Find a Perfect Babysitter: Monday Mention February 22, 2010
Photo: Michael (mx5tx), Flickr
It’s a big thing to leave your kids with someone when you’ve got to head out solo — maybe you need to work or attend class, perhaps a pedicure is in order or how about that well-deserved night out? You want to break free, but you also want to know your kiddos are in good hands. Well, help is here — Parents.com offers 15 things you need to know when seeking a sitter. A few teasers:
- Don’t rush things, and listen to your gut. “Don’t hire someone you think is mediocre because you’re running out of time,” says Parents.com.
- Set up a practice run so you can watch the person interact with your child.
- Just because the sitter acts friendly to your child does not mean he/she is the best match. Says Parents.com on this one: “No one can develop an instantaneous bond to a child.”
- Make sure your babysitters know CPR.
Want the remaining 11 tips? Here they are.
Top 10 List for Hiring a Babysitter:
1. The babysitter should be able to relate easily and bond well with your children while maintaining a clear distinction from them. Babysitters must be able to play with and enjoy your children (which can often be construed by the child as peer-level interaction) while also maintaining discipline. It is easy for a babysitter (and a parent) to feel more comfortable in one role or the other: to be most comfortable being friends with the children, or to be most comfortable supervising the children and redirecting their errant behaviors.
2. The babysitter must be able to relate with your family and administer… http://blog.care4hire.com/164/164