Trusting Connections

Parenting Tips/Tricks

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Rekindle Your Love – Hire A Date Night Sitter

Parents, we know how tough parenthood can get, and somewhere along the way, you and your significant other lost that spark that was once so strong, so alive, so intense. Yep, the honeymoon phase. The time where you get showered with gifts, flowers, and spontaneous weekend trips – the time where date nights was something simple to schedule.

Now, it’s hard to even get a little time to yourself let alone with each other. Parenthood is a great journey, a priceless one indeed, but don’t forget the partner and companion that is traveling the journey with you. Start to rekindle your love by taking the first step- scheduling a very over-due, much-needed, and well-deserved date night.

Rekindle Your Love: A Solution

Let Trusting Connections Nanny Agency help you find that spark again. Through our Flex Services, parents can be at ease knowing they have a reputable agency that can provide safe, reliable, and trustworthy childcare. As members of our agency, parents can utilize our experienced, knowledgable, fully-screened, and agency-employed nannies and sitters 24/7, 365 days year. So go ahead and schedule a surprise date night next Friday, make reservations at that five-star restaurant you both have been dying to try, or purchase those concert tickets you’ve been looking at all month.

More Than Just A Date Night Sitter

Our date night sitters are not your typical babysitters. Our sitters can offer and create an engaging experience for your children through educational activities that will help them thrive. But wait, what are the kids going to eat? Didn’t get the chance to fold the last load of laundry yet? Our date night sitters can take care of that. Our sitter services range from meal prepping, light housekeeping, tutoring, transportation, and so much more.

Valentine’s Day is next week, and it couldn’t be a better time to relight your love for one another, and it doesn’t have to stop there. Start incorporating date nights into your weekly calendar and prioritize it like it’s the big project presentation you’ve been working on. Take time to sit down, talk and re-connect. Doing this may not only help spice up your love life, but it can also help remind you that the parenthood journey you both are on should be appreciated, respected, and above all – fun.

 

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TC’s Top 10 Picks for Kids Activities in Phoenix

Content enthusiastically approved by Co-Founder and Momtrepreneur, Rosalind Prather. Writing accredited to Kayla Formalejo, Trusting Connections Intern.
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Looking for the best kids activities in Phoenix? Search no further! Our childcare experts have narrowed your choices down to our Top 10 favorites for locals and visitors alike.

  1. LEGOLAND Discovery Center

Why We Love It: LEGOS® GALORE! Get ready to enter the land of Legos® and watch, build and play in all 10 of the different attractions offered. Spark your little builder’s imagination by walking through MINILAND® – a town built from over a million different bricks, making up interactive play towers, airships and city landscape. Next, race your speedy Lego® car at the tracks, garden at the DUPLO® farm, or get tips and tricks on building at the Creative Workshop. Finally, don’t forget to visit Olivia, Emma, Mia and Andrea at Lego® Friends Heartlake City or explore the extensive Dino exhibit! Once you think you’ve seen it all, encourage your kiddo to run around on the jungle gym with the other little builders and afterwards, enjoy a carefully crafted treat at the Café.

2. Scottsdale’s McCormick-Stillman Railroad Park

Why We Love It: Spark your long-forgotten love of getting your hands and feet dirty. See the world from the eyes of your children again. At this 30-acre railroad park, there’s plenty of room for running around and blowing off some steam (pun intended). Bring your train lovers to explore the museum with model trains and a full-sized train on site to gawk over. Don’t forget to board the miniature train-ride afterwards to make it a full experience. Say yes to a beautiful day in the sunniest parts of Arizona. And make sure you’re on your best behavior, or else the “Sheriff” might take you to “jail”! In addition to the two shaded playgrounds, there’s a mini Western town with a stagecoach, jail and a general store. A carousel, snack bars, souvenir shops, ramadas – there’s nothing this park doesn’t have.

3. i.d.e.a Museum

Why We Love It: Museum? More like an indoor playground built for adventure! Spark and satisfy curiosity and get those creative juices flowing by exploring, creating and discovering through one, or all, of the multi-themed hands-on activities and imaginative “towns” available. Try ARTVILLE to explore and discover through this tactile and imaginative play. Fascination always comes with construction, and here they offer the opportunity to become a real-life builder. Construct and design structures, buildings and bridges at the HUB. Then, geek out with your little one and engage in the interactive Solar System exhibit. This exhibit is created with science, technology, engineering, art and math (STEAM). Finally, enjoy one of the special exhibits such as Infant Messy Creations Series for sensory exploration. We all know how hard it is to enforce “keep your hands to yourself”!

4. OdySea Aquarium 

Why We Love It: This will have people of all ages mesmerized and amazed! Lots of energy and boundless curiosity? Don’t miss out on a perfect family-outing where you’ll get the most bang for your buck, with displays ranging from captivating to informational. OdySea is the largest marine aquarium in the Southwest, spanning over 200,000 square feet, holding 2M gallons of water! There are over 30,000 animals and 500 different species in 50 exhibits to keep your attention. Give your kiddos the opportunity to see live marine-life when pictures from a book come to life: exhibits including penguins, sea turtles, jellyfish and countless more.

Tour guides span the area with knowledgeable facts and answers ready to questions. If that’s not enough, there are special tours available such as the Shark Tour, exploring all about sharks from a behind the scenes look and visiting the kitchen to learn what they eat and specifics about veterinary care.

5. Butterfly Wonderland

Why We Love It: This place is truly a “wonder”land. Start with the educational and moving 3D film about the flight and plight of the Monarch Butterflies. Afterwards, watch the beautiful butterflies dry their wings in the Emergence Gallery and follow them into the largest Rainforest Conservatory in the United States. Then, prepare to be transported into a serene and surreal world where you will find yourself amongst over 3,000 free-flying butterflies of various species from around the world, fluttering between the lush tropical plants and flowers.

Keep the camera handy! You’ll want to capture this one-of-a-kind experience by the dozens; worthy of its own album. This is a great way to get the little ones to move slowly and if they stand still long enough, a butterfly hitch-hiker might land on a shoulder. The fun doesn’t stop there though. Get an up-close and educational experience with the Rainforest Reptile and Amphibian exhibit. Then, see the Honey Bee Extravaganza and the large Aquariums filled with African Cichllids, Amazon Pacu fish and other colorful exotic fish.

6. Children’s Museum of Phoenix

Why We Love It: This museum is better described as the Children’s Playhouse of Phoenix! You can entertain littles or bigs with three floors of nonstop fun. Each floor has a baby zone and a big kid zone for safe play. A giant jungle gym treehouse made of recycled materials encompasses the first floor for climbing, hopping, skipping, and sliding. Next, take the kiddos upstairs to the second floor for more focus-based activities like arts and crafts, creating/building and learning stations. Keep exploring to find all the hits: a grocery store, a “house” area with baby dolls, a pizza shop, a noodle forest, a racetrack, and a tricycle carwash. Mini games, workshops and magic shows – even the parents will find themselves wanting to come back!

7. Arizona Museum of Natural History

Why We Love It: Listen up, Arizonians and visitors! The perfect way to learn the history of how this state came to be through the eyes of the Natives is at the Arizona Museum of Natural History. Not only will your little ones learn in an educational and fun way, but you’ll probably gain some insight to history even you never knew before. Explore the Anthropology Section to learn about the daily habits and living techniques of the early Arizona settlers. Take a step back in time and see all of the different fossils of dinosaurs, fish and wildlife. With over 50,000 historic objects in 7 different collections, you and your little ones will have plenty to see!

8. Musical Instrument Museum

Why We Love It: Make some memories at the Musical Instrument Museum! There is a variety of classes for all different age levels. Mini music makers up to age five have the opportunity to play, sing and dance with each other. Or, explore the different cultures that make up the beauty of music from around the world. Plan your visit during the special events to experience one-of-a-kind concert. However, a spectacular collection of instruments is always on display. Your kids will not only be immersed in the music. They will also learn music history and be introduced to tunes from different continents.

9. iFLY Phoenix Indoor Skydiving

Why We Love It:  Calling all thrill-seekers, ages 3-103! Ever want to know what it’s like to fly? Ever want to skydive, but don’t want to jump out of a big airplane? Or, if you’re just looking for some good ol’ excitement, here it is! A dream becomes a reality as you float on a smooth cushion of air in the Wind Tunnel at iFLY, an indoor Phoenix Indoor Skydiving arena. The expertly trained and certified Bodyflight instructors will guide you through the fully controlled “flying” adventure.

Feeling really brave? Also available for the ultimate thrill, is iFLY VR with the rush of skydiving from a 13,000 feet free-fall with Virtual Reality technology, set in various spectacular locations. Some events are custom designed for individuals with physical and cognitive challenges.

10. As You Wish

Why We Love It: Pottery and paint, this is arts and crafts made easy and fun for the whole family. To start, choose from a wide variety of creative pottery options: plates, platters, photo holders, planters, bowls, cups, wall hangings, animals, characters and more. What seems like an unlimited selection of colors of paint line the walls, along with brushes and stencils. Then get to painting and make them your own – the limit of your imagination is the only limit! After the masterpiece is done baking, return and see your little ones beam with joy and pride when they receive their finished creation! Classes and workshops are available for those who want to get a little more fancy. Big groups and party events are encouraged – the more the merrier!

Looking for high quality child care? Our nannies and sitters are your gateway to kid-free time. But that doesn’t mean your kiddos have to miss out. Our nannies and sitters can take kids on pre-approved outings to enjoy these and other kids activities in Phoenix.  If you live in Phoenix, check out everything our memberships have to offer. Just visiting? Our Resort and Hotel Sitters are the perfect addition to your vacation.

More Kids Activities in Phoenix…

Honorable Mention: Our Co-Founder, Rosalind Prather, raves about Makutu’s Island: “My kids beg to drive all the way up to Chandler just for this. This massive indoor jungle gym is fashioned like a sprawling tree. It’s imaginative, great exercise and loads of adventurous fun. My husband and I even crawl through the tunnels and go down the slides, which really makes the girls giggle.”

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Top 5 Sitter Safety Tips For Parents

Finding safe and quality childcare can be stressful and quite overwhelming for parents. With so many apps and online sites available, it is so easy to find sitters, but there are high risks when parents are searching on their own without the expertise or resources that a local nanny agency can offer.

If you do decide on finding your own sitter either through referrals or on an online database, here are a few sitter safety tips one of our Co-Founders, Rosalind Prather would like to share to help keep you and your kids safe.

Tip #1: Understand that online nanny finder sites and apps are not the same as a local brick and mortar agency.

Anyone can create an online profile but parents need to be extra cautious especially when you haven’t met the nannies in person yet, and most nannies and sitters online are not screened or vetted. We strongly recommend families to consider an extensive screening process to ensure that the sitter you hire is safe, knowledgeable, and qualified.

Tip #2: Background checks are only one piece of the screening process.

Background checks shouldn’t be the only criteria you consider when you search for your nanny. Trusting Connections have a meticulous 21-point process that we have each one of our nannies go through before joining our agency. In addition to a background check, parents should consider having the sitter take a drug test, make reference checks to get insights on past employers about the nanny, and schedule in-person interviews so you can get to know the sitter personally.

Tip #3: Just because someone you know refers you to a sitter doesn’t make the sitter safe.

Similar to tip #2 above, we strongly recommend parents to carefully vet each candidate even if he/she was given raving reviews by someone you know. If there is anything that makes you slightly uncomfortable, trust your gut and consider this as a major red flag.

Tip #4: Honestly really matters.

If the sitter or nanny can lie about the small stuff, they can certainly lie about the big stuff. Whether it’s a small white lie or a fib about her age, you should always take it seriously and consider other untruths that may affect the quality of care the sitter or nanny can provide for your family.

Tip #5: Even after you hire a sitter, you should still continue to take time to occasional observe her in action.

You should never let your guard down. Remember, at the end of the day, you are hiring someone to look over your most precious possessions, and their care and safety is and should be a top priority that should never be compromised. Install nanny cams, which is legal in all states, to peek in throughout the day. Pop in from time to time or make spontaneous visits so you can get a feel of the care your nanny or sitter is providing.

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Whether you need a full-time nanny, part-time babysitter, or just an emergency back up childcare solution for those times when you are in a bind, we have the best nannies and sitters all in one place that can provide care you can trust when you needed the most 24/7, 365days year, even at a moment’s notice. Our agency has a DIY screening and consulting program for families that want to find a nanny on their own but still want to use our robust screening tools. We hope these sitter safety tips will help guide you in your search for your dream nanny or sitter.

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Halloween 2018 Safety Tips For Parents

By now, you may have your kid’s costume all planned, have around 5-10 pounds of candy bags, and your house all decked out with spooktacular decorations. Halloween is next week, but before you let your precious ones out, there are some safety suggestions parents should consider.

Here are some safety tips from the American Heart Association parents can follow to ensure your family has a fun and safe Halloween.

Tips For Trick-O-Treaters

  • Use flame-resistant costumes.
  • Plan a Trick-or-Treat route – Parents should know where the children are going. A parent or chaperone should accompany young children. It’s also a good idea to take routes where there are lots of fellow Trick-or-Treaters.
  • Make sure Trick-or-Treaters can see, and be seen. Provide a flashlight for the kids to use. If needed, add reflective tape to their costume or Trick-or-Treat bags.
  • Be cautious around animals, especially dogs.
  • Walk, never run.
  • Only visit homes with a porch light on.
  • Kids should accept treats at the door. Never go inside the house. Visit homes with the porchlights on.
  • Always steer away from the street. Find a sidewalk, if not sidewalk is available, walk on the edge of the roading facing traffic.
  • Always, always, look both ways before crossing a street. Follow traffic light and pedestrian signs and signals.
  • Check the treats before letting your kids eat. Make sure to throw away candy that is unwrapped, open packages, choking hazards, etc. Discard any items with brand names that you are not familiar with.

Parents should take be extra careful if the kids have food allergies. Click here for tips on how you can celebrate Halloween for Kids with food allergies.

Tips for Treat Givers

If you are planning to hand out treats, follow these safety tips:

  • Sweep leaves from your sidewalks and steps. Make sure your Halloween decorations are out of the way to prevent any injuries from falling or tripping.
  • Restrain your pets.
  • Make sure your porch light is on, and your home is well-lit so young visitors can see.

Most importantly, we want everyone, kids and adults, to have a fun Halloween. To see more parenting tips, check out our blog!

Reference: American Heart Association

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Back To School Care Tips For Parents

Back to School season is a time of the year every parent’s scheduling and planning skills are put to the test. From participating in the crazy tax-free weekend, shopping for school supplies to scheduling the kids’ transportation and care, it’s a month full of stress, confusion, anxiety and everything in between. However, there are some few hacks and secrets out there for parents to use and adopt into their weekly routine to make the summer-to-school transition a lot easier and smoother.

Plan, Plan, Plan

If you are a parent who already loves to plan and have a personal planner, go ahead and jot down all the key dates for the whole academic school year. Award ceremonies, open house, parent and teacher nights, PTA meetings, projects and other events. Go ahead and purchase a new separate planner, if needed, and use it to plan specifically towards your children’s school calendar.

Communication is Key

Communication is a two-way street. Keep the conversation going with both their children and the school staff. Get to know the teachers and set up a bi-weekly meeting with them to discuss your child’s progress, status, or any upcoming events or programs that will be happening. This way, you are always in the loop of what’s going on and get consistent updates on your child’s behavior and school development.

Get Reliable Before and After-School Care

Working parents can relate to the panic and stress of scheduling when to pick up their kid from school without missing a project’s deadline or the mandatory staff meeting. Use a service agency such as Trusting Connections, a nanny and sitter agency, can help provide consistent and reliable care 24/7, 365 days a year. No more worries on fighting to beat the traffic to get your kids to gymnastics or football practice on time! With the help of a sitter agency, a consistent nanny can be scheduled around the family’s agenda to ensure that the kids will never be late to school or after-school practice ever again!

Trusting Connections is currently having a big Back-To-School Sale all August long. Families who register anytime now through August 31st can enjoy having safe and reliable care by taking 40% off your Sitter Service Membership fee! Just use the promo code “drive40” during registration! Visit Trusting Connections to explore all the provided services. Services range from before and after-school care, weekend care, date nights, and many more!

Have an Emergency Plan

Kids are adventurous and energetic, and that means a bump in the head and a few trips and falls are bound to happen. Monkey bars and swings aren’t made from cotton so make sure you have an Emergency Plan set in mind. Give the school a reliable emergency contact number in case you can’t be reached. Have your kid’s hospital or doctor number on speed dial. Map out the fastest way from your work to your kid’s school and hospital and save it on your phone. Having an Emergency Plan can save parents significant time.

Prep, Prep, Prep

Similar to planning, you want to make sure the kids get fed before heading off to school and be full after coming home. Make your mornings a little bit less crazy and hectic by prepping your kids’ meals the night before. Pack healthy and easy-to-make lunches and snacks like apple slices, grapes, carrots, celery, and sandwiches. Another prep tip is to have them pick out their wardrobe the night before, so you don’t have to go through the “what to wear” debacle in the morning. If you have bought new footwear for the kiddos, here’s a neat trick to help to break them in: Take a ziplock bag and filled it with water. Place them inside the shoe and then place the shoes in the freezer for three to four hours to stretch them out. That way, your kid’s feet comfortable and blister free!

Hopefully, these tips can help parents be a bit more relaxed and composed following the busy school year that has recently or will soon arrive.

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Kids and Electronics – What Moms Need To Know

*** Trusting Connections’ special guest feature for this week’s blog post is Jeannie Long, owner and founder of Behavior Bake, a resource for parents to build confidence in their parenting. Jeannie has provided Autism services for the past 14 years and has experience working with parents and the behavioral health system of Arizona.

All right, let’s dare talk about electronics and our kids.  For all those moms who just looked around and thought, “Are you talking to me?”  Yes, I’m talking to you.  Let’s be real, when it comes to electronics and our children, we have mixed feelings.  Why is that?  How did the topic of electronics become a taboo of sorts? Let’s review some of the good, the bad, and the ugly of our relationship with electronics as moms.

The Good

We are busy moms doing our best every day.  Oftentimes, we are drowning in our “had to be done yesterday list,” while simultaneously attending to our children.  At times like these, electronics are a lifesaver. Our kids enjoy their e-time, and we get things done. It’s a win-win situation! But, before we know it, electronics have become an extension of our children’s bodies. Everything is smooth sailing. Until…

The Bad

The bad start to creep up when children start to engage in some negative behaviors (sighing, pleading, muttering underneath their breath, etc.) in order to get or keep their electronics.  We unintentionally, respond by using electronics to avoid or pacify these behaviors. We then find ourselves dependent on electronics to smooth over daily activities in public (restaurants, grocery store, wait times, etc.).  We make sure electronics are fully charged, games/movies are downloaded, and electronics are at hand.  Again, it can be a win-win for everyone. Until…

The Ugly

We know it becomes ugly when children start using severe forms of challenging behaviors (meltdowns, screaming matches, aggression, etc.) not only for electronics but also to avoid chores, social events, spending time with family, etc.  We find ourselves in a panic because the wi-fi is disconnected, the charger no longer works, or electronics are broken.  Although deep down we know the excessive use of electronics are unhealthy, the good blinds us from the bad and the ugly.  We are then frightened by the idea of limiting electronic use. Because of this fear, many moms are left playing the guessing game when faced with challenging behaviors (time-outs, “go to your room,” lectures, losing privileges, silent treatment, etc.)

Behavior Bake Tip: If you find yourself experiencing the bad and/or the ugly, take a step back and gather your ingredients and make a behavior recipe that results in less dependence on electronics.  Start by taking notes on when your child is engaged in e-time and what other opportunities they are missing to learn social skills such as waiting, leisure skills, exercise, life skills (chores), etc. Decide which routine in which you would like to reduce or eliminate electronic use.  Afterward, set limits and boundaries.  Sit down and have a discussion with your child about your new expectations ahead of time (i.e., “complete two chores and homework and then electronics will be available for 1 hour).

I’ll leave you with a question to consider:  What about parents who excessively use electronics?

– Written by M.C.

“Trust yourself, you know more than you think.” –Benjamin Spock

For more information please visit our website www.behaviorbake.com. Behavior Bake is also a participating merchant for Trusting Connections’ Membership Discount Program.

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