A big hearty welcome to our newest Team Member!

We would like to welcome Jacky Dannhauser, the latest addition to our fine team. Swooping in this lady has been there, done that and got the t-shirt to prove it when it comes to recruitment!

Welcome Jacky to Sitters4U’s Gauteng Division!

What makes Sitters4U a unique service?

What makes us Different?

• We don’t deduct money from our candidates wages
• We can help you at the touch of a few buttons
• We know that no matter who you leave your child with you want your child to have a great time even when you aren’t there, we concentrate on matching our candidates experience to your requirements, whether you just need a babysitter or a full time au pair
• We concentrate on local placement only!

So how are we doing all this?

Well we have taken the nitty gritty out of seeking candidates and yes we are extremely strict with the ladies that get onto our listing, so we may not have 1000’s available, however the ones we list all have:

• Have at least 1 years child care experience as an au pair or babysitter with contactable references
• Have their own reliable child safe vehicle and a valid South African driving license.
• hold a valid first aid certificate or apply to do one with Sitters4U.
• No criminal record.
• Are in good health!
• Have a friendly, outgoing and caring personality.
• Are relatively active and enjoy being outdoors.
• Love being around children and enjoy doing creative activities with them.
• Most hold a child care related tertiary education
• range between age 20 and age 50
• Are able to take the initiative in situations, from creating fun things to do, to handling an emergency situation.
• Look as child care as more than a job, see it as a commitment to the children they care for, and gain joy from the responsibilities of doing so.

So don’t expect a million candidates, expect only the best!

Being a Mom is really the most rewarding job in the World!

All to often I find time slipping past me at the rate of a year per second or is it a second per year?

We all feel tired from time to time and yesterday was one of those days, my daughter arrived home and she was so excited, its the second time she will be in a play in her life and she brought her costume home and jumped straight into it, she gets home at 3 every day and at that time I am generally swamped with queries and questions from clients, I always make time for her after 5 but this was the cutest thing you have ever seen! Dressed as a Rhinoceros, she started dancing and playing and I soon forgot all about work, dancing and playing with her. What a beautiful indescribable feeling. I felt revitalized in a way I haven’t in a long time. They grow so fast, our little cherubs, and if we don’t take time out, forget our inhibitions and play with our children ,read to them, grow with them, then what is all the hard work for anyway?

Yesterday reminded me of my secret to a feeling of eternal happiness. My Daughter! and I am sure most moms will agree, your children are your most precious asset, we do as much as we can for them to give them the best start in life, we nuture them, care for them, love them with every little piece of ourselves, nothing and no one could replace them, they, more so than anything including money, need your time to be the best they can be, so read them a story when its time for bed, tell them you love them everyday and always make sure you have at least 30 mins of uninterrupted fun with them each day! The payout is worth more than anything in the world!

Maintaining a good relationship with your Au pair!

This is actually an article I wrote a while ago for our website. You see I have found that no matter how good the au pair is , if the parents aren’t making the time to  maintain the relationship with the au pair there is honestly no way its going to work in the end. Most of us often feel guilty for not having as much time as we would like to have with our kids, its easy to then live without rules and boundaries ( read our article about positive discipline). The au pair is not a replacement for you, she is instead a helper and needs your help and co operation to provide your children with the help you need. SO…

You have been through the interviews, you have asked the questions and found the au pair you have been looking for. Your children love her, she does a starling job. Maintaining this good relationship and a harmonious living space is of the utmost importance. There are always going to be moments when it is difficult to remember tact and compassion when emotions are in control. The question raised then, is how do you tackle difficult situations, how do you give feedback and communicate problems to your au pair whilst maintaining a good relationship with your au pair?

Tackling the issues:

• Take into account how your au pair usually reacts to feedback. Most au pairs tend to view all feedback as criticism and in most cases this is exactly what it has been. Changing this perception is up to you. If she seems to be defensive the minute you start talking, be careful. Don’t abandon dealing with the problem, however, do try to be gentle. It is best not to create an entire list of problems and then try to approach them all in one go. Try to approach one problem at a time, while remembering that any feedback should always be accompanied by constructive praise. Focus on the facts. They are easier to act on and less open to disagreement than vague assumptions. Keep your comments to focusing on behavior rather than personality traits. By explaining the problem and then discussing solutions you can work on together, rather than launching a straight forward attack without offering solutions, doing this will achieve results you desire.
• Is the anguish you are experiencing over an issue really worth it? There is a very easy answer to this question. If you find yourself feeling more concerned about the problem, than the concern you have about talking to her, then it is probably a good idea to speak to her. If not, let it go.
• Always consider your motive for approaching your au pair about a problem. If it is because you are wanting to get something off your chest, you feel like giving her a piece of your mind, or just feel that telling her off once in a while reasserts your authority, then the best reaction is no reaction! On the other hand, if your motives are centered around the welfare of your children, an genuine wish to help your au pair improve in her job or a chance to put right a misunderstanding, are all commendable reasons for giving feedback or bringing up a problem.
• Keep your feedback positive and action based. Once you have made your point and heard her side, move forward and enjoy the improvements. This will allow you to share in the action and monitor what happens next.
• If the problem is a serious one give your nanny a chance to state her case, especially when the problem was brought to your attention by a third party. You have a right bring up these concerns with your au pair and a right to expect progress. It is how you do it that makes the difference!
• There are also some things you can do to maintain a good relationship and you will find that keeping these things in mind will be appreciated and reflected back to you by your au pair:
• If you know you are going to be home late, call your au pair in advance to let her know.
• Always pay your au pairs wages or money owed on time. Your au pair will not be happy if she has to chase after you.
• Try to ensure that your home is clean when the au pair arrives.
• Do not view babysitting as automatic, this is an extra service and the au pair may have her own plans. Inform her as early as possible if you will need someone and ask if she is available.
• Be consistent with both your children and your au pair. She will know she has your support and will feel more confident in dealing with the children.
• Do not expect extra duties not in the contract unless thoroughly discussed and agreed to before dishing out demands.
• Do not talk to your friends about the au pair in front of children, they understand and repeat.
• Try to be sympathetic when your au pair is ill, unfortunately this does happen to everyone on occasion.
• Don’t let your friends and relatives boss her around.
• Ensure that should your au pair work over time, you remember to pay her.
• Give feedback.
• Once again consistency is key, do not expect your au pair to ensure a balanced diet for the children and then you feed them Junk food and Coke. Work together to provide your child or children with the best care possible.

Any relationship takes nurturing and caring, whether with your friends, work colleges and especially your family. The relationship with your au pair deserves the same treatment, if not more so. She is there too help your children reach their full potential in life. You will find that by following these simple guidelines not only will your behavior be reciprocated, but you will never be disappointed, you and your family will reap the rewards she offers.

Bianca Wagener

Why we started….help those that help themselves to help others!

So there I was! Working up a storm as usual, the clock had just struck midnight. I thought, why am I working this late?

Today reminded me of what makes Sitters4U different. We started because I could never find the reliable help I needed, when I needed it for my daughter… We started so that when a mother needs to go to her graduation she doesn’t need to worry about whether or not her child will be in safe reliable hands( this happened today, she sounded so nervous yet ecstatic and thanked me for the service). We started because there are 1000’s of candidates out there! Some are people you would never want in your home, some are so over qualified they deserve to have work on a regular basis and can bring the help needed by so many moms and dads out there, we started because this is our Country, our Beautiful country and I believe that any positive contribution to that, whether it is in the form of jobs or growth of other kinds is something we should all be doing!

So today I look at the delicate balance I have created between my daughter, my partner,  my clients and the candidates I have met and helped, and I am grateful for the late hours, I am happy to have the luxury so many parents do not, time with their child, I am happy to be able to help other parents get the most out of time they have with their children and I am happy to be helping so many wonderful people find work and jobs they deserve to have and are dedicated to having…Helping feels good! I know I wont always work these long hours but i also know that by putting these values and time into this business that it will flourish….

I firmly believe it, you should do too….Help those that will help themselves and you help so many more!

Welcome to Sitters4U’s Blog

Welcome to Sitters4U’s Blog!A spot where you will find information about us, what we do, why we are unique and why we are the best local placement ageny in Cape Town Johannesburg and Pretoria for private child, home and frail care placements.

Its here you will find our articles, host discussions and bring the fun back into being a parent! The best paid and rewarding job in the world. We aim to add value to the lives we touch through consistent and dependable service…

Welcome to our Blog…read and enjoy!

Choosing A Baby Sitter!

Choosing a Baby sitter

Choosing a reliable babysitter whom you can trust with your children can be tedious and down right scary, especially if your children are still very young.  Knowing what to ask, what to check and what instructions and information to give this person is of critical importance. Although it’s scary, being cautious and doing your homework will give you peace of mind and that’s worth its weight in gold.

…So what is the first step? How do you begin your search? What options are there?
Word of Mouth

Word of mouth is probably one of the best ways of finding a babysitter, as long as the people you are asking are people you know well and trust. This is especially true if your children are the same age.  You are trusting the lives of your children to this person, so if they come highly recommended by someone who has used their services, then it’s probably a safe option.

Agencies

If you don’t have good friends that know of an excellent sitter then an agency is another safe route to take as long as they are a reputable company which has very high standards for their staff. It is of great importance that, when contacting the agency, you make them are aware of the age of your children and your needs for the evening that you will be away. You should also ensure that the sitter suggested has experience, has been reference checked and has her own transport. It is also important that the agency sends you a sitter whose age, experience and training is suitable to your children’s needs.  An agency, if they do ensure these factors, you may just solve your babysitting requirements for all time! Reputable agencies definitely do take the pressure off you to find what you are looking for.

….If you are doing it yourself though there are many factors to take into account:

Consider the age of your children and that of the sitter:

Younger teenagers do not posses the emotional or physical maturity to deal with the many problems that could arise; in fact some of the situations that could arise may even be caused by this. A good general rule to apply: the younger the children, the older the babysitter should be and the more experience they should have. The sitters level of maturity is of vital importance to your children’s care and your own peace of mind. If you are comfortable with just anyone then that’s your choice. However considering the babysitters own behaviour and maturity is a major consideration before leaving your children with her or him. Another consideration you should take into account is that; should you leave your children with anyone under the age of 16, you are legally responsible for anything that occurs in your absence.

Interview the potential candidates

Again if you are doing the research yourself, it’s important to hold interviews with any potential sitters, to ensure that they are appropriate for your children. Arrange to interview the candidates. Invite them to your home; find a good interview guide that will help you in knowing what questions to ask. Keep it casual so that you get to know what they like on a professional and personal level. If you interview a candidate that you feel may be “the one”, introduce her/him to your children and observe their interaction. Let the children lead the interaction, from showing her their room, or favorite toys etc. Do they interact well? Is the sitter genuinely interested in your children and do they like her as well? Your children will be a great indicator of the sitters sincerity and suitability. After she leaves chat to the children and value their opinion of sitter.  The combination of your and their instincts will give you the impression you need.

Check potential sitters references

References are of the utmost importance! References can be an excellent indication of the sitters capabilities, skills and personality. Ask about the reference about their children, how old they were when the sitter cared for them, did they ever experience problems with reliability, time keeping or otherwise? What was their children’s opinion of the sitter? What was the sitters interaction with the children and what responsibilities did she have?

Quality and Personality

Some of the qualities and personality traits you should ascertain in your ideal candidate include:

• Is she in good health? She should preferably not smoke, be experiencing any illness at the time of the babysitting and have no contagious diseases/viruses.
• Is she dependable and responsible? She must be dependable in the sense that if she experiences any problems whatsoever, she feels confident enough to contact you about it. It should be clear that  she is willing to this and that if she cant make it to the job for any reason she gives you enough time to find a suitable replacement. She needs to realize that she is responsible for your children’s health and welfare whilst they are in her care.
• Does she have a genuine interest in child care?  She should be understanding and love being around your children and this can be shown through her experience, training and as mentioned previously, your children will automatically know whether her interest is genuine or not.
• Self confidence is also very important. Your children will respond better to a sitter who can remain calm in all situations. She should be self confident and present herself in a respectable manner. She should be respectful of the children in the same way that you are. She should have good manners, and respect for the privacy of your family; both for your personal space, possessions and information. Cross questioning her about the previous babysitting jobs and families she has worked for and her attitude towards them is another great indication.
• She should show a basic understanding of the different stages of a child’s development. For example she should know that whilst removing privileges from an 8 year old may work for discipline, a 2 minute time out for a 2 year old will work better than taking away his toys, if she knows how to implement it properly or that for example, while a child of 10 years old goes to bed at 9pm and 4 year old may need to be in bed at 7pm.
• She should be adaptable to your pattern and routines and have a responsible outlook towards working with you. This can be evaluated by the information she requests from you, emergency numbers, the route to the closest hospital, what the children are allowed to eat and what they are not etc.
• Above all trust your instincts!

Emergencies and Medical Training

Accidental injuries in the home are one of the highest causes of death in children under the age of 14 in South Africa today and in fact the world over. Scary, right? The importance of proper first aid training should be obvious and cannot be stressed enough.

Ideally your sitter should have first aid training and know the Heimlich manoeuvre and the appropriate way to use this technique age appropriately. Knowledge of CPR techniques for children and infants is also vital.  You should have a first aid kit which is accessible to them and they should know where this kit is located. Sitters need to be alert at all times, if they suspect that a child requires professional medical assistance for any reason what so ever, they need to feel secure to do it even if it ends up to be unnecessary. If they do not have proper training they should at the very least be able to think logically and rationally in the case of an emergency.

In the case of an immediately life threatening emergency, a medical professional is allowed to treat your child, however if the situation does not immediately threaten the child’s life, the doctor will not be able to help without your consent. Ensuring that you leave a “consent to treat” letter with your sitter is a good option if you are very worried about this.

Remember that nothing is more important than the safety and well being of your children. Be prepared and responsible. Never cut costs when it comes to the safety measures you put in place! Your sitters ability to remain calm in the event of an emergency can mean the difference between the life and death of your child. Cutting corners and not doing proper research on your sitter can be fatal.

Make sure your sitter knows the following basic safety guidelines:

• Never give a child any medication without written consent from you.
• Never leave the children alone outside or even inside, not even for a minute.
• Children must never be left alone near water. Infants and small children under 5 years of age can drown in a matter of minutes in only a few centimetres of water.
• Do not give children under the age of 5 hard sweets, popcorn, nuts or other foods that may cause blockage. Large pieces of food, particularly meat, should always be chopped into edible portions before being given to younger children.
• Keep children away from small objects, plastic bags and balloons. Children should also not be permitted to play in the kitchen, near the stairs, windows and should be monitored to ensure they do not go near electrical power points.

…Now you have now found a sitter you are happy with, and tonight is the first time she will be looking after your children by herself. What’s next?

Early Arrival is Key!

Asking your sitter to arrive 30 minutes before the time, especially the first time she is babysitting for you is essential, even if you have to pay her a little extra, it’s worth it. Use this time to discuss emergency procedures, telephone numbers she may need, the quickest route to the closest hospital, discipline guidelines, house rules, bed times, fees etc should all be clearly discussed.
By planning in advance you will know that your children are safe and happy and this will bring you the peace of mind you need to enjoy your time off or out.

The Instructions

Before leaving always ensure that your sitter is armed with the following information:

• Go through your child’s routine and the general household rules.
• Ensure the sitter knows where you will be and under what circumstances she may phone you or emergency services. Provide an emergency phone list including your own number and address.
• Ensure she knows where to find numbers for emergencies including the poison centre number.
• Demonstrate how to enable and disable your security systems and alarms. With South Africa’s high crime rates this can be imperatives.
• Let the sitter know about any allergies or special needs your child/children may have. If medication needs to given to your children right down specific directions for the administration of these, including time and amount.
• It may seem strange but it is advisable that your children are also aware of emergency numbers and how to dial them in case anything happens to your babysitter.
• Explain any guidelines and expectations you have with regard to leaving the house or use of the phone etc, clearly to your sitter.

House rules and other information

It is important that both your sitter and your children know the rules for while you are gone, and it is a good idea to have your children sit in on this explanation so that there is no arguing with the sitter from the children about instructions once you are gone. Discuss snacks, rules for TV, time for bed, and what you expect from your sitter and children.
Call home

It is a wise idea to call home at some point in time during the evening. A good time for this is just before bedtime. You can check to see everything is running smoothly and if there are any problems you can help with.
The Follow up

When you get home spend a few minutes going over the evening with your sitter. Ask about the things you think the sitter may have had problems with. Often sitters are hesitant to discuss problems they have encountered unless asked directly. The next morning chat to your children about the evening and whether they enjoyed having her there. What they ate, what activities they did and if anything happened that made them feel uncomfortable.

With all of this behind you, you can feel more at ease next time in the knowledge that all your hard work has paid off, your children are safe and happy, and you can enjoy your evenings out without much worry!

Written by Bianca Wagener of Sitters4U

Our Mission, Our Vision, Our Goals!

Our Mission

To provide you and your family with Professional, Consistent, Reliable, Trained Staffing Solutions for private, child, home and elderly care.

Our Vision

To be the company that our clients think of first, when they need staff to help them with child, home or elderly care.

Our Goals

To create long term relationships with our clients and staff by:

• Ensuring the quality and reliability of our service is consistent to our Mission and Vision.
• Providing support, training, motivation and workshops that can be attended by both staff and clients.
• Carefully identifying both the clients needs and the needs of staff, and to ensure these needs are closely matched.