The start of a new school year gives you a chance to get off on the right foot with a new after school babysitter.
Seize the opportunity to evaluate your after school care needs and spend time finding the right person for the job. Here are our expert tips to boost your search for the perfect after school sitter or nanny.
5 After School Babysitter Essentials
1. Clearly define the hours
“After school care” may translate differently to you and your sitter. Let the sitter know the hours of care you will need, including whether they are in charge of dinner and bedtime. Also, discuss the sitter’s availability and willingness to stay late if you get stuck at work, need to run a few errands, or hope to squeeze in a date night. If your return time consistently varies, you won’t be happy with a sitter who isn’t able to stay late. Discussing hourly rates and the cost of last-minute coverage upfront ensures there are no surprises.
2. Discuss driving expectations and rules
If your sitter drops off or picks up your children from school, lessons, activities, or playdates, have a frank conversation about your driving expectations, including no talking on the phone or texting. Make sure your sitter understands the importance of your children riding in car seats. Also, they should know how to properly install them.
Do your homework before hiring a sitter to drive your kids by checking to see that the child care provider has a valid driver’s license and a safe driving history. Some sitter-finding services like UrbanSitter offer a Driving Record Check/Motor Vehicle Check for a small fee on their caregivers. Discuss transportation to activities and ensure your sitter follows strict schedules.
3. Provide snack and meal guidelines
Make your sitter your wingman in your fight to keep your family’s nutrition and health on track. Rather than hoping for the best while the kids are in the caretakers hands, let your sitter know what you’d like your child to eat while you’re away. You want the sitter to spend quality time playing with your kids rather than in the kitchen. So, don’t require the sitter to prepare time-consuming meals and snacks.
Instead, make it a practice to keep nutritional snacks in the house. Choose snacks that your children typically eat to avoid a battle of wills. Also, make sure your sitter understands that meal prep is part of the responsibilities (if you require her to prepare your child’s dinner) and let the sitter know if you prefer that your child wait to eat with you when you return.
4. Ask the after school sitter to supervise homework
It’s fantastic when your after-school babysitter goes the extra mile by taking the time to help cover activities you’d be doing if you were home and will otherwise have to handle when you return. Most sitters are more than willing to lend a hand with tutoring school-subject assistance but may not realize where their help is useful.
Let your sitter know if you want them to help your child knock out their homework or log daily reading time. Or if your preschooler could benefit from some one-on-one practice tracing the ABCs, learning to write their name or mastering colors and numbers. For older kids, a combo tutor-sitter helps you get more specialized help with academics.
Your go-to for trusted after child care.
5. Set the after school babysitter up for success
You can help your sitter do their best by providing all they need to succeed. That means making sure there are clear instructions, schedules, and directions to wherever the kids will need to go. Be sure your kids’ activity bags are packed or provide details on where to find everything your child needs for lessons or practice so the sitter isn’t scrambling to find soccer cleats or stressing over what your child is supposed to bring to dance class.
In addition, be sure the sitter has the food they need for snacks or to make dinner. There should be a clearly marked homework spot with everything your kids need to do their work. Your sitter is there to take over while you’re away, but the sitter can do a much better job caring for your kids with a little help from you.
Your candid discussion will help your sitter prepare better to provide your child with the best possible after-school care. After this important conversation, you’ll both feel happy and start the new school year on the right foot.
Need help finding an after school babysitter or nanny?
- Check out our 7 tips for hiring the best after school nanny or sitter.
- Here are also ideas for some fun after-school activities.
