For those people that enjoy being around children learning how to become a nanny may be a rewarding profession. While there is no legal limitation or requirements to being a nanny or care provider of children, you will get a better position if you have some type of certification. Taking course geared toward caring for young children will also help make you better prepared if unexpected situations arise. A nanny position generally requires your service a lot more than a typical babysitting job.

There are many technical schools and community organizations that offer classes in child care. You can choose to take only one or two classes or go for a degree in child care. In addition to the standard classes you can benefit from taking some basic first aid courses. These will include CPR as well as first aid. Giving CPR to a child or infant is a lot different than for an adult. Having this certification will make you look more qualified to a potential employer.

Some nanny positions require that the individual live in with the family. If this is what you are considering you can look for positions all across the country as well as abroad. For those positions in other countries you should have a good knowledge of the native language. This is also true if the country you currently live in was not your native country of birth. To be considered for a nanny, you have to speak the native language well enough to be understood. Having a driver’s license and a vehicle may also be a requirement by the people that hire you.

The job description for a household nanny is extremely vague and may incorporate some skills not actually related to child care. Some employers expect their nanny to do some household cleaning in addition to watching the children. When considering this as a career choice you may want to look into the agencies that hire out their employees as nannies. You may find you have more job choices by using a service than by trying to find work on your own. This is a field that is open to all types of people regardless of their level of education.

By: Singler Dean

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One of the most common children problems that parents face is having a whining child. If you have a child who simply cannot stop whining and you want to teach him to request for things in a more proper way, below are 6 tips to help you.

1. Focus your attention on your child
Very often busy parents do not spend enough time listening to their kids and indirectly encourage their children’s whining habit because they were trying to catch your attention.

If you want to stop the whining, you should stop whatever you are doing at that moment and focus your attention on what your child has to say. Encourage them to explain clearly to you what they want.

2. Teach the correct way
Sometimes your child may not be aware that he is whining or the correct way of asking for something. You can address the problem by telling your child that he does not have to whine to ask for something. Teach him the correct way of requesting for things. So instead of whining when he wants to drink milk, teach your child to say, “Mummy, can I have some milk please.”

Do not expect your child to learn the correct way overnight. Be patient and repeat the correct way each time he does it wrongly. You may even give subtle hints such as raising an eyebrow or pretending not to understand him and ask him to repeat what he wants in a more proper way.

3. Positive re-enforcement
Rather than reprimanding your child when he whines, look out for occasions when he remembers to ask for things in the correct manner and praise him for it. If he has taken the effort to remember it on his own, he deserves some form of recognition, so you should praise and encourage him.

That said, you will really need to comply with his request if he has asked in the correct way but what if the request is not reasonable? For instance, he asked for chocolates when dinner is only a few minutes away. Instead of rejecting him even though he has asked correctly, give him just a small amount so that his appetite will not be affected and focus on complimenting him for remembering to ask in the correct way.

4. Lots of repetition
Your child is well aware that he can get his way if he whines so you have to be consistent and refuse his request unless he asks in the proper way. Repeat what he should say and get him to say it before you comply to his request.

5. Be firm
If you have a very head strong child, he may refuse to abide by your method at the beginning. When that happens, you will have to show him the negative consequences he will receive unless he asks properly. For example, you can tell him that the chocolates will have to return to the refrigerator for ten minutes unless he can ask you in the correct way. Of course, if you mentioned your threat then you will have to carry out your threat. Your child has to learn that you mean what you said and he will learn not to whine.

6. Issue Time-Out
If your child becomes unreasonable or aggressive when you refused to give him what he wants, you may need to give him a time-out period. You can place him on a mat or at a corner of the room and let him stay there till he had calmed down. After the 3 to 5 minutes of time-out, you will have to explain to him what he had done wrong and teach him the correct way of asking again. Get him to repeat after you to ensure that he understands what you want.

Whichever method you choose to use, the ultimate point to remember is that you have to keep your cool. There is no way you can solve any children problems if you allow your anger to take over. No amount of screaming and shouting from both you and your child is going to solve any problem. It will only destroy the bond between you.

By: Stella Mak

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I’ve been raising my 3 year old by myself for a while now, and from time to time have to check myself and remember, “she’s supposed to act like a 3 year old, because of course she IS a 3 year old.” There have been times that I’ve thought that my little girl was acting like a little kid. Then I remember, she is a little kid. And I think to myself how insane it would be for me to think she should act any different than she’s supposed to act.

Really, at the end of the day, aren’t kids supposed to act like kids? They aren’t supposed to act like adults for God’s sake. Sometimes that little tidbit of information is hard to remember when you have an important phone call to make and a little someone won’t stop asking you who’s on the phone. At those times it can definitely be hard to remember that being curious and the center of attention is what a 3-year old is supposed to do. The point is that we still need to do our best to remember.

I wouldn’t change my situation for the world. If for no other reason because it gives me a tremendous amount of respect not only for my mother, but any stay at home mom anywhere in the world. The next person that says that staying at home with the kid’s isn’t as hard as any job on the planet should be put in jail! I’ve told people close to me that staying at home with my daughter has its challenges, but I love it. How my mother did it with three of us is beyond my realm of comprehension. If I had to deal with any more than my daughter I would be on a fast track to the loony bin. I’m positive of that.

The bottom line about dealing with kids is to remember that a 3 year old is supposed to act like a 3 year old. Oh, and never forget what Bill Cosby said about parenting,”No matter how calmly you try to referee, parenting will eventually produce bizarre behavior, and I’m not talking about the kids. Their behavior is always normal.”

That quote rings true in my experience and I think if you conceptualize it, it must ring true in you experience as well. For me, the most important thing to remember is to enjoy the ride. Ten years from know I’ll be glad I did this and hopefully my daughter will as well. Just as long as I remember that a 3 year old is supposed to act like a 3 year old.

By: Trevor Kugler

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There are so many great ways to travel the world while earning a decent living, but if you also love working with children, becoming a nanny overseas could be the perfect opportunity. Many families and resorts offer employment to nannies of all ages who are motivated and ready to become part of their family abroad!

One of the main considerations when looking for nanny or au pair jobs abroad is certification; the last thing you want to do is find your dream job online, only to find out that it will be difficult to get a work visa! For this reason, most nannies looking for work abroad begin by registering with nanny agencies. Nanny agencies specialize in matching families looking for childcare with appropriate nannies and au pairs. By working with a nanny agency, you have the opportunity to reach many potential families with one application process, which will save you valuable time to plan your move abroad!

To start, you’ll have to find nanny placement agencies that place nannies in the specific region or country to which you’d like to move. While you are considering where this should be, there are a few important factors to consider:

Language Barrier: If you are a native English speaker, you’ll want to consider whether or not you’ll be comfortable in a non-English-speaking environment. Many families in non-English speaking countries would love to hire an English-speaking nanny who can help teach their child English. At the same time, communication with the family itself could be difficult.

Certification Requirements: Every country has different requirements for nannies, and it is important to know if you will have to pass a certification exam before you can legally obtain a nanny position abroad.

Exchange Rates: Depending on what you are looking for in a nanny job overseas, you’ll need to consider whether the standard wages in a foreign country will be enough to sustain your lifestyle.

Once you have narrowed down options for a particular region to find a nanny job, you should consider what kind of nanny abroad job you are looking for. Some of the most popular jobs for nannies overseas are summer jobs. These are generally three-month cultural exchange placements, and will allow nannies to travel as well as work with a family. A summer nanny provides all of the same functions as a full-time, year-round nanny but might have the added responsibility of being with the children while they are out of school and on vacation.

An Internet search is an invaluable tool to find an appropriate nanny agency. Some popular nanny agencies that place nannies abroad are:

Kingsbrook USA: Kingsbrook USA provides placement assistance for nannies and au pairs in the UK, Europe and Australia. Jobs are full time for 25-35 hours per week, and host families provide room and board as well as some “pocket money.” Nannies are expected to commit to a minimum of 9 months (full school year), but there are some short-term summer placements (3 months) available as well. Make sure to contact them very quickly if you are interested, since they don’t list their “administrative fee” on the website.

Almondbury Au Pair and Nanny Agency: UK-based Almondbury really stands out as a great agency for nannies and au pairs abroad because it places job seekers without charging an administrative fee (or any fee for that matter). They place nannies and au pairs in countries across Europe including Austria, Belgium, Italy and Sweden.

Best Programs (Spain): Best programs is a language-intensive nanny placement agencies, where nannies and au pairs are responsible for being English language models for the children in addition to performing basic household tasks. Nannies are expected to have an interest in the Spanish language and culture, and will take classes at a Spanish academy in Madrid during their placements.

After you’ve chosen the right program, you can gather together all of the materials requested, which generally include a resume (childcare-related), references and any proof of certification. After you have submitted these documents, the agency will either match you with an appropriate family, or give you access to a number of host family profiles online. Each agency will have different matching criteria, and it is best to ask what kinds of things they prioritize when placing a nanny during the application process.

Starting a position abroad can be exciting, and the experience is life-changing. As a nanny or au pair working overseas, it is important to take in all of the sights and sounds of your host country, while being a reliable and stable presence in a child’s life.

By: Lisa Jenkins

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It is a well-known social phenomenon that changing parental work patterns have transformed our all-family life over the past 30 years. One of the most dramatic changes is the increased rate of paid employment among mothers with children. According to published data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the overall maternal labor force rose from 38 to almost 70 percent during the last 30 years and for mothers with youngest children below the age of 3, this rate rose from 24 to 57 percent.

During this same period, the demand for non-parental child care increased dramatically, taking place in a variety of child care arrangements, including babysitters or nannies, family child care, care centers, au pair, family members, neighbors or friend child care arrangements, and other organized activities. Alone in the United States, a large percentage of the 35 million children and adolescents below the age of 14 with working parents are in an arrangement with a babysitter/nanny or an other type of childcare arrangement for an average of 22 to 40 hours a week. Child care is no longer simply a protective or remedial service for children from low-income or troubled families: it is an everyday arrangement for the majority of children in the United States and all other industrialized countries in the world.

There are quite a lot of social studies available determining the effects of child care on children’s cognitive and social functioning (see references below, to mention only a few of them). As a conclusion, if children and adolescents are exposed to high-quality care, their development can be significantly enhanced. However, it has also been shown that society has not taken full advantage of the opportunities of childcare provides. Many children and adolescents spend long hours, often at early ages, away from their parents in unstimulating, mediocre care, resulting in development delays and social disturbances. This conclusion of the social studies leads to a real challenge for the families in need of a childcare service, as well as for the caregiver themselves. Selecting the correct type of caregiver service for their actual situation is not an easy task for the family. There are a lot of services offered in local newspaper ads or the internet and the first question will be if you prefer a full time in-home solution, drop-in or part-time or an off-home solution (care center, all-day school programs, etc.).

Whatever the decision will be, the selection of the day care center or the nanny/babysitter never should be performed without considering the children’s opinion. Especially small children have a very fine instinct and they will show you immediately if there is “chemistry” between the babysitter or nanny and the child or not. Definitely it will be not enough to hire a caregiver just by a phone interview or a five-minute talk in your office. In order to find out if the candidate fits well with your family it is essential to perform a personal interview at home, starting with the candidate and the parents and later on also involving the children. There are many reasons to accept or not to a accept a nanny or babysitter, all depends on what you are looking for. It might be important for you if the candidate is old or young, mature or in between, with college grade or even with master degree, short or tall, thin or heavy, white, black or latin, with or without religious background, etc. There are many factors that define an individual but the most important thing of all is that the nanny matches with your family.

And also consider the following: The caregiver always should be seen as a person whose primary function is caring for the children. There are too many cases where babysitters or nannies are basically used as general housekeeper, making the beds of the parents, doing their laundry or cleaning toilets, etc. As a consequence, children often are “parked” in front of the TV for hours, instead of stimulating them performing creative activities like attending after-school events, reading books or helping with homework, just to mention a few of the possibilities. For a quality care of their children, it needs to be clear that first priority of the babysitter/nanny is taking care and stimulating the children and in second place realizing other activities like the participation in general housekeeper activities. Both, the family and the caregiver clearly should define this in a contract that will help to ensure that all of the terms and conditions are well understood.

References:

1) Working Families and Growing Kids: Caring for Children and Adolescents Eugene Smolensky and Jennifer Appleton Gootman, Editors, Committee on Family And Work Policies, National Research Council (2003).

2) Caring for America’s Children, Anne Meadows, Editor; Panel on Child Care Policy, National Research Council, National Academies Press (1991).

3) Brooks-Gunn, J., Berlin, L.J., and Fuligni, A.S. (2000). Early childhood intervention programs:
What about the family? In J.P. Shonkoff, and S.J. Meisels (Eds.), Handbook of
early childhood intervention, 2nd edition (pp. 549-588). New York: Cambridge.

4) Vernon-Feagans, L., Emanuel, D.C., and Blood, I. (1997). The effect of Otitis Media and
quality daycare on children’s language development. Journal of Applied Developmental
Psychology, 18, 395-409.

By: Oswald Eppers

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Before you start preparing a nanny work contract you need to remember that a good contract is the best way to set the right expectations between you and your nanny. After all, she is going to be your employee and that is why the contract should cover all issues related to her employment terms.

One of the best ways to start editing your own contract that can fit your needs is to look for a sample nanny contract over the web. Once you have found a contract you like, the following issues should be reviewed:

(1) The basics – should cover all the hours, including over time rate, and the nanny responsibilities and duties. Also the basics should include your contribution to medical insurance, and sick/holiday/time off.

(2) The nanny salary – what should be her salary? How frequently will the nanny be paid? Tax deducting issue – under your responsibility or the nanny’s?

(3) House rules – this should basically include the life style you expect from her while she is in the house or with your kids someplace else. You can specifically mention smoking, visitors, alcohol use or any other issue you find important to mention in advanced. If you find a good sample nanny contract, you will be able to find more details related to this matter.

(4) Vacation days and sickness – does she plan to take some days off during the year? When she’s sick – how much notice do you expect from her?

(5) Safety – is your nanny CPR certified? What do you expect from her in emergency situations? Who should she call first? It’s highly important to make sure she will have an emergency contacts list that is kept up to date with all work and relevant cell phone numbers.

(6) Car use policy – do you want your nanny to use your personal vehicle to take your kids to school or to their afternoon activities? Will she be able to use it for her personal use?

(7) Confidentiality agreement – the person you are entering into your life will be exposed to personal family information. This can be about a family member’s health, finances, career or relationships.

(8) Termination – this is part of any employment relationship. Define termination notice on both sides. Reasonable notice should be four weeks.

A details sample nanny contract will help you to prepare a good contract and set the right expectations with your nanny. By addressing all issues up front, you avoid misunderstandings, assumptions, disappointment and conflict in the future.

By: Gill Lavi

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Considering hiring a babysitter? Babysitter Reference Service is the fastest way to access a nationwide database of babysitters looking for caregiver positions. This service can help you find a babysitter based on your family’s needs. Furthermore, you’ll be able to conduct a babysitter background check to make sure you’re hiring the right person for the job. Read this short guide to expand your knowledge on the possibility of using a web-based babysitter placement agency.

Using an online locator

Working with online family nanny matching services enables parents to manage the seeking process themselves. Registered users of online solutions like Babysitter Reference Service easily preview each babysitter’s profile and decide which one(s) they want to contact and interview. Does it really provide fast results? Well, since it uses a simple-yet-sophisticated Web-based tool, it easily pinpoints the right person for you in…well…no time! In addition to helping parents find a nanny, a good locator tool will also be able to support you in other important aspects of hiring a childcare provider such as – how to conduct a babysitter credibility search, how to ultimately choose the best babysitter for you and also provide tips on how to maintain a solid, long-lasting relationship with her.

The benefits of Web-based solutions

Why should parents choose this online tool, as opposed to some other solution?

(1) Fast access to an online tool that’s both easy to handle and offers you control.

(2) An all-in-one solution for searching for, finding, and hiring a quality babysitter.

(3) Helps parents to understand and learn the aspects of filling a personal caregiver position.

Summing It Up

Babysitter Reference Service is the easiest, simplest solution available; it will truly help you to find a great babysitter online. What makes this tool so great is that it’s transforming the way families are locating their babysitters. For a stress-free and successful outcome, we advise following the article guidelines before you begin the seeking process.

By: Gill Lavi

About the Author:

Need to find a nanny? Follow this step-by-step approach to find the best nanny for your family.

1. Write a nanny job description

Start by writing a nanny job description that outlines the key terms of your nanny’s employment: salary, work hours, childcare and other job responsibilities, childcare experience or job qualifications and any special circumstances. Do you work late or have an uncertain schedule? You may need a live-in nanny or au pair. Do you need a nanny who can drive? A nanny who is comfortable with pets? A nanny who can help with homework? The answers to these questions will help define the type of nanny your family needs.

2. Tell everyone that you plan to hire a nanny

Tell everyone you know that you are looking for a nanny. With a little luck and some targeted networking, you may save money and time by finding a nanny through word-of-mouth. Good nannies often become available when a family moves or when work circumstances change. These families are usually very happy to help good nannies find new jobs. Good nannies also tend to know good nannies, so your co-worker’s nanny may be your best resource. By telling everyone you know that you are looking for a nanny, you can maximize the chance that you will find a good nanny through word-of-mouth.

3. Advertise your nanny job locally

Spread the word throughout your community by advertising your nanny job in your local area. Create a simple flier and post it at the local library, the neighborhood pool, local preschools and toddler programs, and the nearest Starbucks. Place a classified ad in the local newspaper. Community papers that cover just one or two towns are usually the least expensive and best alternative. Importantly, for any public advertising, do not provide your last name or your home phone number or address. Instead, use a cell phone number or set up a free email account as a means for candidates to contact you.

4. Sign up with an online nanny service

Sign up with a reputable online nanny service. Membership fees at most online nanny services range from $25 to $50 per month and most online nanny services let families browse candidate profiles without payment of a membership fee. Compare online nanny services, choose the service with the most qualified local nannies, and sign up for a month or two. Take full advantage of your membership by posting your nanny job and contacting nanny candidates as soon as possible. Also, use your membership to find local candidates interested in occasional babysitting or providing temporary or backup care.

5. Hire a local nanny placement agency

You can also hire a local nanny placement agency to conduct your nanny search. Local agencies typically charge an activation fee of $100 to $250 to start a search, and a placement fee of $1,500 to $2,500 or more if you hire a candidate referred by the agency. Call local nanny services to inquire about their services and compare fees. A local nanny agency can also help evaluate your needs and provide information on the salary you can expect to pay and how long it may take to fill your position.

6. Screen nanny candidates thoroughly

Before hiring any nanny, complete a thorough screening that includes a comprehensive interview, a reference check and a background check. During the interview, ask detailed questions about the candidate’s work experience that can be confirmed during the reference check. When checking references, ask probing questions to evaluate the nanny’s childcare expertise, reliability and trustworthiness, and also to confirm that the reference is valid. Finally, commission a background check that includes a search of criminal records in all known states of residence, a search of motor vehicle records and a credit check. Inform nanny candidates of the background check requirements early in the process to screen out those who are not likely to pass.

It often takes 4-6 weeks or more to fill a nanny position and the waiting and uncertainty can be frustrating for parents. To ensure success, start early and recruit aggressively so that you have the opportunity to meet as many candidates as possible. Your efforts will be rewarded when you find the right nanny for your family.

By: Janet Mulroy

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Newspaper ads

You can easily check local newspaper if any nannies are looking for a job. Locating a nanny will be easy and with no time you can call and meet her to see if this is the person you are looking for. The only limitation in this case will be the nanny screening process. Since you don’t know her and no one else can recommended her you will need to double check the nanny references.

Day Care Center

Nannies for hire can also be found with the help of local day care centers. Day care centers are places were nannies may used to work or the current workers may know someone that can fit your needs. Calling your day care center could be a good idea especially when they can recommend someone they know an rely on.

Nannies Agencies

One of the simplest ways of finding a nanny is use the services of a nanny agency. A good nanny agency will be able to provide you a list of quality nannies that can fit your specific needs. Nannies agencies usually responsible for the nanny screening process and there for can provide nanny candidates with good recommendations. However, sometimes nanny agencies can cost more then other solutions.

The Internet

In recent years many nanny agencies has discovered the internet as a simple and easy ways for families to find in no time a good and reliable nanny. Some agencies today are providing their services only over the web and this has several advantages:

(1) Easy and simple to use.

(2) Fast access to an online nanny database.

(3) Ability to define in advanced exactly what you are looking for.

(4) More cost effective then other solution.

(5) Easy to understand which service is famous and reliable – all reviews can be found over the web.

Nannies for hire can be found also with the help of your family and friends. There is no better lead then a good friend who already used the services of a nanny and can provide you all the necessary information you need. In any case, after finding a nanny always conduct a nanny background check to verify you are hiring the right person.

By: Gill Lavi

About the Author:

Interviewing a nanny isn’t like finding the best quote for your interior design. When you’re looking at potential nanny candidates, you’re trying to find out who will be the best fit for your child. Needless to say, it’s not a process something to take lightly.

The good news? You’ve arrived here, which means you’re already looking for advice on how to handle a nanny interview.

The better news? You’ve arrived at the right agency. With a decade of experience under our belt, Lexington Nannies is one of the best nanny agencies not only in the southern California area, but across the nation.

Hiring a nanny starts with the interview. Here is a quick guide to making sure you understand how to properly interview a potential nanny for your children.

1. First, don’t stick to a template. Even if you print off an article about interviewing nannies, nothing will help you as much as taking at least an hour to get to know each nanny candidate and see them interact with both you and your child. Does their general demeanor mesh with you? Is their personality warm, and do they seem like someone who is proactive enough to work themselves into your lives without you having to micromanage them?

2. Ask them about experience. This is vital. Without experience, references, and credentials, you never know who you might be hiring. So find out about their background, the children they’ve worked with, and find out how long they’ve been able to commit to clients in the past. What they’ve done in the past is a great indicator for what they’ll do in the future.

3. Why do they like working with children? You’ll want to look for confidence here, because if a nanny doesn’t know why they like working with children, they’re in the wrong business. Any solid nanny will have answered this question many times and settled on an answer that clicks with them; try to see which nannies are capable of this type of answer.

4. Where do they see themselves headed in the future? Is this nanny thing a “gig” for them, or are they truly looking for a long-term commitment? If you’re the kind of person who wants to develop a long-term working and friendly relationship with your nanny, this question – and its answer – will be very important to you. If you plan on having more children, is this something the nanny can handle?

5. What duties have they liked and disliked in the past? Ask them this before you tell them about your job, because you’ll want to see if they’ll actually enjoy the duties you require. If they don’t, it might be a good idea to pass, depending on other variables like experience and references.

6. How do they handle children when times are tough? How do they handle crying children, or children who refuse to cooperate for anyone except their parents? The answers here should also demonstrate that the nanny has experience and competence in these areas. Try to prod for specific examples.

7. Ask them about decisions made in the past. If they are a job skipper, based on their resume, ask them why this is. You might get a little more context that will explain it better to you. If they don’t seem to have a good reason for inconsistencies in the past, that should raise a few flags.

8. What kind of position do they want? Do they detest being micromanaged, and what kind of environment are they looking for? Does your job fit their working style?

Resist the temptation to be too polite when you’re a job interviewer. Remember: you might end up employing this person for a long time, and they could end up playing a major role in your family’s life. Be thorough.

By: Brooke Barousse

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