reliable childcare for all occasions 24/7, 365 days a year. If you’re a parent who’s looking for occasional care, full-time, consistent care, backup or sick care, Trusting Connections is the one to call. With our unique business model, offering membership packages and flexible services, families can customize and request care with ease. We are local, child care experts committed to offering exceptional, personalized care and superior customer service.

What makes Trusting Connections different from the rest?

We Get Personal

We meet every single one of our families in their homes. Families can speak to our Phoenix office staff directly without the hassle of fighting an automated system to get a question answered. The families we work with are important to us, and we value their thoughts and opinions deeply. We stay proactive in communicating with our Phoenix families through daily social media engagement, weekly blog posts, and monthly newsletters.

Fully-Screened & Agency Employed Nannies

Parents no longer need to worry or stress about billing, scheduling, or hiring. Trusting Connections takes care of everything. All the nannies are employed by the agency, meaning we hire, train, and manage them. We take care of their taxes, insurance, liability, and any other risks that parents face when attempting to hire a nanny on their own.

As for our recruitment of nannies, Trusting Connections is selectively picky, hiring 1 out of 9 nannies that we interview. We truly have one of the most rigorous screening processes in Phoenix and the industry, overall. All of our nannies go through an extensive and thorough hiring process. Minimum requirements must be met before hiring, some of which includes:

At least two years of professional childcare experience
At least three professional references
Complete Sex Abuse Awareness Training
Pass 5-Panel Drug Test
Comprehensive Criminal Background Criminal Check
Pass TC’s Core Care Competencies Exam ©

Click here to see the whole list of requirements TC has for their nannies.

24/7, 365 Days A Year, Service You Can Count On

Trusting Connections works hard to provide consistent, safe, trustworthy, and reliable childcare for families around the clock, even at a moment’s notice. We offer our members Emergency Back-Up Care for families who need last minute care, 24/7, 365 days a year. There are no usage requirements for families; parents can use our services as much as they want or as little as they need. You just simply pay for what you use.

Reliable Childcare Services For Every Occasion

Not only families in Phoenix can enjoy the peace of mind Trusting Connections offer, but churches, hotel and resorts, businesses, and daycare centers all around Phoenix can experience safe and reliable care as well. Trusting Connections offers a wide variety of services including hotel and resort care, special events care, corporate care, church care and much more. From weddings to conferences, Trusting Connections can and will deliver nothing but the best childcare for our Phoenix families and community. Trusting Connections is an industry leader that is truly raising-the-bar when it comes to standards of excellence for private child care services. Explore all the services we offer here.

Trusting Connections will be hosting a free event for Phoenix families in celebration of the grand opening of our award-winning nanny agency and sitter service on Saturday, October 13th from 9:30- 11:30 MST. There will be breakfast treats, games and activities for kids, door prizes and more for the whole family.

For event details, please click here.

July 27, 2018 by Kim Tran

Our Nannies And Sitters Are Here To Help

It’s that time of year again where summer break is coming to an end and a new school year is about to begin. Parents have already begun or will soon begin planning out their weekly schedule and for some, will be doing so with a little bit of anxiety and slight panic.

Things Every Working Parent Struggle With

Parents will find themselves planning, coordinating, more planning, finding and juggling flexible ways to mesh their work schedule with their children’s school schedule to ensure that everyone gets dropped off where they need to be and be picked up at the right time. Nothing is worse than having to pick up your kid at 3 pm and quickly drive them to their soccer practice that starts at 4 pm but only to get an email of an urgent mandatory staff meeting at 2:15 pm. Sounds familiar to any parents here?

How about scenario two: Waking up a little bit earlier than usual to prep and pack your kids’ lunch before heading off work to finish up a big project that has a 2 pm deadline but then find yourself in a bind when your child is in bed with a fever, stuffy nose, and a cough out from nowhere. Unexpected, unpredictable, and unpreventable. Sound relatable yet?

These situations can leave parents in disarray and overwhelm so why not let someone help and take over that anxiety and stress? We have a solid solution for you!

A Solution For All Parents

Did you know that the childcare industry is currently valued at $47 billion and still growing? According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, “employment of childcare workers is projected to grow 7 percent from 2016 to 2026, about as fast as the average for all occupations. Job opportunities for childcare workers are expected to be favorable.”

There’s a reason why the childcare industry is favorably growing, and that’s because busy working parents realize they do need that extra hand of help taking care of their children and there are many nanny agencies out there solely built and founded to provide those services!

Nanny agencies such as Trusting Connections is focused on helping and alleviating the stress that comes in finding reliable, trustworthy, knowledgeable, and experienced nannies and sitters for families of all situations. Our team of nannies and sitters can help parents with before and after-school care, meal prep, tutoring and much more. Whether you are a new parent needing a little overnight help, or a family who is looking for consistent care, it can all be done with the help of a nanny or a sitter! Let’s not forget date nights and those unanticipated sick days as well!

Trusting Connections understand how stressful this time of year can be for parents, so we want to help. August is a busy month for everyone, but it’s also a special month for us as Trusting Connections is celebrating our 7th Anniversary!

In celebration of our anniversary and the crazy back-to-school season, Trusting Connections is having the biggest sale of the year. Families can enjoy 40% off any of our sitter service membership. Let an agency like Trusting Connections help schedule a fitting nanny for your family. Our team of experts can help you find the right plan that best serves your family.

Trusting Connections – A Reliable Resource

Trusting Connections is an award-winning nanny agency focused and dedicated to providing full-service care for families all around Tucson, Phoenix, and Dallas-Fort Worth. Founded in Tucson by two former nannies, Trusting Connections and their team of childcare experts work hard matching families up with qualified nannies and sitters for all occasions. Recently, Trusting Connections have signed a contract with the University of Arizona as the selected vendor for UA’s Sick Care and Emergency Back-up Care program.

So parents, let our nannies and sitters help you with your back-to-school and other child care needs. Enjoy some free time in the morning to drink a good cup of coffee, finish that project with confidence, throw your best ideas out to your boss at the weekly staff meeting, plan out a spontaneous date night with your significant other next Friday, or schedule a weekend getaway. Get the peace of mind knowing you have a reliable and safe resource for all your childcare needs 24/7, 365 days a year.

Register anytime between August 1st- 31st and use promo code “drive40” to get 40% off our membership fee. This offer expires on August 31st and is only eligible for first-time family registrants. Parents can explore all the services Trusting Connections offer on our website in our Services page.

Trusting Connections Nanny Agency is here to deliver modern childcare to families while providing and serving priceless values and experience.

June 1, 2018 by Kim Tran

A Recap of the 33rd Annual INA Conference

A few weeks ago, Trusting Connections along with other nanny agencies and nannies all over the world joined together at the JW Marriott Starr Pass Resort & Spa for the 33rd INA Conference, hosted by the International Nanny Association.

It was my first INA conference and my first time visiting Arizona and as a first-time attendee, I wanted to take in as much as I can. If I were to describe Tucson in one word, it would be: Cacti.

Mountains and dry heat would tie for second place, but nothing beats the vast prickly defining plant you pass every 3 feet. Fun fact: did you know the seguaro cactus is protected under the Native Plant Protection Act? Becuase these plants take an incredibly long time to grow (having an estimated lifespan of 150-200 years), any removal or damage of the plant, anywhere, is a serious crime. You can face a felony criminal-damage charge and get up to twenty-five years in prison for cutting down a saguaro cactus. You sure don’t want to prick your way into that situation!

Besides the great view, I had a great experience at the conference. The attendees were all so welcoming and had a lot to share. I can tell that every single person there was passionate about childcare and genuinely love what they do. I strongly recommend anyone who is in the childcare industry or love working with kids to attend next year’s conference in the wonderful city of Jazz, New Orleans! There are many things you can invest your time and money in and the INA conference is an important one. Here’s a quick recap of my trip and hopefully it may help you see the value and worth of coming to next year’s conference!

Thursday Night – Opening Reception & Group Dinner

The conference started off with a happy hour reception with plenty of ice-breaker activities to meet everyone and introduce ourselves. It was an hour of fun-about-me facts, munching on delicious appetizers, and enjoying the scenery in awe. After meeting a few new agency friends, we all ended the night with a group dinner at El Charro, one of the most popular Mexican restaurant in Tucson, filled with good vibes and laughter.

Friday – Nannies, the Most Important People Ever

After a hearty breakfast and one or three good cups of coffee, attendees sat down to listen to our keynote speaker, Dr. Lynne Kenney, as she discussed on how we can elevate our productivity and live a better and healthier life. It was incredibly motivating and inspirational to hear. The conference strategically planned out several workshops that highlighted different topics and areas attendees can pick from. The topics ranged from financial planning and budgeting, marketing, recruiting, cultural sensitivity, to newborn care seminars. For new and experienced nannies and agency owners, attending these workshops is an invaluable opportunity. A key

takeaway from Friday, I believe, is that nannies are among the most important people in the world. The responsibilities of a nanny are critical. Nannies are in charge of taking care of the children, creating, molding, teaching, and manifesting the children’s behavioral skills and their overall development. A profound and very true statement indeed.

Friday Night – Dancing the Night Away, Western Style

After the information-filled day, I kicked off my heels and put on my first ever cowboy boots! Our TC team all put on our matching TC shirts and cowboys boots as we two-step our way over to Old Tucson, located adjacent to the Tucson Mountains, to enjoy a delicious southern BBQ feast! Old Tucson is a movie studio and premiere film location, known to film many classic western films starring John Wayne, Clint Eastwood, Elizabeth Taylor and more! There was food, drinks, and lots of dancing.

Saturday – Importance of Branding

Sunday started with another good healthy breakfast and some mingling before the second day of workshops begin. I was very excited for today as several seminars and workshops focused on the importance of social media and other Marketing tips you can do to help your company. My takeaway from Sunday is that the essence and importance of your brand, your logo, and your behavior with clients and other agencies really do signify your company and what you stand for.

Saturday Night – Partying up with Trusting Connections

After two exciting days filled with networking and insightful webinars, Saturday night ended with a fiesta some attendees described as, “a perfect cherry on top” to finish their conference trip. It just wouldn’t make sense for Trusting Connections to pass the opportunity of having the INA conference be held in Tucson and not host a party for all the attendees! A big shoutout to our Co-Founder and party planner, Mrs. Rosalind Prather, for setting up an unforgettable party for the TC team and INA attendees. We’re talking about delicious food, chips and salsa, drinks, live music, a red carpet entry behind TC’s huge backdrop banner (with props for that picture perfect selfie or groupie), and a body-sized cactus pinata! I couldn’t think of anywhere else to end my conference trip than to be with my incredible TC team and everyone else.

INA Conference – A Worthy Investment

To sum it up, the 33rd Annual INA Conference was filled with educational and insightful workshops, fun group gatherings, multiple networking breaks, loads of food, unlimited Starbucks coffee, endless laughter and conversation, countless amount of selfies and snaps, and breathtaking view of mountains and Seguaros. Overall, I believe my first INA Conference was nothing but amazing.

If you are interested in learning more about INA or information about next year’s conference, please visit the International Nanny Association website.

Written by Kim Tran, Marketing Assistant at Trusting Connections Nanny Agency.

April 13, 2018 by Rosalind Prather

2018 interNational Nanny Training Day

The following editorial was provided by Mary Alger, a nanny with over 25 years of experience and the organizer for this year’s interNational Nanny Training Day (iNNTD) in Dallas. Mary is a member of the Dallas Area Nannies organization actively promoting fellowship, planning, hosting playdates, several Nanny Night Outings, and holiday parties for nannies and their charges. Trusting Connections is a proud supporter and is honored to be one of the many sponsors for this year’s event.
_________________________________________________________________________________

Texas Nanny Network(TNN) and Dallas Area Nannies(DAN) in partnership with Nannypalooza and HomeWork Solutions, are proud to bring you interNational Nanny Training Day (iNNTD) Dallas 2018!

iNNTD was created and designed to recognize the needs of young children and to raise awareness of the positive correlation between educational training and improving quality care within our communities. This international incentive is a part of “The Week of the Young Child,” an annual celebration sponsored by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC).

On Saturday, April 21st, nannies and educators all over the U.S.A, England, Australia and Switzerland will gather to attend conferences designed to meet their unique needs. We have worked diligently to bring you an array of exciting workshops with topics given by local experts in their fields. This affordable training is a wonderful opportunity to network with other nannies in your area and enhance your professional skills and knowledge.

Workshops that will be offered will include:

Q and A with a Dallas area Pediatrician
Farm to Table Cooking With Children
Standard Industry Practices for the Career Nanny
Creating Your Professional Portfolio
– Bring Resume w/ references
– Pictures
– Headshots can be taken at the event for an additional cost

Each Ticket will include:

Free Coffee
Lunch
Swag Bags
Free Door Prizes
Raffle Tickets sold for a chance to win additional door prizes. Proceeds will go to charity.

Click here to purchase your tickets! Hurry, seats for selling fast! Purchase your tickets before the event is sold out!

If you can’t attend the Dallas event, don’t worry! Over 20 states are celebrating National Nanny Training Day! Click here for a list of participating locations and see if your state is hosting an NNTD event!

SPECIAL OFFERS

If you want to further your nanny or childcare training, consider this special offer from NannyTraining.com.

In celebration of interNational Nanny Training Day, NannyTraining.com is offering 50% off of its Nanny Certificate Course. Just enter the code: iNNTD2018 during checkout to save 50% off the course price of $69. Valid only between April 20-April 25, 2018.

January 5, 2018 by Rosalind Prather

New Year, New Nanny?

The winter holidays are over but the flu season is far from that. As students plan to head back to school, teachers and parents are preparing for the sickness that is prevalent this time of year. Daycare Centers and School Districts are asking parents to not send their child to school if he or she show any symptoms caused by the influenza virus. Parents may find themselves in a dilemma and are sometimes forced to miss work in order to care for a sick child. In these cases, our reliable nanny agency is just a phone call away.

Arizona is currently seeing the highest number of cases since the Arizona flu season began. According to the Arizona Department of Health Services, as of December 23, there have been been 5,051 laboratory-confirmed cases of influenza across the state this season, 1,920 cases being confirmed in the last week alone.

Trusting Connections Nanny Agency membership includes an in-home consultation where our experts will get to know your family’s needs to provide personalized child care. All nannies provided by Trusting Connections are fully-screened, agency-employed, high-quality professionals to ensure your family receive superb child care for your kids. Members will have access to Trusting Connections’ 24/7 emergency back-up care, 365 days a year. This means no running around frantically finding a sitter; Trusting Connections can typically provide a nanny to arrive within 90 minutes of each request. Having a reliable nanny agency offer parents great peace of mind knowing they can count on a nanny to be there for their children at a moment’s notice. Whether you need child care, school pick-ups or drop-offs, we holds true to our reputation as the most reliable nanny agency in the area.

Reliable and safe for any day or season, you can count on us to provide nothing but the best for your child. To register and become a member at Trusting Connections Nanny Agency, visit www.trustingconnections.com.

Industry Insights