Archive for December 24th, 2009

Babysitters Needed – Things to Know About Your New Babysitter

Author: admin

Dec 24



If you are like thousands of other parents, you will need a babysitter at one time or another. You may need a full time sitter so you can work or just a night out. Either way your children are the most important thing in the world to you. You will want to look at several things when hiring a sitter especially the very first time.

Experience is the first thing you will want to inquire about. How long a person has been babysitting is important especially if you have many children or a rambunctious child. If they have been sitting, awhile you can be more assured that they can handle different situations that come up. New sitters are more appropriate if your child is old enough to communicate or if you are in the position to be able to check in once or twice.

Spend some time talking to a potential sitter on their preferences. There are people who refuse to care for infants for example. If someone is not comfortable with the age range of your children it is wise to move along, they may not have the experience you need.

Anyone who is going to care for your children should have references. Most childcare providers have a list of references that you can call. When you call, ask questions about reliability, techniques and temperament. Keep in mind that the references were supplied by the applicant and will only contain people who will give the sitter a good review. You may want to ask around town as well, small towns are easiest for finding information about someone.

You can require a formal background check if the person is over eighteen.

Talk frankly about discipline styles it is not fair for your children to try and accommodate differing ideas. No two people will be exactly the same however; you will want someone who closely resembles your parenting style. This is especially important when it comes to discipline. Once this is all talked through test the water by presenting situations and asking the sitter how they would handle it.

Finally discuss salary expectations, what they are looking for compared to what you are budgeted for. If this is the first time, you are hiring a babysitter you can ask around about the rates for your area, number of children and age of children. Many people may down play their salary expectations just to get the job. Nevertheless, you do not want someone caring for your kids who feel like they are not being paid well. The frustration could lead to sub standard care or even neglect.

This process can take some time but be patient. Finding the best person to care for your children is worth all the effort!

By: Beth Howland

About the Author:
Beth Howland is a reviewer of parenting products like Sittercity

If you need help finding the right sitter for your family, visit http://www.SittercityReview.com for more information.



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Six Super Simple Steps to Finding the Perfect Babysitter

Author: admin

Dec 24



1. When finding that ‘perfect’ babysitter, go to who you know. Friends and family are your first stop, next would be other sources you trust such as a religious or civic organization.

2. Once you have a list, check and double check their references. You can even go a step beyond and use an information gathering website like zabasearch.com or intelius.com for a background check. Remember, there is never ‘overboard’ when you are finding someone to leave your child with.

3. Contact their previous employers, teachers, relatives etc. Make sure to ask these references about the sitter’s qualifications.

4. Interview your list of sitters in person and observe how they interact with your children. A good sitter will be mature and responsible, one who listens and positively responds to your children. They should be relaxed and enjoy being with them.

5. Make a list of responsibilities and expectations. Go over a ‘what if?’ scenario of what they would do in an emergency situation. Does the sitter know child CPR? First Aid? Many area hospitals and medical centers provide babysitting safety courses. Have they attended any?

6. Get all the sitter’s information: name, address, home and cell phone numbers, email and yes, even their driver’s license number. Also, make sure that you go over their hours and fee for services. If they are a younger sitter, go over any other details such as; do they need a ride or will they have a parent pick them up?

Finding a babysitter can be a daunting task. But if you follow these six simple steps, your mind will be at ease to enjoy a long overdue ‘date night’ or a rest assured meeting or outing.

By: Michelle Annese

About the Author:
Michelle Annese, “The Diva of Defense™” is a self defense instructor, consultant, speaker, author, and copywriter. With a third degree black belt and inductee into the World Martial Arts Hall of Fame, Ms. Annese is a safety advocate teaching thousands each year in school talks, special events and assemblies in elementary, high schools, and colleges nationwide. She is also the author of the book: “101 Self Defense Strategies” and creator of the programs “Diva Defense Training” and “The SafeGuard System for Kids”. Complete information on Michelle Annese’s books and other services offered is available from her web site http://www.annesemartialarts.com



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Choosing The Right Employees For Your Daycare Business

Author: admin

Dec 24



When you own your day care business, there comes a point when you need to hire employees to help you out. It may be with something as simple as cleaning up or as complicated as helping with the kids. Employees for your day care should be one of your most careful investments. There are many factors that you should consider. Let’s break it down for you. There are many kind of child care workers, ranging from babysitters to nannies to, of course, you. For your day care center, licensed child care workers are your best bet.

When you hire people for child care, their primary duties will be taking care of the children you have in your care. You may also want them to teach the children or help with daily activities. They’ll be needed to referee fights, make sure the kids are fed and clean and also to help with the basic day to day operation of your day care. The number of employees you need depends on the size of your business, where you work from and how many children you have in your care.

Generally, there should be at least one adult for every three kids, but it may differ state to state. Check your state requirements on the number of employees you should have. For family centers, some states require experienced child care workers. Others don’t. If you have older children, you may actually hire someone who is experienced with teaching children. If your day care center caters to children with special needs, you may need to bring in an expert on learning disabilities (or whatever specialization you cater to), if you are not one yourself.

It’s actually very good to hire child care workers who are already experienced or have some affinity for working with children. They will be able to recognize children’s needs and use this to help develop your kids further. They will be doing everything from teaching them to share or tying shoelaces to handling medical emergencies or telling them not to eat glue. Having an employee who is experienced with such things can greatly improve your day care center.

Your future employees will be helping with baby care, time management, homework or whatever is needed depending on your day care kid’s age range and abilities. They should be qualified and have at least a high school education.

You can also rely on parent volunteers to help with the day care center. They can monitor their child’s progress with you and help out with scheduled activities. Ask parents what activities they would like to see for their children.

Remember, you can’t just hire any one who walks into your door. Potential employees should be thoroughly screened. Background checks, references are very important. Even if your employees are not working directly with the children (for example, you have a gardener who takes care of your landscaping), they should be completely screened. This is very important for the safety of the children under your care. You should monitor your employees. This is very important for your day care center’s reputation. Your employees will make your business shine as much as you do. Consider carefully before hiring.

Take out that want ad now and find that perfect employee for your day care center.

Learn More See: How To Start A Daycare

By: Dolson McArt

About the Author:
Dolson McArt – Author of: Choosing The Right Employess For Your Daycare Dusiness
Contributing to EzineArticles.com since March 2007.



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Find a Persons Cell Phone Number

Author: admin

Dec 24



Everyone has a cell phone in their pocket these days, but finding those numbers can be a huge hassle since there is no cellphone number book.

Despite the hassle, I don’t think anyone would give up their wireless lives and go back to using land lines again. They’re just too convenient.

Now, finally, it’s getting much, much easier to find someone’s cell phone number with their name with handy online tools. Google works sometimes, but unless they’ve put all their information on some social media site, you probably won’t have much luck. And if your friends are smart, they probably wouldn’t put all that sensitive information on the internet. The real key to find out a cell phone number is finding an online cell phone finder.

These online finders can help you by searching through public records and other databases of phone numbers. Since Verizon, Cingular, Sprint and Nextel cell phone carriers have opted not to create a comprehensive cell phone phonebook countless companies have jumped into the industry of helping people find these numbers. The key then is to find a good database to search, ideally the one with the most numbers and the cheapest price.

You can search thousands upon thousands of reviews, but the fact is that sometimes these databases just don’t have the number for which you’re searching. And even some of the bigger names in the business like Intellius have been pressured to shut down because they used shady means to find phone numbers. The best way to find the number you want is to use one of the finders that give you a little information about the name you’re searching. Then, at least, you know there is some information available — most likely a phone number too.

A lot of people have had luck using this cell phone number finder, reviews say that it’s the most comprehensive and cheapest place to find American cell phone numbers.

By: Gary P. Thompson

About the Author:
Find someone’s cell phone number @ http://www.cellphonenumberfinder.org



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Babysitter Service – What You Need to Know

Author: admin

Dec 24



Babysitter services are not uncommonly today. It is therefore impossible for you not to find a good sitter. The good services of your sitter however, depend to some extent on how you communicate with your sitter and how you treat her. Here are some good points to remember when dealing with your sitter.

Settle the Rate

Agree on is the sitter’s rate. The rate will depend on a couple of factors. These include age of the sitter, number of kids to watch over, ages of the kids, amount of work to be done, hours of work and experience of the sitter. Unfortunately, there is no set rule for coming up with a permanent sitter rate. What you have to do then is to carefully talk to your sitter about an agreeable rate considering various factors. These days, it is usually quite unacceptable to pay a sitter below $3. You would have to pay over that depending on what you agree on.

Set Rules for Dealing with Kids

Clear and concrete rules and instructions. If you want your sitter to be effective, you have to tell her what you want. You have to be very clear and specific with your instructions. Tell her what you allow your kids to eat or to watch on T.V. Give instructions on what to do when your child misbehaves or refuses to follow instructions.

One good example is the schedule. If schedules have to be followed, then be sure to tell her about that. This may include schedules for naptime, sleep time, classes and snacks. If there are any special concerns such as a toddler that is prone to tantrums, then be sure to tell your sitter in advance.

Set Rules for the Sitter

Do you have specific rules in mind for your sitter to follow? Your babysitter service provider should also know if you have rules for her to follow. It is only natural for you to set some guidelines since she will be staying in your house. At the same time though, you should be prepared not to be too strict with your sitter. It would be very unreasonable for example not to allow your sitter to use any of your things in your living room or kitchen. The guidelines you should set may have something to do with the length of personal calls, sleeping on duty and having personal visitors while on duty.

Always Ask Questions

Have a brief chat with your sitter when you get home. Ask her how things went and if she enjoyed being with your kids. This would also be a good time to address specific concerns. Your sitter for example may have had a particularly difficult time with handling one of your kids. Ask her how she dealt with the situation and make sure to praise her if she did a good job at handling it.

Be Generous

Meals – Never forget to leave your sitter something to eat or drink. This is a basic courtesy. Even if you are paying her, it would be a sign of generosity on your part to offer her something extra. This is an especially good idea if she hasn’t eaten her meal yet. Being extra kind and generous on your sitter would make her feel that only the best kind of service is expected from her.

By: Rashel Dan

About the Author:
Learn how you can find ads for babysitter wanted Find the top babysitter service online.



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How to Choose a Dog Walker that’s Right for Your Dog

Author: admin

Dec 24



If you are like most working Americans you are low on time and high on tasks. You might put in long hours at the office. This shortens the amount of time you spend engaging in dog walking with your best canine friend every day. Different dog breeds have different daily exercise requirements, so your pooch might need extensive dog walking or run in the middle of the day.

How can you take your dog walking and be at work at the same time? You can hire a dog walker to be your dog walking replacement while you are at work. Often times a dog walker is more then just a necessity because many dogs that have limited dog walking time become irritable. Dogs need to have daily exercise and human connection through dog walking.

Your dog may even act out by chewing up your couch and favorite pair of heels when you are gone. In some instances, a dog in need of consistent dog walking will show aggression. This lack of exercise has let excess energy build up.

Dog walking during the day is also necessary for many dogs because they simply can’t go a long duration without going the bathroom. You may be at work for 12 hours and this can be too long for dogs to go without relieving themselves and/or having a snack. Therefore, daily dog walking can be a great benefit to many dogs.

We have established that daily dog walking by a dog walker is great idea. The question now is how do you choose a dog walker? There are many things to consider when you choose a dog walker. Your dog is a member of your family so you need to go through many of the same considerations that you would when hiring a babysitter for your children.

When hiring a babysitter for your children you normally look to family and friends for references. Do the same when you are looking for a dog walker. You can seek out references from friends that have dog walkers, your veterinarian, and dog groomer. They may know of individual dog walkers or dog walking services.

Take time to interview your dog walker. Do they have dog walking experience? Can you speak with any of their clients? Do they have a business license? Find this information and investigate it thoroughly. The last thing you want to do is leave your dog in the hands of someone that is unprofessional or may harm your dog.

Feeling comfortable with a dog walker’s references is also necessary because you will need to give them a key to your home so they can pick up your pooch. They will enter your home for daily dog walking, so you must trust them like you would trust a babysitter.

You need to assess the services your dog walker has to offer. Will they provide special assistance to your dog especially if it is an older dog that may be blind or has arthritis? What types of care services will your dog walker provide in addition to dog walking? For example, will they also provide water and feed your dog? Will they then cleanup any dog waste? You need to understand the scope of services your dog walker is willing to provide.

There are few factors to think about with regards to the actual dog walking. Will the dog walker walk your dog solo or with a group of dogs? A group of dogs may satisfy your needs, but this limits the amount of personal attention your dog can receive. You might have to pay more for a solo walk, but it could be worth the additional cost to keep your pooch happy.

You also need to determine what time your dog walker will come each time, how many times per week, and the length of the dog walk. It is a good idea to find a dog walker that can work around your schedule. They may be a great dog walker, but if they are too busy then they may not be able to meet your needs.

Don’t forget to bring your dog into the picture during the interview process. The dog walker needs to meet your dog. Observe how the dog walker interacts with your dog. Are they friendly? Does you dog appear to warm up to them immediately? If you have an opportunity, try to watch your dog walker interact with other dogs. Are they curt with dogs they aren’t walking?

Once you do hire a dog walker, you need to monitor their performance during the first few weeks to determine whether they are the right dog walker for your pooch. How can you do this if you are at work? It’s as easy as enlisting the help of your neighbor or anyone that will be in your neighborhood during the day. Have them observe the time of day your dog walker arrives and how they treat your dog during dog walking.

Don’t forget to provide your dog walker with emergency contact information. Also inform them of any special needs your dog may have. Finding the right dog walker can keep both you and your pooch happy.

By: K Brandt

About the Author:
Visit the Dog Walking website to research dog breeds & get free tips on dog training, dog books, dog products & how to find dog sitters & dog walkers.



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Working from Home with a Toddler

Author: admin

Dec 24



Are you looking to become a work-at-home parent? If you are, are you also the parent of a toddler? If you are, you should know that it is more than possible to work from home with a toddler, but it can sometimes be difficult to do so. That is why you may want to take the time to familiarize yourself with some helpful working from home with a toddler tips, a few of which are outlined below for your convenience.

One of the most important things that you can do to make working from home with kids, namely a toddler work, is by carefully choosing what you wish to do from home. If you are interested in starting your own home based business, you will want to carefully choose which business you start. If you want to get a work-at-home job, it is important to carefully choose the work-at-home job that you accept. When working from home with a toddler, you can never really guarantee a one hundred percent quiet work-at-home environment; therefore, you may want something that has a little bit of flexibility.

Another one of the many ways that you can go about successfully working from home with a toddler is fun activities. What you will want to try and do is set your toddler up with fun activities, like craft projects, while you work from home. What is nice about craft projects is that many craft supplies are affordable. You should try and set your child up near you, while you are working. This often makes them feel comfortable and it can also give you comfort and peace of mind as well.

You may also want to think about using assistance, when looking to work from home with a toddler. This assistance can come in a number of different formats. You may want to see if you can find any other work-at-home parents or stay-at-home parents who would like to do a kid play date swap with you. You may also want to think about hiring the services of a babysitter. Babysitters are generally more affordable than daycare providers and many will watch your children right in your own home.

The above mentioned tips are just a few of the many that may be able to help you work from home with your toddler. As a reminder, you are advised to use your own best judgment and keep the wants, needs, and likes of your own toddler in mind.

By: Jennifer Foote

About the Author:
Jennifer Foote is a stay-at-home mom and a work-at-home mom. She has experience working from home with a newborn and a toddler. She shares her tips on how you can work from home with kids on her blog: http://workingfromhomewithkids.blogspot.com



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Short Poem to Say Thank You – How To

Author: admin

Dec 24



Nothing shows thoughtful gratitude like a short poem to say thank you. A poem shows that you spent the time to think about the thank you note or card you sent to its recipient. Whether you wrote the verse yourself or picked it out of a book, including the poem means you took the time to either write or find it.

Short poems are better than long poems because they are easier and quicker to read. After all, not everybody reads Paradise Lost for enjoyment (but if you know someone who does – by all means send them a long poem to say thank you! But, only if you want to…).

A short poem is unpresumptuous. You don’t seem like you’re trying to make yourself out to be hoity-toity if you just send a simple short poem. Plus, it helps you keep from offending or confusing anybody, by sending them something they don’t understand.

Of course, you can always write your own short poem to say thank you, as well. It doesn’t have to be complex. It’s better if it’s not.

One way to write a poem is to use a “roses are red, violets are blue…” form. No, you don’t have to use the roses and violets. In fact you probably shouldn’t unless you’re trying to be silly or funny.

But, you can use the rhyme scheme. Here is an example of a short poem to say thank you:

You’re a great friend,
This much is true.
And what you just did,
Makes me want to say, “Thank you!”

It won’t win any prizes, but I think you should get the idea.

Not everybody has the knack, but a lot more people have it than know it. The only way to know is to sit down for a few minutes and try it out and see!

Even if what you write isn’t the best thing since Shakespeare, don’t worry. No one will expect it to be (and you shouldn’t either). The simple fact that you took the time to put the words down will impress and gratify whoever you send it to.

Even if you don’t write a single verse all year, go ahead and write a short poem to say thank you to a good friend or a loved one. Even if it seems a little silly to you, they are bound to love it!

By: Sabrina Lawton

About the Author:
At a loss for words? Feel free to copy and paste for all occasions any sample of a short poem to say thank you and free thank you poems you find at the Thank You Note Wording website.



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