Expert Offers 8 Action Items to Prepare the Caregivers of Your Children

Written by Britt Michaelian, MA
CEO and Founder of Responsible Family LLC
www.responsiblefamily.com
  

Children are more than treasured possessions to parents.  They give life meaning.  They help us to grow as people and they love us unconditionally.  In return for this, parents feel an obligation to protect and care for their children, making sure that they get proper nutrition, superior education, emotional care and among other things, that they are safe.  Being a mother of three, I know that the list of concerns that parents have is limitless, but the key to lowering anxiety is organization.

 When we need to be away from the home or put our child in a day care setting, we want to be sure that the person responsible for our child is well equipped to handle any situation.  We want caregivers to be attentive, responsible, prepared in case of emergency and familiar with our family’s routines and discipline style.  But how do we make sure that a caregiver is adequately prepared to care for our child?  Unfortunately, there is no test for common sense, but there is a way to put your mind at ease.

As a part-time working mother of three with a working husband, there are many people helping care for my kids.  We have grandparents, friends, teachers and babysitters who help us on a daily basis.  In order to make sure that all of these caregivers know the basics of taking care of our kids, I created a program that covers the basics.

Whether your child is being supervised by a grandparent, a babysitter or at a daycare facility, it is important for parents to communicate with caregivers about what the caregivers’ childcare experience is and what your expectations are.  The following action items will help you to recognize your priorities with regard to childcare and safety and to communicate this with your child’s caregiver.  When discussed thoroughly, these tips will encourage all caregivers (even parents) to provide the most responsible care for children.

1.                  Follow the 10/20 rule.  Never let a child leave your site for longer than 10 seconds and never let them travel more than 20 feet away from you.  This technique can help decrease the potential for such tragedies as drowning and accidental poisoning among other things.  As a mom, I believe this rule is one of the most important aspects of childcare.  It really promotes constant supervision.

2.                  Anyone taking care of a child (especially if there is more than one) can get overwhelmed.  If caregivers find themselves getting short tempered, frustrated or on the verge of losing control, it is time to take a short break, ALONE.  It is never okay to hit, hurt or intimidate a child no matter how naughty you think they are acting.  Place the child in a playpen, with a book, or in a safe spot while you take two minutes to breath and calm down in another room.  If you feel that you cannot regain composure, call the parent or a friend for backup. 

As silly as it sounds, I find it helps me to turn on music, close my eyes and dance to take the edge off.   The kids usually get into it with me and we end up turning things around within a few moments.  Music is a very underused tool with kids and adults.  Try it! 

3.                  Use all safety gear that is humanly possible and make sure it has the proper fit.  You know the saying “it’s better to be safe than sorry”.  That’s a great saying!  Car seats, bike helmets and kneepads are fabulous inventions, but if they are not snug and securely attached, they can actually create safety risks. 

If a caregiver will be putting your child in their car, make sure that the car seat is installed properly.  Also, it is always a good idea to make sure that there is an extra car seat in the home at all times, just in case…

4.                  Always make sure caregivers are aware of your child’s medical history.  If there have ever been any hospitalizations or if your child has ever had a seizure or allergic reaction, this is very important information.  If your child does have a medical history, leave the caregiver with a detailed list that outlines common symptoms to look for, if medication is to be administered, where the medication is located, the pediatrician’s contact information, location of the nearest emergency department and a person to contact in case you are not reachable. 

Even if your child does not have a medical history, always leave all emergency contact information and exchange mobile numbers with the caregiver.

5.                  Discuss the house rules with all caregivers.  Is your child allowed to eat in the living room or should they be at the kitchen table?  Are there certain rooms, items or foods that are commonly a problem?  Are there things that the caregiver should look out for, such as a child who likes to quietly sneak away and explore the pantry?  Is your child one who puts everything in the mouth?  Think about what issues come up often and write them down for the caregiver to look out for.  You also need to discuss how your caregiver should react.  Boundaries between caregivers need to be consistent.  If you give timeouts for certain things, the caregiver should as well.

6.                  Television and video games are a part of life for a lot of children.  There is nothing wrong with this and for many parents (and caregivers) it gives a much needed break from sibling rivalry, sour moods or boredom.  The fact is that no child (unless they are doing homework) belongs in front of a television or computer screen for longer than 30 minutes a day.  Set a timer on the TV or put a kitchen timer out and express to caregivers that they need to enforce the time limits.  Kids need activity, light and air to grow and be happy.  Think of them as little plants running around and while you’re at it, they need at least 6 glasses of water (or more depending on size) a day!

7.                  One of the best gifts you can give a child is a book.  Have them pick out a story and read it to them.  It is a simple activity that promotes intelligence and creativity.  All caregivers should get in the habit of reading with children for at least 15 minutes a day (or better yet, 30!).  If the child is older or if he or she wants to read quietly, then sit down and read next to them. 

Think about it, we are limiting their television and video games to 30 minutes a day and increasing their reading to 15-30 minutes a day.  It’s a great trade off!  Parents can encourage the child to read more by providing incentives such as a trip to the ice cream parlor or another treat for reading a certain amount.  Make a chart and talk about it with the caregiver.

8.                  Do you know what to do if your child or their friend who is over for a play date suffers from a burn, seizure, or accidental poisoning?  In order to ensure all caregivers are prepared for a medical emergency, ALL caregivers (even parents and grandparents) should take infant and pediatric CPR and first aid courses every 2 years.  It amazes me how many parents I know who insist that their babysitters take CPR courses, but these same parents have never taken a course themselves.  Organize a CPR course in your home and have an instructor come teach parents, grandparents, babysitters and friends in the comfort of your own home.  Call the American Heart Association for a qualified instructor in your area at 1-800- AHA-USA-1.  Many parents and caregivers put off taking CPR and first aid courses only to find themselves helpless in a crisis situation.  Here is another case of being “better safe than sorry”.  Make sure anyone taking care of your kids is prepared!

 A few years ago, after an emergency situation with one of my own daughters and after working in a pediatric unit of a hospital in San Francisco, I decided to do something to help prepare caregivers to take responsible care of kids.  I researched what was out there, read as many books, articles and websites about safety and childcare as I could find and decided to form a company called Responsible Family LLC. 

With this company, I developed a DVD program called Care for Kids: The Essential Guide to Preparing Caregivers.  We couldn’t cover absolutely everything about childcare or it would never end, but all of the essential information is in there.  Complete with a pediatric emergency room physician, signs and symptoms of common medical emergencies and tips about discipline and emotional care, I believe this video will be the next thing that all parents have to have.  If parents can pop in a short video to show caregivers and know that the caregiver will learn how to responsibly care for their child, they will feel more comfortable leaving their child in someone else’s care.

More children die every year from preventable injuries than from all childhood illnesses combined.  With education, constant supervision and organization, caregivers can help keep kids safe and happy.  What more can a parent ask for? 

For more information about Responsible Family LLC, visit www.responsiblefamily.com.  If you have any questions or comments, the author welcomes inquiries at b_michaelian@hotmail.com.