Visit www.superbabysitting.com for free babysitting tips, advice and how to claim a first aid book and babysitters handbook.
After the arrival of a baby, you may want or need to get back to work ...
There are many reasons why you, a parent, want or need to get back to work, whatever your reason, on of the biggest worries will be how to solve the day care issue. It is not really fair to expect other family members such as granparents or parents to look after your child so you will need more than just a babysitter. There are several options open to you - day care facility, a child minder, au-pair or a nanny. But which is best for you?
Unfortunately, that is not an easy question to answer, it will depend on a variety of factors, not least how much you can afford and what services are available in your area.
Day care facilities offer certain advantages over nannies in that your child will get to interact with more children of similar age, as well as the adults, developing their social skills. They will also interact with different adults during the day. With a nanny, the child will be interacting with predominantly one adult and will meet and play with fewer other children.
Whichever you choose, avoid being hasty, don't just go with the first one you find. Check them out - a good day care facility will be able to provide evidence of staff training and will not be shy to show you round. Try to visit when other parents will be there and try to make the opportunity to talk to them. Get their feelings about the place. A Nanny or au-pair will be able to provide you with references, but these alone are probably not enough to allow you to make the decision. Interview the candidates and probe to find out how you feel they would cope with emergency situations. Also try to get to talk with their previous employers and find out how they were and why they left. Using an agency can be helpful here as they should already have done the necessary vetting of the staff on their books.
So, in short, when going back to work, don't rush into the organisation of your child's day care, check it out carefully and only make the decision when you are satisfied with the service and credentials offered.
Disclaimer: This is for informational purposes only, we can not accept any liability for any decision you make.
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Showing posts with label babysitter. Show all posts
Showing posts with label babysitter. Show all posts
Friday, 11 May 2007
Monday, 26 March 2007
Babysitting Advice - Is It Ever Right To Bribe Children?
Many new parents vow that their kids won’t be given sugary foods or stuck in front of a TV! They will only have healthy, well-balanced food and all play will be mentally stimulating and educational.
So…how come Junior is watching that Sesame Street DVD for the 20th time and snacking on cookies?
I’ll give in…just this once
If they’re honest, most parents and babysitters have fallen back on bribery at least once – usually a lot more than once! If you’re exhausted and crave a few minutes of peace and quiet, a little bribery seems the obvious way to go.
Babysitters are often in the awkward position of having to discipline the child – but not having the same level of authority as the parent. This is for two reasons. The babysitter isn’t the parent and doesn’t know the full history of what has and hasn’t worked with the child in the past. And bribery does work – at least in the short term – but what is it teaching the child?
Creating A Demanding Child
People who are steadfastly against bribery argue that it is encouraging children to behave badly as they know it will end in a bribe to stop that behavior.
It helps to look at the dictionary definition of a bribe. It’s ‘anything given or promised to induce a person to do something illegal or wrong’ – so that clearly isn’t what’s happening here. You’re using a ‘bribe’, but to induce good not bad behavior.
It’s All In The Timing
Bribery is offering payment before the deal is closed. In other words, once the child has what they want – why should they do what you want? Especially when yet more bad behavior is likely to result in another ‘gift’.
The fundamental difference between a bribe and a reward is the timing of the action. Whether it’s intended to induce good or bad behavior, a bribe is given before or during the bad behavior, to stop it.
A reward is given after the good behavior. If the good behavior doesn’t happen, neither does the reward.
Make The Child Do The Work
A huge amount of effort can go into persuading, coaxing, explaining and finally bribing a child. It’s exhausting, frustrating and worrying. So stop doing it! The ironic thing is that in the early stages, the reward will have to be offered prior to the situation arising. For example, tell the child that if they are good while you’re grocery shopping, you will be able to get round the store quicker which means there will be time to go to the park on the way home. It’s then up to the child to work for that reward.
Make The Power Shift
When you bribe a child – they have the power in the situation. They are manipulating you in order to gain a reward.
When you offer a reward – you both have power. You can give the reward or withhold it. The child can earn it or lose it. You’ll be surprised how quickly they learn!
Visit www.superbabysitting.com for free babysitting tips, advice and how to claim a first aid book and babysitters handbook.
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So…how come Junior is watching that Sesame Street DVD for the 20th time and snacking on cookies?
I’ll give in…just this once
If they’re honest, most parents and babysitters have fallen back on bribery at least once – usually a lot more than once! If you’re exhausted and crave a few minutes of peace and quiet, a little bribery seems the obvious way to go.
Babysitters are often in the awkward position of having to discipline the child – but not having the same level of authority as the parent. This is for two reasons. The babysitter isn’t the parent and doesn’t know the full history of what has and hasn’t worked with the child in the past. And bribery does work – at least in the short term – but what is it teaching the child?
Creating A Demanding Child
People who are steadfastly against bribery argue that it is encouraging children to behave badly as they know it will end in a bribe to stop that behavior.
It helps to look at the dictionary definition of a bribe. It’s ‘anything given or promised to induce a person to do something illegal or wrong’ – so that clearly isn’t what’s happening here. You’re using a ‘bribe’, but to induce good not bad behavior.
It’s All In The Timing
Bribery is offering payment before the deal is closed. In other words, once the child has what they want – why should they do what you want? Especially when yet more bad behavior is likely to result in another ‘gift’.
The fundamental difference between a bribe and a reward is the timing of the action. Whether it’s intended to induce good or bad behavior, a bribe is given before or during the bad behavior, to stop it.
A reward is given after the good behavior. If the good behavior doesn’t happen, neither does the reward.
Make The Child Do The Work
A huge amount of effort can go into persuading, coaxing, explaining and finally bribing a child. It’s exhausting, frustrating and worrying. So stop doing it! The ironic thing is that in the early stages, the reward will have to be offered prior to the situation arising. For example, tell the child that if they are good while you’re grocery shopping, you will be able to get round the store quicker which means there will be time to go to the park on the way home. It’s then up to the child to work for that reward.
Make The Power Shift
When you bribe a child – they have the power in the situation. They are manipulating you in order to gain a reward.
When you offer a reward – you both have power. You can give the reward or withhold it. The child can earn it or lose it. You’ll be surprised how quickly they learn!
Visit www.superbabysitting.com for free babysitting tips, advice and how to claim a first aid book and babysitters handbook.
Technorati tags ... babysitting, childcare, Parenting, Family, babycare, baby sitting
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Thursday, 22 March 2007
Why are there so many movies about babysitters and nannies? It’s because their privileged, immediate access to people’s homes, lives and children creates endless storylines. Here are ten movies featuring babysitters – is your favorite among them?
1. The Baby-Sitters Club
This 1995 film was based on the bestselling ‘Babysitters Club’ books by Ann Martin - the adventures of seven friends who start a babysitting business.
The film featured an early appearance by actress Rachael Leigh Cook. The babysitters start a summer camp for all of their kids but their plans go awry. In surmounting the obstacles, the babysitters learn how amazing true friendship is.
This is a perennial movie that all ages will love.
2. Adventures in Babysitting
This 1987 comedy starred Elisabeth Shue. It was directed by Chris Columbus, prior to his blockbusting ‘Home Alone’. Shue plays a babysitter who ends up taking her charges on a night-time romp in the city. The many adventures include being forced to sing in a blues bar – where they perform a hilarious song entitled ‘Babysitting Blues’.
The film was re-titled A Night On The Town for release in Europe. It’s an endearing comedy which has stood the test of time.
3. Mary Poppins
A huge favorite with all ages – Mary Poppins was made by Disney in 1964. It starred Julie Andrews as the nanny who is practically perfect in every way. She was ably supported by Dick Van Dyke (famed for his toe-curling, yet loveable cockney accent), David Tomlinson, Glynis Johns and Hermione Baddeley.
The film pioneered the combined use of real people, animation, musical and fantasy as well as some good special effects. Who can forget Uncle Albert (Ed Wyn) bouncing around the ceiling, laughing?
Mary Poppins won five Oscars, including Best Actress for Julie Andrews, Best Song and Best Visual Effects. It was released on DVD in 2000. A truly loved family film.
4. Mrs Doubtfire
Chris Columbus directed this 1994 huge hit comedy, starring Robin Williams, Sally Field and Pierce Brosnan. Williams plays a loving but unreliable father. This leads to an estrangement from his wife and in order to be back with his family, Williams’ character becomes Mrs Doubtfire – the dream nanny that his ex-wife needs.
Williams is on top form and there are some hilarious scenes – notably when he is being transformed into Doubtfire by his make-up artist brother, played by Harvey Fierstein. However, the film also has a poignant depth in the scenes where he is missing his children. Well worth seeing – Robin Williams steals the show!
5. Don’t Tell Mom The Babysitter’s Dead (rated 15)
This was made in 1991 and starred Christina Applegate. Sue Ellen (Applegate) thinks she is going to be in charge of her siblings when her mother goes away for two months. That is until a tyrannical babysitter arrives…
Worth seeing for the appearance of a young David Duchovny as a slimy clerk.
6. Halloween
This is only for under 17’s if accompanied by an adult - and for good reason. It is still one of the most frightening films ever made. Director John Carpenter’s use of scary music (written by him) darkness and creepy camera movements masterfully build the horror.
Jamie Lee Curtis is a teenage baby sitter trying to survive a knife-wielding maniac on the loose on a terrifying Halloween night.
Halloween was made on a low budget and was such a box office sensation that many sequels were made – none as good as the 1978 original. It’s a must-see movie but be warned…you’ll want to sleep with the lights on!
7. Daddy Day Care
This 2003 comedy starring Eddie Murphy and Anjelica Huston is great fun. Murphy and a friend are an unemployed pair who open a day-care center. Huston is their competitor, trying to shut them down. Great scenes with hyperactive kids!
8. The Hand That Rocks The Cradle
A 1992 film and another one where you’ll need an adult with you if you’re under 17. Rebecca De Mornay stars as an extremely disturbed au pair. The horrid fascination is in watching such an attractive, kind girl gradually revealing terrifying malevolence. Made in 1992, the film also features Julianne Moore.
9. Nanny McPhee
Emma Thompson is wonderful as the nanny with hairy warts, a scary unibrow and a mesmerizing buck tooth. She follows 17 nannies, already despatched by the children of a recent widower, played by Colin Firth. Unless the children are tamed, he stands to lose his lifeline inheritance from his aunt (Angela Lansbury). Celia Imrie is the bride set up for him but he loves the maid (Kelly Macdonald). Nanny McPhee and the kids plan to make things work out…
10. Don’t Bother To Knock
Made in 1953, this starred Marilyn Monroe, Anne Bancroft and Richard Widmark.
In her first starring role in a drama – Monroe plays a babysitter whose initially shy behaviour becomes more bizarre as the night goes on. The film becomes darker as the suspense grows – hence the Parent Guidance rating. Not one of her more famous films but worth it to see a wonderful performance – proving that Marilyn really could act.
Visit www.superbabysitting.com for free babysitting tips, advice and how to claim a first aid book and babysitters handbook.
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1. The Baby-Sitters Club
This 1995 film was based on the bestselling ‘Babysitters Club’ books by Ann Martin - the adventures of seven friends who start a babysitting business.
The film featured an early appearance by actress Rachael Leigh Cook. The babysitters start a summer camp for all of their kids but their plans go awry. In surmounting the obstacles, the babysitters learn how amazing true friendship is.
This is a perennial movie that all ages will love.
2. Adventures in Babysitting
This 1987 comedy starred Elisabeth Shue. It was directed by Chris Columbus, prior to his blockbusting ‘Home Alone’. Shue plays a babysitter who ends up taking her charges on a night-time romp in the city. The many adventures include being forced to sing in a blues bar – where they perform a hilarious song entitled ‘Babysitting Blues’.
The film was re-titled A Night On The Town for release in Europe. It’s an endearing comedy which has stood the test of time.
3. Mary Poppins
A huge favorite with all ages – Mary Poppins was made by Disney in 1964. It starred Julie Andrews as the nanny who is practically perfect in every way. She was ably supported by Dick Van Dyke (famed for his toe-curling, yet loveable cockney accent), David Tomlinson, Glynis Johns and Hermione Baddeley.
The film pioneered the combined use of real people, animation, musical and fantasy as well as some good special effects. Who can forget Uncle Albert (Ed Wyn) bouncing around the ceiling, laughing?
Mary Poppins won five Oscars, including Best Actress for Julie Andrews, Best Song and Best Visual Effects. It was released on DVD in 2000. A truly loved family film.
4. Mrs Doubtfire
Chris Columbus directed this 1994 huge hit comedy, starring Robin Williams, Sally Field and Pierce Brosnan. Williams plays a loving but unreliable father. This leads to an estrangement from his wife and in order to be back with his family, Williams’ character becomes Mrs Doubtfire – the dream nanny that his ex-wife needs.
Williams is on top form and there are some hilarious scenes – notably when he is being transformed into Doubtfire by his make-up artist brother, played by Harvey Fierstein. However, the film also has a poignant depth in the scenes where he is missing his children. Well worth seeing – Robin Williams steals the show!
5. Don’t Tell Mom The Babysitter’s Dead (rated 15)
This was made in 1991 and starred Christina Applegate. Sue Ellen (Applegate) thinks she is going to be in charge of her siblings when her mother goes away for two months. That is until a tyrannical babysitter arrives…
Worth seeing for the appearance of a young David Duchovny as a slimy clerk.
6. Halloween
This is only for under 17’s if accompanied by an adult - and for good reason. It is still one of the most frightening films ever made. Director John Carpenter’s use of scary music (written by him) darkness and creepy camera movements masterfully build the horror.
Jamie Lee Curtis is a teenage baby sitter trying to survive a knife-wielding maniac on the loose on a terrifying Halloween night.
Halloween was made on a low budget and was such a box office sensation that many sequels were made – none as good as the 1978 original. It’s a must-see movie but be warned…you’ll want to sleep with the lights on!
7. Daddy Day Care
This 2003 comedy starring Eddie Murphy and Anjelica Huston is great fun. Murphy and a friend are an unemployed pair who open a day-care center. Huston is their competitor, trying to shut them down. Great scenes with hyperactive kids!
8. The Hand That Rocks The Cradle
A 1992 film and another one where you’ll need an adult with you if you’re under 17. Rebecca De Mornay stars as an extremely disturbed au pair. The horrid fascination is in watching such an attractive, kind girl gradually revealing terrifying malevolence. Made in 1992, the film also features Julianne Moore.
9. Nanny McPhee
Emma Thompson is wonderful as the nanny with hairy warts, a scary unibrow and a mesmerizing buck tooth. She follows 17 nannies, already despatched by the children of a recent widower, played by Colin Firth. Unless the children are tamed, he stands to lose his lifeline inheritance from his aunt (Angela Lansbury). Celia Imrie is the bride set up for him but he loves the maid (Kelly Macdonald). Nanny McPhee and the kids plan to make things work out…
10. Don’t Bother To Knock
Made in 1953, this starred Marilyn Monroe, Anne Bancroft and Richard Widmark.
In her first starring role in a drama – Monroe plays a babysitter whose initially shy behaviour becomes more bizarre as the night goes on. The film becomes darker as the suspense grows – hence the Parent Guidance rating. Not one of her more famous films but worth it to see a wonderful performance – proving that Marilyn really could act.
Visit www.superbabysitting.com for free babysitting tips, advice and how to claim a first aid book and babysitters handbook.
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Tuesday, 20 February 2007
Celebrity Babysitting Snippets ...
Tom Cruise allegedly hired a whole team of babysitters for his children so that he could join his (then) fiancée, Katie Holmes in lengthy gym sessions. They both looked svelte in the wedding photos so it must have worked!
Before fame hit, Little Eva was a regular babysitter for the daughter of Gerry Goffin and Carole King. King was working on a song one day when Eva started to dance. The result was ‘The Loco-Motion’.
Martha Stewart’s daughter, Alexis, has a radio talk show called ‘Whatever with Alexis and Jennifer’. When Jennifer was growing up, her babysitter was actress Phoebe Cates.
Jude Law had an affair with his children’s’ nanny, Daisy Wright, which lost him Sienna Miller. Bet he wished he’d hired Nanny McPhee!
A New York nanny was recently arrested and charged with stealing jewelry - $500,000 worth, from clients including Robert De Niro and Candice Bergen.
Both Robin Williams and ‘Law and Order’ actor, Joe Piscopo married women who had formerly been nannies to their children.
At the Academy Awards, actress Julia Roberts did a ‘to-camera’ Happy Birthday to Marva - the nanny to Julia’s twins, Phinnaeus and Hazel. Marva was allegedly chosen from over 100 applicants. Julia Roberts is rumoured to have conducted interviews and done background and credit checks on all of them. Julia is the reader of the audio version of ‘The Nanny Diaries’.
Author and nanny Tracy Hogg was called the ‘Baby Whisperer’ by her famous clients. She cared for over 5,000 babies including the offspring of Jodie Foster, Cindy Crawford, Michael J. Fox, Calista Flockhart and Jamie Lee Curtis. Tracy sadly died of melanoma aged 44.
Notorious Hollywood ‘Madam’, Heidi Fleiss, worked as a babysitter from the age of 12. She was so good at it that she began a babysitting service, employing her friends to share the load. This was how she first found that she was a good businesswoman!
Billy Crystal’s father managed the Commodore Music Shop on 42nd Street in New York. His uncle founded Commodore Records – a jazz label. Billy grew up surrounded by jazz greats and his babysitter was Billy Holliday!
When Keanu Reeves was a kid, his babysitter was Rock musician Alice Cooper.
As a teenager, actress Gina Davis worked as a babysitter for a famous New York member of ‘the mob’.
‘American Idol’ judge, Paula Abdul was seven years old when Michael Bolton first babysat her. She says that Michael is such a good father today because he got his training while babysitting her!
It’s rumoured that actor Al Lewis (‘Grandpa’ in TV’s The Munsters) once hired the notorious Charles Manson to babysit his sons.
“Quote, unquote”
“The only reason he had a child is so that he can meet babysitters.”
David Letterman talking about Warren Beatty in 1991
“A good film is when the price of the dinner, the theater admission and the babysitter were worth it.”
Alfred Hitchcock
“I babysat for my nephew and it’s not as glamorous as it looks.”
Beyonce Knowles
Visit www.superbabysitting.com for free babysitting tips, advice and how to claim a first aid book and babysitters handbook.
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Before fame hit, Little Eva was a regular babysitter for the daughter of Gerry Goffin and Carole King. King was working on a song one day when Eva started to dance. The result was ‘The Loco-Motion’.
Martha Stewart’s daughter, Alexis, has a radio talk show called ‘Whatever with Alexis and Jennifer’. When Jennifer was growing up, her babysitter was actress Phoebe Cates.
Jude Law had an affair with his children’s’ nanny, Daisy Wright, which lost him Sienna Miller. Bet he wished he’d hired Nanny McPhee!
A New York nanny was recently arrested and charged with stealing jewelry - $500,000 worth, from clients including Robert De Niro and Candice Bergen.
Both Robin Williams and ‘Law and Order’ actor, Joe Piscopo married women who had formerly been nannies to their children.
At the Academy Awards, actress Julia Roberts did a ‘to-camera’ Happy Birthday to Marva - the nanny to Julia’s twins, Phinnaeus and Hazel. Marva was allegedly chosen from over 100 applicants. Julia Roberts is rumoured to have conducted interviews and done background and credit checks on all of them. Julia is the reader of the audio version of ‘The Nanny Diaries’.
Author and nanny Tracy Hogg was called the ‘Baby Whisperer’ by her famous clients. She cared for over 5,000 babies including the offspring of Jodie Foster, Cindy Crawford, Michael J. Fox, Calista Flockhart and Jamie Lee Curtis. Tracy sadly died of melanoma aged 44.
Notorious Hollywood ‘Madam’, Heidi Fleiss, worked as a babysitter from the age of 12. She was so good at it that she began a babysitting service, employing her friends to share the load. This was how she first found that she was a good businesswoman!
Billy Crystal’s father managed the Commodore Music Shop on 42nd Street in New York. His uncle founded Commodore Records – a jazz label. Billy grew up surrounded by jazz greats and his babysitter was Billy Holliday!
When Keanu Reeves was a kid, his babysitter was Rock musician Alice Cooper.
As a teenager, actress Gina Davis worked as a babysitter for a famous New York member of ‘the mob’.
‘American Idol’ judge, Paula Abdul was seven years old when Michael Bolton first babysat her. She says that Michael is such a good father today because he got his training while babysitting her!
It’s rumoured that actor Al Lewis (‘Grandpa’ in TV’s The Munsters) once hired the notorious Charles Manson to babysit his sons.
“Quote, unquote”
“The only reason he had a child is so that he can meet babysitters.”
David Letterman talking about Warren Beatty in 1991
“A good film is when the price of the dinner, the theater admission and the babysitter were worth it.”
Alfred Hitchcock
“I babysat for my nephew and it’s not as glamorous as it looks.”
Beyonce Knowles
Visit www.superbabysitting.com for free babysitting tips, advice and how to claim a first aid book and babysitters handbook.
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Friday, 26 January 2007
Babysitter Today - Highly Paid Nanny Tomorrow?
Lots of people babysit - some for the money and some because they love children. For a few, it can be the first step on the ladder to a highly lucrative career as a nanny. Good nannies are constantly in high demand and their earning potential is huge.
CEO's are desperate for decent childcare
Having problems with childcare causes stress to millions of families – whatever their income. Everyone would love to find the dream nanny and few do. A child-care meltdown happens to most people at one time or another.
CEO's may be high fliers but they are as prone to child care disasters as everyone else. In their desperation many CEO's are offering salaries in the region of $100,000 – more than some people with law degrees get!
Why Are They Paying So Much?
CEO's are highly paid because they are under a huge amount of pressure to deliver at work. Having a reliable, sensible nanny takes an enormous amount of worry out of their daily equation. Sudden business trips often arise and knowing that your children are in safe hands is worth a big salary.
CEO's spend more on childcare because they understand the associated legal and tax issues. They are also generally great to work for as they don’t want to risk a law suit for having their nanny in a ‘harsh work environment’.
How Does Someone Become A High-End Nanny?
Employers are more than willing to pay extra for someone with a degree in education, nursing or child psychology. In fact, many nanny agencies are now actively recruiting at colleges that major in child psychology, education and development. Most start on a salary of around $30,000 but can more than double that in a couple of years.
Personal Preference
Some employers like their nanny to have experience and to have been on some kind of training course. Others don’t mind so much and like the nanny to do things their way anyway. Some nanny agencies offer training
Common Sense is priceless!
Just being willing to show initiative is impressive. For instance, being prepared to take the car in for service, pick up dry cleaning and generally keep everything 'ticking over' – is seen as a desirable quality in a nanny. Other easily acquired skills, such as having a swimming certification, knowing CPR and knowing the latest childcare recommendations all look good on the CV.
A nanny is employed to make life easier for the parents of the family – so long hours (often around 60 hours a week) and working holidays are to be expected.
What Other Benefits Are There?
The homes that high-end nannies work in are usually ‘dream’ homes.
The food is commonly gourmet standard.
A nanny will often be given a car as part of the payment package.
Pay is often tax-free.
Foreign trips are standard. The nanny is still working but will enjoy first-class travel and often visits to expensive restaurants, museums, amusement parks and mind-blowing shopping trips.
If this sounds like a dream career to you - take the first step to making that dream come true. Visit www.superbabysitting.com for free tips, babysitting advice and how to claim a first aid book and babysitters handbook.
Technorati tags ... babysitting, childcare, Parenting, Family, babycare, baby sitting
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CEO's are desperate for decent childcare
Having problems with childcare causes stress to millions of families – whatever their income. Everyone would love to find the dream nanny and few do. A child-care meltdown happens to most people at one time or another.
CEO's may be high fliers but they are as prone to child care disasters as everyone else. In their desperation many CEO's are offering salaries in the region of $100,000 – more than some people with law degrees get!
Why Are They Paying So Much?
CEO's are highly paid because they are under a huge amount of pressure to deliver at work. Having a reliable, sensible nanny takes an enormous amount of worry out of their daily equation. Sudden business trips often arise and knowing that your children are in safe hands is worth a big salary.
CEO's spend more on childcare because they understand the associated legal and tax issues. They are also generally great to work for as they don’t want to risk a law suit for having their nanny in a ‘harsh work environment’.
How Does Someone Become A High-End Nanny?
Employers are more than willing to pay extra for someone with a degree in education, nursing or child psychology. In fact, many nanny agencies are now actively recruiting at colleges that major in child psychology, education and development. Most start on a salary of around $30,000 but can more than double that in a couple of years.
Personal Preference
Some employers like their nanny to have experience and to have been on some kind of training course. Others don’t mind so much and like the nanny to do things their way anyway. Some nanny agencies offer training
Common Sense is priceless!
Just being willing to show initiative is impressive. For instance, being prepared to take the car in for service, pick up dry cleaning and generally keep everything 'ticking over' – is seen as a desirable quality in a nanny. Other easily acquired skills, such as having a swimming certification, knowing CPR and knowing the latest childcare recommendations all look good on the CV.
A nanny is employed to make life easier for the parents of the family – so long hours (often around 60 hours a week) and working holidays are to be expected.
What Other Benefits Are There?
The homes that high-end nannies work in are usually ‘dream’ homes.
The food is commonly gourmet standard.
A nanny will often be given a car as part of the payment package.
Pay is often tax-free.
Foreign trips are standard. The nanny is still working but will enjoy first-class travel and often visits to expensive restaurants, museums, amusement parks and mind-blowing shopping trips.
If this sounds like a dream career to you - take the first step to making that dream come true. Visit www.superbabysitting.com for free tips, babysitting advice and how to claim a first aid book and babysitters handbook.
Technorati tags ... babysitting, childcare, Parenting, Family, babycare, baby sitting
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Tuesday, 16 January 2007
The Perfect Holiday Gift for an Aspiring Babysitter.
Are you the parent, grandparent or friend of someone who would love to be a babysitter? You may feel a little anxious about encouraging this and this is perfectly natural.
On the one hand, you are pleased that they are keen to work and showing some ambition. You’d like to be more enthusiastic but you worry that babysitting is such a responsible job – especially for such young kids…
Don’t worry any more – the answer is to get them a training course DVD, it could be the best holiday or birthday gift that you ever buy.
In giving them as an affordable gift, you
Demonstrate your support and faith in the youngster’s ambitions – and
They get an excellent training course which will teach them everything that they need to know to become the best babysitter in town!
Solve the problem of buying the perfect holiday or birthday gift!
Provide them with a resource that facilitates easy learning in their own time!
Make sure that the course has been developed by professionals. You need to be able to trust the expertise that has created any course.
Here are just a few of the tips and techniques that babysitting DVD training courses should teach ...
How to choose safe and age-appropriate toys and games
How to prevent injuries and be prepared if an emergency does happen
How to perform basic first aid
How to diaper and feed infants
How to handle bedtime
How to handle bath-time
How to handle dinner-time
Kids today are used to getting their entertainment and learning from computers and DVD’s. Give them the gift that teaches as they watch. And if they want to check something out or go over details again - all the information will always be there for them.
You’re giving the gift of learning, increasing their self-confidence and the potential to earn their own money. And at last, you can encourage them with your mind at rest. What could be better?
Super Babysitting makes it quick and easy to get babysitting advice and tips. To get your babysitters DVD course visit the Super Babysitting web site for free babysitters tips, tricks, advice and techniques right now!
Technorati tags ... babysitting, childcare, Parenting, Family, babycare, baby sitting
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On the one hand, you are pleased that they are keen to work and showing some ambition. You’d like to be more enthusiastic but you worry that babysitting is such a responsible job – especially for such young kids…
Don’t worry any more – the answer is to get them a training course DVD, it could be the best holiday or birthday gift that you ever buy.
In giving them as an affordable gift, you
Demonstrate your support and faith in the youngster’s ambitions – and
They get an excellent training course which will teach them everything that they need to know to become the best babysitter in town!
Solve the problem of buying the perfect holiday or birthday gift!
Provide them with a resource that facilitates easy learning in their own time!
Make sure that the course has been developed by professionals. You need to be able to trust the expertise that has created any course.
Here are just a few of the tips and techniques that babysitting DVD training courses should teach ...
How to choose safe and age-appropriate toys and games
How to prevent injuries and be prepared if an emergency does happen
How to perform basic first aid
How to diaper and feed infants
How to handle bedtime
How to handle bath-time
How to handle dinner-time
Kids today are used to getting their entertainment and learning from computers and DVD’s. Give them the gift that teaches as they watch. And if they want to check something out or go over details again - all the information will always be there for them.
You’re giving the gift of learning, increasing their self-confidence and the potential to earn their own money. And at last, you can encourage them with your mind at rest. What could be better?
Super Babysitting makes it quick and easy to get babysitting advice and tips. To get your babysitters DVD course visit the Super Babysitting web site for free babysitters tips, tricks, advice and techniques right now!
Technorati tags ... babysitting, childcare, Parenting, Family, babycare, baby sitting
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Friday, 12 January 2007
Babysitting the Parents!
Going out for the evening is a fun time – or it should be. However, for many parents (especially new parents) the experience is fraught with guilt, worry and anxiety.
In order to appreciate how they are feeling, try and view it from their point of view for a moment. Let’s take new parents as an example.
For the past few months, these people have devoted themselves to this new infant suddenly living in their home. Before junior’s arrival, going out was a breeze. They would just go - wherever and whenever they pleased. She would just grab her purse and they were out of that door.
A few months down the line, they are totally enchanted with the baby but their world has shrunk to catering for its’ every whim. They’re probably punchy with sleep depravation and can’t remember the last time they even made it through a TV movie without falling asleep. Going out with the baby has to be planned like a military operation. Checklist: diapers, bottles, blanket, changing mat, wipes…Mom is exhausted before she leaves the house!
As the weeks go by, they realize that they really need some quality time alone together – but that involves leaving their precious child. It becomes a huge and difficult decision. They need those few hours away to recharge their batteries and to re-connect with each other…but what if? What if the house burns down, or the baby gets sick, or the babysitter turns out to be more ‘Psycho’ than ‘Mary Poppins’?
How you can make a difference
New parents are always going to worry the first time they go out and leave their child. But there is a lot that you can do, as a babysitter, to lessen that worry and to encourage them to be brave enough to try it again.
Looking and sounding professional will begin to win their trust. Behaving in a respectful manner in their home will help to build their confidence in you. Asking them all the right questions (baby’s routine, their contact info etc) will build on that confidence. These may seem like small details but if you add them all together they present a picture of someone who is dependable and capable of keeping their child safe.
If the parents still seem shaky about the prospect of a night out, try suggesting a ‘trial run’. This could be a daytime event. It’s widely recognized that everything feels ‘safer’ and more manageable during the day.
Encourage them to take just a couple hours away from the home, maybe a visit to a Coffee Shop. If it means that you spend some of your Saturday doing this – just think of the rewards it may reap. It may well lead to you getting a regular, enjoyable, paid job.
Building on your foundations
Once you land the job – do it to the best of your ability. Always be well groomed and sensibly dressed. Always be polite and respectful. Always leave the home as you found it. And always remember that for those few hours, the kids are your priority.
If the kids are safe and happy, the parents will be too. Just remember that they come as a package. You may have entertained the kids extremely well but if Mom and Dad return to find the house like a bomb site – you may not get asked back.
If all of this sounds a little excessive, just bear in mind that however well you get on with the kids, it is the parents who will decide whether to employ you or not. So it literally does pay to keep them happy!
Super Babysitting makes it quick and easy to get babysitting advice and tips. To get your free babysitters handbook and first aid book visit the Super Babysitting, babysitters tips web site right now!
Technorati tags ... babysitting, childcare, Parenting, Family, babycare, baby sitting
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In order to appreciate how they are feeling, try and view it from their point of view for a moment. Let’s take new parents as an example.
For the past few months, these people have devoted themselves to this new infant suddenly living in their home. Before junior’s arrival, going out was a breeze. They would just go - wherever and whenever they pleased. She would just grab her purse and they were out of that door.
A few months down the line, they are totally enchanted with the baby but their world has shrunk to catering for its’ every whim. They’re probably punchy with sleep depravation and can’t remember the last time they even made it through a TV movie without falling asleep. Going out with the baby has to be planned like a military operation. Checklist: diapers, bottles, blanket, changing mat, wipes…Mom is exhausted before she leaves the house!
As the weeks go by, they realize that they really need some quality time alone together – but that involves leaving their precious child. It becomes a huge and difficult decision. They need those few hours away to recharge their batteries and to re-connect with each other…but what if? What if the house burns down, or the baby gets sick, or the babysitter turns out to be more ‘Psycho’ than ‘Mary Poppins’?
How you can make a difference
New parents are always going to worry the first time they go out and leave their child. But there is a lot that you can do, as a babysitter, to lessen that worry and to encourage them to be brave enough to try it again.
Looking and sounding professional will begin to win their trust. Behaving in a respectful manner in their home will help to build their confidence in you. Asking them all the right questions (baby’s routine, their contact info etc) will build on that confidence. These may seem like small details but if you add them all together they present a picture of someone who is dependable and capable of keeping their child safe.
If the parents still seem shaky about the prospect of a night out, try suggesting a ‘trial run’. This could be a daytime event. It’s widely recognized that everything feels ‘safer’ and more manageable during the day.
Encourage them to take just a couple hours away from the home, maybe a visit to a Coffee Shop. If it means that you spend some of your Saturday doing this – just think of the rewards it may reap. It may well lead to you getting a regular, enjoyable, paid job.
Building on your foundations
Once you land the job – do it to the best of your ability. Always be well groomed and sensibly dressed. Always be polite and respectful. Always leave the home as you found it. And always remember that for those few hours, the kids are your priority.
If the kids are safe and happy, the parents will be too. Just remember that they come as a package. You may have entertained the kids extremely well but if Mom and Dad return to find the house like a bomb site – you may not get asked back.
If all of this sounds a little excessive, just bear in mind that however well you get on with the kids, it is the parents who will decide whether to employ you or not. So it literally does pay to keep them happy!
Super Babysitting makes it quick and easy to get babysitting advice and tips. To get your free babysitters handbook and first aid book visit the Super Babysitting, babysitters tips web site right now!
Technorati tags ... babysitting, childcare, Parenting, Family, babycare, baby sitting
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Thursday, 21 December 2006
Why be a babysitter?
Being a babysitter is a responsible job. It’s not the sort of thing that you should enter into because all your friends are doing it or you just want the money. The money is great but you will gain a lot more satisfaction from the job if you take a little while to examine why you want to do it in the first place.
Maybe you love children? That’s a good start! Maybe you’re thinking of working with children in the future as a Nursery Nurse or assistant, or even as a teacher. Working as a babysitter is great as a ‘dry run’ for these jobs. Children can be endearing, cute, adorable and loveable. They can also be difficult, demanding, downright dislikable at times and totally exhausting.
If you discover that babysitting isn’t really for you, be honest with yourself and with the parents. Trying to continue a job like this when your heart isn’t in it can lead to a drop in standards and everyone will end up miserable.
I love it!
If you do enjoy it – make the most of the experience. Building a relationship with children and parents can be extremely rewarding and satisfying. If children are going to play a large part in your life, either as an employee or as a Mother (or Father) yourself – use it as a learning opportunity.
Watch the children as they play and observe how they reason things out through role playing or the use of dolls and toys. You might be amazed to find that even small children are highly observant of what is going on around them – especially things that they’re not supposed to know about or notice!
If you’re lucky enough to work regularly with one family, watch how the children are growing and changing. Their speech will alter and their physical abilities will change and become more defined.
Taking all of this in may sound like a lot of work but if you just absorb it while you play and interact with them, you will be learning a lot about children just by spending time with them.
How babysitting can affect you.
You will learn a lot about yourself. Many parents say that they didn’t know that they had a temper until they had children! Children are masters at testing you to your limit and beyond, just to see how far they can go. However, they love boundaries as it makes them feel safe. Don’t fall into the trap of over-indulging them just because it is cute to see them behave like tiny adults. They’re not and they’re looking to you for guidance and the safety of limitation.
It might feel strange at first to be ‘in charge’ of the children – unless you have younger brothers and sisters. It’s fairly important to be firm from day one. You can always relax a little later but if you start off too laid back, it’s much harder to regain control.
Having the responsibility of babysitting and carrying it out successfully can be a great confidence booster. This can affect other areas of your life. You may find that you’re not as shy as you once were or that it’s easier to make decisions.
Getting the most from babysitting can make it a fulfilling and enjoyable job. There is a saying that in any situation, you get out what you put in – and babysitting is a perfect example of that…so give it your best shot and enjoy!
Super Babysitting makes it quick and easy to get babysitting advice and tips. To get your free babysitters handbook and first aid book visit the Super Babysitting, babysitters tips web site right now!
Technorati tags ... babysitting, childcare, Parenting, Family, babycare, baby sitting
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Maybe you love children? That’s a good start! Maybe you’re thinking of working with children in the future as a Nursery Nurse or assistant, or even as a teacher. Working as a babysitter is great as a ‘dry run’ for these jobs. Children can be endearing, cute, adorable and loveable. They can also be difficult, demanding, downright dislikable at times and totally exhausting.
If you discover that babysitting isn’t really for you, be honest with yourself and with the parents. Trying to continue a job like this when your heart isn’t in it can lead to a drop in standards and everyone will end up miserable.
I love it!
If you do enjoy it – make the most of the experience. Building a relationship with children and parents can be extremely rewarding and satisfying. If children are going to play a large part in your life, either as an employee or as a Mother (or Father) yourself – use it as a learning opportunity.
Watch the children as they play and observe how they reason things out through role playing or the use of dolls and toys. You might be amazed to find that even small children are highly observant of what is going on around them – especially things that they’re not supposed to know about or notice!
If you’re lucky enough to work regularly with one family, watch how the children are growing and changing. Their speech will alter and their physical abilities will change and become more defined.
Taking all of this in may sound like a lot of work but if you just absorb it while you play and interact with them, you will be learning a lot about children just by spending time with them.
How babysitting can affect you.
You will learn a lot about yourself. Many parents say that they didn’t know that they had a temper until they had children! Children are masters at testing you to your limit and beyond, just to see how far they can go. However, they love boundaries as it makes them feel safe. Don’t fall into the trap of over-indulging them just because it is cute to see them behave like tiny adults. They’re not and they’re looking to you for guidance and the safety of limitation.
It might feel strange at first to be ‘in charge’ of the children – unless you have younger brothers and sisters. It’s fairly important to be firm from day one. You can always relax a little later but if you start off too laid back, it’s much harder to regain control.
Having the responsibility of babysitting and carrying it out successfully can be a great confidence booster. This can affect other areas of your life. You may find that you’re not as shy as you once were or that it’s easier to make decisions.
Getting the most from babysitting can make it a fulfilling and enjoyable job. There is a saying that in any situation, you get out what you put in – and babysitting is a perfect example of that…so give it your best shot and enjoy!
Super Babysitting makes it quick and easy to get babysitting advice and tips. To get your free babysitters handbook and first aid book visit the Super Babysitting, babysitters tips web site right now!
Technorati tags ... babysitting, childcare, Parenting, Family, babycare, baby sitting
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Friday, 15 December 2006
How to get asked back time and time again ...
Being a good and trusted regular babysitter can be a wonderful experience. Many babysitters like to work regularly for the same families. This can work well for everyone involved.
The parents are happy to leave their children with you, knowing from experience that they are in good hands. This enables them to have a relaxed and enjoyable evening away from the home.
The children are happy because they now know you and hopefully feel safe and well cared for. This allows them to relax more which generally leads to better behavior.
You’re happy because the children are easier to deal with and the parents trust and like you. You will know the routine better and let’s face it, it’s regular money!
So just how do you get asked back again and again?
The perfect babysitter …
… doesn’t exist. But you can make an effort to be professional, respectful and display good behavior and trustworthiness. Much of it is common sense. Try and put yourself into the parents’ place and imagine what you would want from a babysitter – or how you would wish a stranger to behave in your home.
Make sure that you observe the basics.
Always be punctual and well dressed for the job. Dangly earrings that kids could swing on and tiny mini skirts that could offend should be left at home. Clean, well pressed jeans and a sweater are ideal. You may well be crawling around the floor with the children or have to make a sudden dash up the stairs. Keep your nails short and clean and don’t forget to leave your shoes at the door.
Be respectful in the home. Leave it as you found it. If the parents tell you to get yourself a snack, make sure that everything is washed and put away and the kitchen is tidy and clean.
After the kids have gone to bed, take a few moments to tidy away toys, DVD’s, coloring books etc. Plump up cushions and straighten up the place.
If any spills occur accidentally, wipe them up immediately. If there are any accidental breakages, report them to the parents on their return.
Make sure you have the parents’ contact numbers and an expected time for them to arrive home.
If a child in your care gets sick or has an accident, you must inform the parents immediately. No one will blame you for the sickness or accident (however careful you are, accidents can occasionally happen) but they will blame you for not letting them know about it.
Don’t forget that you are there to do a job. Even when the children have gone to bed and your time is your own, keep the TV or music down low. You need to be able to hear if the children are calling for you or are distressed. Check on them frequently to make sure that they are safe and sleeping peacefully.
When the parents return, you can mention any funny or endearing incidents that occurred and just reassure them that everything was fine. If it wasn’t fine, keep the information short, factual and non-judgmental.
Remember to be courteous and ask the parents if they enjoyed their evening and always thank them for letting you babysit, when you leave. Make sure they’ve got your phone number and let them know if you’re happy to babysit for them again in the future. If this seems likely to happen, give them some idea of your availability (including any dates that you can’t do) so that they can plan ahead.
One last word of caution - if you do become a regular babysitter for one family never let your good standards and respectful attitude drop. Always remember that you are being employed by this family – however friendly the relationship becomes.
Keeping your high standards will ensure you continuing employment and good recommendations to others.
Super Babysitting makes it quick and easy to get babysitting advice and tips. To get your free babysitters handbook and first aid book visit the Super Babysitting, babysitters tips web site right now!
Technorati tags ... babysitting, childcare, Parenting, Family, babycare, baby sitting
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The parents are happy to leave their children with you, knowing from experience that they are in good hands. This enables them to have a relaxed and enjoyable evening away from the home.
The children are happy because they now know you and hopefully feel safe and well cared for. This allows them to relax more which generally leads to better behavior.
You’re happy because the children are easier to deal with and the parents trust and like you. You will know the routine better and let’s face it, it’s regular money!
So just how do you get asked back again and again?
The perfect babysitter …
… doesn’t exist. But you can make an effort to be professional, respectful and display good behavior and trustworthiness. Much of it is common sense. Try and put yourself into the parents’ place and imagine what you would want from a babysitter – or how you would wish a stranger to behave in your home.
Make sure that you observe the basics.
Always be punctual and well dressed for the job. Dangly earrings that kids could swing on and tiny mini skirts that could offend should be left at home. Clean, well pressed jeans and a sweater are ideal. You may well be crawling around the floor with the children or have to make a sudden dash up the stairs. Keep your nails short and clean and don’t forget to leave your shoes at the door.
Be respectful in the home. Leave it as you found it. If the parents tell you to get yourself a snack, make sure that everything is washed and put away and the kitchen is tidy and clean.
After the kids have gone to bed, take a few moments to tidy away toys, DVD’s, coloring books etc. Plump up cushions and straighten up the place.
If any spills occur accidentally, wipe them up immediately. If there are any accidental breakages, report them to the parents on their return.
Make sure you have the parents’ contact numbers and an expected time for them to arrive home.
If a child in your care gets sick or has an accident, you must inform the parents immediately. No one will blame you for the sickness or accident (however careful you are, accidents can occasionally happen) but they will blame you for not letting them know about it.
Don’t forget that you are there to do a job. Even when the children have gone to bed and your time is your own, keep the TV or music down low. You need to be able to hear if the children are calling for you or are distressed. Check on them frequently to make sure that they are safe and sleeping peacefully.
When the parents return, you can mention any funny or endearing incidents that occurred and just reassure them that everything was fine. If it wasn’t fine, keep the information short, factual and non-judgmental.
Remember to be courteous and ask the parents if they enjoyed their evening and always thank them for letting you babysit, when you leave. Make sure they’ve got your phone number and let them know if you’re happy to babysit for them again in the future. If this seems likely to happen, give them some idea of your availability (including any dates that you can’t do) so that they can plan ahead.
One last word of caution - if you do become a regular babysitter for one family never let your good standards and respectful attitude drop. Always remember that you are being employed by this family – however friendly the relationship becomes.
Keeping your high standards will ensure you continuing employment and good recommendations to others.
Super Babysitting makes it quick and easy to get babysitting advice and tips. To get your free babysitters handbook and first aid book visit the Super Babysitting, babysitters tips web site right now!
Technorati tags ... babysitting, childcare, Parenting, Family, babycare, baby sitting
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So Just How do You Get Asked Back Again and Again?
Being a good and trusted regular babysitter can be a wonderful experience. Many babysitters like to work regularly for the same families. This can work well for everyone involved.
The parents are happy to leave their children with you, knowing from experience that they are in good hands. This enables them to have a relaxed and enjoyable evening away from the home.
The children are happy because they now know you and hopefully feel safe and well cared for. This allows them to relax more which generally leads to better behavior.
You’re happy because the children are easier to deal with and the parents trust and like you. You will know the routine better and let’s face it, it’s regular money!
So just how do you get asked back again and again?
The perfect babysitter …
… doesn’t exist. But you can make an effort to be professional, respectful and display good behavior and trustworthiness. Much of it is common sense. Try and put yourself into the parents’ place and imagine what you would want from a babysitter – or how you would wish a stranger to behave in your home.
Make sure that you observe the basics.
Always be punctual and well dressed for the job. Dangly earrings that kids could swing on and tiny mini skirts that could offend should be left at home. Clean, well pressed jeans and a sweater are ideal. You may well be crawling around the floor with the children or have to make a sudden dash up the stairs. Keep your nails short and clean and don’t forget to leave your shoes at the door.
Be respectful in the home. Leave it as you found it. If the parents tell you to get yourself a snack, make sure that everything is washed and put away and the kitchen is tidy and clean.
After the kids have gone to bed, take a few moments to tidy away toys, DVD’s, coloring books etc. Plump up cushions and straighten up the place.
If any spills occur accidentally, wipe them up immediately. If there are any accidental breakages, report them to the parents on their return.
Make sure you have the parents’ contact numbers and an expected time for them to arrive home.
If a child in your care gets sick or has an accident, you must inform the parents immediately. No one will blame you for the sickness or accident (however careful you are, accidents can occasionally happen) but they will blame you for not letting them know about it.
Don’t forget that you are there to do a job. Even when the children have gone to bed and your time is your own, keep the TV or music down low. You need to be able to hear if the children are calling for you or are distressed. Check on them frequently to make sure that they are safe and sleeping peacefully.
When the parents return, you can mention any funny or endearing incidents that occurred and just reassure them that everything was fine. If it wasn’t fine, keep the information short, factual and non-judgmental.
Remember to be courteous and ask the parents if they enjoyed their evening and always thank them for letting you babysit, when you leave. Make sure they’ve got your phone number and let them know if you’re happy to babysit for them again in the future. If this seems likely to happen, give them some idea of your availability (including any dates that you can’t do) so that they can plan ahead.
One last word of caution - if you do become a regular babysitter for one family never let your good standards and respectful attitude drop. Always remember that you are being employed by this family – however friendly the relationship becomes.
Keeping your high standards will ensure you continuing employment and good recommendations to others.
Super Babysitting makes it quick and easy to get babysitting advice and tips. To get your free babysitters handbook and first aid book visit the Super Babysitting, babysitters tips web site right now!
Technorati tags ... babysitting, childcare, Parenting, Family, babycare, baby sitting
Technorati Profile
The parents are happy to leave their children with you, knowing from experience that they are in good hands. This enables them to have a relaxed and enjoyable evening away from the home.
The children are happy because they now know you and hopefully feel safe and well cared for. This allows them to relax more which generally leads to better behavior.
You’re happy because the children are easier to deal with and the parents trust and like you. You will know the routine better and let’s face it, it’s regular money!
So just how do you get asked back again and again?
The perfect babysitter …
… doesn’t exist. But you can make an effort to be professional, respectful and display good behavior and trustworthiness. Much of it is common sense. Try and put yourself into the parents’ place and imagine what you would want from a babysitter – or how you would wish a stranger to behave in your home.
Make sure that you observe the basics.
Always be punctual and well dressed for the job. Dangly earrings that kids could swing on and tiny mini skirts that could offend should be left at home. Clean, well pressed jeans and a sweater are ideal. You may well be crawling around the floor with the children or have to make a sudden dash up the stairs. Keep your nails short and clean and don’t forget to leave your shoes at the door.
Be respectful in the home. Leave it as you found it. If the parents tell you to get yourself a snack, make sure that everything is washed and put away and the kitchen is tidy and clean.
After the kids have gone to bed, take a few moments to tidy away toys, DVD’s, coloring books etc. Plump up cushions and straighten up the place.
If any spills occur accidentally, wipe them up immediately. If there are any accidental breakages, report them to the parents on their return.
Make sure you have the parents’ contact numbers and an expected time for them to arrive home.
If a child in your care gets sick or has an accident, you must inform the parents immediately. No one will blame you for the sickness or accident (however careful you are, accidents can occasionally happen) but they will blame you for not letting them know about it.
Don’t forget that you are there to do a job. Even when the children have gone to bed and your time is your own, keep the TV or music down low. You need to be able to hear if the children are calling for you or are distressed. Check on them frequently to make sure that they are safe and sleeping peacefully.
When the parents return, you can mention any funny or endearing incidents that occurred and just reassure them that everything was fine. If it wasn’t fine, keep the information short, factual and non-judgmental.
Remember to be courteous and ask the parents if they enjoyed their evening and always thank them for letting you babysit, when you leave. Make sure they’ve got your phone number and let them know if you’re happy to babysit for them again in the future. If this seems likely to happen, give them some idea of your availability (including any dates that you can’t do) so that they can plan ahead.
One last word of caution - if you do become a regular babysitter for one family never let your good standards and respectful attitude drop. Always remember that you are being employed by this family – however friendly the relationship becomes.
Keeping your high standards will ensure you continuing employment and good recommendations to others.
Super Babysitting makes it quick and easy to get babysitting advice and tips. To get your free babysitters handbook and first aid book visit the Super Babysitting, babysitters tips web site right now!
Technorati tags ... babysitting, childcare, Parenting, Family, babycare, baby sitting
Technorati Profile
Tuesday, 12 December 2006
The Babysitter from Hell - or what not to do!
This article is purely for entertainment purposes and is not to be followed in any way, shape or form!
No, really - don’t ever do any of this stuff!
• Turn up late or better still, not at all. For added impact, make sure the parents don’t have any contact phone numbers or an address for you.
• Don’t wash your hair for at least a week prior to the job.
• Arrive smoking a cigarette and find a pot plant to stub it out in.
• Walk in talking on your cell phone. Try to ensure the call lasts at least 20 minutes and wave the parents away with your hand if they try to get your attention.
• Wear your best punk gear and make sure you have all your piercings on show.
• Arrive with a spotty, greasy haired, sullen, tattoo-covered teenaged boy (or girl!) in tow.
• Arrive with a bag bulging with bottles of alcohol and cigarettes.
• Begin every sentence with ‘whatever’ or ‘…like’. Better still, be monosyllabic. Grunts work well.
• Totally ignore the children.
• Go straight to the refrigerator and help yourself to a great snack and drink.
• Walk past the parents, into the living room, stretch out on the sofa and be sure to keep your shoes on.
• Put your dripping can of soda on the coffee table without using a coaster. You get extra points here if the table is polished wood or antique.
• Pick up the remote and start searching for adult films.
Having made a great first impression – you can now concentrate on what to do while the parents are out…if they have dared to leave!
• Bully the kids into bed the moment the parents go. Threats are fine – the more scary the better.
• If you’ve arranged a party – it can start now!
• Find the house phone and call all those people cross country that you need to catch up with. You get extra points for international calls.
• Break open the alcohol. If you didn’t bring any, search the house until you find some and make sure you drink it all. Spilling it is optional but if you do – don’t mop up.
• Make out with your boyfriend on the sofa – or the parents’ bedroom if you’re feeling really daring.
• Watch an explicit DVD and for extra fun, when you’ve finished, put it into one of the kids DVD cases.
• Be sure to try out the Mom’s cosmetics, perfume, clothes and shoes. You get extra points for not putting it all away carefully.
• Cook yourself and your friend some food. Use as many pots, pans, bowls and utensils as you can and leave it all dumped in the sink. You get extra points for leaving spills on the worktops and floor.
• For the big finale, make sure you’re deeply asleep when the parents return.
Super Babysitting makes it quick and easy to get babysitting advice and tips. To get your free babysitters handbook and first aid book visit the Super Babysitting, babysitters tips web site right now!
Technorati tags ... babysitting, childcare, Parenting, Family, babycare, baby sitting
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No, really - don’t ever do any of this stuff!
• Turn up late or better still, not at all. For added impact, make sure the parents don’t have any contact phone numbers or an address for you.
• Don’t wash your hair for at least a week prior to the job.
• Arrive smoking a cigarette and find a pot plant to stub it out in.
• Walk in talking on your cell phone. Try to ensure the call lasts at least 20 minutes and wave the parents away with your hand if they try to get your attention.
• Wear your best punk gear and make sure you have all your piercings on show.
• Arrive with a spotty, greasy haired, sullen, tattoo-covered teenaged boy (or girl!) in tow.
• Arrive with a bag bulging with bottles of alcohol and cigarettes.
• Begin every sentence with ‘whatever’ or ‘…like’. Better still, be monosyllabic. Grunts work well.
• Totally ignore the children.
• Go straight to the refrigerator and help yourself to a great snack and drink.
• Walk past the parents, into the living room, stretch out on the sofa and be sure to keep your shoes on.
• Put your dripping can of soda on the coffee table without using a coaster. You get extra points here if the table is polished wood or antique.
• Pick up the remote and start searching for adult films.
Having made a great first impression – you can now concentrate on what to do while the parents are out…if they have dared to leave!
• Bully the kids into bed the moment the parents go. Threats are fine – the more scary the better.
• If you’ve arranged a party – it can start now!
• Find the house phone and call all those people cross country that you need to catch up with. You get extra points for international calls.
• Break open the alcohol. If you didn’t bring any, search the house until you find some and make sure you drink it all. Spilling it is optional but if you do – don’t mop up.
• Make out with your boyfriend on the sofa – or the parents’ bedroom if you’re feeling really daring.
• Watch an explicit DVD and for extra fun, when you’ve finished, put it into one of the kids DVD cases.
• Be sure to try out the Mom’s cosmetics, perfume, clothes and shoes. You get extra points for not putting it all away carefully.
• Cook yourself and your friend some food. Use as many pots, pans, bowls and utensils as you can and leave it all dumped in the sink. You get extra points for leaving spills on the worktops and floor.
• For the big finale, make sure you’re deeply asleep when the parents return.
Super Babysitting makes it quick and easy to get babysitting advice and tips. To get your free babysitters handbook and first aid book visit the Super Babysitting, babysitters tips web site right now!
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Sunday, 10 December 2006
Be Safe - Health and Safety Issues for Babysitting
Homes can be dangerous places, especially for kids. The family that you are sitting for may be safety conscious and have stair gates and plug socket covers - or they may not. The fact remains that while you are caring for the kids, they are your responsibility and being safety conscious can save a lot of problems.
No one is expecting you to do a full safety check of the home - that would be impractical and inappropriate. The easiest way to keep the kids safe is to supervise them at all times. That way, if you see a safety hazard arising, you are there to step in and avoid it.
Some aspects of safety are fairly obvious. For example, don't let the kids play with anything sharp or put small things in their mouths, ears or nose; this goes double for babies!
If you have prepared food for the kids, make sure that saucepans are well back on the stove with handles turned in to the wall so that they can't be pulled down.
Keep kettles well back on the worktop out of reach.
If you make yourself a hot drink, keep it well out of reach. A high proportion of nasty burning accidents are caused by children pulling cups of tea or coffee over themselves.
Don't leave matches, lighters or medication lying around. Prevention is better than cure.
Most of safety awareness involves prevention. You are aiming to stop that accident or incident before it happens. The chances are that the kids will already be over-excited and playing or acting boisterously. Try and keep them as calm as you can and be firm.
Don't allow them to push, shove or hit each other or jump off (or up and down on) beds and sofas. Sliding down stairs or banisters or on loose floor rugs (or shiny floors) is also
a no-no.
Don't let them taunt the dog or cat. Even the most docile of pets can get fed up and retaliate!
Watch them closely if they are eating or drinking. Kids - especially over excited ones - can bolt their food, or try and talk or run about while they're chewing. If they start to
choke, you will need to know how to dislodge the food or object stuck in their windpipe. Get acquainted with the Heimlich maneuver before you become a sitter. It's quick and
simple but can save a life.
If you don't know,learn!
Taking a course like the 'Super Babysitting' DVD will give you much more confidence to handle a health or safety situation. It can teach you how to prevent injuries and how to be prepared if an emergency arises. It will also make you appear professional and competent which is what parents want. It will also look great on your resume and will impress future employers!
Super Babysitting makes it quick and easy to get babysitting advice and tips. To get your free babysitters handbook and first aid book visit the Super Babysitting web site right now!
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No one is expecting you to do a full safety check of the home - that would be impractical and inappropriate. The easiest way to keep the kids safe is to supervise them at all times. That way, if you see a safety hazard arising, you are there to step in and avoid it.
Some aspects of safety are fairly obvious. For example, don't let the kids play with anything sharp or put small things in their mouths, ears or nose; this goes double for babies!
If you have prepared food for the kids, make sure that saucepans are well back on the stove with handles turned in to the wall so that they can't be pulled down.
Keep kettles well back on the worktop out of reach.
If you make yourself a hot drink, keep it well out of reach. A high proportion of nasty burning accidents are caused by children pulling cups of tea or coffee over themselves.
Don't leave matches, lighters or medication lying around. Prevention is better than cure.
Most of safety awareness involves prevention. You are aiming to stop that accident or incident before it happens. The chances are that the kids will already be over-excited and playing or acting boisterously. Try and keep them as calm as you can and be firm.
Don't allow them to push, shove or hit each other or jump off (or up and down on) beds and sofas. Sliding down stairs or banisters or on loose floor rugs (or shiny floors) is also
a no-no.
Don't let them taunt the dog or cat. Even the most docile of pets can get fed up and retaliate!
Watch them closely if they are eating or drinking. Kids - especially over excited ones - can bolt their food, or try and talk or run about while they're chewing. If they start to
choke, you will need to know how to dislodge the food or object stuck in their windpipe. Get acquainted with the Heimlich maneuver before you become a sitter. It's quick and
simple but can save a life.
If you don't know,learn!
Taking a course like the 'Super Babysitting' DVD will give you much more confidence to handle a health or safety situation. It can teach you how to prevent injuries and how to be prepared if an emergency arises. It will also make you appear professional and competent which is what parents want. It will also look great on your resume and will impress future employers!
Super Babysitting makes it quick and easy to get babysitting advice and tips. To get your free babysitters handbook and first aid book visit the Super Babysitting web site right now!
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Friday, 8 December 2006
What to do if a Child Gets Sick - Information for Babysitters
If a child is really sick, hopefully the parents won’t be going out. If they still wish to and you don’t feel happy or confident about it, you would be within your rights to refuse to sit.
However, there are some ailments that can suddenly arise once the parents have left. Children can get sick with alarming speed and it’s a good idea to know how you would handle this – before it happens!
If a child or baby does suddenly become ill for whatever reason, you must contact the parents. It may be something initially fairly trivial like running a fever, but if the parents are aware, it gives them the option of deciding whether to return home or not.
It also covers you, as a sitter. If you don’t contact them and they return home to find their child sick, they may be angry that you didn’t make that call.
Fever!
Children up to the age of five can suddenly run a fever for no apparent reason. It is a good idea to ask the parents whether the child is prone to doing this. They may have a stock of the medication that the child usually receives – or they may just open a window, take off the bedclothes and repeatedly sponge the child with a cloth wrung out in tepid water to lower the fever.
It’s important to get the temperature down as quickly as possible as some children can develop ‘febrile convulsions’ – a type of fit caused by high fever. If this happens, lay the child on their side and let the fit take its course, simply staying with the child until the fit is over to ensure their safety. It used to be common practice to put something, like a spoon or stick into the mouth during a fit but this is now considered unhelpful and possibly dangerous.
If the child is known to be prone to febrile convulsions, the parents will need to take them to see a Doctor the following day.
If they have never had a fit before or if you are worried, always call 911.
I feel sick…
Children are also prone to upset tummies. They will already be over-excited and may have over-indulged in food or drinks. They may become tearful, or very quiet, complain of feeling sick or that their tummy hurts.
If vomiting and / or diarrhoea occur, you will need to overcome any squeamishness, bathe the child and get them into fresh nightwear and possibly a clean bed.
Try and get the child to drink some water or soda to replace the lost fluid. Don’t give them a milky drink as this can trigger another attack or prolong a viral tummy bug. Once the child is comfortable and settled, you can deal with any soiled nightwear or bedding. It’s often easiest to initially put soiled bedding into the tub to soak prior to washing.
This is freaking me out!
These scenarios sound worrying but the chances are that none of these things will ever happen while you are babysitting. However, if you recognise that they might and you would rather be prepared, it can be lot less scary.
The general rule when kids get sick is to try and stay calm and deal with what you can. Most ailments will be fairly harmless and short-lived but can be alarming to deal with when you are alone and in charge. Don’t forget that you can always call your own home and ask your Mom and Dad for help or support.
The golden rules are:
Always call the parents.
If you feel out of your depth, call your Mom or Dad or a neighbour close to the family that you are sitting for.
If a child has collapsed, stopped breathing, had an accident or you are really worried about their health, call 911 first.
Disclaimer: This is not intended as a first aid or other medical guide, we recommend it as a starting point for you to inform your training - Superbabysitting.com cannot accept any responsibility or liability for your actions based on this information article. When babysitting, if you do not have proper medical training you should seek the advice of a trained person as soon as practicable.
Avoid the bedtime battles - Super Babysitting makes it quick and easy to get babysitting advice and tips. To get your free babysitters handbook and first aid book visit the Super Babysitting web site right now!
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However, there are some ailments that can suddenly arise once the parents have left. Children can get sick with alarming speed and it’s a good idea to know how you would handle this – before it happens!
If a child or baby does suddenly become ill for whatever reason, you must contact the parents. It may be something initially fairly trivial like running a fever, but if the parents are aware, it gives them the option of deciding whether to return home or not.
It also covers you, as a sitter. If you don’t contact them and they return home to find their child sick, they may be angry that you didn’t make that call.
Fever!
Children up to the age of five can suddenly run a fever for no apparent reason. It is a good idea to ask the parents whether the child is prone to doing this. They may have a stock of the medication that the child usually receives – or they may just open a window, take off the bedclothes and repeatedly sponge the child with a cloth wrung out in tepid water to lower the fever.
It’s important to get the temperature down as quickly as possible as some children can develop ‘febrile convulsions’ – a type of fit caused by high fever. If this happens, lay the child on their side and let the fit take its course, simply staying with the child until the fit is over to ensure their safety. It used to be common practice to put something, like a spoon or stick into the mouth during a fit but this is now considered unhelpful and possibly dangerous.
If the child is known to be prone to febrile convulsions, the parents will need to take them to see a Doctor the following day.
If they have never had a fit before or if you are worried, always call 911.
I feel sick…
Children are also prone to upset tummies. They will already be over-excited and may have over-indulged in food or drinks. They may become tearful, or very quiet, complain of feeling sick or that their tummy hurts.
If vomiting and / or diarrhoea occur, you will need to overcome any squeamishness, bathe the child and get them into fresh nightwear and possibly a clean bed.
Try and get the child to drink some water or soda to replace the lost fluid. Don’t give them a milky drink as this can trigger another attack or prolong a viral tummy bug. Once the child is comfortable and settled, you can deal with any soiled nightwear or bedding. It’s often easiest to initially put soiled bedding into the tub to soak prior to washing.
This is freaking me out!
These scenarios sound worrying but the chances are that none of these things will ever happen while you are babysitting. However, if you recognise that they might and you would rather be prepared, it can be lot less scary.
The general rule when kids get sick is to try and stay calm and deal with what you can. Most ailments will be fairly harmless and short-lived but can be alarming to deal with when you are alone and in charge. Don’t forget that you can always call your own home and ask your Mom and Dad for help or support.
The golden rules are:
Always call the parents.
If you feel out of your depth, call your Mom or Dad or a neighbour close to the family that you are sitting for.
If a child has collapsed, stopped breathing, had an accident or you are really worried about their health, call 911 first.
Disclaimer: This is not intended as a first aid or other medical guide, we recommend it as a starting point for you to inform your training - Superbabysitting.com cannot accept any responsibility or liability for your actions based on this information article. When babysitting, if you do not have proper medical training you should seek the advice of a trained person as soon as practicable.
Avoid the bedtime battles - Super Babysitting makes it quick and easy to get babysitting advice and tips. To get your free babysitters handbook and first aid book visit the Super Babysitting web site right now!
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Thursday, 7 December 2006
Before You Go Can I Just Ask ...
When you arrive at a babysitting job, the house may be calm with the children already in bed or it may be chaos!
Even if the kids are in bed, Mom will probably be in a hurry to finish getting herself ready to go out. She may have rushed home from work, fed and bathed the kids and got them into bed – no easy feat if they’re hyped up over the event. When you walk in, she won’t have the time (or energy) to spend ages telling you every important detail about the kids.
If the house is in uproar, it’s even less likely that you will get any really helpful information. You will need to pitch in immediately and take the pressure off Mom so that she can be ready in time to get out of the door!
This is where initial groundwork really pays off. When you are initially contacted for a babysitting job, make sure you ask all the right questions that will make everyone’s life easier on the night – especially yours!
If you baby-sit regularly and work for different families, it’s a good idea to write out a check sheet of questions. Make lots of copies of the sheet so that you can quickly pull one out and fill it in while you have the parent on the phone, or while you’re making a visit prior to the job.
What do I need to know?
Routine is a godsend for babysitters. You need to know if the kids have an evening and bedtime routine…and if they don’t! If there is no usual routine, your job will be more difficult. It helps to know this ahead of time so that you can work out what you’re going to do to keep them amused and how you’re going to get them into bed.
Will you be expected to feed the children and if so, what? Will Mom leave food or do you need to prepare it?
It’s worth having a question about toileting habits on your question sheet. For example, the child may usually be taken to the toilet a couple of hours after bedtime. This may be something that parents do so routinely that they may forget to tell you. This simple act can save a wet bed and the ensuing upset. It’s worth knowing where clean nightwear and sheets are kept!
Is the child on any regular medications, such as an asthma inhaler? If so, where are they kept and are the parents happy for you to administer them if necessary. If they are, make sure they show you how to use any form of medication correctly and safely so that you are all happy for this to happen.
Has the child been sat for before and was it a happy experience? If not, make a couple of short visits to get to know the child and parents.
What are the child’s usual sleep patterns? Do they sleep well or are they prone to night terrors or sleepwalking?
Essentials!
Make sure you have a cell phone number. If both parents have a cell phone, get both numbers.
You must know where the parents will be for the evening. If they are likely to change venues, i.e. from the movies to a restaurant, make sure you have the land line phone numbers of both places. Ask the parents to ring and let you know once they have arrived at a different venue.
Ask approximately what time they expect to be back.
Write down the address and telephone number of the home that you are in and keep it by the phone. In the extremely unlikely event of having to call 911, you will have the necessary information to hand.
It’s often helpful to ask the parents for the phone number of a helpful neighbour, just in case a situation arises in which you need help or support. It’s highly unlikely that you’ll need to call them, but it’s useful and comforting to know that you have backup close by.
Avoid the bedtime battles - Super Babysitting makes it quick and easy to get babysitting advice and tips. To get your free babysitters handbook and first aid book visit the Super Babysitting web site right now!
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Even if the kids are in bed, Mom will probably be in a hurry to finish getting herself ready to go out. She may have rushed home from work, fed and bathed the kids and got them into bed – no easy feat if they’re hyped up over the event. When you walk in, she won’t have the time (or energy) to spend ages telling you every important detail about the kids.
If the house is in uproar, it’s even less likely that you will get any really helpful information. You will need to pitch in immediately and take the pressure off Mom so that she can be ready in time to get out of the door!
This is where initial groundwork really pays off. When you are initially contacted for a babysitting job, make sure you ask all the right questions that will make everyone’s life easier on the night – especially yours!
If you baby-sit regularly and work for different families, it’s a good idea to write out a check sheet of questions. Make lots of copies of the sheet so that you can quickly pull one out and fill it in while you have the parent on the phone, or while you’re making a visit prior to the job.
What do I need to know?
Routine is a godsend for babysitters. You need to know if the kids have an evening and bedtime routine…and if they don’t! If there is no usual routine, your job will be more difficult. It helps to know this ahead of time so that you can work out what you’re going to do to keep them amused and how you’re going to get them into bed.
Will you be expected to feed the children and if so, what? Will Mom leave food or do you need to prepare it?
It’s worth having a question about toileting habits on your question sheet. For example, the child may usually be taken to the toilet a couple of hours after bedtime. This may be something that parents do so routinely that they may forget to tell you. This simple act can save a wet bed and the ensuing upset. It’s worth knowing where clean nightwear and sheets are kept!
Is the child on any regular medications, such as an asthma inhaler? If so, where are they kept and are the parents happy for you to administer them if necessary. If they are, make sure they show you how to use any form of medication correctly and safely so that you are all happy for this to happen.
Has the child been sat for before and was it a happy experience? If not, make a couple of short visits to get to know the child and parents.
What are the child’s usual sleep patterns? Do they sleep well or are they prone to night terrors or sleepwalking?
Essentials!
Make sure you have a cell phone number. If both parents have a cell phone, get both numbers.
You must know where the parents will be for the evening. If they are likely to change venues, i.e. from the movies to a restaurant, make sure you have the land line phone numbers of both places. Ask the parents to ring and let you know once they have arrived at a different venue.
Ask approximately what time they expect to be back.
Write down the address and telephone number of the home that you are in and keep it by the phone. In the extremely unlikely event of having to call 911, you will have the necessary information to hand.
It’s often helpful to ask the parents for the phone number of a helpful neighbour, just in case a situation arises in which you need help or support. It’s highly unlikely that you’ll need to call them, but it’s useful and comforting to know that you have backup close by.
Avoid the bedtime battles - Super Babysitting makes it quick and easy to get babysitting advice and tips. To get your free babysitters handbook and first aid book visit the Super Babysitting web site right now!
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I want Mommy! Dealing with a Distressed Child as a Babysitter
If the child becomes inconsolable at Mom and Dad leaving for the evening, it can be very difficult to deal with and can be distressing for the child and the babysitter. There are several factors to take into account here. The child could become upset before the parents leave, which could make it very difficult (and sometimes impossible) for them to go.
It may be the first time that the parents have used a babysitter and their own anxiety may be transmitted to the child. Again, this is where good groundwork can really help. If this is to be your first babysitting job for the family, ask if they have used sitters before…and how well it went. Just knowing that they have used sitters before is no help if the experience was a disaster!
If they are leaving the child for the first time, it’s important to try and make at least one visit to the family prior to the actual job. Get to know the child (and the parents) a little. Reassure the child that you’re going to have lots of fun together and that they will be safe and happy with you.
Work out a plan with the child of what you will do while Mom and Dad are out. They may have a favorite DVD that they would love to watch with you – or a favorite game to play. Having a structure to the impending experience will lessen the unknown for the child.
If the child is young, try taking a soft toy to them a few days before and ask them to look after it for you. This will make them feel important in the relationship with you and may help to lessen the natural feelings of abandonment.
Driven to distraction…
If a child is desperately upset, remind them of that DVD or game and tell them how much you have been looking forward to it. Try and get into the distraction as quickly as possible. The longer the child remains upset, the longer it will take for you to calm them down.
If nothing seems to be working, pretending to be upset yourself can often help. It sounds a little crazy but it works. Don’t overdo it - you don’t want to upset them more. Just a few quiet, gentle sniffs and sad eyes from you can often jerk the child out of their upset and into sheer curiosity. It also momentarily gives them the upper hand in the relationship and gives them back a little power that they lost when Mom and Dad went through the door.
Keep it going…
Once you have the child’s attention, keep it. Focus all of your attention on them and have the next diversion lined up ready to take over as soon as the first one has lost their interest.
Interactive games such as modelling with Play-Doh are great as they require the child to be thinking about something else other than Mom and Dad. Role playing with dolls, plastic monsters or stuffed toys is also a great distraction.
Dealing with a temporarily broken-hearted child can be very wearing and exhausting but ultimately extremely rewarding. Just remember, it’s mainly in the planning and groundwork.
Avoid the bedtime battles - Super Babysitting makes it quick and easy to get babysitting advice and tips. To get your free babysitters handbook and first aid book visit the Super Babysitting web site right now!
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It may be the first time that the parents have used a babysitter and their own anxiety may be transmitted to the child. Again, this is where good groundwork can really help. If this is to be your first babysitting job for the family, ask if they have used sitters before…and how well it went. Just knowing that they have used sitters before is no help if the experience was a disaster!
If they are leaving the child for the first time, it’s important to try and make at least one visit to the family prior to the actual job. Get to know the child (and the parents) a little. Reassure the child that you’re going to have lots of fun together and that they will be safe and happy with you.
Work out a plan with the child of what you will do while Mom and Dad are out. They may have a favorite DVD that they would love to watch with you – or a favorite game to play. Having a structure to the impending experience will lessen the unknown for the child.
If the child is young, try taking a soft toy to them a few days before and ask them to look after it for you. This will make them feel important in the relationship with you and may help to lessen the natural feelings of abandonment.
Driven to distraction…
If a child is desperately upset, remind them of that DVD or game and tell them how much you have been looking forward to it. Try and get into the distraction as quickly as possible. The longer the child remains upset, the longer it will take for you to calm them down.
If nothing seems to be working, pretending to be upset yourself can often help. It sounds a little crazy but it works. Don’t overdo it - you don’t want to upset them more. Just a few quiet, gentle sniffs and sad eyes from you can often jerk the child out of their upset and into sheer curiosity. It also momentarily gives them the upper hand in the relationship and gives them back a little power that they lost when Mom and Dad went through the door.
Keep it going…
Once you have the child’s attention, keep it. Focus all of your attention on them and have the next diversion lined up ready to take over as soon as the first one has lost their interest.
Interactive games such as modelling with Play-Doh are great as they require the child to be thinking about something else other than Mom and Dad. Role playing with dolls, plastic monsters or stuffed toys is also a great distraction.
Dealing with a temporarily broken-hearted child can be very wearing and exhausting but ultimately extremely rewarding. Just remember, it’s mainly in the planning and groundwork.
Avoid the bedtime battles - Super Babysitting makes it quick and easy to get babysitting advice and tips. To get your free babysitters handbook and first aid book visit the Super Babysitting web site right now!
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Monday, 13 November 2006
Night Terrors
Some studies estimate that as many as 15% of children suffer from night terrors at one time or another. They can happen at any age but are most usual in children aged between two and six. In rarer cases, they can last up to adolescence.
Babysitters are more likely to encounter a child having night terrors than nightmares. This is because nightmares usually happen in the early hours of the morning, whereas night terrors most often occur during the first four hours of sleep – typically 15 minutes to one hour after the child falls asleep. The major triggers are being overtired and a change of routine.
Up to 18% of children who suffer from regular night terrors also sleepwalk, so it’s important to keep them safe. Put a safety gate at the top of the stairs and don’t have the child sleeping in a bunk bed.
If you know that the child is prone to night terrors, it can help to gently wake them for a moment, shortly after they have fallen asleep and then let them go straight back to sleep. If done each night, this is often enough to break the cycle and the child will sleep through the night.
Blood curdling screams…
Although it can be very alarming to witness a child’s night terrors, it may help to know that they very rarely recall anything about the experience.
In a classic night terror, the child will wake up ‘early’ in the night, sit ‘bolt upright’, have their eyes open and often scream in a terrified way. They will be inconsolable and may appear convinced that there are spiders, snakes, monsters or people in the room.
They may also be sweating and can hyperventilate. It may seem as if they are awake but they are most often still fast asleep.
The initial reaction for the onlooker is to wake them up out of their fear but waking a child from a night terror can make them more frightened and upset. It is better to put your arms gently but firmly around the child and lay them down, speaking quietly to them, all the time, until they settle down.
Classic night terrors can last anywhere from 5 to 30 minutes and following the incident the child will most often go peacefully back to sleep…leaving you a nervous wreck!
Avoid the bedtime battles - Super Babysitting makes it quick and easy to get babysitting advice and tips. To get your free babysitters handbook and first aid book visit the Super Babysitting web site right now!
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I wish they’d go to sleep!
Bedtime can be a battleground for babysitters. The kids may have been well behaved and reasonably easy to control all evening but as soon as bedtime is mentioned chaos can ensue!
You need to establish why the suggestion of bedtime is creating such resistance. It may just be that theyve had such a great evening with you that they dont want it to end. In which case good job! If this is the reason, a little bribery comes in handy.
Offering to read a bedtime story and therefore to prolong the fun a little longer - can often get them into their pyjamas and into bed. Make the story as long as you can and read it in a quiet, soothing, fairly monotonous voice. Were aiming to calm them down here so forget interactive or over-stimulating stories.
Last one into bed is a ...
If more than one child is involved in the bedtime rebellion, it is tempting to try and turn it into a race, just to get the little darlings under the covers. But this can backfire. The last child into bed may be upset to be last and the first one in will get horribly overexcited.
A calmer way to achieve the same outcome is to offer to read a story once all the children are in their pyjamas with their teeth brushed. That way, they are more likely to encourage and help each other rather than fight to be the winner.
Whats the routine?
This is where doing your background preparation really pays off. Hopefully, you are babysitting for kids who do have a usual bedtime routine which you will have previously asked Mom or Dad to explain, in detail.
If you look at it from the childs point of view, they have already had a very different evening to their usual so they are probably expecting bedtime to be different too. If you know their routine, well done! Now its just a case of following it and being fairly firm.
If there is no usual routine, which is becoming more common, it will be harder to convince them that it really is bedtime. Again, be gently firm and consistent until they realise theyre not going to win this one.
I want Mommy ...
Bedtime is often the point when the child realises that Mom and Dad really are out for the night and they may become scared or tearful. Reassure them that Mom and Dad are just out having a nice time and they will be back very soon. Again, with smaller children, a little gentle bribery often works.
Help the child to imagine how proud Mom and Dad will be that they went to bed without a fuss and were so good and well behaved. You could make a simple star chart on a piece of paper and for each thing the child does well throughout the evening, put a sticky gold star on the page. The child gets to keep the chart to proudly show Mom and Dad.
Avoid the bedtime battles - Super Babysitting makes it quick and easy to get babysitting advice and tips. To get your free babysitters handbook and first aid book visit the Super Babysitting web site right now!
Technorati tags ... babysitting, childcare, Parenting, Family, babycare, baby sitting.
You need to establish why the suggestion of bedtime is creating such resistance. It may just be that theyve had such a great evening with you that they dont want it to end. In which case good job! If this is the reason, a little bribery comes in handy.
Offering to read a bedtime story and therefore to prolong the fun a little longer - can often get them into their pyjamas and into bed. Make the story as long as you can and read it in a quiet, soothing, fairly monotonous voice. Were aiming to calm them down here so forget interactive or over-stimulating stories.
Last one into bed is a ...
If more than one child is involved in the bedtime rebellion, it is tempting to try and turn it into a race, just to get the little darlings under the covers. But this can backfire. The last child into bed may be upset to be last and the first one in will get horribly overexcited.
A calmer way to achieve the same outcome is to offer to read a story once all the children are in their pyjamas with their teeth brushed. That way, they are more likely to encourage and help each other rather than fight to be the winner.
Whats the routine?
This is where doing your background preparation really pays off. Hopefully, you are babysitting for kids who do have a usual bedtime routine which you will have previously asked Mom or Dad to explain, in detail.
If you look at it from the childs point of view, they have already had a very different evening to their usual so they are probably expecting bedtime to be different too. If you know their routine, well done! Now its just a case of following it and being fairly firm.
If there is no usual routine, which is becoming more common, it will be harder to convince them that it really is bedtime. Again, be gently firm and consistent until they realise theyre not going to win this one.
I want Mommy ...
Bedtime is often the point when the child realises that Mom and Dad really are out for the night and they may become scared or tearful. Reassure them that Mom and Dad are just out having a nice time and they will be back very soon. Again, with smaller children, a little gentle bribery often works.
Help the child to imagine how proud Mom and Dad will be that they went to bed without a fuss and were so good and well behaved. You could make a simple star chart on a piece of paper and for each thing the child does well throughout the evening, put a sticky gold star on the page. The child gets to keep the chart to proudly show Mom and Dad.
Avoid the bedtime battles - Super Babysitting makes it quick and easy to get babysitting advice and tips. To get your free babysitters handbook and first aid book visit the Super Babysitting web site right now!
Technorati tags ... babysitting, childcare, Parenting, Family, babycare, baby sitting.
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