Posts Tagged ‘finding St. Louis babysitters’
TLC for Kids Celebrates 30th Anniversary
With a large staff of screened nannies and babysitters, parents can count on TLC for finding both full-time nannies and as-needed sitters for daytime, evenings, weekends, overnights and more.
Stephanie Graff and her sister, Sharon Graff-Radell, started TLC because they wanted families to have easy access to high caliber, one-on-one childcare when they need it most. “We offer peace of mind and take the stress away from busy families. Some of our clients use TLC three or more times a week and some only call us when their kids are sick, school is closed or their regular sitter can’t make it,” explains Stephanie Graff, TLC for Kids President.
Nowadays families may turn to online services to find nannies and sitters, but those are not always a safe or convenient way to find childcare. TLC offers a safer and more personal approach.
Families today don’t have time to comb through online matching services to find a needle in a haystack, then check references and run a background check to figure out if that one person will be available at 6 a.m. when their child is sick. TLC handles all of that for their clients.
The women who work in the TLC office understand the concerns of parents. They, too, have families, juggle children, work, etc. They make sure to get to know the preferences of the families they work with to quickly address their needs. Families don’t have to take the time to browse through random profiles. TLC’s recruiters personally interview and screen each candidate to facilitate the perfect match. “At TLC, we get to know our nannies and our clients so that when your family is in need, we will send an experienced caregiver who will give you the peace of mind you need,” Stephanie promises.
TLC not only locates caregivers for families, but also for daycares, preschools and religious organizations and special events.
“There is a misconception that it is expensive to use an agency. Using TLC will save you a lot of time and energy. For a $20 agency fee, an experienced, vetted caregiver will come to your home to care for your children. You make one call to TLC and we take care of the rest. It’s that simple,” Stephanie says.
TLC has recently since expanded to Florida where they service Miami, Boca Raton, Fort Lauderdale, West Palm Beach, Tampa, Orlando, St. Petersburg and Jacksonville. TLC can even provide its St. Louis members with a screened sitter when they vacation in one of these areas.
In addition to full and part-time nannies, temporary sitters and newborn care, TLC offers housekeepers, tutors, household managers, personal chefs, adult care, house sitters, pet sitters and even drivers. They also have qualified and experienced staff to take care for a range of special needs.
“From time to time, we do receive some unusual requests. Recently we had a family call us because they needed a caregiver to sit for 8 hours with their dog who was recovering from surgery. We have also cared for children at venues while their parents perform and recently, we had a client who requested someone to drive her son and his friends to a school dance and to the events afterwards,” Stephanie said. TLC’s mission has always been to help make life easier for families by providing excellent care. So whatever the need, they’d love to try and help. For more information on services, pricing, and to get started, you can visit the TLC website at tlcforkids.com or call and speak with them directly at 314-725-5660.
What to Pay Your Babysitter
Finding a babysitter is a rite of passage for parents. It often means that YOU are ready for a night out with your spouse or friends without having to bring along your arsenal of diapers, wipes and an extra change of clothes. It’s not easy to find someone you trust to watch your most precious possession— your kids. When you find someone the question then becomes how much do I pay her?!
Paying your babysitter a fair wage is important because it lets your sitter know you value her services and helps to ensure her interest in coming back. I often get asked what is the typical rate to pay?
At TLC for Kids, we have a minimum set rate of $12/hr . TLC sitters are experienced, CPR certified caregivers who have completed high school. Many have college or childcare coursework behind them. They also have their own transportation and come ready with books, games, puzzles and fun activities. TLC Sitters will arrive on time and ready to play!
When you have a newborn the minimum rate at TLC changes to $14/hr. If you are asking for extra housework or have more than 3 children the rate can go up to around $15/hr. This may seem like a lot, but keep in mind that it’s a small price to pay for security and peace of mind. A sitter who is making a fair wage likely takes her job seriously and relies on the income to help pay for extra expenses for college or is supplementing her income.
Parents looking for a “mother’s helper” or high school student pay a different rate. I’ve found that younger sitters typically make $8-10/hr. While a younger sitter might not be able to sit for a super late night, during a weekday, or offer sick care, she can still offer some much needed help. I’ve known of a mom or two to hire a high school student after-school and go for a jog around the block or hide out in her bedroom for an hour to unwind.
Hiring a babysitter even for a just few hours can help a frazzled mom recharge and that’s worth its weight in gold!
I'm Bored Jar
I’m Bored!
We all know it will happen. One day your little ones will come up to you and say they are bored. We can fix that!
Make an I’m Bored Jar. I saw this idea on Pinterest and love It! We made one at our house and the kids are enjoying it. It’s easy to use. If someone in bored they can pick from the jar. They can only pick once. So, they could get make their bed, wash the windows, run through the sprinkler or make smoothies! Some ideas are fun and some aren’t. But the idea is that they have something to do. So far we haven’t picked a chore yet but I know it’s coming.
Here is a link for other ideas to fill your jar.
Please share with us your favorite beat the boredom.