WOW WOW WOW WOW!!

On Sunday the 4th of February KiwiOz Nannies volunteered at the incredible Valentine's Party - Big Hearts for Little People event hosted by the Great Ormond Street Charity (GOSH) and 'GOSH' what an incredible day it was!

The event was a huge success and £211, 115 was raised towards their three year target of £750, 000!
All the money raised at the Valentine’s Party will go towards a new specialised building for Sight and Sound at Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH). Children with visual or hearing impairments make up the largest outpatient group at GOSH – with an average of over 2,900 patient visits each month from across the UK. Although they are already receiving world class care, the new, highly specialised facilities will help to dramatically improve their overall experience of coming to hospital.

On the day our KiwiOz Nannies were distributed throughout the event to cover some of the awesome activities they had lined up for the children - they had everything from Robot coding, cupcake decorating and t-shirt printing! The adult party - goers were invited to bid on the luxury silent auction, buy scratch card raffle tickets and pledge donations towards specialist equipment at the hospital. One lucky party-goer in particular went home with a KiwiOz Nanny search up to the value of £3000 and we just can't wait for the chance to find them a great KiwiOz Nanny!

Once again, it was our pleasure to be involved with this wonderful event, here's a few pics below of what we got up to on the day!

Massive shout out to our Valtenines Party competition winners - Chris, Martha and Barnaby!

Over the last couple of weeks KiwiOz gave our nannies the chance to enter their KiwiOz families into the draw to win tickets to the Great Ormond Street Charity Valentine's Party - Big Hearts for Little People valued at £500!

We met up with the trio on the day to see what they were getting up to and boy were they having fun, from biscuit decorating to balloon walls and all the bits in between, Martha and Barnaby (and Chris) were definitely making the most of it - we are so glad you could make it.

It was such a fun day and all in aid of a new specialised building for Sight and Sound at Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH), stay tuned for more ins and outs of the day and how it unfolded.

We are well and truly into 2018 and with that comes our very first Nanny of the Month! And what a better lovely lady to do so than the wonderful Gemma - have a read for yourself why Gemma is our Nanny of the Month!

Tell us why you recommend your Nanny. What does she do that is great with the kids? To help you? How is your life better?
I've recently returned to work as the Managing Director of KiwiOz Nannies and I was just as scared and apprehensive about hiring a Nanny as any of our clients!

However, my amazing consultants found Gemma for us and she has made the transition back to work completely painless for me.

My little boy Ashton is 11 months old now and he absolutely adores her.
Gemma always arrives with a smile on her face (and a coffee for me!) and you can't really speak to her for the first couple of minutes as she is so focused on saying hello to Ashton.

She is always kind, gentle and affectionate with him, even when he's being disciplined, and they have so much fun!
When my husband is working from home he finds it very hard to stay in his office because he can just hear Ashton laughing his head off all day at her!

Gemma is very focused on Ashton's development which was important to me in a Nanny, and every day I come home to something new that he's learnt or is trying to do.

She makes fresh, nutritious meals for him, she organises his clothes and toys, she plans fun activities and the house is always spotless when she leaves.

She is definitely our Super Nanny.
__________________
Yayy congratulations Gemma!

If you think your KiwiOz Nanny should be our Nanny of the Month for 2018 then we would love to know why so send in your nominations today!

We've had so many great reviews come through already in 2018! Here is just a taster of the amazing stories to come...

What was your situation before you called KiwiOz? Why did you need our help?
I was coming to the end of my second maternity leave with two kids just 18 months apart. I had returned to full time work for only three months between having them and the eldest attended nursery then, but I knew that we need a better solution with two kids to look after. We were also about to move from London to the Cotswolds so there was lots of change going on in our lives.

What has been the best part about working with KiwiOz?
KiwiOz have been so proactive and helpful in the whole search process. Our nanny, Alex, is just the most wonderful person and has fit into our lives brilliantly. She loves our kids and vice versa. She brings a real zest for life to the time she spends with them and is always looking to explore new things. She has become a part of our family and makes everything work for us. A real treat!

Is there anything we could be doing to better help you?
No. You're great!

If you're a parent, what is life like with your new nanny? If you're a Nanny, what is life like in your new job?
Life is wonderful with Alex. She has fit into our life really well and has become part of the family. My husband and I both have demanding jobs and we know that at all times the children are happy, safe and loved with her. A great comfort to us!

Who was your consultant?
Julia

We love hearing your stories and how KiwiOz has help you and your family, so please feel free to share - they will not go unnoticed.

It was the 14th of December and Santa decided to take a break from his busy schedule to join the KiwiOz Kids at their Christmas Party! We laughed, and we sung, we danced, and we played! A special thank you to the lovely Leana at Leana Catherine Photography for capturing the whole morning for us.

From 10am, with Christmas carols on in the background, the children played together in our awesome ball pit, on our colourful tile mats, some even build Lego towers! Then we headed over to our colouring table and started some crazy Santa artworks, others opted for the reindeers! The colouring table shortly after turned into a cupcake decorating stall - which was a massive hit - although we have a feeling they may have been more excited about the cupcakes than the actual decorating (I know we were).

Then was the moment they had all been waiting for, Santa arrived! He 'Ho Ho Ho'd' all the way from the roof, some weren't so sure at first but when they caught wind that Santa had bought bubbles and candy canes they very quickly warmed up to him! One by one the children gathered round and told Santa what it was they were hoping for on Christmas day. Santa took note and said that he would give the message to his Elf's when he got back to the North Pole. Shortly after Santa's arrival he received a message that there was an emergency that he needed to get back to, so on his way he went back to his patiently waiting Reindeer and back to the North Pole!

Take a look at some of the lovely snaps below courtesy of Leana Catherine Photography.

We're SO excited to present to you our winner of Nanny of the Year for 2017 - SASHA!!

Sasha is such a star, and we have loved seeing her grow, and of course the twins, over the last year and a half. Sasha is heavily involved with KiwiOz by regularly attending our events, which we very much appreciate and enjoy having her!

Sasha exhibits every quality that a KiwiOz Nanny should - she is proactive, fun, loving and for all those reason and more Sasha is most definitely deserving of this crown but also the prize on offer - a FREE Travel Talk Tour to either Morocco, Egypt or Turkey!

Now to the nomination, whilst we received many amazing nominations (some of which will be featured in upcoming blogs) it was the nomination from Sasha's nanny family outlining - really confirming what we already know - just how amazing she is, that was the pick of the bunch. It's a bit of a read, but worth it, we admit there may have been a few goose bumps and pulling of heart strings around the office when we read it.

So here goes;

Tell us why you recommend your Nanny. What does she do that is great with the kids? To help you? How is your life better?

Sasha came into our lives when my twins were only three months old and I can’t imagine our lives without her. They are now 20 months old and she’s already our Nanny of the Year, this year and every year! Being a single father is not easy and I simply cannot imagine being able to manage my new business as a theatre producer without her. Often my job requires me to be at the theatre in the evenings and at short notice, and knowing that she is there to be relied upon makes everything possible. She’s become part of the family and nothing is ever too much trouble. To say that Sasha is CONSTANTLY going above and beyond the call of duty is an understatement.
A recent example of this was the incredible support she have me as I was caring for my mum who had terminal cancer. Mum was taken into hospital two days before Christmas and her dying wish was to pass away at home. The hospital allowed her to come home on Christmas Eve which threw my plans for a Christmas with the twins at home in London up in the air. Sasha swung into action and came up to the Midlands (where my mum lived) to ensure that the twins were properly cared for over Christmas, allowing me to make the most of the time I had left with my mum who sadly died a couple of days later. As if things weren’t bad enough coping with my mum’s illness, my daughter Martha was taken into hospital with bronchitis on the same night that my mum passed away. Without blinking, Sasha took care of Martha and stayed with her all night in the hospital until I was able to join her. It was the worst night of my life and I was being pulled in so many directions with the only comfort being that I knew Sasha was there taking as much care of Martha as I would have.

In addition to the hard times, she’s amazing at the fun stuff too - playing with Martha and Barnaby, singing with them and filling their lives with joy and happiness. She takes Barnaby and Martha to ‘mud club’, she reads to them and has numerous other nanny friends and children round to play at my house. She has taught them to say ‘uppy’, when they need to be picked up, ‘snacks’ when they are still hungry, and ‘share’ (an essential part of vocab for any set of twins) and most importantly to love each other. My children were born 10 weeks premature but with the wonderful support, love and dedication to their development that Sasha continues to provide, they have blossomed into the most amazing individuals with truly incredible talents. Martha loves books and Sasha is constantly reading with her. Barnaby is a big fan of hoovers and balls, and Sasha is always playing with them both and encouraging their individual personalities.

Not only is Sasha the most incredible nanny but she is also a terrific housemate. When the kids go to bed we relax, hang out and collapse in front of the TV together. I love having her in my life and this goes someway to explaining what an extraordinary human being she is.
_______
How incredible is that! We are absolutely blown away. Honestly Sasha, you are AMAZING!

We would like to give a special shout out to Travel Talk Tours for sponsoring this incredible competition and offering our Nanny of the Year - Sasha - with such an awesome prize! Stay tuned for some of the crazy deals they have coming up!

Good news is we are continuing our Nanny of the Month competition for 2018! So, if you think your KiwiOz Nanny deserves the recognition and monthly prize pack then get nominating.

Valentines Party, Big Hearts for Little People is returning for its fourth year—and we couldn’t be prouder to be once again sponsoring such a fantastic initiative.

On Sunday 4 February 2018 the Valentine's Party, Big Hearts for Little People, will take place at the Lindley Hall in London – all in aid of Great Ormond Street Hospital Charity. 

What the event involves

Children will be entertained between 3pm and 5.30pm with an array of activities including robot coding, cupcake decorating and t-shirt printing. Adult party-goers are invited to bid on the luxury silent auction, buy scratch card raffle tickets and pledge donations towards specialist equipment at the hospital.

Where the money will go

All the money raised at the Valentine’s Party will go towards a new specialised building for Sight and Sound at Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH). Children with visual or hearing impairments make up the largest outpatient group at GOSH – with an average of over 2,900 patient visits each month from across the UK. Although they are already receiving world class care, the new, highly specialised facilities will help to dramatically improve their overall experience of coming to hospital.

Register your interest

Tickets for this event are £160 for adults and £90 for children. If you are interested in attending this event or would like more information please email the Special Events team. 

Ways to support

If you would like to sponsor this event, donate a gift in kind to our silent auction or raffle or supply items for our luxury goody bags, please email the Special Events team to discuss the options further.

Merry Christmas and a very Happy New Year to all!

We have had such a tremendous year, many successful placements, welcoming a great deal of new clients and nannies, four new KiwiOz team members and so much more!

So, for all of those reasons and more we are taking a well-deserved break over the Christmas/ New Year period. Apologies in advance if this causes any inconvenience to you.

KiwiOz will be closed from 3pm Friday 22nd December 2017 and will reopen 9am Wednesday 3rd January 2018. If you require one of our many great nannies for the New Year be sure to contact us prior to closure so that we can get your search underway, otherwise we look forward to hearing from you in 2018.

We wish you a safe and happy holiday and thank you for your continued business and support throughout 2017 - here's to an equally if not better 2018!!!

Lots of love and cheer KiwiOz.

We have JUST extended our nominations, due to the popular request of some of our lovely KiwiOz families, so they don't miss out on the chance to nominate their fabulous KiwiOz Nanny!! We will now be drawing on the 11th of January. Don't miss this opportunity and the chance of your nanny winning a FREE tour plus wearing the Nanny of the Year for 2017 crown!

KiwiOz Nannies has partnered with Travel Talk  to give our lucky Nanny of the Year for 2017 a tour to either Morocco, Egypt or Turkey - our biggest prize yet!

This is one not to be missed so get your nominations in if you think your KiwiOz Nanny is the most deserving one of this amazing giveaway!

Nominations close Friday the 5th of January and will be drawn Monday the 8th of January!

This December, teach your children the true value of Christmas by giving back to your community.
 
The Christmas season is the perfect time to teach children the spirit of giving; lessons that can be revisited all year round.
 
It is easy for the younger generation to get wrapped in the commercialism of the season and miss the true meaning of the holidays when they are bombarded by the media and advertisements specifically targeted towards them.
 
Here are some ways you can teach children the true value of Christmas.
 
Find opportunities to volunteer
 
Whether it be collecting cans of food for your local food bank or distributing them to members of the community, it is important for children to see that not everyone is fortunate enough to have food aplenty at Christmas time.
 
Downplaying the gift giving factor
 
Gifts play an important part of the holiday season however encouraging your child to give a gift of 'time and talent' is a good introduction for kindling the spirit of Christmas.  Encourage each family member to contemplate how they can be of service to one another and exchange gifts of 'time and talents' in lieu of material gifts between siblings.
 
Helping the elderly
 
Simple acts of helping out a neighbour, sick relative or friend in need can help inspire the spirit of giving. Seniors who are isolated or don't have any extended family nearby will benefit from a visiting volunteer whether it be to share some time socialising or receiving help with odd jobs in their home. Likewise, a neighbour recovering from an illness or injury could probably use some help with meal preparation, or domestic chores or an incapacitated pet owner may appreciate an offer to walk their dog.
 
Other ways to help
 
Arrange a food, toy or clothing drive in your community to teach your children about charity and the joy of giving. A 'drive' for specific items such as teddy bears, pyjamas, books or shoes can be a very successful add-on to the traditional food or toy drive.
 
Limit the number of gifts for each family member and donate the money to charitable organizations that offer aid to families in third world countries.
 
Donate gently used books

Congratulations Hannah Orr !!!

Last but certainly not least for 2017 the lovely Hannah has taken out Nanny of the Month - December. Such a sweet nomination your family have sent in we just could not look past it. Emma is very lucky to have you as her nanny!

Tell us why you recommend your Nanny. What does she do that is great with the kids? To help you? How is your life better?

Hannah joined us in January 2016 as a live-in nanny to 2 year old Emma. We count our blessings every day. Right from the start she has been such an important part of our family. I never thought we would be so lucky to share our home with such a lovely young lady. She has helped Emma grow and I am in awe about how she has taught her so many things from putting her own shoes and coat on to making huge strides in potty training long before I thought any of it was possible. We have complete peace of mind that Emma is in good hands even on the odd occasion when we have to leave her in Hannah's sole care overnight. She is a loving carer even when Emma is not feeling well. She cooks the most delicious and healthy meals for Emma and often also for us! She is willing to go the extra mile to help keep the household going and is meticulous, observant and in complete control of the family calendar.
We hope she has a well-deserved time with her family and Adam in Australia and we look forward to having her as a part of our family for a very long time.
Thank you, Hannah. We think you are awesome!

You can nominate your nanny here to go in the draw for January 2018 Nanny of the Month.

First from a client:
What was your situation before you called KiwiOz? Why did you need our help?
I was about to go back to work and we needed a nanny

What has been the best part about working with KiwiOz?
They have been amazing throughout - super helpful, friendly, efficient and reliable. I couldn't recommend them more highly -Claudia was a real god-send!

Is there anything we could be doing to better help you?
No

If you're a parent, what is life like with your new nanny? If you're a Nanny, what is life like in your new job?
Our nanny, Mikayala, is incredible! We love her so much. Absolutely couldn't be happier.

Who was your consultant?
Claudia Todd

And now from a nanny:
What was your situation before you called KiwiOz? Why did you need our help?
I just arrived in the UK and was keen to find a nannying job as soon as possible! KiwiOz seemed like they could help me find a family that would be perfect for me.

What has been the best part about working with KiwiOz?
KiwiOz has been amazing with helping me find a job in London. I was not expecting to find a job that worked so well for me that quickly. The support they have given me from when I applied, to interviewing with families to my placement with my family has been awesome :)

Is there anything we could be doing to better help you?
Nope, everything you've done has been fab!

If you're a parent, what is life like with your new nanny? If you're a Nanny, what is life like in your new job?
I make dinner for the kids and do general washing etc in the mornings and then hang out with the kids, help with homework, give them dinner and put them to bed after school. The family are really lovely and pretty relaxed with what I do when I do it, as long as everything gets done :) the kids are very cool and I'm looking forward to spending more time with them!

Who was your consultant?
Miriam

How good is that? Thank you to this lovely client and nanny (separate nanny/ family) for sending in your KiwiOz stories. We would love to hear your KiwiOz story too so please feel free to send it in.

In recent years, concerns have arisen about a generation of children constantly immersed in a technological world.
 
How much is too much?
And when should the introduction to technology be made? Many have concerns about how dependent our children are becoming on tech in their everyday life, and speculate that this may contribute to social, emotional, and even physical, problems in their future. But an early introduction to beneficial technology, during preschool years, both in the classroom and the home, can be enormously beneficial.
 
The Early Years Foundation Stage points out that preschool age kids learn , traditionally, in a variety of ways, such as singing, dancing, coloring, and movement. Preschool education is not so much about learning facts, but about learning to grow and express yourself as a social being. And the correct amount of technology introduced into the learning environment can help young students to improve their communications skills and creativity. Technology can be one more tool in building a healthy, well-rounded child.
 
The key to deciding what technology is appropriate for a preschooler is to follow the one of the most famous precepts of healthcare professionals - first, do no harm. Any tech app which includes physical danger or intimidation, is emotionally charged, or exploitative in any way does not belong in the hands of young children. And, quite aside from the type of application, you must consider the amount of time a child is exposed to applications. Never allow technology to become the major tool in the classroom, or at home. The emphasis should always remain on the real world, and the child’s place in it.  Educational technology may well be useful in improving a child’s attention span, enabling them to develop skills more quickly, and engaging their interest on many levels.   But it  may also cause a disconnect from the real world, distancing them from their peers and teachers, and bring about a decrease in healthy outdoor play. As with many other things, a healthy balance is the key to success.
 
Some apps for you to try
Some of the best preschool apps out there make learning painless, and lots of fun. AlphaTots Alphabet teaches the alphabet with games and puzzles your child will enjoy. Peg + Cat Big Gig will have the little one singing and dancing as she learns about math.  And Monkey Preschool Lunchbox will introduce your child to counting, letters, colors, shapes, and patterns as they fill a monkey’s lunchbox. Best of all, these apps are all available for a minimum charge on iTunes and Google Play.

Welcome to the Hall of Fame in KiwiOz world Tilly.

We are so proud to be able to congratulate yet another Nanny for their amazing, hard work and dedication to the role. This is what Tilly's KiwiOz family had to say -

Tell us why you recommend your Nanny. What does she do that is great with the kids? To help you? How is your life better?

I really cannot think that there is a better Nanny in the northern or southern hemisphere. Tilly is a joy to have around, she is a delight with our 18-month-old twins, they have thrived under her care. She fills their days with fun and enriching activities, cooks them delicious homecooked meals, that not only the children but we also enjoy. We recently got married and had a naming ceremony for the twins and Tilly was such an important part of the day ensuring that the twins could enjoy all of it without ever feeling overwhelmed! We all adore her and appreciate all she does for us and most importantly the twins.
The only criticism I have is that she has established very high cuisine standards in the twins and when I try and pass off anything that is not wholesome and homemade it does not wash!

What special memories to be a part of and a wonderful family equally for welcoming you. We especially like the comment about the 'high cuisine standards'. Well done Tilly - a special KiwiOz pack coming your way for all your efforts.

If you would like to give your nanny the chance to go in the draw for our next Nanny of the Month you can enter using this link.

We just could not wait to post this review from our amazing client and if you too would like to submit a review then please do so, we love reading them.

What was your situation before you called KiwiOz? Why did you need our help?
After having our second child we needed a live in nanny. This was new territory for us and we knew we wanted to find a well-regarded and established agency to guide us through the process. KiwiOz did that and more. They answered all of our questions and helped us understand what we could do to ensure the hire would be a success.

What has been the best part about working with KiwiOz?
I cannot fault the service at KiwiOz. They are incredibly professional, whilst being friendly, accessible, always available to answer any question no matter how small. Miriam was an excellent guide and sounding board during every step of the process from interview to selection to offer and the early weeks of the hire.

Is there anything we could be doing to better help you?
No, nothing! I think perhaps I needed to be told that I shouldn’t be waiting until after a second interview to offer a good candidate as they are likely to be snapped up quickly, so we lost out on a couple of good nannies that way. But I love our current nanny so I feel that was all meant to be! And I think maybe it was my responsibility to realise that the market is so competitive that one has to move quickly and often we cannot afford a second interview or meeting in person.

If you're a parent, what is life like with your new nanny? If you're a Nanny, what is life like in your new job?
Talia is on her second week and she has been great. Already she has made such a difference to our quality of life and I am so grateful for that. She is a joy to have around the home and has been very patient with the time it’s taking for the children to get used to her - predominantly my 3.5 year old daughter. I cannot fault her. She has been fantastic and we are so thrilled to have her join our family.

Who was your consultant?
Miriam

Below are just some of the many reason, straight from our amazing clients, as to why you should choose KiwiOz to help you find your dream nanny.

Client review one:
What was your situation before you called KiwiOz? Why did you need our help?
Our previous nanny was about to leave after four years working with us. We found her through KiwiOz, so we contacted KiwiOz to help us to find a reliable and suitable nanny again.

What has been the best part about working with KiwiOz?
KiwiOz presented us with good, suitable candidates - based on the profile we were looking for. Communication with KiwiOz (Claudia Todd & colleagues) was always friendly, productive, timely and to the point.

Is there anything we could be doing to better help you?
Not at this point.

If you're a parent, what is life like with your new nanny? If you're a Nanny, what is life like in your new job?
We are used to working with a nanny. However, starting with a new nanny is always exciting and challenging - will the new person fit into our live and family? It's also a good opportunity to review previous modes of conduct and see what can be changed and improved.

Who was your consultant?
Claudia Todd

Client review two:
What was your situation before you called KiwiOz? Why did you need our help?
Our previous nanny had sadly resigned to go back home to Wales.

What has been the best part about working with KiwiOz?
Very positive experience overall. Asked all the right questions to understand our needs. Supplied us with a few CV's to start with and organised the interview very efficiently. Supplied interview questions and guidance all the way along. Very supportive and helpful.

Is there anything we could be doing to better help you?
No!

If you're a parent, what is life like with your new nanny? If you're a Nanny, what is life like in your new job?
Kate is fantastic. She's enthusiastic, organised, efficient, dedicated to the children and willing to go that extra mile to help out. Kate's quickly fitted into the family, as a core part of the family and the kids, and we, love her.

Who was your consultant?
Julia Holman

If you to are looking for a fun, reliable, organised KiwiOz Nanny then look no further, contact us and chat to one of our friendly staff members on 0203 865 0913 or enquire online today.

Once you have read the nomination below you will understand just why the beautiful Aria has been selected as our Nanny of the Month.

"Aria is AMAZING. The kids love her, we love her, everyone is constantly telling us we have the best nanny ever (and we do).
From the minute that we wake up in the morning, everything is under control - healthy breakfast, teeth, hair, suncream and homework is all done before school, its always calm and never rushed. She even manages to find time to feed Axel and give him a cuddle.
She is so creative - from her birthday party styling to helping the girls with their arts and crafts - she never ceases to amaze us.
She is a fantastic cook and makes the best birthday cakes ever aswell as cooking for the girls day in and day out. And sometimes even cooks for me too - always yummy, healthy food and very resourceful using up all the leftovers in the fridge and still managing to make a delicious spag bol! She makes delicious picnics, and healthy snacks.
She is a great swimmer and often takes the girls swimming , aswell as teaching Axel how to swim (he loves it).
Aria has lived with us for nearly 2 years - never had an argument -she is the most chilled and lovely person to have in the house - helpful, thoughtful, fun and kind."

Wow, what else can we say? That really says it all, congratualtions Aria, you're amazing.
To tell us about your KiwiOz Nanny and nominate them for our next Nanny of the Month then please do, we would love to hear all about it.

Halloween is typically a time where we celebrate all things ghastly, but not everything about October 31st is ghoulish.

The occasion is thought to date back to a tradition adopted by the Celts, more than 2000 years ago. November 1st was traditionally their New Years Day, and the night before was seen as a time when the living and dead came together.
 
Hallows Eve
However, it wasn’t until nearly a thousand years later that the Europeans came up with the term ‘Hallows Eve’. By this stage, November 1st marked All Saints Day. This was a special holy day to honour the saints and other people who died for their religion. The night before was called Hallows Eve, which later became Halloween.
 
Like the Celts, the Europeans also believed that the spirits would pay them a visit on Halloween. They worried that the spirits may harm them, so dressed up in all kinds of costumes as a protective measure. They thought that if they pretended to be dead, the spirits would leave them alone.
 
What about the pumpkins?
The tradition of Halloween has evolved somewhat over the years. As the celebrations were spread worldwide by immigrating Europeans, traditions were adapted to suit local climates. For example, in Europe people were sometimes seen carrying turnips with candles in, pumpkins were more readily available overseas- hence the modern day Jack O’Lanterns.
 
Trick or treat
The concept of ‘Trick or Treat’ stems from the ancient belief that the visiting ghouls would knock on doors in search of money or food. If they were turned away empty-handed, they would curse the unlucky homeowner.
 
An important part of history
These days Halloween isn’t celebrated in religious circles, however it is still seen as a fun occasion for children. Halloween plays an important part in European history and should be seen as an excellent opportunity to teach children why we celebrate traditions.
 
The importance of role play
Besides teaching an important part of history, Halloween is the perfect opportunity to teach children about role play. Role play is a simple concept where children get into character and act out a role or real-life context. This can help develop communication and language skills, develop social skills, encourage children to express their ideas and feelings and it also sparks creativity and imagination.

Scary Smoothies
Encourage your children to get their 5-a-day with these healthy smoothie recipes. Serve in a decorated mason jar or clear glass.
 
4 fresh oranges
2 cups ice
1/3 cup milk
1-2 tbsp honey
 
Blend until smooth.
 
Scary Mason Jars
Cut out the Jack O’Lantern’s mouth, eyes and nose from black electrical tape and stick all over your jar. Use creative license liberally.

The month of October will see KiwiOz pulling together with the community to raise much needed funds for the Make-A Wish Foundation. On the 27th of October at 10am we will be gathering at Clapham Common for a morning filled with walking, face painting, Halloween dress ups and so much more fun. Everyone is welcome to come along, the more the merrier!

A little bit of an insight from the Make-A-Wish Foundation to bring more awareness to what it is they do -

"Our purpose is simple. We grant magical wishes to enrich the lives of children and young people fighting life-threatening conditions.
 
The children we support are often enduring things most of us could never imagine. They’re going through gruelling treatment, endless medical appointments and spending time in hospital away from their home, friends and family. A far cry from the childhood they should be enjoying.
 
Granting their One True Wish provides seriously ill children with hope for the future, strength to cope and resilience to fight their condition. They’re given quality time away from the daily realities of living with their condition and have chance to make magical memories they can treasure forever – whatever their future may hold.
 
Last year, more than 2,300 seriously ill children turned to us, more than ever before. And with this number constantly growing, we can only grant their wishes with the help of people like you.
 
We want to transform the lives of 1,000 children this year by granting their One True Wish.
We receive no government funding – so rely on the support of people like you."

To read about any of the wishes that this wonderful foundation has previously granted and similarly what it is your donations will help to achieve click here. If you cannot make it to our KiwiOz Magic Miles you are still able to give, every penny counts, here is the link straight to our donations page.

What was your situation before you called KiwiOz? Why did you need our help?
I've been a chef for a very long time and needed a change. I got in contact with KiwiOz nannies and we got the ball rolling together.

What has been the best part about working with KiwiOz?
KiwiOz Nannies was so fast and efficient with getting my profile set up and arranging interviews. I had a job within two weeks and I've not looked back.

Is there anything we could be doing to better help you?
Not at this time.

If you're a parent, what is life like with your new nanny? If you're a Nanny, what is life like in your new job?
I feel so lucky to be with my family. It's such a big life change for me and I've really found a kind, understanding, friendly family for my first Nanny job.


Who was your consultant?
Claudia Todd

Thanks Rebecca for sending this in! What wonderful journey you are on. We are so glad we have been a part of it and helped you get to where you want to be, doing what makes you happy. If you too have a story you would like to share, please do!