Child Care | Richmondmom.com

Richmond Childcare: Whether it’s daycare during work hours or an evening sitter

A most popular and gut-wrenching topic for Richmond, VA moms. Here’s the down and dirty. No matter who you interview, you’ll need a GREAT list of questions. Voila:

Option #1: Licensed Day Care Centers

SWEET: Highly reliable, typically very strong education & activity focus, exposure to a variety of kids and experiences. They are on the line to ensure ratios are met, so there is always coverage. Some day cares even offer instructor-led swimming lessons, dance & music classes!
NOT: Pricey, often $200+ weekly & higher for infants, increased exposure to germs. You pay often even when you’re on vacation, there is an exposed risk to certain illnesses - but you’ll also have that in most situations.

Cool Richmond site to check out with a bunch of listings: City Search Listing

Option #2: Nannies

GROOVY: Mary Poppins coming to your door? What could be finer? Personal attention and NO bags, bottles, diapers for you to pack. One-on-one attention for your little darlings.

www.craigslist.com & www.richmond.com "classified"= free advertising options
Search postings for sitters, nannies, and occasional help. OR post your own ad. No fees! You do all the recruiting work, and can do much via email. This can be extremely time-consuming, though, so College Nannies & Tutors is a great option should you want someone else to do the work, screening, and matching for you.

Option #3: In-Their-Home Babysitters:

HIP: When you find the right one, it can be a magical thing. Usually very reliable, so you need back-up care. Interaction with other kids, exposure to some structure, loving care in someone else’s home.
NOT: Like nannies, these folks have lives too - and you may be at their mercy for their family issues, illness, etc. Ask about back-up care & how they may be able to help. If you use a service like College Nannies & Tutors, they can really help out because they provide the backup care and on-call for your unexpected ‘ohmygosh what do I do now’ days.

"Occasional" Sitters: Richmondmoms NEED adult time!
College Nannies & Tutors can help you in a pinch. They carefully screen nannies if you need someone for a few hours or every week, and take full responsibility for the search, background checks, and quality of each nanny.*

University of Richmond students may be a great source for babysitters! Contact Student Activities at 289-8505

www.craigslist.com & www.richmond.com are good sources for all of these searches, but keep in mind that you will need to conduct a background check and reference check just as you would with any other daycare provider.

Ready to hire someone to help you with any of these services?

Learn more about regulations at VA Department of Social Services: Child Day Care
(Please note that each municipality may have additional requirements.)

Virginia Child Care Resource & Referral Network

Have a great child care resource for Richmondmoms? Email (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) with your resource.

Note: Richmondmom.com bears no responsibility for the actions of any child care resources found using these services. Always do a thorough search, including a background check, driving record check, and credit check, with plenty of reference checks, before trusting anyone with your precious ones!

*College Nannies & Tutors is an advertiser of Richmondmom.com.

Terry’s Tots

Terry’s Tots is a DSS (State) & County Licensed Family Style In Home Daycare and Preschool for children six weeks of age to kindergarten entry. My goal is to provide a unique balance of a Family Home with a Nurturing, Loving, and Safe environment while at the same time providing a Professionally Developed Preschool Curriculum that nurtures the whole child and supports their social, emotional, and intellectual growth.

Teresa Herrington
Terry’s Tots
12610 Lancey Court
Midlothian, VA 23114
804-794-1964
http://www.teresaherrington.webs.com

YMCA of Greater Richmond Child Care and Day Camp
by

YMCA of Greater Richmond is Central Virginia’s largest provider of high quality, licensed child care, the YMCA offers a variety of programs in safe, fun and nurturing environments filled with exciting, hands-on activities. YMCA Child Care builds strong spirit, mind and body for preschool-through middle school-aged children.

Here is why YMCA Child Care is unique:

* Locations at schools and YMCAs
* Before-and/or after-school options
* Healthy snacks and nutrition education
* Daily physical fitness
* Homework assistance
* Emphasis on social, emotional and character development
* Financial assistance

Visit your nearest YMCA location to find out more.

The wonder of a mother’s helper
by Nicole Unice

It was early spring and I was deep in the throes of motherhood. Potty training a preschooler and nursing my six-month old left little time for hobbies, friends or chores. Even showering seemed like a difficult daily task! That morning, I ventured out to the mailbox and found a folded sheet of computer paper. Scrawled across the paper in purple magic marker was this message:

Mother’s Helper Available
$2 hour. Sorry, no Sundays!
—Hannah

There was no other information, but I knew that Hannah lived down the street and was about eleven years old. I rejoiced at my good fortune, and my love affair with mothers’ helpers began.

Four years and another baby later, I still love inviting pre-teens into my home for some in-house babysitting. A great helper is usually eager to earn money and not distracted by a cell phone and social life. These babysitters-in-training still straddle the line between kid and teenager, making them great playmates!

Here’s some guidelines to see if a mother’s helper would benefit your family:

You might like a helper if:
• You have things around the house you’d like to do without the children underfoot.
• You are preparing to entertain or just need to serve a hot dinner for once.
• You often lament, “If only I had more than two hands!”
• You would love one hour to get things done, but don’t like using the TV or computer as a babysitter.
• You need a shower as badly as I did!

Tips:
• Be willing to invest some time and patience in training. For most, this will be their first moneymaking venture, and you will set the tone for that experience.

• Start small. I’ve invited a helper over for about an hour, and then work up from there.

• Take it Easy. Get one child to engage, even if the younger ones stay with you. Invite your helper over to play with the preschooler while the baby naps. Have her take the kids for a walk around the block while you start dinner or answer email.

• Make no assumptions. For most helpers, this is their first real babysitting job. Show them how to do things, and then encourage their good work: “little Johnny takes a cup of juice after his nap, and then I change his diaper. Why don’t you come over here and I’ll show you how I usually do it.”

• Train them well. Teach them to be a great sitter. Encourage them to help the children put toys away after they play, wipe counters after snack, and play games or do projects with the kids.

• Pay them accordingly. Hannah was a steal for me at $2 an hour and eleven years old. I increased her pay over time and as she was able to work independently with the children. It may be helpful to talk with the pre-teen’s parent about appropriate pay. Most of my helpers have ranged from $4-6/hour.

That magic-marker note started a relationship that endures today. Hannah is now our regular babysitter. The children adore her and I trust her completely—after all, I’ve seen her “in-training!” I’ve got a new mother’s helper who pops over for playtime so I can clean the house, catch up on paperwork or grab that coveted shower. Keep on the lookout for a potential helper…you’ll be glad you did!

Richmond Childcare: Whether it’s daycare during work hours or an evening sitter

A most popular and gut-wrenching topic for Richmond, VA moms. Here’s the down and dirty. No matter who you interview, you’ll need a GREAT list of questions. Voila:

Option #1: Licensed Day Care Centers

SWEET: Highly reliable, typically very strong education & activity focus, exposure to a variety of kids and experiences. They are on the line to ensure ratios are met, so there is always coverage. Some day cares even offer instructor-led swimming lessons, dance & music classes!
NOT: Pricey, often $200+ weekly & higher for infants, increased exposure to germs. You pay often even when you’re on vacation, there is an exposed risk to certain illnesses - but you’ll also have that in most situations.

Cool Richmond site to check out with a bunch of listings: City Search Listing

Option #2: Nannies

GROOVY: Mary Poppins coming to your door? What could be finer? Personal attention and NO bags, bottles, diapers for you to pack. One-on-one attention for your little darlings.

www.craigslist.com & www.richmond.com "classified"= free advertising options
Search postings for sitters, nannies, and occasional help. OR post your own ad. No fees! You do all the recruiting work, and can do much via email. This can be extremely time-consuming, though, so College Nannies & Tutors is a great option should you want someone else to do the work, screening, and matching for you.

Option #3: In-Their-Home Babysitters:

HIP: When you find the right one, it can be a magical thing. Usually very reliable, so you need back-up care. Interaction with other kids, exposure to some structure, loving care in someone else’s home.
NOT: Like nannies, these folks have lives too - and you may be at their mercy for their family issues, illness, etc. Ask about back-up care & how they may be able to help. If you use a service like College Nannies & Tutors, they can really help out because they provide the backup care and on-call for your unexpected ‘ohmygosh what do I do now’ days.

"Occasional" Sitters: Richmondmoms NEED adult time!
College Nannies & Tutors can help you in a pinch. They carefully screen nannies if you need someone for a few hours or every week, and take full responsibility for the search, background checks, and quality of each nanny.*

University of Richmond students may be a great source for babysitters! Contact Student Activities at 289-8505

www.craigslist.com & www.richmond.com are good sources for all of these searches, but keep in mind that you will need to conduct a background check and reference check just as you would with any other daycare provider.

Ready to hire someone to help you with any of these services?

Learn more about regulations at VA Department of Social Services: Child Day Care
(Please note that each municipality may have additional requirements.)

Virginia Child Care Resource & Referral Network

Have a great child care resource for Richmondmoms? Email (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) with your resource.

Note: Richmondmom.com bears no responsibility for the actions of any child care resources found using these services. Always do a thorough search, including a background check, driving record check, and credit check, with plenty of reference checks, before trusting anyone with your precious ones!

*College Nannies & Tutors is an advertiser of Richmondmom.com.