Child Care – Deb's Domestic Agency

Why Parents are Struggling to Find Trusted Childcare

Deb's Domestic Agency Editorial Team — Thu, 24 May 2018 16:42:44 +0000

Parents are struggling to find qualified childcare and 55% of parents surveyed by the American Red Cross* have chosen to stay home because they could not find a trusted nanny or babysitter. The survey also revealed that nearly 30% of parents did not hire a potential sitter due to safety concerns. The great news is that a majority of parents are willing to pay more for trained and certified childcare providers. So how can you become a certified childcare provider?

Parents need to have trust and confidence in a provider before leaving their children in their care. Safety and confidence in the sitter are top criteria sought when meeting with potential babysitters and nannies. It’s becoming increasingly common for parents to ask about CPR, First Aid, and childcare certification.

CPR and First Aid training are easy to complete through online programs available for $25 by the American Red Cross. The American Red Cross, American Heart Association, and local community colleges also offer in-person training. If you are already certified, the videos below on child and infant CPR can provide a quick refresher.

If you are a babysitter, nanny, or aspiring to work as a childcare provider, it is worth the time and effort to learn first aid and CPR. Although you never want to use these skills, you can have the confidence in your abilities that if needed, you may save a life.

There are several options for childcare certifications that include in person and online program. When looking for a childcare certification program, check the organization is licensed as a post-secondary school. It’s also important to know who authored the training. If needed, see if the program offers job training or placement support. For information about childcare certification programs, visit www.AmsleeInstitute.com.

Amslee Institute provides childcare classes and certification programs for Nannies, Babysitters, and others who care for children. Amslee’s 30+ staff and adjunct faculty members have a passion for education and childcare, bringing them together to help career minded childcare providers gain the skills and certifications to benefit their careers and the children in their care. Amslee Institute is licensed by the Florida Department of Education Commission for Independent Education and is a member of the International Nanny Association (INA). Amslee Institute partners with industry leading agencies like us to help families connect with Amslee graduates. For more information, visit www.AmsleeInsitute.com.

Benefits and Considerations Before Accepting a Live-In Nanny Job

Deb's Domestic Agency Editorial Team — Thu, 24 May 2018 16:30:38 +0000

Are you considering a position as a live-in nanny? If so, there are a lot of things to consider as this is not a typical job. As a live-in nanny, you will work, eat and sleep under the same roof as the family and children. This means you do not leave your job in the same manner as others, so you will have to be disciplined to ensure you have time off and leave your job duties.

A live-in nanny wears many hats. Sometimes you will be a teacher, a best friend, a mediator, an assistant, a first aid technician and so much more. Whenever you are in the home, even if you are not ‘on the clock’, you must act as an extension of the parent, guardian or employer in regard to care of the children and household management. This means that although you may have your own style, it is imperative that you be cohesive with the parent’s philosophy on raising their children with their household rules.

There are some unique and wonderful benefits to live-in nanny jobs. These include:

1. Special bonds with the children and family. This is a wonderful way to engage on a more personal level with the children and parents as you will be there for the bumps and bruises but also the milestones and triumphs. You gain an extended family as you are part of the family day-to-day activities.

2. Save money. By living where you work, you can save money on housing, utilities, food, and other household costs like buying pots and pans. This really adds up and you can save a lot more of your income for other things.

3. Save time. Since there is no commute to work, you can save a lot of time each day and re-allocate that time for other activities such as fitness, education, or fun.

4. Benefits. Depending on the family, you may get additional benefits which may include a paid cell phone, use of a family car, domestic and international travel, and access to community amenities such as pools, basketball courts, and walking trails. Families may also invest in online training, so you can better care for the children and advance your childcare career. If you are seeking a career in a new city, being a live-in nanny or child care provider, can take you almost anywhere you wish to go, especially big cities like New York, Los Angeles and Chicago.

Working as a live-in nanny is a unique job and comes with some important considerations:

1. Household Management. It’s important to know that living with an Employer is different from sharing an apartment; a Nanny is not an equal housemate. Therefore, you must be sure to discuss all information including the policy for friends visiting, overnight guests, and pets during the interview process.

2. Privacy. When moving into the house, it’s important to establish privacy rules for the quarters that are dedicated to the Nanny. This means politely but consistently asking the family, including children, to knock at your bedroom door and not to enter the room. This may be best accomplished by keeping your bedroom door closed when you are not working.

3. Professional Boundaries. As you become more comfortable with the family and they become comfortable with you, make sure you keep some professional boundaries. This is where the delicate balance of being a live-in nanny comes into play. Its best to decide which information, in terms of yourself, should remain personal or private. It’s up to you to be able to differentiate which boundaries you hold in your professional life vs. your personal life.

When interviewing for a live-in nanny position, there are a lot of things that should be discussed with the family. A work agreement or employment contract can be used as a tool to help cover all the topics. A free 30-minute class as well as a live-in work agreement template can be found at AmsleeInstitute.com/courses. Sharing this agreement and discussing the details for employment, childcare needs, and household management expectations will make sure everyone has the same expectations. A mutually agreed-to work agreement created before accepting the live-in nanny role, will help ensure you get uninterrupted time off as well as prevent job creep (additional duties that arise and get added to the job as time passes).

Having a great relationship with the family is a wonderful benefit. You may become great friends but remember that you are also an employee. If you are going through a personal issue that may impact your work (such as learning a direct family member has a serious medical issue), then it’s important to share this information with your employer. However, if you and your best friend are having another argument, it’s likely not good to share this personal information with your employer.

Being a live-in nanny is a very rewarding experience but do not accept this type of position without understanding all the expectations. Honestly, working and living within the same residence as your employer takes a certain amount of discipline, character, and hard work. If you truly love children, and you present yourself in a professional manner both on and off work hours, you may find a live-in nanny position to be a very rewarding job.

To learn more about becoming a Live-in Nanny, a Tips for Live-In Nannies course is offered free with enrollment in any Amslee Institute program at AmsleeInstitute.com.

About the Author. Karli Ortmann is a professional nanny with over 8 years of experience including live-in and live-out positions. Karli is working on her Master of Art in Counseling from Chicago Professional School of Psychology and earned a Bachelor of Art in Psychology from St. Xavier University. Karli is an adjunct faculty member of Amslee Institute.

This article was written by our trusted partners from Amslee Institute. Amslee Institute provides best-in-class childcare classes and certification programs with a curriculum designed to advance the skills of Nannies and Sitters. Amslee Institute has over 30 staff and adjunct faculty with a passion for education and childcare, bringing them together to help childcare providers gain practical skills and certifications that benefit their careers and the children in their care. Amslee Institute is licensed by the Florida Commission for Independent Education, License No. 5951 and is a member of the International Nanny Association (INA). Amslee Institute partners with industry leading agencies like us to help families connect with Amslee graduates. For more information, visit www.AmsleeInsitute.com.

How Much Would You Earn If You Were Paid For Being a Mom?

Deb's Domestic Agency Editorial Team — Thu, 24 May 2018 16:08:43 +0000

The hype is true as becoming a mom (or a dad or any type of parent) is a blessing. Equally true though, is that becoming a mom is hard work. It may not go as expected and adjusting to the new responsibilities and never-ending commitments can be tough. There are a lot of pictures of beautiful babies but there aren’t many pictures of stressed out moms with spit up in their hair and poo on their hands as they change a diaper at 2 am.

Have you ever wondered how much you’d earn if you were paid for being a mom? If you are a mom, it feels like a lot so let’s start with the average number of hours worked per week. According to a 2017 study conducted by Market Research OnePoll in partnership with Welch’s nutrition program*, moms work an average of 98 hours a week. That may surprise some, but moms routinely get up at 6:30am and don’t finish their day until after 8:30pm.

According to Salary.com**, moms would earn a base salary of $37,022 with an overtime salary of $75,941 totaling $112,962 per year. Let’s review some of the tasks done in an average week:

Childcare, 30.2 hours. Caring for our children involves an everchanging list of tasks that includes feeding, bathing, getting them ready for school, helping them through temper tantrums, play time, getting them ready for bed, and holding them when they wake up from a bad dream.
Teaching and Coaching, 7.9 hours. Moms do a lot of teaching and coaching to help their children grow and develop. Moms teach children the alphabet, help with homework, and read to their children every night. Additional activities include sports practice, after-school events, and community clubs such as the Scouts.
Household Management, 45.9 hours. Running a household encompasses a lot of activities including laundry, cleaning, cooking, sewing, ironing, repairs, lawn care, and managing finances.
Errands, 10.7 hours. Moms also run a lot of errands including going to the grocery store, shopping for household goods, and buying clothes and shoes.

If you are a mom who feels you are balancing 2.5 full-time jobs, then you are not alone. Four in every 10 of the 2,000 American mothers asked, feel each week is a never-ending series of tasks that need to be completed. It’s not surprising that a lot of moms feel stressed every day.

What are some tips to help mom with all this work?

Get help. Whether it is your partner, a family member or hiring a Nanny or Family Assistant, getting help and support will ease the burden. Identify your most stressful times of days or activities that you struggle to get completed and seek help. For new moms this might be hiring an overnight Nanny to help you get some sleep. For working moms, it may be a Family Assistant to pick up the kids, cook dinner, and help with homework. If you can’t stand the thought of cleaning, create a chore list for the family and split up the work or look into hiring a weekly housekeeper.
Involve the kids. From toddlers to teens, kids can help out. Toddlers can put away their plastic dishes in a low cabinet while elementary school kids can help fold laundry and pick up items that need to be put away. Middle school kids can start learning to cook. Teaching children how to compete these tasks are important life lessons. Sharing chores helps ease the burden on mom with the additional advantage that it’s important children understand their role and contribute to helping the family.
Intentionally Manage Your Time. Plan ahead to use your time wisely. For example, plan weekly meals and include a few slow cooker meals that save time in the kitchen. Sneak in errands during lunch or bundle them together to reduce the number of trips required. Instead of leaving all the chores to the weekend, do a little bit each day so that it’s not so overwhelming. Prepare in advance, when possible, and plan time for sleep and exercise so you can stay healthy.
Don’t Do Everything. You can’t do it all. Let the children pick 1 or 2 extra-curricular activities but don’t feel they have to participate in everything or have an activity for each day of the week. Try to cook healthy meals but don’t fret if you order pizza one night.

It will take trial and error but find what works for you and your family. Each family is unique, so what works for you will look different from what works for other families and that’s okay. Being a mom is tough work so surround yourself with those who love you and are willing to help.

Source Citations:

* Moms Wok 98 Hours A Week, Study Finds. SWNS, 27 July 2017. https://uk.news.yahoo.com/moms-98-hours-week-study-155300906.html?guccounter=1 and http://abc7chicago.com/family/moms-work-the-equivalent-of-25-full-time-jobs-study-shows/3238565/

**Salary.com. What is a Stay-at-Home Mom Worth. https://www.salary.com/stay-at-home-mom-infographic/