Although you love your child, you need a break from them occasionally. This is where your qualified and prescreened babysitter comes in. You can make the experience of using a babysitter a positive one for everyone by giving the babysitter these simple tools.

House Tour & House Rules- Ask your sitter to arrive 15 minutes early so you can familiarize them with your home. Where do you keep the baby wipes and extra diapers? The fire extinguisher? Knowing where to find important things will give your caregiver more time to pay close attention to your child. Also use this time to go over your house rules. Some things to consider:

• Is it alright to make personal phone calls?
• What is your TV watching or internet policy?
• Are there any rooms that are off limits?
• What food may the sitter eat?
• May the sitter invite a friend over?

Contact Info- Chances are that everything will be fine while you are out painting the town red, but in the rare event that there is an emergency, your babysitter will need to know how to contact you. It is imperative that your caregiver have necessary emergency numbers handy. This set of form from Phone a Babysitter .com includes areas to list allergies, relative contact information, and emergency numbers. Make sure to add the number for the Poison Control Center - 1-800-222-2222.

Prepare your Child- I love to tell my child what is going to happen. It is really fun to watch him as he anticipates upcoming visits and events. Use that enthusiasm to get him excited about the babysitter. Talk about how fun it will be and some of the things that the babysitter will do with him. Make it clear that you expect them to behave and obey the sitter in your absence and sweeten the deal by throwing in an incentive.

Make it Special- Your child has waited anxiously all day for the sitter to arrive. You can make this babysitting experience special by allowing a break from the ordinary. Instead of boring chicken nuggets, peas and mashed potatoes, order a pizza or something else that would be considered a rare delicacy for your child. “Loosen” the house rules a bit by making bedtime a little later, or allowing a treat before bed. Pick up a few toys that are reserved only for when you have a babysitter, like a board game or coloring book. Maybe even rent a much anticipated movie and leave out some microwaveable popcorn for a fun movie night.

What tools would you put in your babysitter’s “toolbox”?

Up tomorrow:
Weekend Chat: How do you Measure Success as a Parent?

(Photo Credit: 60 in 3)

One of the reasons I began this adventure in blogging was to network and meet new people. One of these people I have had the pleasure of getting to know a bit is Erin from 5 dollar dinners .com. Erin combines eating well with being frugal and she pulls it off by making healthy, delicious meals for her family that cost only $5.00! What I appreciate about her is that her recipes and tips are useful and unique. While the cost of food is on the rise, Erin combines strategic shopping and carefully planned recipes to get the most bang for her buck…and she shares her ideas every day.

Tell us a little about your family.
I have been married for 7 years to my wonderful and supportive husband! We have 2 little boys, almost 4 and almost 2. We love being outside, playing silly games and just hanging out!

What is your living structure?
My husband works “9 to 5″ and I stay home with the kids.

What is your greatest challenge as a parent?
How to parent with developmental disabilities in the mix.

How do you measure success in regards to parenting?
Long term: That my children would be able to give back to our society in a positive way. Short term: Obedience.

What is your SINGLE BEST parenting tip you can share with the readers?
Be consistent in your discipline with your children.

What will your children remember the most about their relationship with you?
Warmth and love.

What is the funniest thing your child ever said/did?
When asked who his favorite girl in his preschool class, he responded with a sheepish grin and “I like boys!” Very appropriate for a 4 year old! I chuckled!

Do you have any favorite parenting links you would like to share?
Focus on the Family

What else can you tell our readers that is unique about you?
I love scrapbooking and running half marathons!

Do you have a twitter account, a blog, or any other online manner for readers to contact you?
My blog is 5dollardinners.com
Follow me on twitter~@5dollardinners

Thank you, Erin, for sharing!
Stacy

Do you know an interesting parent that I should interview for an upcoming profile? Send me a Message.

Up Tommorrow:
Stocking Your Babysitter’s Toolbox

The thought of leaving my child alone with a stranger in my home frightens me to no end, yet that is what many people do when they invite sitters into their home. Nobody can care for your child the way you do. Yet you need a break occasionally, so you need to find a nurturing care provider who measures up to your high standards. Finding the right babysitter to watch your child is very important and can take some time and effort on your part. By screening candidates, you can not only learn about potential babysitters, but get a chance to observe them with your child before you leave them alone in your home.

Follow this 5 step process for prescreening potential babysitters:

First Contact- Once you have a lead for a babysitter it is a good idea to call them. This call should be pleasant and informal. You should introduce yourself and tell them a little about your child. You may want to inquire about their experience as well as ask for two references and their availability. Finally arrange an interview and exchange contact information, such as email addresses and home/cell phone numbers.

Check References- Take the time to research potential child care providers by calling upon the references that they supplied during your contact call. Ask the following questions in addition to anything else you may need to know:

• How did the sitter interact with your child?
• Did the sitter act responsibly and maintain order in your home while you were away?
• How dependable was the sitter?
• Would you hire this sitter again?
• Is there anything else you can tell me about the sitter?

Conduct the Interview-This is a critical part of hiring a caregiver because you will be able to form your impressions of them, and they of you. Did they arrive on time, dressed appropriately, or did they show up late wearing sweatpants and an old shirt? Do they appear comfortable or ill at ease? Ask open ended questions that create a conversation. This will give you a chance to get to know the candidate better and they will probably be more comfortable around you. For a full list of suggested interview questions, look at this Interview Checklist from Sittercity.com. It is a good idea to have your child around during the interview. This will give you a chance to see how the sitter interacts with children, plus you can gather feedback from your child later. What if you have a “perfect babysitter” on paper but you have an uneasy feeling you just can’t shake? Go with your gut reaction here. The welfare of your child could be at stake.

Plan a Trial Run-Let’s say you have checked the references and conducted the interview. You have a great sitter so you should be ready to utilize them. Or should you? A trial run while you are around will make it easier for you to establish your house rules. Why not invite the sitter over for lunch and let them play with your child for a couple hours. When you are comfortable, step away for a half hour or so to work on a project or read a book (wouldn’t that be nice). When the care provider departs get input from your child and combine it with your research and impressions to make a final decision.

Arrange for Childcare- Once you and your partner are satisfied that the babysitter matches your requirements and interacts well with your child, it is time to go on a date, run some errands, or whatever you need. Make sure your expectations are clear before you leave and resist the urge to check in every 5 minutes. Be sure to arrive home on time and pay your sitter promptly. After the sitter has gone home, talk to your child about what they did while you were away.

This screening process will not guarantee that you will find the perfect babysitter for your family. However if you do take the time to screen you may have peace of mind that your child, and your home, will be well cared for in your absence. You will be able to enjoy some relaxing, worry-free down time if you do your homework first.

How do you select a Babysitter for your family?

Up Tommorrow:
Parent Profile-Meet Erin Chase from $5 Dinners.com

Book Info

Author: Margaret Read MacDonald
Illustrator: Sophie Fatus
Sung by: Bob King
Pages: 32 Pages
Publisher, Date: Barefoot Books, 2005
ISBN: 978-1-84686-290-8
Ages: Read Alone: 4-7
Read Together:0-4

Summary

The farmyard Jamboree, a whimsical fable based on Chilean and Latin American folklore, is a rhythmic story narrated by a young boy who gradually acquires a flock of farm animals. From a clucking red hen who gives him a chick to a mooing brown cow who gives him a calf, the little Chilean boy gains 16 farmyard pets in this cumulative story. This book, which is part of the PBS Parents Collection, is accompanied with an audio CD containing the story sung as a catchy folk music tune.

My Opinion

The progression of this tale brings a nice blend of repetition and learning concepts. Each animal that is introduced is accompanied by a unique animal sound, a color (ie. barking black dog), and the name of the baby animal associated with it. The farmyard animals are counted by two’s all the way up to sixteen. The vibrant illustrations were done using a combination of acrylic and pastels. They mirror the folk art theme and tie in well with the text.

I read the book before I played the included audio CD and thought to myself, “That was a cute story.” When I played the music along with reading the story, I was tapping my foot and singing along to the song. `The song is simple enough to memorize for times when the CD is not handy. You can download the guitar score by visiting <>Barefoot Books Website.

Final Review

Based on the exceptional illustrations and welcoming repetition that this story holds, I would recommend this story for children 3-7. Children younger than 3 or with short attention spans may find this story a tad long to read all the way through, but would enjoy the illustrations and parents could “shorten” it by eliminating some of the repetition. Children this age would also like the song, with or without the book.

Would you like a free copy of this book? Enter my free book giveaway!

Up tommorrow:
Selecting a Babysitter you Can Trust

To celebrate the launch of Parenting Tips Daily I am giving away a free copy of The Farmyard Jamboree! This delightful children’s book was provided courtesy of Barefoot Books.

Click here to read my full review.

You have 3 chances to win

Entry #1 Leave me a comment answering this question:

What is you favorite farmyard animal?

Entry #2 Subscribe to my RSS feed. After you have subscribed, leave me a comment stating “I’ve Subscribed”.

Entry #3 Tweet or Blog about this giveaway. After you have done so, leave a comment stating “I tweeted this Giveaway” or “I blogged this Giveaway”.

This giveaway will end Sunday, March 22 at 12:01 am Pacific Time has been extended to Monday, March 23 at 12:01am Pacific due to blog complications. The winner will be “drawn” using a random number generator from Random.org and will be announced Monday March 23rd.

Up tommorrow:
Selecting a Babysitter you Can Trust

Having a trustworthy babysitter on speed dial is better than chocolate.

Imagine this scenario:
Your husband calls you around 4:00pm from the office to tell you that his colleague gave him tickets to a sold out concert event tonight. He will be home around 5:30pm to pick you up and take you out to dinner before the show. You ransack your closet and find the perfect outfit and take a lightning fast shower. You are dressed and ready when you realize that you have nobody to watch your kids.

Here are 5 tips for finding last minute childcare:

Network with Parents- Talk to other local parents and see who they use for babysitting, if they are willing to share. Like a hairdresser, if someone has a really good child care provider, they may want to keep it to themselves. It is especially helpful if your friends are willing to recommend a sitter because it saves you the time of (prescreening) plus you will probably receive an honest review from your peers.

Utilize Your Family - Chances are you have had a close relative offer to spend some time with your children. Even if they have not, many grandparents, aunts and uncles may be able to help you out in a pinch. We all lead busy lives and sometimes visiting family is put on the back burner. Your family would probably enjoy some quality time with your kids occasionally. A word of caution: don’t use this option too often as you don’t want to risk family burnout which could cause resentment.

Establish an Emergency Babysitting Agreement- Consider this a kid swap partnership. With this agreement, you join forces with another family to become each other’s last minute sitter. You get a night out and you also get to help out another friend who may need a desperate break every now and then.

Check Your Church Nursery Staff- If you attend church services or other meetings where childcare is provided, your children have probably established relationships with some of the sitters working there. This method also saves you the effort to prescreen because you will have had a chance to see how the sitter interacts with kids and you will know if they would make a good fit for your family. Consider hiring some of the teenage volunteers as well, since they may have cheaper rates than some of the adults.

Babysitting Directories-This option is useful if you are new to your area and you don’t know many people yet. Websites like SitterCity.com show a listing of eligible sitters in your area. For a fee, you will have access to sitter profiles which include location, experience, biography, schedules, as well as background checks. You can even access review from other people who have used the sitter previously. Please be careful and screen candidates thoroughly.

The key to finding last minute childcare is to plan ahead. Do the legwork before you actually need the sitter and have 3-5 prescreened sitters lined up. If you do, you stand a better chance of getting a sitter so you can have some time to reconnect with your mate.
If nobody will give you and your partner the hard earned break you need, throw in the towel and order a pizza. Watch a DVD or have a family game night. Oh and make sure to plan a date…and a sitter…soon!

Do you have a last minute sitter story or suggestion? Tell me about it!

Up tomorrow:
Children’s Book Review: Farmyard Jamboree, Plus a free giveaway!

(Photo Credit: Ed Yourdon)

Welcome to the Parenting Tips Daily! I am very excited to join the online community of parent bloggers. The premiere week will be packed with tips related to finding quality babysitters and having a positive, stress-free babysitter experience, an interview with an extraordinary parent, a children’s book review and a fantastic giveaway! On Saturday, the weekend chat is a time for readers to write the blog. I will post an open ended question and you, the readers will have a chance to respond with your own unique answers.

Here is what you can expect this week!

Monday - Finding a Last Minute Babysitter
Tuesday - Book Review-The Farmyard Jamboree & a Giveaway!
Wednesday - Selecting a Babysitter you Can Trust
Thursday - Parenting Profile-Meet Erin Chase from $5 dinners.com
Friday - Stocking Your Babysitter’s Toolbox
Saturday - Weekend Chat: How Do You Measure Your Success as a Parent?

Here is a little babysitting humor from Adventures in Babysitting (1987):

If you have not subscribed to the blog yet, please take a moment to use one of the subscribe options so you can stay up to date.

(Photo Credit: Webhamster)

As my launch week approaches I wanted to share with you some of the topics that you can expect to read on this blog:

Blog News-General Updates and News
Community-Parent Profiles highlighting interesting parents
Eating Well-Tips for creating healthy meals
Education & Safety-Ideas to enhance learning and keep your child safe
Family-A variety of issues that affect the family
Freebies-Periodic Giveaways
Get Organized-Creative ideas to get organized
Home is Where the Heart Is-Tips for making your house a home
Money Matters-Budgeting and ways to save money
Parenting-From discipline to Bedtiime routines, parenting tips to keep you sane.
Reviews-Books, Music, Movies and More, I will review something new weekly
Self Care-Tips for taking better care of yourself, so you can take care of your family

The economic crunch should not mean huge sacrifices in clothing and fashion. Take today’s example for instance. I wondered into the Payless Shoe Source in the mall last night looking for a pair of cute and comfortable shoes I could wear to a trade show I will be attending this weekend. I wanted something something close toed and black and I wanted to showcase my hand knit socks as well. Enter these cute Mary Janes. They were priced on sale at $19.99, regular price was $24.99. They had size 7 but they were a little loose on me so I asked the if they had a 6 1/2. The nice sales clerk checked inventory and found that while they didn’t have my size on site, they did have it at another local store. She called the other store and put them on hold for me and gave me a coupon for $3.00 off these shoes. I went in today and they fit perfectly! Yay, it is a good shoe day.

I had Sean with me and it just so happened that he was in dire need of a new pair of shoes himself. After measuring his ever growing feet, I found a nice looking canvas tennis shoe with velcro tabs by Airwalk. They were priced at $17.99.

Those that are doing the math in their heads have come up with an approximate subtotal of $35.00 ($19.99 + $17.99 - $3.00). That isn’t unreasonable for two pair of shoes at any stretch. But right now Payless is doing their BOGO promotion, where you buy 1 pair and get the second pair at 1/2 off. This made the Airwalks a whopping $8.99! Let’s redo the math. $19.99 + $17.99 $8.99 - $3.00 = $25.98 (before taxes). Not bad for 2 pair of shoes.

Saving money on simple things isn’t hard. Retailers are anxious to make sales in these troubling times and sales like these happen frequently. The key thing is to look around a little for the deals by reading weekly sales flyers and selectively listening to tv and radio advertisements, paying attention only to sales by businesses you regularly shop. For more information on the BOGO promotion, go to Payless ShoeSource Website. The promotion ends 3/02/2009 has ended.