- my iParenting
- quick clicks
- babies today articles
- babies today q&a
- toddlers today articles
- toddlers today q&a
- breastfeed.com articles
- breastfeed.com q&a
- community & groups
- research baby names
- prepare a birth plan
- content channels
- ip channel rss feeds
- read birth stories
- read parenting stories
- recommended books
- e-newsletters
- safety recalls
- ip diaries
- ip store
- mom of the month
- dad of the month
- editor's letter
- letters to the editor
From Our Sponsors
- e-newsletters
- Sign up to receive our free weekly e-newsletters
- award-winning products
The iParenting Media Awards program helps parents find the best products for their families.
The Satisfied Sitter
How to Keep Your Childcare Provider Happy
By Lisa Marie Metzler
If you value your childcare provider, pay her on time! She is depending on the income from you. If you suddenly change your schedule and will not need daycare for a particular day or week, pay her anyway. Sometimes you may want to give her an extra bonus for a job above and beyond the call of a normal day. Maybe she drove your children to a doctor's appointment or ran a few errands for you. Validate how much you appreciate her by paying her a little extra at the end of the week or by giving a small gift as a token of your appreciation.
A monetary bonus on a holiday or the anniversary of her employment would be appropriate. If you are employing a full-time childcare provider or nanny you may want to offer additional benefits like a car allowance, paid vacations or health insurance. "Offering a decent benefits package allows you to kill two birds with one stone," Douglas says. "You can sweeten the compensation package that your able to offer while simultaneously letting the childcare provider know just how much you appreciate her."
Celebrate the anniversary of her employmet with your family. A gift certificate to a gourmet restaurant, a day of pampering at a spa or a monetary gift can generate a lot of good will.
If it's been an unusually hard week (colicky baby, ornery kids), write her a thank you note that specifically addresses what she did "extra" for you or your child. Compliment and praise her for a job well done.
Small gestures go a long way, says Stephanie DuPre, who employs a full-time nanny. DuPre, a public relations manager for Avon in Santa Monica, Calif., often receives company freebies and passes them on to her nanny. She also lets her nanny shop the Avon brochures at cost. "Nothing beats showing respect for her as a professional and gratitude for her excellent care of my child, but at the end of the day, these token gestures reinforce my esteem for her and my commitment to keeping her happy," DuPre says.
If your sitter is happy, you're kids are likely to be happy, too. And all that happiness is bound to rub off on you!
Want to see more?
Comments
Found 1 comment
Displaying all 1 comments below
|
Post As:
|
||
| Enter your comment below: | ||
| Title | ||
| Comment Text | ||
| CAPTCHA | ||
| Please note that any comments submitted become the property of Disney Family / iParenting and can be edited and posted at our discrection. | ||
Re: The Satisfied Sitter by anonymous on 01/29/2009 03:21PM
I am a childcare provider ... Sadly I am often booked when not needed, paid late, worked later than scheduled, and coninutously treated like my job is less significant than the peoples children I care for ... help!!!