Good afternoon Geauga! The Resonaz Opera Company brings touring, national talent to venues all across Geauga county. Take the family out to see one of their shows this weekend. Have you entered to win the Lake County YMCA Dream House? All this week, you can tour the actual dream house, and ask questions with local experts. If you need a babysitter to watch your kids when you go out, read our tips on How to Hire the The Best Babysitter. We’ve got it all right here for you in this week’s edition of the Geauga News Weekly Roundup!
Events on Friday, July 20th, 2018
– Lake County YMCA Extends 2018 Dream House Ticket Package
– Lake County YMCA 2018 Dream House Tour and Q&A with JEMM — 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
How to Hire the Best Babysitter (Part One)
Do you need a babysitter for your next night out? It can be difficult to find the perfect babysitter, nanny or caretaker. We can help you scour websites, look for good qualities, ask thorough interview questions and find babysitters near you here in Geauga. This article will help you find the perfect person to care for your children.
Where to Look for The Best Babysitter
There are many different websites that can help you find a local babysitter:
These websites offer the easiest way to choose your perfect caretaker. You can even choose which qualities and skills you’d like your babysitter to have!
Consider asking your friends and neighbors for their babysitters’ contact information. You can trust their criticism and opinions, and most of the time their babysitters live nearby. Be sure to hire a local babysitter so transportation isn’t an inconvenience.
Interview Questions for Potential Babysitters
Always ask every potential babysitter for some basic details:
- What is your contact information (ie. phone number, email, etc.)?
- When are you available?
- What is your hourly rate per child?
- Who are three references I can contact for more information?
If you’re planning a formal interview, you should ask more thorough questions:
Experience
- How many years have you been taking care of children?
- What are the ages of the kids you’ve worked with?
- How comfortable are you with changing diapers/caring for a newborn/etc.?
Training
- Are you CPR certified?
- Are you trained in First Aid?
- Do you know how to handle an allergy?
- Can you swim?
Activities
- Are you comfortable with driving my child to a museum/the pool/school/etc.?
- What are some activities you do with the children you take care of?
- Do you bring activities with you?
Discipline
- What are some methods you use to enforce a rule?
- Are you comfortable enforcing a bedtime routine/dessert rule/etc.?
Additional Tasks
- Will you do housework (ie. clean up dishes, do the laundry, etc.) while you are babysitting?
- Are you comfortable helping with homework?
If you ask your caretaker to do work other than babysitting, be sure to pay them extra money.
We hope these questions will make you more comfortable with your babysitter, but if you’re still nervous, you should ask them to babysit for a few hours while you’re at home supervising. This way, you can learn more about them in some real-life scenarios. Besides, you can ask your children if they enjoyed their time with the babysitter.
Read more about how to find the best babysitter in Ohio after Wednesday’s events!
Events on Saturday, July 21st, 2018
– Lake County YMCA Extends 2018 Dream House Ticket Package
Events on Sunday, July 22nd, 2018
– Lake County YMCA Extends 2018 Dream House Ticket Package
– Lake County YMCA 2018 Dream House Tour and Q&A with Classic Chevrolet — 11:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Events on Monday, July 23rd, 2018
– Lake County YMCA Extends 2018 Dream House Ticket Package
Events on Tuesday, July 24th, 2018
– Lake County YMCA Extends 2018 Dream House Ticket Package
Events on Wednesday, July 25th, 2018
– Lake County YMCA Extends 2018 Dream House Ticket Package
How to Hire the Best Babysitter (Part Two)
Qualities to Look For
Babysitters should have certain qualities in order to take care of children well. Make sure your babysitter is all of the following:
- Reliable. They should arrive on time or early, and if they cancel, it should be well in advance of the planned date.
- Prepared. Do they bring activities? Do they have a plan for any type of disaster?
- Experienced. It’s okay if your babysitter is just starting out, but most babysitters are more fun, flexible and responsible over time.
- Authoritative. In some occasions, it’s important for a caretaker to put their foot down. Do they let the children break the rules all the time? Or are they a firm role model?
- Caring. Most importantly, your babysitter should be passionate about what they’re doing. They should care about the children over anything else.
The Best Childcare in Geauga
If you’re looking for more of a daycare or child care center, you have plenty of options. MC Studio in Burton goes above and beyond with their excellent childcare and teaching methods. Learn more here.
Heartland Child Care Center and The Goddard School are also some great options for daycares here in Geauga county. They offer childcare for toddlers up to elementary school children. If you’d like to more daycare options near you, click here.
Remember, the most important part of finding the perfect babysitter is that your children adore them and stay safe. If you trust your caretaker, you can relax and enjoy your night out in Geauga.
We hope these tips helped you find the perfect babysitter! Let us know if you used any to find your babysitter by contacting us at drafts@geauganews.com!
Come Back Next Week for More Local Events in Northeast Ohio!
We hope you’ve enjoyed this week’s edition of The Geauga News Weekly Round Up! Be sure to check in next week for more local news and events in your area. Have a great weekend!
Have an event you want to see in next week’s edition? E-mail us your story: drafts@geauganews.com
