Our Three Favorite Finds for 2007!

In celebration of the New Year, we’ve put together a short list of excellent resources for you and your family to preview:

Favorite Find #1

New for 2007, Nanny Boutique, Inc. has created a one-of-a-kind, custom-tailored handbook for parents & nannies living in the city!

“A Chicago Guide for Parents and Nannies”, is now available for purchase!
We’ve listened to your needs and interests,
And have compiled all of Chicago’s best resources for kids into one “easy to pack” booklet:

- 14 Easy Indoor Activity Ideas for Kids of All Ages
- Great Places to Visit in Every Chicago Neighborhood
- Amusement and Activity Centers
- Top-rated local classes
- Library locations & Information,
- Park District Facilities,
- Theaters
- Water playgrounds,
- Museums
…and so much more!
- Healthy Eating Tips and Snack Ideas for Children
- Chicago’s Emergency Contact Information
- A Pull-out Information Sheet for Your Personal Contact Information
- Medical & Liability Waivers for Your Family

Special Introductory Pricing Available for Our Clients: $30.00 (limited time only)
Non-Clients: $40.00

Interested in Buying a Copy?
Email us at: info@nannyboutique.com.
Please include your Name, Phone, & the Number of Copies you wish to Purchase!


Favorite Find #2

Bright Start College Savings Program
http://www.brightstartsavings.com/ (for more information)

- This highly-rated savings program is open to anyone interested in saving for a loved one’s higher education
- Currently ranked as the lowest cost college savings program in the nation
- Federal Tax-Free Treatment (qualified withdrawals only)
- Low Minimums and Contribution Requirements
- High Maximum Contribution Requirements
- Special Tax Benefits for Illinois Residents

Favorite Find #3

Great Kids MUSEUM Passport
Museum Pass Program
Chicago Public Library
http://www.chicagopubliclibrary.org/ (for more information)

How It Works:

- Adult Residents of the City of Chicago Can Check Out Museum Passports at all Chicago Public Library Locations with a Valid Chicago Public Library Card
- Only One Passport Can be Checked Out Per Person – Loan Period is One Week
- Passport Allows up to Four (4) Family Members Free Entry into Any of the Thirteen (13) Participating Museums
- Museum Passport Can be Used an Unlimited Amount of Time During the One Week Loan Period
- Each Library has a Limited Number of Passports for each of the 13 Museums
- Overdue Fine is: $1.00 per day and Lost Passports are: $30.00

- Passports cannot be Renewed or Reserved
- Passports are Available at the Main Desk of Your Local Library

We hope our favorites will help make your family’s 2007 more enjoyable!

Top 100 Family-Friendly Companies 2006

Our nanny boutique research team is continually searching for news-worthy publications that may be of interest to our families and nannies. We recognize the importance of finding helpful resources pertaining to education, learning, care-giving tactics, and family life. We know how important your family’s are, and hope that this information will be useful to you, now, or in the future.

The following link will take you to the 21st Annual compilation of the Top 100 Family-Friendly Companies, which have been measured and scored in seven areas: workforce profile, compensation, child care, flexibility, time off and leaves, family-friendly programs and company culture:

http://www.workingmother.com/web?service=direct/1/ViewTopListingPage/dlinkEntireList&sp=77


We are dedicated to helping our families and nannies find great information and will continue to share our findings with you in the future!

Beat the Indoor Blues!

The weather is turning in Chicago and the long days of winter are almost here.
After an active summer of neighborhood walks, parks, and exploring the outdoors with your children, the thought of being stuck indoors all winter may be making your family restless!

Fear not.

We’ve found some great indoor games and child-friendly activities to help your family beat winter boredom and fatigue.
Don’t worry about going to the store for new toys; most of these creative activities are made up from common household items.
You’ll be amazed at how much fun you and your family can have when you’re stuck inside.
We encourage you to share the games you like with your nannies!

Popcorn Game (Great for Ages 6 months – 8 years)
What You Need:
Blanket or a bed sheet
Lightweight balls or beach ball
What You Do:
Put some lightweight balls in the middle of the blanket or bed sheet
Hold the corners of the blanket (need two people, one on each side)
Shake the blanket and watch the balls pop up in the air like popcorn.
Catch them back on the blanket and shake it again!

Toddler Parade Game (Great for Ages 1 – 3 years)
What You Need:
Several of your child’s favorite toys, all of similar sizes.
Short pieces of string, or shoelaces
What You Do:
Tie the toys together with short lengths of string so your child can pull the “parade” of toys behind him/her.
Play lively marching music while “marching” around the house with the toys trailing behind.
Watch your child enjoy seeing his/her favorite toys in all in a line!

Texture Book (Great for Ages 1 – 3 years)
What You Need:
Collect a variety of Materials: cloth, burlap, foil, wax paper, bubble wrap, fleece, sand paper, etc
What You Do:
Glue a large square of each material onto cardboard or construction paper.
Tie the sheets of paper with string so it opens and closes like a book.
When you explore the book with your toddler, describe the different sensations you both are feeling.

Making Music in the Kitchen (Great for Ages 1 – 5 years)
What You Need:
Wooden and Metal Bowls, wooden spoons, lightweight pans (like cake pans and frying pans), metal lids of different sizes, and plastic measuring cups
What You Do:
Place all the kitchen items on the floor.
Show your child how to use the wooden spoons to bang on different pots, pans and lids to make different musical noises and beats.
With older toddlers, have them stop and start their music by your instructions.
Encourage playing their kitchen instruments all different ways: gently, slowly, fast.
Show your child the difference in sounds.
Play along to a favorite CD and encourage your baby to add in his/her own percussion beats and sounds!

Paper Clip Art (Great for Ages 2 – 8 years)
What You Need:
Crayons of various colors, one must be black
White paper
Paper clip or used up pen
What You Do:
Color a design on the white paper with various colors of crayons. Color darkly.
After the page is covered with color, color over the whole thing with black crayon. Press down hard so all of the other colors are covered by the black.
Use the paper clip or pen to scratch out your own fireworks display!

We hope you and your kids take some time to enjoy some of these around-the-house activities.
If you liked this sampling of creative indoor play, be on the look out for “A Chicago Guide for Parents & Nannies”, our newest resource guide coming in January 2007!

We encourage you to use our website: www.nannyboutique.com to find more indoor play ideas for kids in Chicago. Take a look at our “Activities for Kids” section as well as our “Reading Room”. We know this winter will be filled with lots of indoor fun for you and your family!