Hire A Babysitter

There is no reason whatsoever you should bog yourself down with the unbelievable high costs of child care in the summer time especially since you will be traveling some as well as using your vacation time during the school break during the summer. Instead of placing your child in a child care center or day care, hire a sitter for the summer.

School will be out soon and you have no idea what you are going to do with a third and fifth grader during the summer. You don’t know what they want to do either but you are certain day care is out for them as much as it is for you. The costs involved are too expensive and you don’t want to commit to a certain length of time since you and your family will be gone most of the summer.

You shouldn’t even consider a day care when some very responsible teenagers would love to be your babysitter for the summer. The important thing is to start early in trying to locate one for the summer. Post ads at the local colleges and in the newspaper. Take time to contact their references as they call in about the position. See what their availability is and ask them if they have a sub available if they should find they couldn’t baby-sit one of their scheduled days. Naturally, any sub they would send would need to be approved by you first. The teen will need her own transportation and will need to understand the focus will be to spend time with the kids not invite friends over to hang out during the day by the pool. You will need to discuss pay and what days and times you expect her to be available.

If you already know your own vacation schedule, then ask her if she can go along with your schedule for the summer and give her the week off when you and your family will be on vacation. If you like the arrangement and the job she does for you, then you might invite her along on the trip to help with the children so you and your husband can enjoy extra relaxation and nights out on the town.

If you are going to hire a babysitter, it is only fair that you pay her on a regular basis at the agreed upon rate without being late. Teens count on their money just like you count on your pay day and some of the teens today are even helping with household bills so never slight them on their rate of pay or their time of pay.

Remember to state the ground rules and then make suggestions as to how she may want to keep the kids busy with her own little schedule this summer. Then, entrust your children in her care but never do it to the extent that you don’t have friends drop in to say hi while you are at work just to see how things are really going. Never give the teen who watches your children too much rope and leeway because as teenagers, they will hang themselves.

All-Day Babysitting

Siblings Babysitting Siblings

Babysitting Basics

Babysitting Etiquette For the Babysitter

Be a Good Babysitter