Child therapists agree that it is more important to be together during the holidays than to simply buy gifts because the love children feel from the attention you give them will last longer than a gift. And when we teach our children the value of giving to others, it gives the holidays new meaning.
Many parents are also going to have to make some difficult decisions about the cost of childcare because they simply cannot afford it anymore. In order to qualify for childcare assistance through the Department of Social Services, a person must be working.
Over 10 million Americans are out of work and another 6.7 million are working part-time. More than 7 million are working part-time. As parents lose employment, as their hours are cutback, they are taking their children out of organized child care and making due with whatever affordable situation they can find. One problem: families with no resources for childcare are turning to young family members to care of their younger siblings.
Parents rely on childcare when they are at work, but it is also a great social outlet for children who look forward to it every day. More families are being forced to drop out of childcare, due to the economy. This trend signals difficult times for families.
According to the National Association of Child Care Resource & Parent Referral Agencies, day care costs nationwide can run from $3,380 to $10,787 a year for just one preschool-age child.
Some other interesting statistics on the current economy and its impact on children include:
-More than 11 million children under age 5 spend a portion of their day, every week, in the care of someone other than their mother.
-On average, a child of a working mom spends about 36 hours a week in childcare.
With the current economic crisis, quality child care is even more important to the healthy development of each child. Many low income families know that child care is the only place that their children receive a nutritious meal and snack.
Parents must unders that when it comes to childcare, each state has a star rating system. The more stars required, the higher educated childcare employees must be in order to meet the standards.
One way to cut costs without sacrificing is to seek lower cost, in-home childcare. And remember that once a child hits school age the working parent would regain that income.
Maybe the growing economic stress will demand that businesses find ways to be more family friendly and find ways to work parents who have young children.
Many are concerned with the recent news regarding the economy. So concerned that parents who once were able to stay at home with the children are now electing to go back into the workplace. It has created a new dynamic within families. We are seeing many stay at home parents return to the workplace for at least part-time positions to supplement the family finances. With both parents working, there is an increased demand for finding safe and qualified childcare in the home.
Hiring a Nanny is a critical choice. Most parents are very concerned about who they bring into their home to care for their most important assets, the children. There are some qualities each parent should be looking for when hiring a caregiver for your family. Watch out for the Red Flags!
Qualities:
Interest: Make sure the candidate shows genuine interest in the child. Dos he/she try to make your child comfortable with conversation? Do they make an effort to engage the child? Do they greet and say "good-bye" to the children as well as the parents?
Money: While a salary is very important to all of us, the Nanny does not need to lead the conversation with her desired compensation. Her genuine interest should be the care of the child. The last thing a family needs is a Nanny that is taking care of their child solely for the purpose of a paycheck.
Ease with children: Your nanny should never seem uneasy or anxious around children. They should look excited and have an easy way to communicate. If your Nanny seems afraid to hold your baby..beware! This is a red flag.
Qualified experience: The candidate should have experience working with children that are similar in age to the children in your family. Be sure to ask why she left her last job. If you find the candidate has jumped from family to family each year, this should be a red flag.
Looks you straight the eye: A good deal can be learned in the first 10 minutes of an interview. Many times we make judgments based on body language as much as the content of the conversation. Maintaining good eye contact demonstrates respect and interest. If they are unable to hold a gaze it can make you wonder about self esteem and honesty issues.
Respect: Families with children live busy lives loaded with challenges. All families are different and the Nanny must respect and understand the rules of each household. Parents create schedules and systems because they believe it is best for the children. Some caregivers who have their own children may raise their children differently and not share the same values. Make sure your Nanny is willing to follow your rules and keep her beliefs at home. After all, these are your children!
While these represent some of the qualities you should be looking for, intuition still plays a vital role. Don't dismiss those twinges or doubts you may feel. They can be completely valid. The chemistry between your family and the Nanny can be the deciding factor!
Both Kristin Gabriel & Krissy Ansley are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
Kristin Gabriel has sinced written about articles on various topics from Cure Anxiety, Heart Diseases and Aging Problems. Kristin Gabriel is an author and social media marketing professional and works with of the the. Kristin Gabriel's top article generates over 90500 views. to your Favourites.
Krissy Ansley has sinced written about articles on various topics from Education. For information contact:Krissy Ansleykrissy@purplepalmmarketing.com(817) 442-. Krissy Ansley's top article generates over 1000 views. to your Favourites.