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Hi Bianca
Thanks so much for arranging this on short notice. Please find attached pop.
Astrid
and,
Morning Bianca,
I am going to fax you a copy of the contract today. The original I’ll have to post;
So nice to be sorted out with home support so that I can actually get some work done! I have already recommended your company to a friend of mine.
Kind regards,
Alexandra
Hows that for a feel good way to start your day? Certainly put the shine back into mine even though it is overcast and raining.
Being Nation wide school holidays ( with the exception of a number of schools) I thought its about time for all our readers to know what is hot and happening this week in Cape Town Johannesburg and Pretoria!
Beat the holiday blues away for you and the kids, below is a break down of some of the events happening this coming week, if you want to see what is coming up in the next month, please click here.
Happy Holidays everyone!
Western Cape
| Adventures in the Enchanted Garden with Buggles | R30 per child | Cavendish Square Shopping Centre, Cavendish Street, Cape Town | More information |
| Kids Play Zone-Cooking Class | Entrance is R80pp, w | Durbanville Business Park, off Klipheuwel Road | More information |
| Kids Play Zone-Holiday Programme | From R20 per child a | Durbanville Business Park, off Klipheuwel Road | More information |
| Mysterious Ways | R65 p.p. | Broadway Theatre, 88 Shortmarket Street, Cape Town | More information |
| Numetro Cinemas: Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs | unreleased at time o | All NuMetro Cinemas in the Western Cape | More information |
| Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs | R40 p.p | Central Court, Canal Walk, Century City | More information |
| The Holiday Club | Entrance is R40pp pe | Helderberg Nature Reserve, Verster Avenue, Somerset West | More information |
| Thumberlina | Normal play rates ap | Plinka Plonka Play,171 Buitenkant St, Gardens, Cape Town | More information |
| Vodacom Funny Festival | R120 p.p, Discounts | Baxter Theatre Centre, Main Road, Rondebosch | More information |
Gauteng
| Annie Junior | R60pp for evening sh | Wits Theatre, Johannesburg, South Africa | More information |
| Grand Bird and Reptile Show | Entrance fees: R38 a | Johannesburg Zoo, Upper Park Drive Park town Johannesburg | More information |
| Holiday Programme at Johannesburg Zoo | R55 per child, for c | Johannesburg zoo, Upper Park Drive Park town, Johannesburg | More information |
| Jozi´s Winter Circus | Contact for Cost | Gold Reef City Theme Park | More information |
| Noddy | Special schools perf | People´s Theatre, Johannesburg Civic Theatre Complex, Braamfontein | More information |
| Numetro Cinemas: Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs | Not available at ti | All NuMetro Cinemas in the Gauteng | More information |
| Pippi Longstocking | R60pp | 3 Junction Avenue, Parktown | More information |
| Shepherd´s Fold Stables Pony Camp | R220.00 per day plus | 55 Sunset Drive, Elandsdrift, Muldersdrift, Gauteng | More information |
| Sleeping Beauty | Adults:R 70.00 p.p; | Pretoria Youth Theatre,Gerhard Moerdjik Street, Sunnyside, Pretoria | More information |
Received this morning from one of our babysitting clients, a big thank you to Vanessa for trying our service and putting a smile on my dial!
Hi Bianca
We were very happy with Karen. Davrin took to her immediately and I had a lovely evening while they played, it was wonderful!
We will definitely ask for Karen again next time we need help with babysitting, she is great!
Thank you so much for the service you provide to all us exhausted mums!
Kind regards
Vanessa
I have got to put my hands together for the manager and staff of our latest party planners to be listed in the Western Cape, namely, Fantasy Kids . My daughter has just turned 8 and we have done the fairy, princess and pony parties to death. We needed a change! Basically, the original idea that my daughter had decided on, was rock and roll, however I felt that this may be wiser to do at a slightly older age. So I did what I always do when we are stuck for ideas, I started scouring magazines and the web for more original party ideas. When whose website should I come across? Why, that of Fantasy kids, of course. It took a total of 10 minutes for me to make up my mind on the theme after logging onto their website, which I found user friendly and easy to browse and we ended up going for the ‘Pamper Party’ option. My daughter is also in a new school this year, so to get everyone a little more well aquainted, we invited pretty much the entire class! 20 girls to precise.
Now I dont know if you have ever been left in charge of 20 children before, let alone trying to entertain all of them, if you have, you will know it is rather chaotic if it isnt a classroom environment, but I didn’t need to worry about a thing.At this age parties are more stop and drop, so there were no other parents around for the duration of the party. The Fantasy Kids staff were incredibly Professional, and 3 helpers arrived as if on que. They quickly sorted the girls into teams and set them up in a makeshift salon ( magazines in a circle on the floor and all the girls on pillows) in our lounge. They then took turns to wash their faces and got started with applying make up and having a genuinely amazing time. They proceeded for a short interval and icecream and then it was back to business. Nailart, nail polish and pretend stick on nails suddenly became the order of the day. It was the first time in my life I have experienced such a well coordinated and stress free birthday party.They were great!
Party Time
Fantasy Kids have also given us permission to distribute some vouchers to our clients valid until December 2010, so if you would like one just click here to download it. To find out more about Fantasy Kids click here or visit their website by clicking here.
Moms Gig guide for June 2009 was sent out 1 June 2009. Click here to view the online version.
Its your guide to what is hot and happening in Johannesburg, Pretoria and Cape Town for the month of June!
So fight off those” mom I’m bored” blues compliments of Sitters4U.
I am ecstatic! Finally, months of work, sleepless nights and barely any social activity finally bears fruit…I am watching as I am typing this, our new website go live. Features include forms for every service, navigation that ensures you know where you are always, and some other wonderful features on our Content Management. Over 200 pages all neatly tucked into their individual spaces and all fully, easily navigable!
Like I said I am ecstatic. Check it out www.sitters4u.co.za
The sun is shining, the bells are ringing, everyone is on holiday and now is a time for family, fun, games , outings ,giving and recieving.
If you happen to be in the Western Cape at this wonderful time of year there are so many things to do!Besides the beaches, forests and wonderful places like the aquarium, monkey town in Somerset West, Spiers cheetah farm, family friendly picnic areas and birds of Prey Sanctuary in Stellenbosch, the Zoo in Tygerberg or a visit to Ratunga Junction, a day at the gorgeous Kirstenbosch Gardens, The World of Birds in Hout Bay, the wonderful child orientated plays and ballets happening at the Baxter and Artscape ( My daughter and I recently checked out High School Musical at the Artscape! Wow, what a production, totally worth the price tag!) Bugz World in Tygerberg, the museums full of discoveries waiting to happen and so much more, Cape Town has an action packed day for every day ahead and for most of us this is great, but take a moment to spare some time and thought for those less fortunate than ourselves. You may think whats a thought, you may think what can I do to make a difference, well we can all make a difference in our own little way..
Over the past weekend my daughter was lucky enough to meet Santa and bring light to the life of an underprivileged child at the same time in Marina Da Gama.What fun! Santa arrived on a boat along with Mrs Clause and presents in tow. The price to take part in this fantastic experience, we brought a present for my daughter and a present for an underprivileged child! What an inititive.I was proud to be able to take part. The children were called by name and given their gifts. It was smiles and joy all round, a wonderful vibe to say the least!
Something we can all do to make a difference without having to make a dent in our already stretched wallets, while impacting positively on a number of peoples lives, is to go through your closet, your toy boxes and even your house. If you havent seen or used an item in over 6 months, you probably wont be using it anytime soon, so why not donate. In our family the thing we do at this time of year is clear our wardrobes and house of things we no longer need to donate either to Red Cross or Orphanages in the area. This year was the first time my daughter also got to take part in this long held family tradition ( as far back as I remember we have always done this) . Surprisingly she had no qualms with letting go of her old unused clothes and toys, knowing that she would be adding a little light to the lives of children less fortunate than herself. It has definately given her something to be proud of and the letter she recieved ( which was addressed to her) put a big proud smile on her face and mine!
So share the love this festive season and light up the life of not only those less fortunate than you but also your own and that of your childrens, count your blessings, teach your children the true meaning of sharing and spirit and what christmas is really all about, sharing, good will and peace to all. Happy Holidays!
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
