Raising a child it’s giving him keys to become a member of our society, enabling him to become a responsible adult who can think and adapt. The basis of this education is to make him understand what is an acceptable behaviour and to set limits. Discipline does that. Positive, effective discipline is team work. From parents to nanny, together with everyone involved in the child’s education, should have a consistent approach to the child so he receives the same answers for a given behaviour.
Several studies show that emotive responses, like shouting and giving corporal punishment are not the best approach and that children who were raised this way are more likely to become aggressive adults with negative behaviours. It is therefore important to use positive discipline rather than to react with emotion. The secrets of successful positive discipline are attitude and communication. This post will outline what is a positive attitude while the subject of communication will be covered in another post on this blog.
First and foremost, attitude is being consistent: always choose a positive approach and never fall into the emotional reaction. You need to be constantly listening and show a lot of patience, adaptability and flexibility. The basic idea is to provide guidelines and limits and teach the child to make the right choices so you need to encourage her to make the right choices and congratulate her when she does. A discussion with the nanny or babysitter is necessary to ensure she will provide the same guidelines as you do. Confusion creates frustrations and misunderstandings, which in turn can easily lead to emotional reactions.
Quite often, it is enough to anticipate potential problems and present the child with a proper option before they have the opportunity to make a bad decision: for example, if they are about to play with crayons, ask them if they want to draw on the kitchen table or spread newspapers on the floor in their room. Do not let them decide where to use their crayons. Over time they will know the different options and choose between good alternatives.
A positive attitude it’s also creating a respectful and loving environment where the child can flourish without fear or frustration. It is therefore very important that the nanny takes her cues from you and is careful to always talk to the child with calmly and with respect. This does not detract from being firm but creates a dialogue rather than giving orders to be followed blindly.
If your nanny and yourself adopt this positive approach to discipline, you’ll see that with a little patience your child will learn to make the right choices.
Leaving your baby with a nanny for the first time is a big step in the life of baby and in yours. Since baby is born, you’ve spent all your time with him and are the expert in his well-being. It is therefore natural to feel anxious to leave him with a nanny for the first time. You are the only person who will know when you are ready and to take this step with confidence a little preparation is necessary. We have gathered some tips to ensure that the first separation goes smoothly.
The best way to feel confident is to thoroughly select the nanny to whom you’ll entrust your little one. Beyond the necessary precautions to follow and the advice that apply to any caregiver selection (see the several posts on the subject on this blog), if it’s the first time that you leave your child with a nanny, you should be looking for an experienced candidate. Caring for a baby is very different from babysitting an older child, and some skills are more important than others. In addition to being confident that the nanny will know how to take care of your baby, you will certainly learn some useful tips from her.
Once you have found the perfect nanny for your family, introduce her to your child before the first day of leaving her with the caregiver. Ideally, the new babysitter should spend at least half a day with you and baby so that he gets used to seeing her in your home and see you talk and interact with the nanny. In addition, it’s the opportunity to show her where things are, the daily routine that you have with your baby and how you like things to be organized in the house. Don’t forget to take the time to leave her alone with the baby for a few minutes while you go to another room.
Now that you have prepared everything, it’s time to take the plunge and leave baby with the nanny for the first time. The most important thing is to act naturally because the child will feel your stress. You have already reviewed your home set-up with the nanny and given her a list of contacts to call if anything happened. The last thing you need to do then is to welcome the nanny and say good bye to baby, explaining simply that you will be back soon. Do not hesitate and linger, even if your child cries. He is testing you! Plan activities for the nanny to keep baby busy right after you leave and ask her to send you SMS or email frequently.
Simply follow these simple steps and you will be able to enjoy your day without baby, stress free and without guilt.
Pets are another specialty of SOSsitter. Indeed, here you can find a pet sitter as easily as a nanny. We like helping families. 
Sometimes however, you want to take your pet on holidays with you. Some preparation is needed to make the days off a fun time for you, your furry friend and his hosts.
So let’s review how to prepare your trip, what to do during the trip and how to help your pet adjust to his vacation spot.
How to prepare your pet for travel
The first thing to do is to make sure that your pet is healthy and that his health record is up to date. If you are traveling abroad, check with your vet if any specific vaccination is required by border controls. Finally, ask your vet for medication advice to help your pet stay calm in an airplane or not to be carsick.
Once this is settled, it is time to prepare your pet for his transport.
If you plan to travel by car, remember that young animals, as children, are often sick in cars. It is best to accustom them to car travels at an early age, to lower the heat and to half-open the windows so that your dog can enjoy some fresh air.
If you travel with a cat, be sure to keep it in its crate or to put her in a safety harness.
For transport by plane, get your dog or cat used to his crate before the big day. The crate must be large enough for him to stand up. Put his favorite blanket in it, and some toys so that he is comfortable. Gradually get him used to stay in his crate with the door closed and carry it so that he gets used to the transportation. Last but not least, choose a cage that will not open if it gets dropped or jostled during transport.
Pet care during the trip
It is best for your pet to travel with an empty stomach so that he doesn’t get too carsick. Therefore avoid feeding him the day of departure.
Make sure your pet has water readily accessible or stop every two hours so that he can walk a bit and drink.
Helping your pet adjust to his vacation spot
Before selecting your destination spot, make sure that the place allows pets. It is not advisable to take a dog that is not house broken on holiday.
Shortly before arriving, stop and walk your pet so that he is calm and has no urgent need for a bathroom break. Introduce him to the staff and enquire about the most appropriate place to walk him.
Once in your room, set up his blanket in a quiet corner and make sure he has fresh water available. Always put him on his leash before going out and if its size allows it, carry him outside to avoid any unfortunate accidents.
Follow these simple tips when traveling with your pet and everybody will enjoy an unforgettable holiday.
We have great friends. Friends that give us freebies . And we want to share them with you.
If you live in GTA, we have FREE TICKETS to the Toronto Private School Expo happening this Saturday in Roy Thomson Hall and to the Halton-Peel Private School Expo happening at Oakville Conference Centre – Holiday Inn, next Sunday, October 23rd,
To redeem them, click on one of the logos to get to the registration page and quote SOSSITTER as promotional code. The code will give you a pair of free tickets to the Expos.
Don’t you love us?
Thank you OurKidsMedia – the organizers of these great events
CLICK THIS LOGO FOR FREE TORONTO EXPO TICKETS
Saturday, October 15, 2011 |11:00 to 3:00 pm |Roy Thomson Hall | 60 Simcoe Street Toronto, Ontario M5J 2J5
CLICK THIS LOGO FOR FREE HALTON-PEEL EXPO TICKETS
Sunday, October 23, 2011 | 12:00 to 4:00 pm |Oakville Conference Centre-Holiday Inn | 2515 Wyecroft Road, Oakville, Ontario L6L 6P8
To prepare well your visit to the expo, read our previous post on what to ask when talking to a school representative.
Enjoy!
You’ve followed all the advice to find a nanny matching your family, your specific needs and your lifestyle and you’ve found the perfect child caregiver. You are starting to relax and your children enjoy the company of their new sitter. But how do you make sure that the nanny will stay with your family for as long as possible? The secret is simple: communication. To avoid future frustrations and missteps, all you need to do is establish clear rules early on and keep communications open, allowing the relationship that’s developing between your children, their nanny, and yourself to strengthen and last. So let’s have a closer look at three things you can do to keep your nanny (and yourself) happy:
1. Explain clearly to the nanny what is expected of her
2. Set up a log of events, a journal of your children daily lives
3. Make sure that you are informed of your nanny’s schedule.
1. Clear expectations
The first thing to do while your new nanny finds her place in your family is to communicate clearly what you expect of her. You probably had this conversation when interviewing her, but it is a good idea to solidify the contract (ideally a written form) that you have with her and to be clear about your expectations. For instance, if you want your nanny to take care of the children’s laundry or to prepare the child’s dinner, say it clearly. Show her how you want things done: how to fold children’s clothes, where to put away toys, etc.. Show her your child’s schedule and establish her role in it. Don’t leave room for missteps: be upfront and clear on what things she can manage independently like the dinner menu or what books to read. The key is to communicate openly to avoid letting frustrations build up.
2. Set up a daily log
Once you have clearly explained to your nanny what you expect from her, keep the communication open by starting a daily log of your children’s lives. This way, your babysitter can let you know that your little one woke up early after his nap, that he didn’t finish his lunch or that he has been laughing all day long. You can use the log to communicate with the nanny on day to day issues if regular personal contact is not possible. This is a very effective method already used in day care centers everywhere in the country.
3. Know the nanny schedule in advance
Lastly, encourage your nanny to inform you well in advance on her schedule, so to avoid surprises and know when you need to find another solution to care for your child. Unexpected absences are the first source of frustrations
Organizing the communication with your children’s nanny will help ensuring that an effective and successful collaboration develops and lasts. And remember to take the time to regularly sit down for coffee with your nanny to make sure that all is well and that communication remains open.
It does not have to be dauting to find a private school for your child that fits your budget and your child’s needs. By following a 5 step selection process, the hassle and anxiousneess about the right choice are simply illiminated. We covered the first 2 steps in the previous post, now let’s see what are the last 3.
Step 3 – The Private School Expo
- What makes the school unique? What is the school’s philosophy?
- How does the school encourage involvement amongst parents, teachers and students?
- Ask for an outline of the school calendar. How long is the school day and the school year?
- What curriculum guidelines does the school follow and how are students evaluated? How do they respond to students who fall behind?
- What are the teachers’ qualifications?
- What is the average class size?
- What are the transportation options for my child?
- What is the admission process for my child? Is there a waiting list?
- How much is tuition and what other costs might I incur (e.g. uniform, books, equipment)?
- What are my payment options? What student financial assistance is available?
Step 4 – The School Visit
- While at the school, keep an eye out for these qualities:
- The quality of the campus grounds, lunchroom, sports facilities, and classrooms: Are they clean, operational, and safe?
- The diversity of the school: Is the student population multicultural enough for your child, or is that important to you?
- The classroom dynamics: How do students and teachers interact? Is that relationship what you’re looking for?
- The hallway scene: How do students interact with each other? And will your child fit in?
- Student supervision: How do administrators maintain a safe environment? How do they approach discipline?
- Completed application forms (many are now available online)
- Interview and possible entrance exam
- Non-refundable application fee
- Confidential school report from child’s current school
- Previous report cards (up to two or three years back)
- Test scores (depending on your child’s age and the school, it may be necessary for your child to write the Secondary School Admissions Test (SSAT) or another entrance exam)
TORONTO: Saturday October 15, 2011
HALTON-PEEL REGION: Sunday October 23, 2011
VANCOUVER: Sunday November 27, 2011
See Private School Expo for details.
With fewer kids and a better understanding of the educational system, parents today know the kind of education they want for their child, and private schools are becoming an accessible, affordable, and popular option. Offering much more than tradition, prestige or religious instruction, qualities which were highly valued in the past, they’re catering to modern parents who are more concerned about finding a particular educational approach that suits their child. With a range of schools as unique as each individual child, finding the right one seems like a formidable task. But with the right techniques, the school search can be painless for parents and children, resulting in a valuable education that will fit the entire family.
A 5 step approach will help any parent in the search and selection of the right school. Today we will cover Step 1 and 2, and a bit of step three.
Step 1 – The Wish List
Before even beginning the search, parents need to decide exactly what they’re looking for. Involving the entire family, including a long standing nanny that knows the children well, in creating the list of wants and needs in a school is also a way to build excitement, help parents get to know their children better, and support family bonding. It will also ensure that the money parents spend on education will achieve their desired goals. Having a list of “needs”, and a smaller list of “wants” like certain extracurriculars, technology, or sports teams, will help you stay focused on finding the perfect school.
Some questions to keep in mind:
About your child:
- How is your child doing in their current school? What attention or challenges do they need?
- What is your child’s personality, learning style, academic ability, social skills, talents, challenges and desires?
- Will your child thrive in an environment rich with technology or one that is based in social interaction?
About your family:
- What are your family’s values, goals and priorities?
- Do you want a school that is close to work or home?
- Do you want a school that offers before-school and after-school programs?
About the school:
- Are you expecting an academic-based curriculum or one that attempts to educate the personality as well?
- Are you searching for a large or small school?
- Are you looking for a coed or same-sex, boarding and/or day environment?
- Do you want a school that accommodates all grades or a certain age group?
Step 2 – The Preliminary Search
It has probably been a while since parents have had to do homework for themselves, but finding a private school takes the same concentration, dedication, and time management as a final exam or research project. And just like school projects, the amount of time and effort that goes into the early stages has a direct effect on the quality of the end product – in this case, a child’s happiness and success at school. This phase of the search can be exciting as you discover the different learning options available for your child, but the most important thing is to select the best fit for your child, not to make your child fit into a school at all costs. And the perfect fit for your neighbour or friend’s child may not be right for your daughter or son.
Here are some tips on the preliminary search for a private school:
- Get started early: At least a year in advance is recommended. Good decisions are best made without time restrictions.
- Consider your budget: Private schools will vary in cost depending on a number of factors – day or boarding, class size, the level of additional services and extracurricular activities. Determine your financial situation, how much you are willing to spend, and what financial aid is available at each school.
- Read school profiles and websites: The Internet can be a parent’s best friend. Look at what’s written about the school curriculum, mission, values and philosophy. Read reflections and testimonials from students and parents. Most schools have their own websites with photos and virtual tours, and websites like www.ourkids.net have useful search engines to narrow your choices.
- Ask other parents: Find other parents who are interested in private school. Ask them what they’re looking for, what they’ve found, how they’re going about their search, and if they have any feedback about schools you’re interested in. Online forums are great if you don’t know anyone personally.
Step 3 – The Private School Expo
Attending a fair (or expo) that brings together students and representatives from all types of schools across a city for parents to use as a one-stop source of information. This step, together with the remining 2, we will cover in our next posting. Fall is the “season” for Expos and 3 are coming in the next few months:
TORONTO: Saturday October 15, 2011
HALTON-PEEL REGION: Sunday October 23, 2011
VANCOUVER: Sunday November 27, 2011
See Private School Expo for details.
With fewer kids and a better understanding of the educational system, parents today know exactly the kind of education they want for their child, and private schools are becoming an accessible, affordable, and popular option. Offering much more than tradition, prestige or religious instruction, qualities which were highly valued in the past, they’re catering to modern parents who are more concerned about finding a particular educational approach that suits their child. With a range of schools as unique as each individual child, finding the right one seems like a formidable task.
But with the right techniques, the school search can be painless for parents and children, resulting in a valuable education that will please the entire family.
A 5 step search process will help to choose the right school for each child:
- The Wish List
- The Preliminary Search
- The Private School Expo
- The School Visit
- The Application
We will cover these steps in details the next two posts. However, Montreal families can already jump to stage 3, as this Sunday, Montreal Private School Expo will be held in Place Bonaventure. This is where you can find all English language private schools in Montreal, meet the management and staff, and get a feel on their offering.
And we have FREE TICKETS for readers of this blog and SOSsitter members.
To get the free tickets, REGISTER HERE, with the promo code: SOSSITTER
Private School Expos are also coming to Toronto, Peel region and Vancouver:
Selecting a nanny or a babysitter is definitely an important decision that you should not take lightly. Before hiring, you must first validate her identify and check the background of the candidate for previous criminal or sexual offenses.
Indeed, a crucial step in selecting your child caregiver is to validate her criminal history and to verify the absence of sexual offenses on her record. You do that by requesting to see her most recent certificate of good conduct. The time of hire is the only opportunity you have to ensure that your family is in the hands of someone you can trust.
The first thing is to make sure that the nanny or babysitter you are going to evaluate is the person she claims to be. Do not hesitate to ask her for two identification documents. Photo IDs issued by the government will ensure not only that the child minder is who she says she is but also she is legally in the country.
After the identity of the potential nanny is verified, the second step is to request a Canadian Criminal Record Check. It is a nationwide search of the Canadian Police Information Centre (CPIC) database that queries police records for convictions for which a pardon has not been granted, for absolute & conditional discharges and for any stays of proceedings, as they appear on CPIC.
In addition, it is strongly recommended to obtain confirmation of the absence of sexual offenses. This is of course particularly important when selecting a candidate who will be responsible for one or more persons considered as vulnerable (children, the elderly and individuals with disabilities). The search, based on the applicant’s fingerprints will reveal whether the person has been convicted and/or has obtained a pardon for a sexual offense.
It is very important to ask your potential child minder for the most current certificate of good conduct.
In fact, it is recommended to request a new certificate as a pre-requisite for hire. This can be done at the expense of the nanny or be covered by the family.
All the checks can only be requested by the nanny herself. They can be obtained at any police station or using the services of specialized companies. The costs range from 40$ to 100$.
By following these simple steps to check the background of your care giver, you’ll be able to entrust your home and your children with confidence.
