Preparing for a Caregiver: You and Your Children

 

At one time, every parent faces the task of having to find a nanny or a babysitter to care for their children. In addition to finding the perfect caregiver for your family, you also have to prepare your children for the transition. Here are some tips that you may find useful when bringing in a new caregiver.

preparing for a caregiver

Preparing your Children

 

Every child will react to a new nanny differently, and in their own unique way. Some children will suffer from anxiety, anger, fear, or sadness from being separated from their parents. To help ease the pain, try:

• Talking to your children about the caregiver and why you are getting one so that they can understand. 

• Have the nanny/babysitter in for a trial day to introduce the caregiver and children; give them a chance to interact with one another in the comfort of your presence. 

• Consider giving them something to hold on to for you until you get back; for example, a spare set of keys. 

• Have your children show the caregiver their favourite toy or something they like to help ease the introduction through any awkward moments.

 

Because every child is different, some may seem to truly enjoy having a new caregiver, as it’s something they can look forward to and get excited about. However, some children experience a delayed reaction to having a new caregiver, and will show the same signs of anxiety, but it may appear after a few days. Remember to always support your children throughout the process of introducing a new caregiver to them.

 

Another way to ease the stress of introducing a new caregiver to your family is to keep your children involved in the process. One way to do this is to continue supporting them by asking their opinion of the nanny/babysitter after the first day, and then periodically after that. This way you will be able to see your children’s view of the caregiver and how they like him/her.

 

Preparing Yourself

 

Leaving your children in the care of another individual can be stressful to many parents, and your feelings will reflect upon your children. If you are hesitant, stressed, or upset about leaving, your children will sense this and possibly show the same feeling as you because they feel that you are not OK with the situation. 

 

To make the transition easier on your children, try to be sure that you follow these tips:

• Be positive about the transition. By showing you are comfortable with the caregiver your children will trust you and feel comfortable with them.

• When leaving your children, say your goodbyes and leave right away; don’t sneak out, come back, turn around, or peek in the windows. Doing so may set your children off and leave them upset.

• Have the caregiver over for a trial day. Not only does this help the nanny/babysitter and your children, but you can oversee their interactions and feel comfortable with leaving your children with your new caregiver.

• Don’t feel as though you are being replaced by a strong bond between your nanny and your children. It is common to feel some competition with your nanny/babysitter, but a caregiver will never replace you. If your children feel attached to their caregiver, it means that he/she is providing your child with love and a sense of security; your children can never have too many people in their lives that love and support them.

 

In addition to preparing your children and yourself for a new caregiver, there are certain steps to take to ensure the caregiver is prepared for his or her new job. Help the nanny/babysitter ease into the transition:

• Make sure he/she follows the same schedule and rules that you have set out for your children, allowing consistency between caregivers.

• Give your nanny a tour of the house and neighbourhood, familiarize him/her with emergency procedures, and let him/her know where to locate the emergency numbers and first aid kit.

• Make sure your nanny stimulates your children but does not overwhelm them in the first weeks. Also, make sure not to enrol your children in too may activities in the early weeks; too many activities can cause stress for the children and make them upset.

 

By taking these suggestions into consideration when hiring a caregiver, you can make the transition period easier on your children, you, and the nanny/babysitter, helping to create a happy, successful relationship with your caregiver.

 

preparing for a caregiver

 

Guest Post by the founder of CanadianNanny.ca, Martha Scully.

Martha and her team have helped thousands of parents find childcare across Canada for over 10 years. In 2011 she added Adult/Senior/Elder Care, Housekeeping and Pet Care services to Canadiannanny.ca, giving families one place to find all their care needs. Just like other moms, in her spare time she is a taxi driver, teacher, cook and housekeeper to her two daughters, Sophie and Charlotte. She has been featured on CanadaAM, in Today’s Parent, the Globe & Mail, as well as being selected as the 2008 SavvyMom Entrepreneur of the Year. For more information, please visit www.canadiannanny.ca. To contact Martha, please email martha@canadiansitter.ca or phone 1-866-221-7918. 

 

 

Posted by momstown guest on 04/22/2013 - 10:29
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The Benefits of Learning on a Pedal-less Bike

 

It’s almost bike season and I can’t wait to pump up my bike tires and hit the road. Biking is an awesome family activity and one of the very few sports that doesn’t require a huge investment other than the bike and safety helmet.

why buy your child a pedal-less bike

Young parents often ask me about the merits of the new pedal-less, balance bikes and my first response is always, “if only they existed when I was teaching my sons to ride a 2-wheeler”! The trick to learning to ride is gaining balance and, believe it or not, the worst ways to teach your kids to ride independently is to buy them a tricycle or training wheels. Why? Because tricycles and training wheels teach kids how NOT to balance. They become so dependent on these supports that they become terrified of riding free.

 

For those of you who have never seen or heard of balance bikes, here’s a brief description:

• There are no pedals on these bikes.

• They are low to the ground so the child can place their feet firmly on the pavement.

• The child starts by pushing themselves along with their feet. Of course, the child learns that if they lift their feet, they will glide nicely along. Whenever they feel as if they are beginning to wobble, they simply plant their feet back down.

 

The concept of balance bikes is incredibly simple (why didn’t I invent them?) and they are a blessing for parents trying to teach their kids to ride. I remember the sore backs from running along beside my son’s bike, holding on to the bike seat. And I will never forget the crying fits and meltdowns because of my sons’ frustration when they fell. But today’s parents can avoid this aggravation and skip to the fun stage of riding together as a family.

 

There are several different models of pedal-less bikes on the market today: Balance Bikes, Strider Bikes, Skuut. An even cheaper option is to remove the pedals completely from a child’s bike until they’ve mastered balance. But please make sure the bikes are not too tall for your child or you’ll only frustrate them. Kids need to be able to put both feet completely on the ground in order to feel secure. You’ll undermine the learning experience if your child still feels wobbly because they can only touch the ground with their toes.

 

You will be surprised by how quickly your child masters riding a 2-wheeler if you try the above. I’ve heard of some kids who learned to balance and ride independently within a week or two of trying a pedal-less bike. But please be patient because every child learns at his/her own pace.

 

One more thing: it is imperative your child wears a safety helmet while riding any kind of bike or scooter! Children’s skulls are soft and it doesn’t take much to cause a serious head injury if their head hits the ground. “Play it Safe” by insisting on the following simple rule: NO HELMET = NO BIKE RIDING!

 

Guest post by Karyn Climans

Tail Wags Helmet Covers Inc.

www.MothersAgainstNakedRiding.com

Follow her for more tips on Facebook or Twitter.

 

 

Posted by momstown guest on 04/22/2013 - 09:44
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Where is momstown this month - May 2013 find momstown at events, shows, and business conferences

momstown is busy every day in communities across Canada, delivering early education programming and connecting moms and kids in their own neighbourhoods.

 

But we're also leaders in the communities we serve, making connections at major consumer and business events every month.

 

Our chapter communities have lots on the go this month - you'll find them showcasing their chapters, giving away great prizes, including some from our great partners Fisher-Price and Scholastic!

 

 

 

ottawa early years expo

momstown Ottawa will be at the Early Years Expo in Ottawa on May 4th.

 

milton mompreneurs

momstown Milton will be at the Milton mompreneurs showcase in Milton on May 4th. We're proud to announce that chapter owner Sam Kassam-Macfie was nominated for Milton Entrepreneur of the Year!

 

everything baby barrie

momstown Barrie will be at the Everything Baby & Tots Expo in Barrie on May 4th and 5th.

 

bccfcca

momstown Victoria will be at the Mini Market of the BC Family Child Care Association conference in Nanaimo on May 4th.

 

caledon area mom 2 mom sale

momstown Brampton will be at Caledon Area Mom and Kids sale on May 4th,

 

the mom sale brampton

 

and at the Mom 2 Mom show in Brampton on May 11th.

 

georgina home show

momstown Georgina will be at the Georgina Home and Lifestyle Show in Georgina from May 10th-12th.

 

london bump baby and toddler

momstown London is at the Bump, Baby & Toddler show in London on May 25th and 26th.

 

ottawa children festival

momstown Ottawa will be part of the Ottawa Children's Festival in Ottawa from May 28-June 2nd.

 

CA childrens festival

momstown Central Alberta will be sponsoring the mother's lounge at the Central Alberta Children's Festival in Red Deer on May 31st.

Posted by Publisher on 04/16/2013 - 11:50
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What Are You Wearing?

So Victoria Secret released a new line that appears to be targeted at young teens.


julie cole blog
I don’t think I’m the only parent who has run from the mall screaming, “Why, why can’t there be something stylish AND age-appropriate for my 12-year-old?”  It seems once our daughters outgrow the adorable children’s stores, we are confronted with a shift in marketing, and a plethora of clothing and undergarments that sexualize young girls.


The PINK line is said to be targeted at older girls, but there are many outraged parents who believe marketers have a younger crowd in mind. Imagine purchasing a pair of lacy thongs for your 14-year-old with slogans like “too hot” and “I dare you” across the front.  Gross, right?  I think if Daddy-o found a pair of those while he was folding the laundry, he’d have a heart attack and die. Full stop.
Here’s the thing; he would never find them. Let’s not forget the power of the consumer. If no one buys this crap, then they have to stop selling it. Parents have to remember they drive purchasing decisions, and ultimately decide where to spend their dollars.


Markets respond to needs —send the message this is not a need. Heck, fancy undergarments are not even a need for this grown up girl. I’ve spent the better half of the last decade wearing nursing bras and plain underwear so I wouldn’t be upset if my water broke in them. As mamas, we should send the bigger message that we’ll stop buying their grown up stuff until they start showing some respect for our daughters.


As a business owner, I am acutely aware of the power of the customer/consumer community. It is a power that businesses need to protect.   Tell businesses where the buck stops. As a parent, I work really hard to raise sensible children who don’t want this stuff.  Don’t underestimate your power to make the best choice both as a purchaser and, more importantly, as a parent.

Posted by Julie mama of many on 04/15/2013 - 09:57
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Why Being An Entrepreneur Can Help You 'Lean In'

I think by now most people have heard of Sheryl Sandberg's new book called 'Lean In'.  In a recent interview with the author, the book was hailed as the new manifesto for all women and the new voice of feminism.  The overall ideas expressed in the book are that women can and should do more to advance their careers but in order to achieve this ideal, society also has to change to create more equality. 

And not just in the workplace but everywhere.

While I don't intend for this post to be a book review or a debate about the principles expressed, I can speak to the fact that I believe that entrepreneurship can be a key factor to having more women 'lean in' to the workforce.

 

lean in sheryl sandberg

 

For me one of the biggest barriers to sticking with a corporate career environment is the lack of flexibility.  I actually had an employer that offered me tons of flexibility; they were great about it, but it still wasn't enough. A company can only bend so much before it affects the company culture, the way the entire company does business and the inefficiencies of trying to use a 'one size, fits all' model.  I think that that is the hardest part. How can corporate companies accommodate hundreds of people so that they can try and be effective in their home life and their work life?  They can't.  And women want that ability.  Enter the option to be an entrepreneur.


In a recent Globe and Mail article, this quote really struck a chord with me: "In fact, companies owned by women are the fastest-growing segment of the Canadian business sector, according to Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada. The number of female entrepreneurs in Canada increased 208 per cent between 1981 and 2001, compared with an increase of 38 per cent for men."

I think women are using entrepreneurship to redefine how we are leaning into our careers.  Sheryl Sandberg is right, society is not ready for woman to be more equal at every level and so in the meantime we've come up with another way to continue to advance our career, but on our own terms.  I realize that being an entrepreneur is not for everyone, but for me it has enabled greater career and personal successes and at the same time provide the higher level of flexibility.  I don't think I could ever get such pliability from a traditional corporate role.



Have you ever though of being an entrepreneur?  Joining the momstown team has been a positive career move for me - it could be for you too!

 

Guest blog by Kelly, entrepreneur and chapter owner, momstown Oakville.

Posted by momstown mompreneur on 04/05/2013 - 09:43
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The Art of Humility

Humility.  hu-mil-i-ty. (hyoo-mil-i-tee).  Noun.  The quality or condition of being humble; modest opinion or estimate of one’s own importance, rank, etc.

teaching humility to our children

 

When I think of the values I want to instill in my children, humility ranks near the top of the list.

 

There are two people in my life who come to mind when I think of humility, or in their case, a lack thereof.  Both of these people talk more than listen, brag more than compliment, and gloat more than praise.  Their arrogance and showmanship is distasteful, off-putting, and often times insulting.  But as I thought about it, I realized they’re patting themselves on the back because they’re worried no one else will.  Insecurity and lack of humility go hand in hand.  If a person is not secure with themselves, they have to broadcast their accomplishments for all to hear, in the hopes that they’ll feel better about themselves.

 

This is where my parenting mission starts.  To instill humility, I must instill confidence.  To instill humility, I must instill pride.  To instill humility, I must instill self esteem.

“Do you wish to be great? Then begin by being.

Do you desire to construct a vast and lofty fabric?

Think first about the foundations of humility.

The higher your structure is to be, the deeper must be its foundation.”

~Saint Augustine

 

So let’s go build foundations for our kids.  Deep ones.  So that they may be accomplished and humble.

 

Post by guest bloger, Dr. Ashley Worobec from Burlington, Ontario.  Dr. Worobec is a sport-loving chiropractor who decided to start a blog to talk about things that are important to her.   She is also mom to two perfect lil’ people, wife to a perfect lil’ husband, an ART practitioner, medical acupuncturist, Crossfitter, marathon runner, foodie, lifelong learner, loyal friend, and a passionate soul. 

Posted by momstown guest on 04/04/2013 - 16:29
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