There are many places a parent can look for information on quality child care establishments. The internet is filled with articles and blogs that give details on what to look for, or rather, what a daycare center should offer you. But is this information enough? Do the writers cover enough information in such a short amount of space? There are often many other items left off the list and a new parent needs to know what to expect.
You have selected a great school to help take care of your child while you are unable. They have a responsibility to ensure that your child is given proper care, the right nutritious meals and snacks, as well as to help educate your child.
You have responsibilities as well. If you want your child to attend a quality child care facility, then you must be involved. Studies have shown that parents who are actively involved in their children's lives and schooling will have children who do well in school.
There are some unspoken rules when it comes to children and daycare. They may seem like common sense issues but are often overlooked. It is the simple courtesies that many parents are too busy to be concerned with and as a result, the daycare suffers.
One area in which a quality child care establishment might see problems is from cranky children. No, not a child who is cranky because they want more attention or are feeling poorly, but children who are cranky because a parent did not get them to bed at a reasonable hour. Lack of sleep can seriously interfere with a classroom setting. Small children need at least nine hours of sleep each night in order to be rested.
Regardless of whether you are using a high dollar quality child care school or the local babysitter, you have the responsibility of ensuring that your child is healthy enough to attend. Far too many parents knowingly pack their children off to school when the child should be kept at home.
Fever, flu or even head lice can spread through a daycare center very quickly. If you must be at work, do not endanger the welfare of the other children by sending your child to school when they have a contagious condition. It is not fair to the children, staff or other parents. You should always have a back-up plan in case your child is ill.
A quality child care center has an obligation to care for your child and provide them with a safe, nurturing environment when you cannot. Make sure you return the favor. Be respectful with the staff and ensure that your child is able to attend preschool without illness, with adequate sleep and by being actively involved in the parent-teacher relationship.
Visit Mike Selvon daycare portal at http://childcare.niche-educator.com/ for more information on quality child care centers, and leave a comment at our blog at http://www.mynicheportal.com/family/. Don't forget to claim your FREE gift.
Friday, December 28, 2007
Thursday, December 20, 2007
Babysitter Safety
You and your spouse finally got theater tickets to see your
favorite show. For dinner beforehand, you made reservations at a
restaurant that is usually impossibly busy. You even purchased a
new outfit to wear for your big night out on the town. The only
thing left to do is find a suitable sitter. It seems like an
easy task, but it is by far the most important part of your
evening out. The results of choosing an inappropriate babysitter
can range from mildly annoying to unthinkably tragic.
Before You Hire Babysitter:
• Use a friend or family member if possible. Try to get
recommendations from friends who have kids. Always check the
references of a new babysitter.
• Do not hire a sitter under age 12. Also, keep in mind that
the younger the children or the greater the number of children,
the older your babysitter should be.
• Make sure your babysitter knows CPR and first aid. Recommend
that young sitters take the American Red Cross babysitter class.
• Meet the babysitter in advance. Let her spend time with you
and your children in advance to observe how she interacts with
your kids. In many cases, it's a good idea to hire a potential
candidate as a "mother's or father's helper" first. That way,
she can get used to watching the kids while you are still home.
Babysitter Safety – What They Need to Know
When you leave the house, babysitter safety should be your
primary concern. Arm your sitter with the information necessary
to ensure your children's wellbeing. Make sure your babysitter
knows the following things:
• Parents' full names and cell phone or pager numbers
• Children's full names and ages
• Address of the house including the nearest intersections – in
case it's necessary to give directions to emergency workers
• Phone number of the house
• Name and phone of family doctor
• Emergency numbers including the National Poison Control
Center hotline: 1-800-222-1222
• Location of first aid kit, fire extinguisher, and flashlights
• Contact information of neighbors or relatives
• Food and drug allergies
• Where you will be and when you will be home
Babysitter Safety – Common Sense
Babysitter safety also includes the precautions your sitter
should take to protect the children from outside dangers. In
addition to knowing medical information and contact information,
your babysitter should also:
• Keep all doors and windows locked
• Turn on outside lights when it gets dark
• Check on sleeping children about every 15 minutes
• Never leave the house with your children unless you gave
permission
• Refuse to let anyone in the house unless she personally knows
the individual
• Call 911 if someone suspicious comes to the door, or if your
sitter suspects a prowler
• Never identify herself as the babysitter on the phone
• Make sure she has safe escort home at the end of the evening
Consider babysitter safety to be the key ingredient to a
relaxing night out with your spouse. After you pick a great
babysitter, listen to what your children say about the sitter
when you get home. Your kids will give you a good idea about the
level of their safety while you were gone.
About The Author: Ralph Winn with 35 years in the Security
industry. http://www.homesecuritystore.com
favorite show. For dinner beforehand, you made reservations at a
restaurant that is usually impossibly busy. You even purchased a
new outfit to wear for your big night out on the town. The only
thing left to do is find a suitable sitter. It seems like an
easy task, but it is by far the most important part of your
evening out. The results of choosing an inappropriate babysitter
can range from mildly annoying to unthinkably tragic.
Before You Hire Babysitter:
• Use a friend or family member if possible. Try to get
recommendations from friends who have kids. Always check the
references of a new babysitter.
• Do not hire a sitter under age 12. Also, keep in mind that
the younger the children or the greater the number of children,
the older your babysitter should be.
• Make sure your babysitter knows CPR and first aid. Recommend
that young sitters take the American Red Cross babysitter class.
• Meet the babysitter in advance. Let her spend time with you
and your children in advance to observe how she interacts with
your kids. In many cases, it's a good idea to hire a potential
candidate as a "mother's or father's helper" first. That way,
she can get used to watching the kids while you are still home.
Babysitter Safety – What They Need to Know
When you leave the house, babysitter safety should be your
primary concern. Arm your sitter with the information necessary
to ensure your children's wellbeing. Make sure your babysitter
knows the following things:
• Parents' full names and cell phone or pager numbers
• Children's full names and ages
• Address of the house including the nearest intersections – in
case it's necessary to give directions to emergency workers
• Phone number of the house
• Name and phone of family doctor
• Emergency numbers including the National Poison Control
Center hotline: 1-800-222-1222
• Location of first aid kit, fire extinguisher, and flashlights
• Contact information of neighbors or relatives
• Food and drug allergies
• Where you will be and when you will be home
Babysitter Safety – Common Sense
Babysitter safety also includes the precautions your sitter
should take to protect the children from outside dangers. In
addition to knowing medical information and contact information,
your babysitter should also:
• Keep all doors and windows locked
• Turn on outside lights when it gets dark
• Check on sleeping children about every 15 minutes
• Never leave the house with your children unless you gave
permission
• Refuse to let anyone in the house unless she personally knows
the individual
• Call 911 if someone suspicious comes to the door, or if your
sitter suspects a prowler
• Never identify herself as the babysitter on the phone
• Make sure she has safe escort home at the end of the evening
Consider babysitter safety to be the key ingredient to a
relaxing night out with your spouse. After you pick a great
babysitter, listen to what your children say about the sitter
when you get home. Your kids will give you a good idea about the
level of their safety while you were gone.
About The Author: Ralph Winn with 35 years in the Security
industry. http://www.homesecu
Sunday, December 16, 2007
An Overview Of Child Care Providers
It is not always easy for parents to relinquish the care of their child to strangers. Parents hear horror stories of daycare facilities that ignore or otherwise cause harm to innocent children. Quality child care providers are always in high demand and it is no mystery as to why.
Parents want to be reassured that their children are safe. Safety is not the only issue either. Parents also want to be sure that their children are actually learning something and not spending all day parked in front of a television.
Caring for children is not an easy task. As they grow and learn new skills, child care providers must be experienced in order to handle the transitions. It is important that parents know what to look for when it comes to the child care services that preschools offers.
Parents have an obligation to their children to provide the best care possible, even if it means not always being nice. There are certain key elements a preschool should operate under and it is the parent's job to ensure that the school and staff are truly professionals.
A parent should always have a healthy dose of caution when checking into any child care providers' credentials. It is absolutely essential not be fooled by the school's outwardly appearance. It may look clean and prestigious but appearances can be deceiving.
Go inside the school and check all the classrooms. The floors should be clean and the air should not smell of soiled diapers. Go into the office and look for framed diplomas or certifications. The staff should have a presentable appearance as well and the teachers should be organized and in control.
Each daycare center should be able to show background checks on all their employees. If the administration balks at showing or providing the parent with relevant information or acts evasively when questioned, immediately leave and check other facilities. Some preschools do not require criminal background checks and as a result, there have been cases where convicted sex offenders or individuals with violent pasts have been discovered working with small children.
Child care providers should always be aware of what parents look for in a good daycare or preschool. There is never a reason for the establishment to be dirty or lax on paperwork designed to protect a child's safety.
Parents must always be perceptive as to the quality of care their child receives. They should take an active role in their child's preschool and always be aware of who is around them each and every day.
Visit Mike Selvon daycare portal at http://childcare.niche-educator.com/ for more information on child care providers, and leave a comment at our blog at http://www.mynicheportal.com/family/. Don't forget to claim your FREE gift.
Parents want to be reassured that their children are safe. Safety is not the only issue either. Parents also want to be sure that their children are actually learning something and not spending all day parked in front of a television.
Caring for children is not an easy task. As they grow and learn new skills, child care providers must be experienced in order to handle the transitions. It is important that parents know what to look for when it comes to the child care services that preschools offers.
Parents have an obligation to their children to provide the best care possible, even if it means not always being nice. There are certain key elements a preschool should operate under and it is the parent's job to ensure that the school and staff are truly professionals.
A parent should always have a healthy dose of caution when checking into any child care providers' credentials. It is absolutely essential not be fooled by the school's outwardly appearance. It may look clean and prestigious but appearances can be deceiving.
Go inside the school and check all the classrooms. The floors should be clean and the air should not smell of soiled diapers. Go into the office and look for framed diplomas or certifications. The staff should have a presentable appearance as well and the teachers should be organized and in control.
Each daycare center should be able to show background checks on all their employees. If the administration balks at showing or providing the parent with relevant information or acts evasively when questioned, immediately leave and check other facilities. Some preschools do not require criminal background checks and as a result, there have been cases where convicted sex offenders or individuals with violent pasts have been discovered working with small children.
Child care providers should always be aware of what parents look for in a good daycare or preschool. There is never a reason for the establishment to be dirty or lax on paperwork designed to protect a child's safety.
Parents must always be perceptive as to the quality of care their child receives. They should take an active role in their child's preschool and always be aware of who is around them each and every day.
Visit Mike Selvon daycare portal at http://childcare.niche-educator.com/ for more information on child care providers, and leave a comment at our blog at http://www.mynicheportal.com/family/. Don't forget to claim your FREE gift.
Tuesday, December 11, 2007
An Analysis On Child Care Facilities Costs
There is a little doubt that a great percentage of working parent's wages goes toward child care facilities. Parents need someone to take care of their children while they are working but sometimes wonder how they can ever afford to pay out such high fees.
The differences in charges vary from city to city, but no matter where the family is located, it sometimes causes doubt as to whether or not the second parent is simply working to pay for childcare. There are many things that can affect the cost, so before you begin looking, you need to be aware of the basics.
Take a good look at your community when pricing child care facilities. Areas in New York City and Boston will have prestigious private preschools where the tuition is closer to thousands of dollars versus hundreds.
Lower income areas will have facilities within their pricing range. Both may offer quality child care but the more expensive school may be able to offer extras such as computer and foreign language instructors.
Infants are charged a higher fee than toddlers. The reason being infants require more care and more staff to oversee than older children. Child care centers must pay close attention to the staff-to-infant ratio to ensure that the infants are receiving the highest possible care they can give. Changing diapers and feeding bottles is much more time consuming than working with a potty trained toddler who can feed him or her self.
Other factors that can change pricing between the differing child care facilities is how many services are being offered. A babysitter in your home will usually not provide the extended hours most working parents require. If you have hours that extend from the typical 9-5 work day or have a long commute, you will need a daycare center that has extended hours of pick-up and drop-off.
Also, the more added benefits, such as providing meals and snacks will affect the price of too. Many centers now offer activities based on the child's age such as computers, foreign language and even martial arts or gymnastics. Many centers allow the parent to elect these options for an additional fee but some are building them into the curriculum and daily activity list.
Typically, parents can expect to pay on average from $100-$400 per week at a daycare center. There are some child care facilities that charge much, much more and may even have a long waiting list for admission.
When looking at a child care facility, make sure and ask about any extra fees or what activities are included. Many centers are well worth the money and can provide your child with a superb educational foundation.
Visit Mike Selvon daycare portal at http://childcare.niche-educator.com/ for more information on child care facilities, and leave a comment at our blog at http://www.mynicheportal.com/family/. Don't forget to claim your FREE gift.
The differences in charges vary from city to city, but no matter where the family is located, it sometimes causes doubt as to whether or not the second parent is simply working to pay for childcare. There are many things that can affect the cost, so before you begin looking, you need to be aware of the basics.
Take a good look at your community when pricing child care facilities. Areas in New York City and Boston will have prestigious private preschools where the tuition is closer to thousands of dollars versus hundreds.
Lower income areas will have facilities within their pricing range. Both may offer quality child care but the more expensive school may be able to offer extras such as computer and foreign language instructors.
Infants are charged a higher fee than toddlers. The reason being infants require more care and more staff to oversee than older children. Child care centers must pay close attention to the staff-to-infant ratio to ensure that the infants are receiving the highest possible care they can give. Changing diapers and feeding bottles is much more time consuming than working with a potty trained toddler who can feed him or her self.
Other factors that can change pricing between the differing child care facilities is how many services are being offered. A babysitter in your home will usually not provide the extended hours most working parents require. If you have hours that extend from the typical 9-5 work day or have a long commute, you will need a daycare center that has extended hours of pick-up and drop-off.
Also, the more added benefits, such as providing meals and snacks will affect the price of too. Many centers now offer activities based on the child's age such as computers, foreign language and even martial arts or gymnastics. Many centers allow the parent to elect these options for an additional fee but some are building them into the curriculum and daily activity list.
Typically, parents can expect to pay on average from $100-$400 per week at a daycare center. There are some child care facilities that charge much, much more and may even have a long waiting list for admission.
When looking at a child care facility, make sure and ask about any extra fees or what activities are included. Many centers are well worth the money and can provide your child with a superb educational foundation.
Visit Mike Selvon daycare portal at http://childcare.niche-educator.com/ for more information on child care facilities, and leave a comment at our blog at http://www.mynicheportal.com/family/. Don't forget to claim your FREE gift.
Tuesday, November 27, 2007
Here’s A Quick Way To Find A Reliable Nanny
The best way to make the decision on choosing a nanny for your
children is by listening to your heart. Follow your intuition.
If you don’t feel any ‘chemistry’ with that
person, don’t even try to hire her/him. You might regret
it, one day, for choosing a bad nanny for you beloved children
and for not listening to your heart.
Yet, there should be some other considerations:
•He/she loves kids
Check it out by asking how close he/she with the kids in
her/his family or neighborhood or with her/his own kids if any.
Ask her/him her/his most beautiful and worst experience with
kids. By the answer she/he gives, you can judge whether she/he
loves kids or not. Don’t forget to look into her/his eyes
to avoid her/his lying to you.
•Her/his experience in taking care of kids
You can ask her/him how she/he take care of kids should she/he
has experiences in it. Make her/him tell you solutions to
problems that might rise on the process, for example what if the
kid falls or can’t stop crying.
•Her/his vision and mission on childcare
Is she/he the kind of person who just allows kids to do
anything they want—while you’re not that kind? Or,
on the contrary, she/he has very binding rules—while you
don’t want your children to have too many boundaries
because that might affect their creativity? To sum up, you and
the nanny must have the same vision and mission about childcare.
Differences will not only cause confusions to the kids, but also
can cause problems between parents and nanny.
•Medical Check up
It would be best to take her/him for a medical check up. Yet,
some parents feel that it’s a little bit impolite. So, the
best thing to do is by asking directly to the candidate whether
she/he have suffered from a certain kind of illness or not and
which illness. Or, you can judge by her/his look and appearance.
•Trial
If possible, ask for a trial. It can be two or three days. From
that, you can see how she/he interact with your kids. You can
also find out if the kids like her/him or not. Next, you can
finalize the decision, whether to hire her/him or go through
some other recruitment processes.
About The Author: David W Richards is a father of two kids. He
loves sharing knowledge and experiences with other parents. He
also writes about other studd at his sites: http://ozdh.com,
http://ozdh.com, and http://ozfj.com.
children is by listening to your heart. Follow your intuition.
If you don’t feel any ‘chemistry&
person, don’t even try to hire her/him. You might regret
it, one day, for choosing a bad nanny for you beloved children
and for not listening to your heart.
Yet, there should be some other considerations:
•He/she loves kids
Check it out by asking how close he/she with the kids in
her/his family or neighborhood or with her/his own kids if any.
Ask her/him her/his most beautiful and worst experience with
kids. By the answer she/he gives, you can judge whether she/he
loves kids or not. Don’t forget to look into her/his eyes
to avoid her/his lying to you.
•Her/his experience in taking care of kids
You can ask her/him how she/he take care of kids should she/he
has experiences in it. Make her/him tell you solutions to
problems that might rise on the process, for example what if the
kid falls or can’t stop crying.
•Her/his vision and mission on childcare
Is she/he the kind of person who just allows kids to do
anything they want—while you’re not that kind? Or,
on the contrary, she/he has very binding rules—
don’t want your children to have too many boundaries
because that might affect their creativity? To sum up, you and
the nanny must have the same vision and mission about childcare.
Differences will not only cause confusions to the kids, but also
can cause problems between parents and nanny.
•Medical Check up
It would be best to take her/him for a medical check up. Yet,
some parents feel that it’s a little bit impolite. So, the
best thing to do is by asking directly to the candidate whether
she/he have suffered from a certain kind of illness or not and
which illness. Or, you can judge by her/his look and appearance.
•Trial
If possible, ask for a trial. It can be two or three days. From
that, you can see how she/he interact with your kids. You can
also find out if the kids like her/him or not. Next, you can
finalize the decision, whether to hire her/him or go through
some other recruitment processes.
About The Author: David W Richards is a father of two kids. He
loves sharing knowledge and experiences with other parents. He
also writes about other studd at his sites: http://ozdh.
http://ozdh.
Thursday, November 1, 2007
Tips On Finding The Proper Common Sense Book Of Baby And Child Care
As you gaze at your newborn, you may have faired well on your
current parenting know-how, but you probably would like to own a
common sense book of baby and child care, which can help you out
when it comes to something unfamiliar. Numerous publications are
marketed as "the best" selection in a common sense book of baby
and child care. Since there are too many options to count, how
can you select the one that best fits your needs?
Experts in the field of child psychology or professionals, such
as pediatricians are one of the main motivations that new
parents use when looking to purchase a common sense book of baby
and child care. On the other hand, since favored authors pen
these publications, they can often cost a lot of money.
While the common sense book of baby and child care associated
with a person who is clearly knowledgeable in the field is
considered the best way to go, it is important to take note that
there are plenty of ways to obtain the publication you desire
and not face expensive costs. For starters, it is important to
make sure that the book of your choice will touch upon all of
the subjects you will need assistance in.
The next step is to ensure that the information is delivered in
a manner that is easy to follow. A lot of common sense books of
baby and child care rely on fancy and complicated terms and
references, which does not help you gain a better understanding
on some of the childcare issues you may encounter. It is also
suggested to ensure that the publication illustrates techniques
and details through the use of clear-cut graphics and photos, as
this will help you confirm that you are performing methods and
steps as intended. It is also important that the book does not
try to get too complicated or involved, in some cases it would
be much better to see a doctor.
You should also know that as you scan a common sense book of
baby and child care, you may find information that doesn't
particularly suit your beliefs on rearing a child. This dilemma
may arise when a baby book shows you one method of calming down
a fussy baby that you may have already attempted and failed. It
is recommended to select books that offer more than one way to
solve common baby issues.
When it comes to solving childcare issues, it is not always
necessary to rely on a baby book. Asking family and friends with
children can provide decent help, as they may have the answers
to questions on your mind. On the other hand, if you favor using
a book, try locating decent publications at the local bookshop
or across the Internet, where you may also scan book reviews.
After conducting suitable research, you will have increased your
chances of bringing home just the right common sense book of
baby and child care.
With the extensive number of books that are available on baby
and child care, finding a publication that you like should be
relatively easy.
About The Author: To learn more about general baby care tips
and information visit our site at http://www.basicbabycare.com
Please use the HTML version of this article at:
http://www.isnare.com/html.php?aid=196953
current parenting know-how, but you probably would like to own a
common sense book of baby and child care, which can help you out
when it comes to something unfamiliar. Numerous publications are
marketed as "the best" selection in a common sense book of baby
and child care. Since there are too many options to count, how
can you select the one that best fits your needs?
Experts in the field of child psychology or professionals, such
as pediatricians are one of the main motivations that new
parents use when looking to purchase a common sense book of baby
and child care. On the other hand, since favored authors pen
these publications, they can often cost a lot of money.
While the common sense book of baby and child care associated
with a person who is clearly knowledgeable in the field is
considered the best way to go, it is important to take note that
there are plenty of ways to obtain the publication you desire
and not face expensive costs. For starters, it is important to
make sure that the book of your choice will touch upon all of
the subjects you will need assistance in.
The next step is to ensure that the information is delivered in
a manner that is easy to follow. A lot of common sense books of
baby and child care rely on fancy and complicated terms and
references, which does not help you gain a better understanding
on some of the childcare issues you may encounter. It is also
suggested to ensure that the publication illustrates techniques
and details through the use of clear-cut graphics and photos, as
this will help you confirm that you are performing methods and
steps as intended. It is also important that the book does not
try to get too complicated or involved, in some cases it would
be much better to see a doctor.
You should also know that as you scan a common sense book of
baby and child care, you may find information that doesn't
particularly suit your beliefs on rearing a child. This dilemma
may arise when a baby book shows you one method of calming down
a fussy baby that you may have already attempted and failed. It
is recommended to select books that offer more than one way to
solve common baby issues.
When it comes to solving childcare issues, it is not always
necessary to rely on a baby book. Asking family and friends with
children can provide decent help, as they may have the answers
to questions on your mind. On the other hand, if you favor using
a book, try locating decent publications at the local bookshop
or across the Internet, where you may also scan book reviews.
After conducting suitable research, you will have increased your
chances of bringing home just the right common sense book of
baby and child care.
With the extensive number of books that are available on baby
and child care, finding a publication that you like should be
relatively easy.
About The Author: To learn more about general baby care tips
and information visit our site at http://www.basicbab
Please use the HTML version of this article at:
http://www.isnare.
Monday, October 29, 2007
How To Do A Proper Background Check On A Nanny
When you hire a nanny you need to make sure that she is the best person for the job. You do not, after all, just want to leave your kids with just anyone. The person should be responsible, likes kids, be able to have fun, and still know when it is time to be serious.
A Few Pieces of Advice
One of the most important things you do before you hire a nanny is make sure you get at least three references. Make sure you contact all of these references and ask them specific questions about her performance. Ask them if they would hire her again, if they liked how she handled the children, why she left, and any other little bits of information that you can think of. If you can not get a hold of the three references ask for some more references until you talk to three people.
Have the nanny fill out an application just like she would have to at any other place of employment. Make sure you get all of the vital information like her birth date, social security number, and other names she may have gone by in the past. Get her college school name and any other schooling she may have had in the past. Ask her to list her last five employers. Make sure that these employers are not from the three references. Also get in contact with these people to see how well she performed at her job there. Get the phone number, address, and name of the previous employer.
If you decide to do a background check on her you need to let her know and have her sign a piece of paper authorizing you to do a background check on her. Make sure that you see if she is hesitant to sign the paper. If she is then she might be hiding something from her past. Can you really trust a person who may be hiding something from a person she will be working for? If you do not feel comfortable trusting her around your kids then do not hire her.
Check the information that she gave you to her previous places of employment. Make sure that the information matches up correctly. Call the relative and make sure that she is really related to them. If she is not related to them then she is obviously lying to you, and if she feels comfortable lying to you now she will keep on doing and just get more comfortable lying to you in the future.
If you find that all of the information checks out with the person but you are still a little leery of hiring her then do not hire her. You need to hire a person that you can trust which your children. Also before you hire the nanny make sure the children are comfortable around her. There is nothing worse than hiring a nanny who if perfect but the children do not like her. If the children do not like her than they are not going to listen to her very well. So make sure that the children like her that way you will get respect from both the nanny and your children.
Gregg Hall is an author living in Navarre Beach Florida. Find more about this as background check at http://www.ez-backgroundcheck.com
A Few Pieces of Advice
One of the most important things you do before you hire a nanny is make sure you get at least three references. Make sure you contact all of these references and ask them specific questions about her performance. Ask them if they would hire her again, if they liked how she handled the children, why she left, and any other little bits of information that you can think of. If you can not get a hold of the three references ask for some more references until you talk to three people.
Have the nanny fill out an application just like she would have to at any other place of employment. Make sure you get all of the vital information like her birth date, social security number, and other names she may have gone by in the past. Get her college school name and any other schooling she may have had in the past. Ask her to list her last five employers. Make sure that these employers are not from the three references. Also get in contact with these people to see how well she performed at her job there. Get the phone number, address, and name of the previous employer.
If you decide to do a background check on her you need to let her know and have her sign a piece of paper authorizing you to do a background check on her. Make sure that you see if she is hesitant to sign the paper. If she is then she might be hiding something from her past. Can you really trust a person who may be hiding something from a person she will be working for? If you do not feel comfortable trusting her around your kids then do not hire her.
Check the information that she gave you to her previous places of employment. Make sure that the information matches up correctly. Call the relative and make sure that she is really related to them. If she is not related to them then she is obviously lying to you, and if she feels comfortable lying to you now she will keep on doing and just get more comfortable lying to you in the future.
If you find that all of the information checks out with the person but you are still a little leery of hiring her then do not hire her. You need to hire a person that you can trust which your children. Also before you hire the nanny make sure the children are comfortable around her. There is nothing worse than hiring a nanny who if perfect but the children do not like her. If the children do not like her than they are not going to listen to her very well. So make sure that the children like her that way you will get respect from both the nanny and your children.
Gregg Hall is an author living in Navarre Beach Florida. Find more about this as background check at http://www.ez-backgroundcheck.com
Thursday, October 25, 2007
How To Hire Child Care Providers
If you have built your knowledge and understanding on starting a day care center, your business should be off the ground and become profitable. Once it has become successful, you may need to consider hiring additional help to assist you in the running of your business.
Parents expectations are high, and if you are hiring additional child care providers, you need to make sure that the person is the right one. Here are some steps that you need to take when hiring a person:
Firstly, you do not need to be too strict on experience even though it is important. Your employees should have some character references from friends or relatives whom they babysat for. Make sure you call them and ask them a few questions to see if the answers give you a feel of whether this is the right person for you.
A person with a few good character references will be a better person to hire than a person with lots of experience but does not have many good references to show for it. You can always build up their knowledge and experience while on-the-job running the day care service.
Secondly, a day care service requires lots of commitment and dedication so ensure that your staff are able to stay committed to their job for a long time. If the child care providers in your day care center keep changing, it does not reflect well on the center. Parents feel insecure about putting their children in your day care center, and may start losing confidence with regards to the quality of the service that your center is providing. A high turnover rate is also bad for the children. They will feel uncomfortable seeing new faces all the time.
Children are looking for consistency, love, and reassurance that they are in a safe environment. The provider should engage in regular conversation with the children present in day care center. So make sure that the staff you hire loves the job and stays committed.
Thirdly, when hiring an assistant, you need to give a detailed job description to the person. Make sure that the person understands his/her job requirements before starting work. This helps to prevent any misunderstandings that might arise after your employee starts work. Be patient with your employee and repeat yourself till the person fully understands the job of being a child care provider.
Last but not least, have a probation period (usually a month) for your employee to see whether he/she is suitable for the job. Observe your employee closely during this trial period, making sure that he or she truly has a heart for children, love the children and demonstrate lots of patience towards the children. Do not be afraid to terminate the person if things do not work out. Protecting your business and the quality of the day care service is your top priority.
The above steps serve as a guide to help you to hire the right child care providers for your day care center business so it can grow into a wildly successful business.
Miriam Boh is an entrepreneur and owns StartingDayCareBusiness.com. To learn how to effectively hire the right child care providers for your day care business so as to keep the business going and growing, visit http://www.startingdaycarebusiness.com for more information.
Parents expectations are high, and if you are hiring additional child care providers, you need to make sure that the person is the right one. Here are some steps that you need to take when hiring a person:
Firstly, you do not need to be too strict on experience even though it is important. Your employees should have some character references from friends or relatives whom they babysat for. Make sure you call them and ask them a few questions to see if the answers give you a feel of whether this is the right person for you.
A person with a few good character references will be a better person to hire than a person with lots of experience but does not have many good references to show for it. You can always build up their knowledge and experience while on-the-job running the day care service.
Secondly, a day care service requires lots of commitment and dedication so ensure that your staff are able to stay committed to their job for a long time. If the child care providers in your day care center keep changing, it does not reflect well on the center. Parents feel insecure about putting their children in your day care center, and may start losing confidence with regards to the quality of the service that your center is providing. A high turnover rate is also bad for the children. They will feel uncomfortable seeing new faces all the time.
Children are looking for consistency, love, and reassurance that they are in a safe environment. The provider should engage in regular conversation with the children present in day care center. So make sure that the staff you hire loves the job and stays committed.
Thirdly, when hiring an assistant, you need to give a detailed job description to the person. Make sure that the person understands his/her job requirements before starting work. This helps to prevent any misunderstandings that might arise after your employee starts work. Be patient with your employee and repeat yourself till the person fully understands the job of being a child care provider.
Last but not least, have a probation period (usually a month) for your employee to see whether he/she is suitable for the job. Observe your employee closely during this trial period, making sure that he or she truly has a heart for children, love the children and demonstrate lots of patience towards the children. Do not be afraid to terminate the person if things do not work out. Protecting your business and the quality of the day care service is your top priority.
The above steps serve as a guide to help you to hire the right child care providers for your day care center business so it can grow into a wildly successful business.
Miriam Boh is an entrepreneur and owns StartingDayCareBusiness.com. To learn how to effectively hire the right child care providers for your day care business so as to keep the business going and growing, visit http://www.startingdaycarebusiness.com for more information.
Monday, October 22, 2007
Five Easy Steps for Choosing the Best Babysitter
Babysitters are entrusted to care for the most precious people in your life. Here are five steps you can follow to make sure you hire the best candidate for the job.
Step One: Ask trusted community members for recommendations.
Some of the best babysitters come from referrals of other parents who have found a babysitter they are delighted with. Ask friends, relatives, and moms you meet in the supermarket or on the playground. In addition, you may want to ask preschool teachers or early grade school teachers for recommendations and advice. These early childhood experts often keep a list of recommended sitters, and they may even provide babysitting services themselves.
Step Two: Interview the prospective babysitter.
Ask for references and call several families whom the babysitter has worked with. Also during the interview, ask the candidate if she has any special qualifications, such as first aid training or CPR certification. Ask her what she would do in the case of emergencies such as accidental poisoning or choking. And do not be afraid to ask the potential sitter about her personal habits, such as swearing, smoking, or drinking. If you are interviewing a younger sitter, you may want to ask about Red Cross Certification. Red Cross babysitting courses are designed for 11 to 15 year olds, and instruct participants on such topics as first aid, diapering and feeding, as well as safe and age appropriate toys and games. The interview with your prospective sitter is also the time to work out such details as the rate of pay and transportation to and from the job.
Step Three: Make sure you choose someone who is experienced enough to handle your children at their present ages and stages.
Infants, in particular, will require special care and experience. Toddlers and school age children can have a lot of fun with a younger sitter, but make sure to provide the sitter with a list of emergency numbers, including contact information for nearby relatives and neighbors, as well as your family physician. Of course, you will need to leave detailed information as to where you are going and when you will be returning. Write down your cell phone number for both the babysitter as well as for your children, if they are old enough to call you themselves. Make sure to keep your cell phone with you and turned on at all times while you are away.
Step Four: Give the babysitter a clear idea of your expectations, as well as the House Rules.
If you have older children, it is a good idea to explain house rules, including bedtime and meal instructions, to the babysitter in the presence of the children. This will minimize any objections the children might have in your absence. (Many sitters are familiar with the "but mom says we do not have to go to bed until 11" routine.) You will also want to discuss any special expectations you have about the way discipline issues are to be handled.
Include specific rules that may affect each individual child, such as "No snacks before dinner." And remember to include rules you expect the sitter to follow (such as no visiting friends, no long cell phone calls, no loud music). Discuss special instructions personally when the sitter arrives at your home, and reiterate them in a set of written instructions for her reference, as well.
Step Five: Make sure to discuss with the children what kind of behavior you expect from their babysitter.
Discuss with them what abuse is (physical and verbal) and instruct the children to tell you immediately if the babysitter does something to hurt them or to make them feel uncomfortable. If your children are sufficiently old enough, instruct them to call you if anything occurs that they think you should know.
Jamie Jefferson writes for several popular websites,including http://www.bestselfhelp.com , http://www.susies-coupons.com and http://www.momscape.com where you can register to win gift cards from top online merchants.
Step One: Ask trusted community members for recommendations.
Some of the best babysitters come from referrals of other parents who have found a babysitter they are delighted with. Ask friends, relatives, and moms you meet in the supermarket or on the playground. In addition, you may want to ask preschool teachers or early grade school teachers for recommendations and advice. These early childhood experts often keep a list of recommended sitters, and they may even provide babysitting services themselves.
Step Two: Interview the prospective babysitter.
Ask for references and call several families whom the babysitter has worked with. Also during the interview, ask the candidate if she has any special qualifications, such as first aid training or CPR certification. Ask her what she would do in the case of emergencies such as accidental poisoning or choking. And do not be afraid to ask the potential sitter about her personal habits, such as swearing, smoking, or drinking. If you are interviewing a younger sitter, you may want to ask about Red Cross Certification. Red Cross babysitting courses are designed for 11 to 15 year olds, and instruct participants on such topics as first aid, diapering and feeding, as well as safe and age appropriate toys and games. The interview with your prospective sitter is also the time to work out such details as the rate of pay and transportation to and from the job.
Step Three: Make sure you choose someone who is experienced enough to handle your children at their present ages and stages.
Infants, in particular, will require special care and experience. Toddlers and school age children can have a lot of fun with a younger sitter, but make sure to provide the sitter with a list of emergency numbers, including contact information for nearby relatives and neighbors, as well as your family physician. Of course, you will need to leave detailed information as to where you are going and when you will be returning. Write down your cell phone number for both the babysitter as well as for your children, if they are old enough to call you themselves. Make sure to keep your cell phone with you and turned on at all times while you are away.
Step Four: Give the babysitter a clear idea of your expectations, as well as the House Rules.
If you have older children, it is a good idea to explain house rules, including bedtime and meal instructions, to the babysitter in the presence of the children. This will minimize any objections the children might have in your absence. (Many sitters are familiar with the "but mom says we do not have to go to bed until 11" routine.) You will also want to discuss any special expectations you have about the way discipline issues are to be handled.
Include specific rules that may affect each individual child, such as "No snacks before dinner." And remember to include rules you expect the sitter to follow (such as no visiting friends, no long cell phone calls, no loud music). Discuss special instructions personally when the sitter arrives at your home, and reiterate them in a set of written instructions for her reference, as well.
Step Five: Make sure to discuss with the children what kind of behavior you expect from their babysitter.
Discuss with them what abuse is (physical and verbal) and instruct the children to tell you immediately if the babysitter does something to hurt them or to make them feel uncomfortable. If your children are sufficiently old enough, instruct them to call you if anything occurs that they think you should know.
Jamie Jefferson writes for several popular websites,including http://www.bestselfhelp.com , http://www.susies-coupons.com and http://www.momscape.com where you can register to win gift cards from top online merchants.
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