7 Tips For Hiring An After School Nanny Or Sitter

A good after school nanny can be difficult to find. Without the right hiring and screening process completed upfront, you may rely partially on luck to locate the right caregiver for your children. To improve your efforts to hire a qualified, caring nanny or sitter incorporate these tips into your search.

1. Prepare a Job Description

When you prepare a detailed job description at the beginning, this is an easy way to quickly narrow your search to candidates who satisfy your essential needs. In the job description lay out your objectives, expectations, work schedule and other factors (such as if you want to work only with a sitter or nanny that is vaccinated against COVID-19 – UrbanSitter allows caretakers to provide this information and add it to their profile). Nanny-finding sites streamline this process, for instance UrbanSitter provides a job posting form that helps you summarize your after school care needs by ticking boxes. Don’t forget to research average nanny rates in your area to be competitive. 

2. Be Realistic About Tasks for an After School Nanny

Some parents understandably get excited about getting extra help with the kids and with chores around the house. Keep in mind even the best nanny may not be able to tackle everything you might otherwise be able to.

3. Consider Transportation Needs

Will your after school nanny need to pick up your children from school or drive them to and from their various activities? If your nanny will need transportation, ensure that the nanny has a safe, reliable car and a great driving record. Something else to think about is many families will allow their nanny to use the family car for transportation.

4. Look for Flexibility

In many cases, parents may arrive home from work at different times in the evening from day to day. If this is the case for you, find a nanny who can stay later as needed and without advance notice. If you can’t find one nanny to cover every afternoon, consider splitting the job across two sitters/nannies. The bonus is that you then have two people who you can reach out to when in a pinch.

5. Pay Attention to Values of the After School Nanny

Your nanny/sitter will spend a considerable amount of time with your children and may be responsible for preparing meals and snacks, helping with homework and enforcing rules. Ideally, their efforts will be a seamless extension of your own. Trust your gut. If something seems like it might not work out, it probably won’t.

6. Complete a Background Check

A background check should be completed on any serious candidate, and it should include a review of criminal history, credit rating, and employment history. Any red flags should be taken seriously. Reputable sites like UrbanSitter only offer nannies who have already passed a background check through a third-party service.

7. Contact References

After you have thoroughly interviewed and screened potential nannies, the matter of actually calling references may seem rather unimportant. However, the types of references the individual provides as well as what these references may say about the candidate can tell you valuable information you may have not yet learned through your other efforts.

Follow the 7 tips above to make your search for an after school nanny or sitter much easier! 

Not sure which type of after care you need? Review this list of 6 practical after care solutions.

 

Your life may be rather stressful and chaotic until you hire the right nanny to care for your children, that said, you should avoid rushing through the hiring process. You may find yourself dealing with many new problems if you do not take proper steps to make a the best selection for your family.

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After-School Babysitter: Your 101 Guide

The start of a new school year gives you a chance to get off on the right foot with a new after-school babysitter or refresh the relationship you have with existing sitters. Seize the opportunity to evaluate your after-school childcare expectations and have a candid discussion with your sitter to let her know what’s important to your family and how to best support you in caring for your child. Open and honest communication is the key to both of you getting what you want out of the partnership.

Here are five back-to-school tips to help you maximize your relationship with your after-school babysitter. These messages will go a long way toward ensuring the best possible care for your kids while you are away and will help you avoid misunderstandings or disappointments that can arise when you are not upfront with your child’s childcare provider.

1. Clearly define the hours
“After-school” care may translate differently to you and your sitter. Let the sitter know the hours you will need assistance, including whether they are in charge of dinner and bedtime. Also discuss availability and willingness to stay late in the event that you’re stuck at work, need to run a few errands or hoping 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.

2. Discuss driving expectations and rules
If your sitter is charged with dropping off or picking up your kids from school, lessons, activities or play dates you should have a frank conversation regarding your expectations for driving – including no talking on a cell phone or texting while driving. Also make sure your sitter understands the importance of your children riding in car seats and that they 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.

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 time playing with your kids, rather than spending time 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 are accustomed to eating so there is no battle of the 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 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, 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, 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.

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 she needs for snacks or to make dinner, and that there’s 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 sitter will appreciate your candid discussion and be better prepared to provide your child with the best possible after-school care. You’ll both be happy you had this important conversation, and will be off on the right foot for the new school year.

Need help finding an after-school babysitter? Check out our 7 tips for hiring the best after school nanny or sitter. Here are also some ideas for some fun after-school activities.

Looking for a babysitter or nanny? Join UrbanSitter to browse profiles, sort by pay rate, and book jobs online.

Before and After School Child Care: 6 Practical Solutions

The new school year is around the corner which means it’s time to nail down your before and after school child care. From morning drop-offs to shuttling kids to after school activities, the back to school hustle can leave you juggling a lot of different schedules. Not sure what kind of after school child care is right for you? Have no fear! We have 6 before and after school babysitter and nanny solutions that will help your family get an A+ this school year.

1. The Full-Time Nanny

Full-Time Nanny Before and After school babysitter

Work full-time? Need a helping hand before and after school? Have a little one in school and one still at home? A full-time nanny may be just what you need to cover all your bases. Nanny-finding sites like UrbanSitter conveniently allow you to search or post a job for this type of “split shift” schedule. 

Pro-tip: Check our blog post for suggested questions to ask when interviewing potential nannies.

2. The Carpool-Driving Sitter

carpool driving sitters

Maybe your mornings start early and you need help getting the kids ready and dropped off on time to school. Or, maybe you can’t leave the office early enough to pick them up. Problem solved! Book a carpool driving sitter.

Pro-tip: Use UrbanSitter’s search filter to find sitters ‘willing to drive kids’ in your car or theirs.

3. The Homework Tutor

sitter tutor before and after school babysitter

Let’s be real, kids have A LOT of homework these days and sometimes our kids need a little extra help. Find and book a sitter who’s ready to hit the books after school.

Pro-tip: Sites like UrbanSitter make it easy to search for sitters by the grade levels and subjects they teach or tutor.

4. The After-School Sitter

after-school sitter

Soccer practice, music lessons, dance class, or even just a trip to the park can be hard to juggle when you have more than one kid, errands to run, or when your work schedule keeps you late. Have no fear, an after-school sitter can help you feel like you are in more than one place at the same time.

Pro-tip: If you aren’t finding any sitters to cover every day of the week, consider splitting your job into two jobs with a sitter for Monday-Wednesday-Fridays and another for Tuesday-Thursdays.

5. The Last-Minute Sitter

urbansitter app last minute sitter before and after school babysitter after school child care

When the kids have an unexpected day off from school or your usual nanny calls in sick, you’ll need access to a last-minute sitter for backup child care. 

Pro-tip: Download UrbanSitter’s child care-finding app for free for access to last-minute child care. 

6. After School Programs

after school program

Some schools offer after school programs to give parents a few extra hours of child care beyond the school day. If your school doesn’t offer an after school program, many local YMCAs offer affordable school age after school child care.

Found the right before and after school child care solution for you? Now get started on your caregiver search by creating a free account on UrbanSitter.

Back to School: The Nanny Conundrum

Keep the Nanny Busy when kids are in school, nanny to take child to school

whitney_tang_nanny_magContributed by guest author Whitney Tang, Executive Editor of Nanny Magazine

It’s September, which means hordes of children have headed off to school, many for the first time. As you gear up for that first day of meeting the teachers and kissing your munchkin goodbye, a momentary thought might pass through your mind: What in the world will your nanny do for these three or so odd hours every day? Not paying her is out of the question. You need your nanny to be on call for all those sick days, snow days, and, heaven forbid, any emergencies. But should you really be paying her to sit around your house all morning with nothing to do? Here are some things you might want to consider to maximize your nanny’s time on the clock.

Keep Her Busy

Depending on where school is located, your nanny might not have the flexibility to go all the way back home during school hours. This is a great opportunity to ask her to pick up your child’s much-needed rain boots or craft supplies. Keep in mind that just because your child isn’t in the house doesn’t mean it’s your nanny’s downtime. School hours are the perfect time for your nanny to get caught up on your kids’ laundry and other child-related chores around the house, such as meal prep. Do you already have this covered? Let your nanny invest some time in her own professional development. Register her for an online course to enrich her childcare skills or hook her up with some great nanny-related reading to help her sharpen her skills and get new ideas to better take care of your children. The ways to make the time while your child is in class count toward your nanny’s paycheck are endless.

But Don’t Keep Her Too Busy

Keep in mind that your nanny’s top priority is your child. Even with some “free” time, you can rest assured that she is most likely planning the next great museum outing or tomorrow’s very messy (but educational!) science experiment. Good nannies rarely stop brainstorming new activities, planning new adventures, or educating themselves on caring for your child. Let your nanny use this open time to rest, think, and plot. Even the best minds need a few minutes away from the constant commotion to come up with truly great ideas.

Encourage Conversations

Do you really need eggs for tonight’s dinner but don’t have time to pick them up after work? Don’t be afraid to ask your nanny for some help. But also don’t be upset if she has something else planned. She might be busy picking up craft supplies for the afternoon’s art project or returning the nearly late library book just in time. In order to prevent yourself from becoming annoyed and your nanny from feeling pressured, be sure to open up various communication outlets. As long as a conversation is always going, each party will have better expectations for the school days ahead.

It’s Simple

Your nanny has more scheduling flexibility to take care of errands and chores when her charges are not in her direct care. Make the most of the time but don’t underestimate her. Just because your kids aren’t with her doesn’t mean she isn’t busy with their care. How do you keep your nanny busy when your kids are away at school?

If you’re looking for an after school nanny, review these tips for finding the right one for your family!

Whitney Tang, Executive Editor of Nanny Magazine is a freelance writer, a graphic design artist, and most importantly, a nanny! But the best part of her day involves a lot less typing and a lot more mess making, with glitter and flour being the usual suspects!

Find trusted nannies near you at UrbanSitter.com.

Tips for Lining Up College Students for Summer Childcare

Summer childcare, summer babysitters, summer college babysitters, summer babysitter, summer child care

In a few short months, school will be out for the summer and you likely have different summer childcare needs than you have now. You may need full-time help, a regular sitter for part-time care, or maybe just a reliable bevy of sitters to call when you need some time to yourself during the school-free months ahead.

There are many excellent sources for summer childcare, including nannies, camps, daycare or mother’s helpers, but college students – those returning home for their summer break or local students sticking around to take classes or to work – are one of your top resources for summertime babysitting. Here’s why students work well as babysitters and how to line them up now so that your summer childcare needs are covered well before the season starts.

Why College Students are often Fantastic Babysitters 

  • College students typically have some babysitting experience and are motivated to earn extra money to help pay for their education and living expenses. In addition to childcare experience, they are likely to be CPR certified, have completed a first aid class or studied a bit of early childhood education.
  • Students taking summer classes may have a hard time finding a part-time job that fits around their class load. Babysitting is in many ways the ideal job for them, as they can typically create a babysitting schedule that works with their class schedule.
  • In addition to being available, responsible and ready to earn, they are often vibrant young people with lots of interests, hobbies and experiences to share. They may be able to tutor, help sharpen sports’ skills, or help little kids prepare for kindergarten and bigger kids stay sharp while away from school. Your children could benefit from their skills and mentorship.
  • There’s rarely much of a commute for a student babysitter, especially if you have a campus nearby or are employing a neighbor’s child who is returning home from college for the summer.
  • Students often have plenty of backup if they have a conflict or if they are sick when they are committed to babysit. If they are interested in babysitting to make extra money, their friends likely are, too. Although you need someone who is dependable, it’s nice to have access to backup sitters when you need them.

How to Find and Hire Students for Summer Childcare

Sold on the idea of hiring a college student to help with summer child care and wondering how to score these ideal sitters before their summer is spoken for?  Here are a few tips for lining them up now:

  • Reach out to sitters on UrbanSitter who attend local colleges or who live nearby and inquire about their summer plans. It’s likely they will be as anxious to nail down summer work as you are to line up care for your kids.
  • Post a job on UrbanSitter that outlines your needs. This is especially helpful if you have a need for a full-time summer sitter or for someone to babysit on a regular basis. Local sitters will see your request, as will students returning home and looking for nearby work.
  • Check local college job boards for sitters advertising for summer work or post a job request. Join local Facebook or Google groups where sitters may post looking for summer babysitting opportunities. 
  • Talk with friends and neighbors to inquire about students returning home for the summer and their potential interest in babysitting. Encourage these sitters to join UrbanSitter to post their availability and profiles so booking is quick and easy.

With a little advance planning, you can quickly and easily find an excellent summer sitter well before summer arrives. Need help finding your summer babysitter? Join UrbanSitter.

Nanny vs Babysitter – The Pros and Cons

Nanny vs Babysitter

There are many options for childcare these days. How you decide which option to go with is a personal choice based on a variety of factors. Let’s look specifically at a nanny vs babysitter. Which is a better fit? It all depends on when and what you need the childcare for and any other responsibilities you want the caretaker to manage.

What is a Nanny?

A nanny is someone you hire to take care of your child, who becomes an employee of your family. Most nannies work a full-time job (and sign a contract) for the family, with consistent and regular hours. They are responsible for the well-being of your child and following through on the responsibilities you discuss with them. In addition, the longer period of time a nanny works for the family, the more involved they become in the development of the child and being a part of the child growing up.

What are some job responsibilities of a nanny?

  • Care for the child
  • Do minor household chores
  • Take the child to/from school or other activities
  • Plan & prepare meals
  • Organize activities
  • Keep them safe
  • Other responsibilities as discussed with the parent

Cost

The average nanny hourly rate nationwide is $19.31/hour. A typical payment schedule for a nanny is to get paid either weekly or biweekly and receive paid time off.

Pros for having a nanny

There are a lot of advantages to a nanny. A nanny can save you time, as there is typically no drop off/pick up time to factor into your day. There tends to be flexibility, the nanny may be able to come early or stay late depending on your needs (there may be additional compensation for any hours over what your contract is with the nanny). Your child gets one on one attention. Another plus is in many cases a deep bond develops and the nanny becomes a part of your family.

Cons to having a nanny

One downside of a nanny is there may be a lack of socialization with other children. Another factor to consider is the hourly rate of a nanny. A nanny typically charges a higher rate than a babysitter.

What is a Babysitter (also called a sitter)?

A babysitter is a caretaker that watches over your child when you are away. Oftentimes a babysitter can be younger and watches your child for shorter periods of time. In general, the sitter doesn’t have a set schedule, instead the babysitter is scheduled when a parent needs extra help watching their children.

What are some job responsibilities of a babysitter?

  • Watch over children
  • Make meals
  • Play with them
  • Put children to bed
  • Clean up the kids toys and/or have the kids do it
  • Keep them safe

Cost

In 2021 the average babysitter hourly rate nationwide is $18.36/hour. A babysitter is typically paid an hourly rate.

Pros for having a babysitter

An advantage for hiring a babysitter vs a nanny is the sitter is usually less expensive. If you are looking for just a few hours a week or one off occasions a babysitter is a great fit.

Cons to having a babysitter

One potential downside of a sitter as your childcare provider is how well they know your child. In other words, the more hours a childcare provider works with your child, the better opportunity to learn more about your child.

Overview Nanny vs Babysitter

Nanny vs BabysitterNannyBabysitter
Hourly Rate$19.31 $18.36
Payment Schedule Paid weekly or biweekly
Receives paid sick days and paid time off		Hourly, paid when they leave your house after each babysitting job
Work ScheduleConsistent/regular hours, oftentimes during the dayMay work a few hours at a time, oftentimes date nights
ProsCreates a close bond with your child, has set hours and compensationLess expensive, can use for one off occasions, no contract needed
RelationshipPersonal, many families form a close relationship with their nannyTransactional, unless you have set days a week that the sitter is watching your children.

The Decision: Choosing a caretaker – Nanny vs Babysitter

Choosing a childcare provider is a very important task and no answer is right or wrong. Whatever your choice, do your due diligence — have a set of interview questions ready, do a background check, contact references and read reviews if they are available. Don’t forget to make sure your expectations are clear. Lastly, trust yourself to make the choice that feels best for your family at that time.  

Need help finding a part and full-time babysitter or nanny? Search here at UrbanSitter. 

What Is An Au Pair? Pros, Cons & How To Find A Great One

What is an au pair? An au pair is a student between the ages of 18-26 who comes to the United States as part of a cultural exchange program and agrees to provide full-time child care in exchange for housing and a weekly stipend. For some families who need live-in child care, hosting an au pair may be an ideal solution. Below are some of the benefits and limitations so you can decide if an au pair is the right in-home child care choice for you and your family.

The Unique Advantages of Au Pairs

There are several pros to choosing an au pair for your childcare needs, including the following:

  • Au Pairs Provide Affordable Care
    Because au pair programs are government sponsored, costs are regulated. According to the U.S. Internal Revenue Service, au pairs are paid a weekly stipend equivalent to the U.S. federal minimum wage. The stipend is based per family, so you do not pay more for additional kids. Keep in mind there are some upfront costs you will incur. These costs include, the au pair agency application fees and the placement fees (which cover recruiting, screening, paperwork processing, some travel expenses, visa and training). Once they arrive, there are additional expenses outside of the weekly stipend. These costs include providing a private room, meals, paid vacation time, and a $500 educational stipend. Even with these additional fees, au pair care is much more affordable than live-in or live-out nannies or babysitters.
  • Flexible Hours, In-home Child Care
    For those who work long or irregular hours, or need an extra set of hands, flexible child care is a top priority. Few providers can match the flexibility offered by au pairs. According to ICEF Monitor, a market research firm for the international education market, au pairs in the U.S. can work up to 45 hours per week. While they may not work more than 10 hours per day, you can coordinate your own child care schedule week to week.
  • Exposure to a New Culture
    Inviting a foreign student to live with your family is a wonderful way to introduce your children to a new culture or language. One example, according to AuPair Clearinghouse, who reviews and compares United States au pair agencies, there’s a growing trend to hire Chinese care takers. They attribute the trend to the increasing popularity of Mandarin as a language option in secondary schools, and the appeal of having a Mandarin-speaker in your own home to help your kids learn the language.

Au Pair Limitations

While there are many attractive advantages to having an au pair care for your kids, there are limitations, too, including:

  • Limited Child Care Experience
    Au pairs are students (18-26 years old) who travel to the U.S. for the educational and cultural experience. Though they are required to complete some childcare instruction, their training and experience is limited. Simply put, they are not professional childcare providers, nor do they necessarily have an interest in pursuing a career in child care. For this reason, they are often better for families who do not require infant or special needs care.
  • Short-Term Child Care Solution
    Per their contracts and visa requirements, au pairs usually live with a family for one year (though you can apply for a program extension through the U.S. Department of State). If you need someone longer term—and don’t relish the thought of finding a new solution in a year’s time—a live-in nanny may be a better fit.
  • Inability to Meet in Advance
    They are carefully screened and you can interview candidates via phone, email and video chat, but you cannot truly meet face-to-face or have a trial period before committing to a relationship.
  • Language and Cultural Barriers
    In addition to the limitations above, au pairs are students learning a new culture and often times a new language as they are getting to know your family and understanding its own unique needs. It can be a tricky adjustment period for both sides.

What is the Difference Between an Au Pair and a Nanny?

One of the most important distinctions between an au pair and a live-in nanny is that an au pair is a student you host and a nanny is an employee you hire.

For a deeper dive into the differences, read our article, How to Choose Between a Nanny, Daycare, and Au Pair. If you decide to host an au pair, there are a number of agencies approved by the U.S. Department of State who can connect you. If you decide a nanny is the better fit for your family, word of mouth, job boards, and online services, such as UrbanSitter, can help you find and meet nannies in your local area who may be just right for your family’s needs. The choice is yours!

Looking for nanny? Join UrbanSitter to browse profiles, sort by pay rate, and book jobs online.

Nanny vs Daycare – Pros and Cons

Average Babysitting Rates 2021 - UrbanSitter

A big question you ask when you are preparing for the arrival of your first child or making a change to your current childcare setup, is which is a better fit for my family – nanny vs daycare? Should you focus on a daycare or should you find a nanny near you? Both of these options have pros and cons that deserve a thorough review and comparison. Let’s review a nanny vs daycare. 

Personalized Attention

Nanny: A nanny will provide your child with personalized one-on-one attention throughout the day. The nanny can easily tailor feeding and nap schedules specifically for your child. 

Daycare: In a daycare environment, one caregiver is often assigned to watch at least six to 10 kids. The exact ratio is limited by the specific laws in your area. While daycare teachers do their best to cater to each child’s needs, their attention is understandably divided. They also must stick to a strict schedule for the benefit of the group.

Educational Benefit

Nanny: In exchange for the personalized attention a nanny can provide to your child, you may miss out on the daycare benefit of caregivers who are trained in early childhood development. A parent can get around this by hiring a nanny who has this experience. 

Daycare: A daycare oftentimes operates similarly to a pre-school, where caregivers have been trained in early childhood education. They can teach reading, motor skills, etc. to your child. 

Cost

Nanny: Generally, nannies are more expensive than daycares. If you have multiple children or do not need full-time childcare, hiring a nanny could be more economical. One way to cut down on costs is to create a nanny share and split the cost with another family.

Daycare: Many daycares are less expensive than having a full time nanny. However, some daycare rates can be astronomical, especially when you have to pay for a full day regardless of the hours you use and that cost multiplies with each additional child. 

Flexibility

Nanny: In general, a nanny can provide more flexibility. For instance, a nanny might be able to modify their hours more easily if you need them to come earlier or later on a given day.

Daycare: Daycares have fixed hours of operation and most are closed for weekends and major holidays. If you arrive for pickup late, there might be a fee. If your job requires you to be available at odd hours or for long shifts, the daycare structure is likely not suitable for you. 

Social Interaction

Nanny: If your nanny keeps your children at home all day, your child could have minimal social interaction. Parents can overcome this challenge by setting up playgroups and taking advantage of other group activities, such as music classes for the nanny and child to attend.

Daycare: The social interaction of a daycare setting is a major benefit. This daily interaction can help young children to prepare for preschool and learn how to behave in a school environment.

Physical Health

Nanny: Your home environment may be cleaner than a daycare, and your child is likely to be exposed to fewer germs as a result. Some parents prefer exposure to some germs earlier in life to help their child build immunity.

Daycare: Daycare facilities must comply with strict cleanliness standards, but germs can still spread like wildfire through the classrooms. For example, one parent may bring a sick child to class, and many other children in the class could become ill. 

Nanny vs Daycare – It’s a matter of personal choice:

The best way to determine with certainty which childcare solution is right for you is to explore each option. You can find a nanny near you that lives up to your expectations, and you can compare specific benefits against those offered by a daycare near you. Regardless of which option you decide on, make sure to ask for references and read reviews, if available.

Need help searching for a nanny? Search for part and full-time nannies at UrbanSitter

5 Tips for Working from Home With Kids

working from home with kids

Being a working parent is really hard. Working from home with kids is — you guessed it —extremely hard. In fact, 87% of parents we surveyed in November 2020 said that working from home without childcare is “difficult” or “very difficult.” Though many parents have had a “one off working-from-home day” when a kid is sick, the reality of working remotely every single day alongside your kids has been a steep learning curve for a lot of people during COVID. Here are some expert tips for working from home with kids.

1. Get Creative With Your Schedule

If you have another adult home with you, consider a split schedule. Parents can discuss their work schedules as a team the night before to determine who is more available at different times of the day.

Of course, it may not be possible to get all your work done during regular business hours if you’re also on duty with the kids, so staggering your work times with your partner, or working in the evening when the kids are in bed might be the right option for you. However you choose to split your schedule, you will have to retrain your mind to focus during your new “business” hours.

2.  Communicate with your employer & coworkers

It is probable that with toddlers or kids at home who are participating in virtual schooling at home, you will need to make schedule adjustments. It will also be necessary to communicate your needs and your schedule adjustments with your employer.

However, communicating with coworkers is also essential, because even with the best-laid plans, your children will interrupt your work. They’ll scream just as you unmute during a conference call. They’ll bomb your video meetings. Or you may just need to take them outside for 30 minutes so they can burn off energy. Your coworkers will be more understanding about all the interruptions if you warn them ahead of time.

It’s also important to remember, you are not alone. You are not the only one that is seeking flexibility in their work schedule, and you are not the only parent balancing work with distance learning. It’s likely that your employer and some of your coworkers are experiencing the struggles as you are, and if not, they are at least now more understanding than ever.

3. Claim a dedicated workspace

One of the most important suggestions is to be able to close a door and work in isolation. Find a room with a door you can shut, if possible. Even a table in a bedroom is preferable to working at a kitchen table where there can be abundant distractions.

If space is an issue, visual cues become extra important. Putting on headphones, using masking tape on the floor to mark the “walls” of your office, or even putting up a stop sign where you are working can be a signal for your children that they need to be quiet. Conversely, take the headphones off, come out of your “office” or put the stop sign down when you are ok to be interrupted.

4. Take breaks

Working for a few hours in the early morning or evening gives you the opportunity to take breaks during the day. During your “off” time, play with the kids, preside over schoolwork, or get outside. Consider drawing, board games, dance parties, and even scavenger hunts. That one- on-one time is something your kids will appreciate when they can’t have your undivided attention later.

And of course, just as important as it is to spend that time with your kids, it’s just as important for you and your partner to take some of those breaks for yourself. Patience and energy levels are running at all time lows for most people these days, so go for a walk or maybe read that article you have been wanting to read, your mental health will thank you.

5. Hire a caregiver/tutor

Let’s be honest. Working from home with kids present is unbelievably hard, and there is no shame in admitting you need help. Hiring a caregiver, or a tutor to help your kids with their virtual classes, might be exactly what you need to be more productive.

Talk with your employer about childcare benefit options. Having your employer provide access and subsidies through services such as UrbanSitter will allow you to easily find trusted and reliable childcare and tutors, occasionally or for part-time, full-time, virtual, or backup care.

2020 continues to be an unprecedented year, and we do not yet know what 2021 will bring. What we do know is that working from home with kids is becoming more mainstream, and we need to continue to make the adjustments accordingly. Bend the rules, whether it’s allowing some extra screen time or giving your kids a snack they wouldn’t normally have. Parents need to cut themselves some slack, and most importantly give themselves a little grace right now.

Learn more about UrbanSitter’s childcare benefit options for employers.

5 Steps to Find a Good Babysitter

There comes a point in every parent’s life when they have to find a good babysitter but you don’t just want to find a good babysitter, you want to find a great babysitter! Finding the right babysitter for your family will give you the peace of mind you need to leave your child at home knowing they’ll be safe and secure.

STEP 1: GET RECOMMENDATIONS

Get personal recommendations from people you trust. This is hands-down the absolute best way to find a good babysitter. Ask friends, family, church members, coworkers, moms at preschool, or moms’ group pals if they have any recommendations of sitters they use and like – don’t be shy about it. Your friends know you and your parenting style, so they’ll be able to refer you to sitters that would be good for your family. It saves you a lot of time in your babysitter search.

You can use UrbanSitter to make this easy. Connect with friends on our babysitting app.

If you don’t have friends who use babysitters, or you’re new to the area, you can ask neighbors (UrbanSitter also allows you to connect with neighborhood sitters near you). It’s a great way to meet new people. If that’s not really your thing, you can search online sites or post on a nearby college job board.

STEP 2: CONDUCT A “WEED-OUT” INTERVIEW

You can tell a lot about a sitter by asking a few simple questions. This can be over the phone, chat, or email.  The tone of their voice or answers to a few key questions can tell you a lot about whether you would feel comfortable with them.  You’re looking for a sitter who’s a good fit for your family. Someone with similar values and a compatible personality. Use the weed-out interview to weed out any sitters that you don’t “click” with. Take a look at our Questions to Ask a Babysitter post for what to ask them.

STEP 3: INTERVIEW THEM IN YOUR HOME

Arrange a time for the babysitter to come to your home and meet your child. See how they interact with your child. If you’re comfortable, leave the sitter with the child while you take a walk around the block or go out for a short period of time, even just 20 minutes. For a complete list of questions, check out the Questions to Ask a Babysitter post.

Beyond listening to the answers to their questions, here are some finer points to look for:

  • Did the babysitter arrive on time? If they show up to the interview on time, it’s a good indication that they’ll show up to your jobs on time.
  • How did they greet the child? Did they get down to the child’s height and introduce themselves warmly? Did they seem comfortable with the child?
  • How did they greet you? Were they professional and respectful?
  • When you left the room, how did the sitter handle that initial handoff?
  • When you returned, how did the sitter act? It’s possible the child may cry while you’re gone, especially if you haven’t left your child before. This is normal. Your sitter could be the most loving, wonderful babysitter in the world, but the child may still cry. It takes time for sitters and children to develop a relationship. The thing to look for is how the sitter handled it when your child cried. Did they look frazzled, overwhelmed, or impatient when you returned? If they did, then it’s probably not the right babysitter for your child. You’re looking for someone who can maintain a calm, patient demeanor when faced with a crying child.
  • If you have animals, observe how the babysitter interacted with them as well. They’re part of the family too. Did they feel comfortable with your animals?

STEP 4: CHECK BABYSITTER’S REFERENCES

If the babysitter wasn’t referred by a friend and you can’t read reviews on their online profile, ask for 2-3 references and call them.

STEP 5: TRUST YOUR INSTINCTS

You know best. If you don’t feel comfortable with the babysitter for any reason, don’t leave your child with them.

Once you find that great babysitter, learn how to keep them.