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Joan Acocella writes a comprehensive and fascinating review of the popular literature on whether we are over-parenting our children. (see Acocella Review. She begins by discussing whether we’re spoiling them by placing inordinate value on every thought that crosses their minds, and putting every scribble on the refrigerator. What used to be called spoiling is […]

“A poor child is likely to hear millions fewer words at home than a child from a professional family. And the disparity matters.” This is a quote from “The Power Of Talking to Your Baby”, a New York Times article that discusses the research of Betty Hart and Todd Risley which was published a book […]

Our weekly routine is typically so busy and stressful, that sometimes the best thing we can do for our kids is to spend a holiday weekend at home relaxing rather than fighting the traffic to pack in another adventure or experience. How often do your kids get to do nothing, or, most importantly, see their […]

There has been a lot of attention paid lately to the cost of employing a nanny and whether it makes more sense for a mom to stay home from work rather than incur the cost of child care. Lilian Faulhaber, an associate professor of law at Boston University recently wrote an article for the New […]

10) A Parent’s Unexamined Ambivalence Regarding Going to Work Rather Than Staying Home with the Child This is a sensitive and complex topic. Hiring a nanny to care for a child is a very personal decision that no one outside of the parents can fully understand. Only the parents can judge whether this is the […]

9) The Nanny Has Too Much Responsibility for the Child. In Some Cases There Is Not Enough Involvement on the Part of the Parent. Very few parents, (if any) set out to turn over the role of parent to the nanny. These situations are relatively rare, but we sometimes see them, especially when the parent(s) […]

A nanny has a broader level of responsibility than a babysitter, and requires different personality strengths. This is an open letter to any family hiring a nanny. Taking the time to find and hire the right nanny the first time is an investment in your child’s future. Unlike a babysitter, who entertains a child for […]