Like many 12 year olds, my daughter recently completed her “Babysitting Course”, which in theory will enable her to venture forth into the world of watching other people’s children with insight, knowledge, and experience. However, after having reviewed the course materials and grilling her on the information that was shared, I do believe that as a mother of four I should share some vital facts which seem to have been left out of the course content.
- Changing a diaper on a teddy bear, life sized baby doll or stuffed Elmo is nothing like changing the diaper on a real life, pooping baby. In order to replicate this activity without borrowing an actual baby, you could practice by stuffing an angry octopus into a small plastic bag. About 14 times. For one change. And if you think the squid ink is bad, well…
- Most children do not like going to bed. Most babysitting jobs span the exact timeline of getting children into bed. This is not an accident by the employing parents. They may have in fact secured your babysitting services entirely to avoid putting their own children to bed, for one night. A refusal to go to bed by the child, coupled with the 114th reading of GoodNight Moon will wear down even the most patient of parents. They’ve decided it’s your turn. Good luck. Wear protection.
- Parents will tell you that as long as the kids are safe, happy, and healthy (and put to bed on time, as per the last point), they aren’t fussed if you make a mess doing arts and crafts, feeding the kids, or playing games/building forts. This is a lie. We all hate coming home to a messy house and if you need to leave Junior in front of the television or video game for half an hour before we get home, it’s fine with most of us if it means all the couch cushions are back in their rightful spots.
- Parents who tell you outright that they try to limit their children to only half an hour of television per night are most likely to be the ones who let their kids watch television non-stop all week and are trying to lower their child’s average hours of viewing for that week, all in one night, courtesy of you. Good luck with that. Start building that fort.
- Use the “Well I’m just going to call your Mother and ask her” threats wisely. Kids catch on to this really quickly (just like the fake calls to Santa and the Easter Bunny). Practicing a fake one-way conversation with fake angry Mom is good practice for any babysitter. Do some role play with your friends.
- It’s not always a bad thing if the parents don’t have the money to pay you on the spot when they get home. Most of us feel so guilty that we made you wait for your money that we top up even more the next day when we drop it off. And never say “It’s too much.” We know what the real cost is of watching our own kids. It’s not too much. Reading GoodNight Moon one more time? Now that’s “too much”.
Once you’ve selected which childcare option you’re going to use for the summer, you need to research the local providers. Asking the right questions will guide your decision, so here are some thoughts.
First, ask yourself these questions:
- Does the childcare provider have the qualifications, skills, and personality I feel that my child needs?
- Is this a safe, healthy and clean childcare environment?
- What activities will my child do on a regular basis? Can parents give input into what is done during the day?
If time permits, visit the childcare centre, daycare, or summer camp location and discuss your expectations with the potential childcare provider, and always check references before deciding which service to use. Good quality childcare providers support the physical, emotional, social, and intellectual development of children in their care.
Secondly, ask the childcare provider these questions:
For a Nanny/Au Pair
- Do they have an up-to-date background check? Are they willing to be interviewed by you beforehand?
- What are their available hours? What wage do they expect? Ask them to sign a written contract with you stating the hours, wage, and duties.
- Are they taking any vacations or time off over the summer?
- Are they comfortable with taking your children swimming and do they have any Red Cross qualifications for water safety?
As the parent, lead the nanny/au pair in what you’d like your child to do this summer—don’t just leave it up to the caregiver. Discuss your expectations with your caregiver, and then let he/she tell you what they have planned in order to establish open communications right away.
For a Childcare Centre or Summer Camp
- What is the staff-to-child ratio? Will your child receive the attention and care you expect?
- How does the centre or camp hire staff? Are there volunteers? How many?
- What emergency procedures are in place? Are these communicated to the child(ren)?
- What are the pick-up and drop-off times? Is there a late fee for late pick-ups?
- What does a typical day look like for my child?
Taking the time to thoroughly research your options will set your child up for a fun and memorable summer.
Martha Scully is the owner and founder of CanadianSitter.ca and CanadianNanny.ca. When she is not helping Canadian parents find childcare, she is raising her two busy daughters in beautiful Nanaimo, BC. She has been featured on CanadaAM, Breakfast Television, as well as in Today’s Parent and the Globe & Mail. For more information, please visit
www.canadiansitter.ca or
www.canadiannanny.ca.
