Your babysitter may play a large role in the lives of
yourself and your children. This individual cares for your children while
you're away. He or she may be in your home for hours on end making sure things
don't fall apart. It could be quite stressful on a parent if there isn't a
level of trust in the situation. How well do your really know the person that
is in your home or watching your children in their own?
Experience - How well did you investigate the individual's
experience level in childcare? Did he or she previously work in childcare or is
this a new career path? Although experience doesn't denote whether an
individual is going to be good for your family or not, it can help determine if
the person will know what to do in certain situations.
Dishonest History - Are you positive that the individual you're
hiring doesn't have a history of being dishonest? After all, he or she could
have lied on an application or resume. Everyone has the capacity to change themselves
from the person they were once before. However, many others will continue
dishonest behaviors throughout their lives. Many of these individuals can put
on a very innocent front until you see your jewelry collection on eBay.
History of Violence - Does your babysitter have a history of
violence? Although it is completely possible to have a violent nature without
causing harm to a child, do you really want to take that risk? As noted in
dishonesty above, a person desperate for income will do and say just about
anything to get hired. You need to be positive that your babysitter isn't going
to do something regretful around your children.
Friendly Invitations - The babysitter should be caring for your
children, not hosting a kegger. Can you be confident that your childcare
provider isn't inviting various friends over to your home? While you may trust
the babysitter, can you say the same for the friends you may have never met?
Your babysitter's primary job is to care for your children. This task involves
more than just turning on the TV and sitting the children in front of cartoons
all day.
Lack of Child Interaction - A babysitter doesn't have to be violent
or distasteful to the children in order to provide an atmosphere of neglect. He
or she could simply sit on the computer for hours throughout the day without
putting much thought into the management of the children. Instead of
interacting with the little ones, a great deal of time can be spent playing
games or keeping updated on family posts on Facebook. Meanwhile, your children
essentially manage themselves in front of the television or on their own
computers. If that's ideal for your household, then you have nothing to worry
about.
Anytime you are planning on hiring a person for childcare it's always good to
perform a thorough background check. The person can be pleasant and respectful
during an interview but could be hiding a dark past that could put your
children in jeopardy. The last thing you want to do is stress about the care of
your children while at work. It could affect your career and decision making
abilities. Don't leave your children and home under the care of someone you
don't really know outside of his or her resume.
Ken Myers is a father of three and passionate about great childcare. He’s always looking for ways to help families find the support they need to live fuller, richer lives. Find out more about expert childcare by checking out @go_nannies on Twitter.
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