← Older posts Newer posts →

5 Best Ways to Make Sure Your Nanny is Not a Registered Sex Offender

Posted on November 5, 2011 by admin

As part of a thorough background investigation, it is of course essential to check whether a nanny candidate is a registered sex offender. This is accomplished for you when you choose a reputable agency through which to hire your nanny. If you opt instead to do the screening yourself, then you’ll need to know where to look. So today we’re sharing a list of the five best ways to make sure your nanny is not a registered sex offender:

  1. National Sex Offender Public Website (DOJ) – This official database, maintained by the U.S. Department of Justice, is a joint effort to combine registries of the various jurisdictions that keep such records. It is, therefore, the most comprehensive and reliable source available.
  2. State Sex Offender Registry – In addition to the national registry, check registries in any and all states in which the nanny has ever lived or worked. Cross-referencing will help to confirm your findings, as well as point out any inconsistencies that may bear further investigation.
  3. Find Out What’s Reported, and Where – In order to interpret your findings, it’s important to know what offenses are included in specific jurisdictions where you will be doing your search. That information can be found here.
  4. Check References – Consult with previous employers in particular, ask them what their impressions were of the nanny; how she was with the children, whether there was ever any cause for concern, etc. Get as detailed a profile as possible. It may not eliminate the possibility of a problem, but it could help identify any red flag issues.
  5. Hire Through An Agency – Reputable nanny agencies stake those reputations on hiring only the best candidates. They are also well-versed and thorough in the screening process. To ensure that an in-depth exhaustive background investigation is done, it is always best to leave it to the professionals.

There is no fool-proof method for validating the trustworthiness of a nanny, and background screening is only one component of the screening process. References, interviews and spending adequate time with each candidate, are just as important in determining their character. Remember, this is someone whom you will be giving access to your home, property and children. There is no such thing as being too cautious.

Posted in Background Check | Comments Off on 5 Best Ways to Make Sure Your Nanny is Not a Registered Sex Offender

10 Things I Wish My Nanny Would Do

Posted on November 3, 2011 by admin

It’s hard to find the perfect Nanny–one who shares your exact values and is eager and willing to satisfy those things that you, yourself, do subconsciously. While you’ve shared the tasks and requirements of the bare essentials of the children and the household, there are a few things that you wish she would take the initiative to do on her own. Perhaps these are some of those little things she could do:

  1. Be more assertive at times and communicate with me some alternative means of accomplishing some tasks that would be more efficient in the long run.
  2. Help in creating the duty plan so I didn’t have to feel as if I were delegating a task to every moment of her day.
  3. Take a more personal interest in the extracurricular activities of my children; and actually desire to see them in these events.
  4. Read a bedtime story to my little ones or assist, (be able to assist), in my children’s homework assignments.
  5. Make the necessary appointments (ie. Doctor, haircuts) for my children when such appointments are indicated; and then be able to see them through.
  6. Assist in the household budget development as it pertains to food, clothing and daily operations of the home.
  7. Not interrupt me at work for little, quirky things, but ‘do her best’ in resolving my children’s periodic, non-life-threatening social/behavioral issues as needed and reporting back to me later at the end of the day.
  8. Be more flexible with her weekly hours or be amenable to making hourly work-schedule exchanges, so that, when life hands me dramatic changes, it’s easier to get coverage for the children.
  9. Refrain from imposing her values in the raising of the children and become more willing to assimilate my own values.
  10. Appreciate the beauty of the opportunity with being a central figure in my family rather than her viewing this occupation solely as employment.

Having a non-family, hired employee living in your home with many of the customary tasks of a parent is a sensitive proposition for any family. Maybe the key to fulfilling the unspoken wants you retain for this employee can be had with a little extra effort and understanding on your part. As with any unspoken expectation, the only means of potentially achieving these wishes is by virtue of sound and succinct communication.

Posted in Background Check | Comments Off on 10 Things I Wish My Nanny Would Do

10 Great Names and Slogans for Your Day Care Business

Posted on October 21, 2011 by admin

If you’re starting your own day care business and need some ideas for a name or slogan, you’ve come to the right place. We’re here to help. A catchy phrase can mean the difference between being just another name in the phone book, and getting that call. So without further ado, let’s look at ten ideas for names and matching slogans for your day care business:

  1. Smart Cookies Academy – Accent on education with a cute twist. Let the parents know that their child won’t just be sitting around waiting to be picked up after work.
  2. “Where Learning is a Treat.” – As tempting as it may be, try to avoid references like crumbs, half-baked, or marshmallow. We want to be sure we’re raisin’ healthy children, right?
  3. Tot Stuff – Conveys a light and fun atmosphere. If you prefer, you can add something applicable (Child Care, Preschool) to the name. Next, a slogan that illustrates that the fun aspect is complementary to solid learning:
  4. “Fun-damentals for Bright Minds.” – Lets your clients know you’ve got what’s needed for child care. The slogan reinforces the fact that there is substance to your service. The tots will indeed get the right “stuff” while in your care, and have fun in the process.
  5. Junior Junction – Think railroad theme with this one. Maybe a train station for a playhouse, or miniature train cars that the kids could ride. Let your imagination take you as far as your budget will allow.
  6. “All Aboard for Fun and Learning” – Children are more receptive to learning, and less shy about participating, when it’s presented to them as a group adventure.
  7. Wee-Minders – OK, so maybe parents would cringe at sounding like Elmer Fudd when they mention your business to friends, but we kind of like the double entendre / play on words thing. Besides, after saying it a few times, it kind of grew on us. Go ahead and try it.
  8. “Great Care for Small Tykes” – This combination name / slogan would probably work best for a day care that specializes in infant or toddler-aged children. It’s always advisable that your name and any slogan that you may choose accurately reflect the focus of your service.
  9. Mini Pearls Preschool –  Is there a more descriptive term for our young ones than miniature gems? We think not, though we’re not altogether sure the spelling difference would preclude naming rights issues. It’s a fun thought anyway.
  10. “For a Well-Rounded Child” – Sorry. We just couldn’t help ourselves. We did manage, however, to resist the temptation of using the slogan, “How-DEEEEE!”, as well as advertising an introductory offer of $1.98, complete with price tag.
Posted in Background Check | Comments Off on 10 Great Names and Slogans for Your Day Care Business

10 Reasons Parents Send Sick Kids to School

Posted on October 20, 2011 by admin

Parents don’t want their kids to miss any more school than necessary, whether it’s due to illness or any other reason. Schools are motivated to operate the same way, both for educational and for financial reasons. There are times, however, when a child is just too sick to attend. A student may be contagious, or feeling poorly, or both. Allergies are more common than ever before, and symptoms are often similar to illnesses that would otherwise keep children home. However, when a campus seems to be full of students who are wheezing and coughing and honking like geese, questions arise as to what the parents might have been thinking when they sent such obviously sick children off to contaminate the world.

Below are a few of the more common instances in which kids, who look like they should be knocking  at Death’s door, instead show up at school.

  1. Unaware – Unfortunately, not all parents pay enough attention to how their kids are doing, and these people may not even be aware of whether their children are attending school or not. They aren’t likely to notice if Junior’s temperature was up that morning.
  2. Just an Allergy? – Allergy-prone students are often sent to school when they have a cold, because the symptoms match, and the parents don’t realize that this cough and runny nose has a virus as a source.
  3. No Help – Parents may feel they can’t afford to take time off work, and they may not have any immediate child-care options available, so they cross their fingers, send the kids to school, and hope for the best.
  4. Home Worse – For any number of reasons, the parents may believe that the home environment is a worse place for their child to be than at school.
  5. “Free” Health Care – More often than anyone should be comfortable with, parents, of all economic persuasions, utilize educational institutions as free health-care, thinking that the school will give their child access to a health-care professional (true) and free medicine (false).
  6. Kids Faking It – When the family dog is unavailable for homework ingestion, a student may resort to faking an illness after arriving at school, in order to avoid a class that they are not prepared for.
  7. Sudden Onset – Sometimes a virus or flu can sweep so quickly through a student body that the old term “dropping like flies” comes to mind. Kids start the day feeling fine, but then it’s a constant parade to the school clinics and lavatories.
  8. Crying Wolf – Some kids are always trying to get out of school by claiming that they are sick. Parents can begin to suspect that this is the case every time the child says they are sick and end up sending their child to school when they really are ill.
  9. Mis-diagnosis – Parents aren’t doctors, but they are usually the primary care-givers. If a parent thinks a child is healthy enough to go to school, then that’s what happens.
  10.  Bad Manners – Unfortunately, there are people who just don’t care if their kid infects the whole state. This isn’t the norm, but it happens surprisingly often.

Sometimes it is intentional, sometimes it’s not and sometimes it is not what it seems. Those are your basic three categories for why there are ‘sick’ kids in the schools.

Posted in Background Check | Comments Off on 10 Reasons Parents Send Sick Kids to School

10 Reasons You’ll Never Be a Nanny for Me

Posted on October 19, 2011 by admin

The decision to hire a Nanny came with much personal and family consideration. Upon arriving at the decision, there were a host of qualifying objectives and details that I needed to feel secure about in a prospective hire. You, I’m afraid, didn’t make the grade, here’s why:

  1. No References (or the lack of attainable references) It’s odd to me that all those families that you worked for in former years are either dead or have moved to Antarctica.
  2. Certifications You are not certified in First Aid or CPR. While I don’t expect you to have the medical credentials of an ER Doctor, it would be nice if you could pull a splinter if the event indicated as such.
  3. Distracted Your cell phone kept ringing during our meeting. From there, I could only imagine that you would be equally distracted while tending to my children.
  4. Communication Gap Your grasp of the language used in my home is inadequate. This compromises our ability to communicate effectively with you as well as your ability to communicate with our children.
  5. Demanding You presented a firm list of all the things that you refuse to do, ahead of all the things that this job requires you to do. While I appreciate your candid approach, I feel that you believe that I need you more than you need this position.
  6. Finance Focused You are fixated upon the hourly rate and, equally so, upon the possibility of a raise–before you’ve even been hired.
  7. Inflexible Schedule You tried to negotiate your employable hours which suit your own personal needs rather than accepting the hours that the position requires.
  8. Personal Issues You referred to your psychotherapist as ‘Dave’, which leads me to believe that you’ve had excessive needs for a long period of time.
  9. Driver’s License You don’t possess a valid driver’s license.
  10. Lack of Experience You have no practical experience with children and will, therefore, probably have undue difficulty comprehending their needs that are separate of a schedule or task.

I wish you the best in your search for Nanny employment, but I’m quite satisfied to state that you will not be practicing in my home, with my family.

Posted in Background Check | Comments Off on 10 Reasons You’ll Never Be a Nanny for Me

Background Checks for Mannies 101

Posted on October 17, 2011 by admin

Anyone being hired to care for your children, whether male or female, should undergo a background check prior to an employment. There are several ways to handle this process. Some nanny agencies will perform background checks on all their mannies and have those reports available for employers to review.

If the manny you are considering for a position has not had a recent background check, there are a number of agencies available, which can perform the service for you. Many of them specialize in background checks for the childcare industry. Even if a background check has been done, not all background checks cover the same items. Here are a few items you need to know about background checks for mannies.

  1. Completeness. When reviewing or requesting a background check, make sure that all the items that are important to you are being included in the check. There is no ‘standard’ background check. Don’t hesitate to be specific on the thoroughness of the background check you are requiring for your position.
  2. Waiver Required. Background checks require signed authorization from the person who is being checked. A refusal to authorize a background check is sufficient reason to reject an applicant.
  3. Criminal History – There are different levels of law enforcement: county, state and federal. Unfortunately, there is not one clearing house for criminal history that covers all these different levels at once. County criminal records can be the most difficult to check, as a person may have lived in, or committed crimes in, more than one county.
  4. Child Abuse Registry – To verify that a person has not been convicted of child abuse in the past, there is a national registry that can be checked. This a common procedure for childcare providers.
  5. Sexual Abuse Registry – This is another national registry that can and should be checked in a thorough background check.
  6. Driving Records – Several things can be discovered through a check of a person’s driving record. The first is whether or not the person has a current, valid drivers license. In addition, any driving violations during the current and previous year will show up. Alcohol abuse issues can show up through a driving record, as well as dangerous driving habits in general.
  7. Employment Verification – This item can be accomplished fairly easily by simply making phone calls to previous employers and verifying the dates of employment and positions held. Incorrect years of employment listed on an application could be reason for concern.
  8. Certification Verification – If a mannie applicant lists certifications, require physical proof of these certifications. Training and education related to the position should also be verified.

There are fees involved with these kinds of complete and thorough background checks. The peace of mind it can provide parents is worth every penny and more.

Posted in Background Check | Comments Off on Background Checks for Mannies 101

10 Questions to Ask a Prospective Nanny

Posted on October 10, 2011 by admin

If you are in the process of hiring a nanny, you already realize that you won’t get all your questions into a single interview, and that’s alright. Most hires take at least two interviews before enough questions have been asked and answered by both parties to make good decisions. Here are several issues that usually come up, and these are mainly items to be settled before any agreement is reached.

  1. Experience – How much experience a nanny has had is important, because it will affect how she views her job, helps to establish a rate of pay, and can let the employer know if the nanny will stay for awhile, or if the whole scene has to be repeated in a short time.
  2. Availability – It is fair to ask a prospective nanny about why she is looking for a new position, and the circumstances involved with her becoming available for a new position.
  3. Kids – You can ask an applicant what it is children most like about her, but you might also want to know what it is she thinks that children most respect about her.
  4. Different Jobs – If you expect your nanny to perform other services than basic child care you should ask how she feels about any of the additional responsibilities.
  5. Background Check – The background check may be best handled by an outside agency, but it’s alright to ask a prospective employee beforehand if they have any problems with what might turn up.
  6. Emergency – How would your nanny respond in an emergency? Ask if she has ever had to deal with a crisis, and what transpired.
  7. Gaps in Resume – If there are big gaps in someone’s employment record, it is fair to ask about that time. Your nanny may have a penchant for travel or may have lived on savings. It gives an employer a hint at what he might expect about the longevity of his hire.
  8. Driving Record – Your nanny will be driving your children, and probably in your car, so you need to know about the person you are putting behind the wheel. You really don’t want a nanny who confuses herself with Danica Patrick.
  9. Favorite Activities – If you know what your nanny likes to do, it is a good indicator of the types of activities she’d like to incorporate into the daily lives of your children.
  10. Priorities – At some point in the interview, it would help to find out what your prospective nanny thinks are the most important aspects of the job. This will be a good indicator of how she will approach the position.

Neither the prospective nanny nor the prospective employer should shy away from asking a lot of questions. An ounce of prevention. . .

Posted in Background Check | Comments Off on 10 Questions to Ask a Prospective Nanny

10 Reasons More People are Hiring Nannies

Posted on September 27, 2011 by admin

It is typically perceived that the hiring of a nanny is saved for the affluent community. However, more and more working-class couples are hiring these in-house professionals as a viable alternate to other resources. Here are some of the more common reasons why nannies are becoming so popular.

  1. No compromise –The hiring of a nanny enables the couple to work and maintain the economic solvency of the household while not compromising the care of their children, in their own home.
  2. The numbers work: a nanny will be an added expense, but more couples are realizing that the expense of a nanny is more economical than having one parent stay at home and be responsible to the children and house.
  3. Newborn care –For a couple with a newborn, a nanny can provide the guidance and tutelage of infant care for the new parents…as well as keeping the odd hours of infant’s needs.
  4. Flexible hours –Most daycare centers have constraints with hours of operation. The hours of the nanny are negotiated to the need of the couple and children.
  5. Mobility – There is mobility associated with a hired nanny, as this nanny can accompany you on a vacation or trip that requires the couple to be occupied with important matters. This permits you to travel with the children without the worry of their care.
  6. It’s a customizable proposition: Whether the hours and services are created by particular tasks that need to be done or by the unique schedule of the children, the nanny can be hired for those tasks or times of greatest need.
  7. Home-based businesses – With the popularity of home-based businesses on the rise, couples are finding nannies to be an incredible asset as these professionals can care for the children and home while the at-home business person gets their work done without interruption.
  8. Health concerns – Childcare centers are venues that are notorious for sharing germs. A nanny provides equal supervision and care without the threat of foreign germs.
  9. Tutoring – Some nannies are specifically hired to render tutoring needs of a child who may need a little extra help in schoolwork.
  10. Special needs –  Oftentimes, a nanny who is trained and versed in the care of children with special needs will be hired to employ the unique programmatic or daily needs of such children without having to subject the child to a sterile, communal facility each day.

The justifications associated with hiring domestic help and the unique demands of each household vary from family to family. Couples are finding that the economical and stress-relieving insertion of a nanny into their family structure is a sound decision to make.

Posted in Background Check | Comments Off on 10 Reasons More People are Hiring Nannies

10 Hidden Costs Associated with a Nanny

Posted on September 11, 2011 by admin

When you’re determining your budget for childcare provided by a nanny, there may be some hidden costs that you have overlooked; these are costs that go beyond the nanny’s wages. Here’s a list of costs that you may have to budget for, in addition to the nanny’s wages themselves.

  1. FICA Taxes – As an employer, you will be responsible for employment taxes which you must deposit with the Federal government. These are not the taxes deducted from an employee’s pay check, but are taxes owed to the government from you, the employer. In 2011, they amount to 7.65% of the gross wages of your employee.
  2. Federal Unemployment Taxes – This is another employer tax. This tax rate is at .6%  as of July of 2011 and the tax applies only to the first $7,000.00 earned by your employees.
  3. State Unemployment – Yes, another employer tax. These tax rates and limits vary from state to state and from employer to employer within a state.
  4. Meals – Your nanny will need to be fed. You will be expected to provide meals for a live-in nanny during work hours and to pick up her tab for eating out when she is accompanying the children for a meal in a restaurant.
  5. Vehicle expenses – If your nanny is expected to provide transportation for your children, she will need to be reimbursed for mileage use of her vehicle or else provided with a vehicle to use for those purposes. If she is driving a family vehicle, she will need to be covered by your auto insurance as well.
  6. Overtime – Be sure that you understand the overtime rules that relate to your nanny’s pay. Even with a salaried arrangement, hours worked over the original contract amount may be subject to overtime guidelines.
  7. Cellphone – In most cases, a family will either provide a cellphone to their nanny or reimburse her for a portion of her own cellphone bill. It is a safety item that your nanny needs to have available to her when she is caring for your children.
  8. Bookkeeping – As you read through the list of employer taxes, you may have thought that the bookkeeping for your nanny’s payroll and the associated taxes are more than you want to handle on your own. Many nanny employers hire payroll or accounting professionals to handle the bookkeeping duties for them. These services will have fees associated with them.
  9. Increased utilities – Any time you add a member to a household, you will see an increase in your utility usage. Their will be another person using the shower and the laundry facilities. It may not be a big amount, but it will be there.
  10. Health insurance – Many nanny employer’s provide some contribution to a health insurance policy for their nanny. Making sure your nanny has access to healthcare, when needed, is important to most families.

Rather than being taken by surprise, it is best to be fully informed as to the full costs involved with the hiring of a nanny for your in-house child-care. None of these expenses are terribly large, but it is important that each employer be prepared to cover these costs, along with the wages of their nanny

Posted in Background Check | Comments Off on 10 Hidden Costs Associated with a Nanny

10 Bad Reasons for Hiring a Less Experienced Nanny

Posted on August 31, 2011 by admin

Hiring a less experienced nanny isn’t necessarily a bad thing. There can be several GOOD reasons for hiring a someone who is a first time nanny or who has a limited number of references. An inexperienced nanny can still have some great qualifications and other types of childcare experience. This list, however, contains BAD reasons for choosing a less experienced nanny. These reasons should not be your basis for making that choice.

  1. Less expensive – Although, this aspect of hiring a less experienced nanny will certainly enter into your decision, it should never be your singular or primary reason for selecting a nanny candidate. Be sure that your nanny candidate also meets other criteria beyond just your budget.
  2. Childcare skills come naturally – There is the assumption by some people that childcare skills are just a natural part of being a woman and that experience in this area is irrelevant. This is simply not true. Women who have never had the responsibility of caring for children or education in that area will be lacking much of what they need for a nanny position.
  3. In a hurry – Childcare needs can have a sense of immediacy to them. Don’t let your short time frame for making a decision rush you into hiring a person who doesn’t have the appropriate experience for the position.
  4. She’s cute – The looks of the nanny candidate should never enter into your decision, and selecting a cute inexperienced person to care for your children over a less attractive person with great credentials would be a great disservice to your children.
  5. Lower expectations – An inexperienced nanny may not have the same expectations that would come from a nanny with more time in the field. There may be benefits and perks requested by a more experienced nanny that a newer nanny wouldn’t have on her list. It is important to remember your priorities in this situation, which should always be choosing the best candidate for your children’s care.
  6. Cool accent – Do you just love the nanny’s (British, Spanish, French, etc.) accent? The thought of having that accent in your home may be enticing, but is absolutely no basis for choosing the childcare provider for your children.
  7. Begging for the job – Even when a nanny is imploring you to give her the job and to ignore her lack of experience, it is important to keep your head and choose the candidate that best fits your needs. It is not your responsibility to meet the nanny’s need for a job.
  8. Daughter of a friend – If you are considering hiring the daughter of a friend as your nanny, you should not expect any less in qualifications from this person than you would expect from any other candidate. If the situation does not work out, it may create an awkward situation with your friend, as well.
  9. No contract requested – If a less experienced nanny would agree to come to work without a signed contract, you should realize that this is not a good thing for either you, as the employer, or her as the employee. Without a properly defined agreement, you could be opening yourself up to potential liabilities that you wouldn’t have with a solid legal contract.
  10. Alma Mater – Just because the nanny attended the same college or high school that you did, does not make her a better candidate than another person with more experience. Beware of letting your emotional connections influence you on this decision. 

As stated at the beginning, there are good reasons for hiring a less experienced nanny over a more experienced one, but none of the reasons listed above would be considered a good reason.

Posted in Background Check | Comments Off on 10 Bad Reasons for Hiring a Less Experienced Nanny ← Older posts Newer posts →