Posts Tagged ‘Florida babysitters’
A Special Thank You to Babysitters
Being a nanny and a babysitter is an extremely important job. You are responsible for caring for and keeping safe a parent’s most precious gift. The days are filled with changing diapers, washing and refilling sippy cups and/or bottles, playing, reading, changing more diapers, and playing some more! It’s a tireless job that sometimes goes unnoticed. Not by this mom! Read the thank you Laura Harris wrote to her sitters for everything they do.
” My two kids are at the babysitter’s today. They’re running around in the watchful and loving care of my friend, Seyly, while I sit in a cafe and type on my laptop, listening to movie soundtracks in my earbuds. This is my one full day outside of the home to work as a freelance writer. My one day to chase my dream.
The rest of the week, I chase my other two little dreams. One has my laugh; the other has his daddy’s. For a long time, I felt guilty about doing something like this for myself. Then, I realized, it really does take a village. You, the babysitters, helped me overcome some pretty difficult stuff, and it’s time I shared my thanks with you.
Soon, I’ll pull into my friend’s driveway, and feel a flutter of excitement at the thought of seeing my children. I’ll open the door and find them both, safe and sound, racing around the house. It’s possible that they’ll react to my entrance by running away and sobbing, but I’ve come to take that as a good sign. They had a good time.
There’s no telling what kind of day my friend had, however. No telling how many bodily excretions she had to smell or wipe up. No telling how much food my kids spilled on her table or floor. I’ve been that sitter, as many of us have, and I just want to say,”Thanks.”
To all the sitters: You’re awesome and you probably don’t get paid enough. Some of you even choose not to get paid at all. You love our kids and keep ’em safe while we, the parents, try to remember the basic functions of adulthood sans babies.”
What a sweet thank you! Read the full blog here.
If you are interested in becoming a nanny or babysitter contact TLC for Kids! We are hiring in St. Louis, Atlanta, Miami, Boston, Tampa, Orlando, and Jacksonville.
Fourth of July Fireworks
Celebrating the Fourth of July is one of my favorite holidays. Growing up I enjoyed spending time with my family watching the fireworks.
As I got older, and had kids of my own, I quickly discovered that not all kids enjoy the fireworks as much as I did. Fireworks can be too loud for some kids. And, being in a large crowd can be too overwhelming for kids who have anxiety. We found it easier to watch the show from a safe distance so that it wasn’t too loud or crowded for my kids.
Another idea is to hire a sitter for the night. The babysitter can stay back and the parents can enjoy the fireworks with siblings or own their own.
If you need a sitter this holiday weekend contact TLC for Kids. We have screened babysitters who can come to the home or to the hotel.
The Best Apps for Nannies
There is an app for that! New technology and apps aren’t just for fun – 
some new developments are incredibly useful for families and nannies. Here are just a few favorites from TLC for Kids:
HiMaMa helps parents keep track of important moments they might otherwise miss. Nannies and parents alike can take pictures or videos and share them with each other, and with anyone else in their child’s life. It’s like a private Facebook just for keeping track of the child’s special experiences! If a family has relatives who don’t live nearby and like to get updates, or if they miss their child when the nanny is on-duty, this app is a great way to stay connected.
Cozi will keep you on track when the family becomes just too hectic to keep track of. This app is an easy and free family organizer which allows you to record and share schedules, activities, chores, and more. When a family and nanny share this app, they’ll not only stay on top of everything that’s going on but will be better aware of what’s going on in a child’s life that may affect their behavior or needs.
Babysitting Pro allows nannies to calculate and record pay, set notifications for tasks they need to complete, and update parents about their children’s activity with notifications and daily summaries. This must-have childcare app streamlines the process of communication between caregivers and parents, so that everyone is on the same page about the children’s needs and nothing falls through the cracks!
Do you have a favorite app you use for nanny and babysitting jobs? Tell us about it and we can add it to our list!
Separation Anxiety with the Babysitter
Every child will receive care from someone other than their parents. Having a nanny or babysitter over for the first time can be difficult for both the parent and the child.
TLC For Kids would like to share some tips to help you both through this new challenge.
1. Preparation. A few days before start talking to your child about what is going to happen. Tell your child about the sitter who is coming over to to play with them. If you have hired a new nanny have the nanny come over to visit first before she starts work.
2. Communication. Tell the new nanny or babysitter all about your child. Share routines and likes and dislikes. You can also tell the nanny about recent events that might help build a relationship.
3. Transition objects. Let your little one keep something with them that will remind them of you. This can be comforting for your child. A transition object might be a blankie, favorite stuffed animal or a picture of mom or dad.
4. Play Games. For a younger child playing games like peek-a-boo and hide-n-seek help with separation anxiety. Kids learn that things continue to exist even if they are out of sight. It also helps teach children the idea of a reunion and that objects and parents do come back.
5. Aftermath. Finally be prepared that your child may react to the separation after the fact. This may come in regression in toilet training, temper tantrums, or low levels of frustration. Remain calm and talk to your child about their feelings and reassure them that everything is going to be OK. Let the nanny or caregiver know about these new feelings too.
TLC’s nannies and babysitters have experience working with kids and come ready to help make the transition a smooth one.