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Boxes, cardboard tubes, and plastic bottles are great toys that you can also make "new" toys out of. I'm also a huge fan of the $1 section at Target. Cute (but cheap) little toys and craft kits. Even if they have nothing else, they always have fantastic little board books.


You mentioned she likes markers but likes trying to draw on herself. I'm not sure if it's within what you're willing to spend, but products like the Aquadoodle, and the H2-Whoa! allow kids to use water to draw with. They're reusable, durable, easy to clean, and she can't exactly draw on herself with water.


Because you work for an agency and can't give them things, if you buy books, toys, or other supplies, I'd suggest you don't give them any of it. The way I do it is I put together a "Traveling Toy Bag". The bag comes and goes with me as everything belongs to me, but the children I care for can play with what they want when I'm with them. Double bonus because kids tend to show more interest in things that belong to other people!


Something else to try; cooking. Nothing full out, but a box of cookie/cupcake mix will run you about $2 and kids LOVE to help make stuff. You measure out ingredients, they get to pour things into a bowl and mix it up. Jello and pudding were favorites with past kids.

That's rough, and I understand what you're dealing with--last week I was over an hour late (I've been late 2 times before, 30 mins and an hour respectively). Luckily my bosses didn't have any early meetings that day. It sucks and is embarrassing and totally undercuts all the hard work you put in when you're there.

I've had an impossible time waking up for years, no matter how much sleep I do or don't get. Like, I don't even hear the alarm blaring one foot from my ear. There's a combination of things I use, I'm sure you've tried them before but maybe there will be something you haven't tried yet.

-Set 2 alarms on my phone, one for when I actually need to get up, and another for about 30 mins before. The first one I usually don't hear but the second one I always do. I believe the first one wakes me from my deep sleep but the second one kicks me out of the "dozing mode" to full awake mode.
-Drink a glass or two of water before I go to sleep which makes me have to pee pretty badly when I wake up.
-I have this super loud alarm clock that I keep on the opposite side of the room.
-When I wake up, I turn on the lights and make my room as bright as possible (5:45a the sun isn't up yet!). If it's cold enough, open the door or step outside for a few seconds, that cold slap in the face will do the trick.
-I sometimes pull all the covers off my bed to resist getting back in.
-I'll splash cold water on my face or just start getting ready as soon as I wake up.
-Set my alarm to play workout music that won't put me back to sleep.

The only time I've had problems being on time are when I deviate from the above list. Honestly, it is a problem, just like any other, and requires me to stay consistent in fighting it and making sure it doesn't happen again.

As far as being around the family, of course it's going to be incredibly awkward, that part totally sucks. But you just gotta keep your head up, explain that you're doing everything you can to make sure this doesn't happen again, and keep being the awesome nanny you are. Good luck!

Highly recommend this book for you! http://www.amazon.com/French-Kids-Eat-Everything-Discovered/dp/0062103296

Cranium Hullabaloo! I have never seen children turn down this game. It was my brother's when he was younger, and I've played it with children as young as 16 months and as old as 7 years. There is fun music, silly dancing, and a bit of learning! Plus, it gets everyone up and moving, so it really wears kids out. It's kind of pricey since it isn't made anymore, but kids are seriously addicted to this thing.

So I cried my eyes out reading the little bit amazon let me, but here is a book. I may be leaving a family of 3 years in the fall and have been looking for something myself. http://www.amazon.com/Never-Say-Goodbye-Gillespie-Gant/dp/1400302536