back to school babysitters Archives - TLC Family Care

Back to School Checklist

TLC Nannies & Sitters — Tue, 20 Aug 2024 11:58:32 +0000

Families everywhere are getting ready for the beginning of the new school year.�� Here are some helpful tips from Good Morning America parenting expert Ann Pleshette Murphy so you can be prepared for the first day.

1. Start readjusting to a school-year bedtime now.

2. Hang a family calendar and color-code everyone’s activities.

3. Gather all school forms as they arrive.

4. Book babysitters now for your school’s parents’ night and other dates when they’ll be in-demand.�� Call TLC for Kids to help with all your babysitting needs.

5. Create a family station where you can find what you need as you head out the door.

6. Set up an in/out box for school forms.

7. Look at online organizational websites.

8. Discuss goals for the year.

9. Institute a night quiet hour.

10. Reach out to your child’s teacher.

Good luck on the first day.

The professionals at ��ë��˵��personally assist nannies, babysitters and families in��St. Louis, Atlanta, Chicago, Nashville, Memphis, Charlotte, Miami and Orlando to find the right childcare arrangement. Our mission is to provide a safe and personalized ��approach for families and caregivers to connect with each other that is not an internet search. TLC has worked with families, nannies, sitters, newborn care providers, and tutors for over 35 years and looks forward to working with you! To find great nanny and babysitting jobs visit us at��tlc@tlcforkids.com��or Call 314-725-5660.

The post Back to School Checklist appeared first on TLC Family Care.

TLC Can Help With Your Back to School Needs

TLC Nannies & Sitters — Mon, 08 Jul 2024 11:28:00 +0000

New backpack? Check.

New crayons? Check.

New clothes? Check.

Childcare? Don’t stress. It’s never too early to start thinking about your school year child care needs. No matter how much help you need, TLC Family Care has a few ideas on how to help you gear up for the school year.

1. Hire an after school nanny. Not every parent is able to be home after school with their kids. Luckily, TLC Family Care has caregivers with flexible schedules to care for your children when you need it. After school caregivers can pick up your child from school, help with homework, start on dinner, etc. All of our caregivers have reliable, insured forms of transportation and have been thoroughly vetted.

2. Make a list of your top five favorite nannies. Once the school year starts, calendars start overflowing with practices, PTA meetings, and plays. When parents get this busy, it is easy to forget when you need a sitter. Plan ahead and make your requests now with for your favorite sitters. Requesting your favorite sitters in advance helps ensure one of them will be available. A familiar nanny is easier for you and your kiddos because they’ve been to your house before—you don’t have to spend time explaining all the dos and don’ts. Plus, being requested for a job lets your nanny know he/she is doing her job well.

3. Emergency Childcare. No matter how much planning we do last minute needs come up. Our kids will get sick, an extra practice is scheduled or a last minute meeting is added to the calendar. Don’t worry, the TLC for Kids Emergency Service can help with these last minute needs.

��ë��˵��is here to help as you gear up for this school year. Visit us online at or call 314-725-5660.

The post TLC Can Help With Your Back to School Needs appeared first on TLC Family Care.

5 Reasons To Choose A Traditional Kids Summer Camp

TLC Nannies & Sitters — Tue, 11 Jun 2024 11:57:18 +0000

A traditional kids summer camp is one that generally begins in June and continues through August. This type of recreation is a popular activity among children of all ages as it gives them the opportunity to experience new things, meet new people and embark on a journey of independence. With that being said, the following are 5 popular reasons to enroll your child in a traditional kids summer camp.��

Independence. During their experience at a traditional kids summer camp, children will experience their first taste of independence. Being away from home for the first time can be scary, but new friends and fun activities will help to make the transition easier. This will also be an important step toward college preparation, which often requires that the child leave home for months at a time.

Responsibility. A traditional kids summer camp will teach children to be responsible in a variety of ways, including the organization of their personal items. While away, they will be personally responsible for maintaining their living quarters and personal items. In addition, they will be required to pack their belongings at the end of their stay and will have to learn the responsibility of organizing their items for the trip home.

Teamwork. One of the most important experiences at a traditional summer camp is that of learning to work together as a team. Whether it be during a sports event, a canoeing trip or other group activity, teamwork is often required. Much like in adulthood where teamwork is essential to everyday life, children will learn the valuable lessons of working with their peers toward achieving a common goal.

Friendship. While at a traditional kids summer camp, new friends will be met and there is plenty of fun to be had. Learning to make friends and how to be a good friend is an important life lesson that is not only important at a traditional summer camp, but also in every day. Situations are always presented when individuals are placed with new faces in school, the workforce, families, etc. Therefore, it is important for children to learn the value of friendship and how it can make every day a little brighter.

Experiences. Traveling to new places, embarking on an exciting journey and exploring the wilderness are all a part of what makes a traditional kids summer camp so special. A nature hike, sailing on a blanket of calm water or sitting around the campfire with friends are just a few of the experiences that a child may encounter while enrolled in a traditional kids summer camp.

The post 5 Reasons To Choose A Traditional Kids Summer Camp appeared first on TLC Family Care.

Tips on Finding a Nanny

TLC Nannies & Sitters — Tue, 10 Jan 2023 12:28:44 +0000

Almost all busy, working parents need a nanny to take care of their child and, sometimes, their�� household chores. Finding a nanny is not an easy thing to do. ��ë��˵�� here to help navigate hiring a nanny. Before you start your search, here are some tips to get you ready:

When finding a nanny, you need to identify the number of hours that you will require the nanny to work. If you are that busy and if your schedule frequently changes, you should make sure that you will inform your nanny beforehand if you need her to stay with your child overtime so that she can make the necessary adjustments in her personal life. The nanny may feel taken advantage of if you are constantly requiring her to work more than the hours you agreed upon when you hired her.

It is important that you decide on the pay right from the start. Consider the amount that you can afford before finding a nanny. Be sure to take into consideration taxes, overtime, and overall costs associated with having a third person in your household. Ask people you know who have nannies how much pay they provide so you have a realistic basis. Live-in nannies get pay plus room and board. Some families allow nannies the use of a car and other perks such as gym membership, paid vacations and educational stipend.

When finding a nanny, you also need to consider the fact that you will become an employer so you need to take care of completing all of the necessary legal employment documents required by the government and pay all necessary taxes, Medicare and social security. Both you and your nanny will have to pay certain taxes. TLC can recommend a tax service to help you in your nanny employment.

In finding a nanny, it is important that you and the nanny are in the same page when it comes to disciplining your child so make sure to discuss with your prospects what is acceptable and what is not and be sure that all of your terms are understood. Also discuss goals for your child, educational aspects, and whether your nanny can take the child/children places outside the home – library, play groups, parks, zoo, etc.

Nannies require time off like any regular employee. At the same time, make sure to pay your nanny for overtime work or of you asked her to work during her supposed time off. If there is a need for the nanny to travel along with you and your family, you should cover all of her expenses plus her regular pay.

All the items we’ve discussed should be laid out in a work agreement signed by both the parents and the nanny.��

When you make an offer that shows a prospective nanny that you respect their profession and value their services enough to give them honest pay and good working schedule, then finding a nanny should come easy.

TLC can help when it comes time to hire your nanny. We meet each caregiver prior to placing them, and work with you and the nanny to find the best fit. Give us a call and find out how we can help you find the best caregiver for your family.

The post Tips on Finding a Nanny appeared first on TLC Family Care.

Childhood Sleep Issues

TLC Nannies & Sitters — Wed, 22 Jun 2022 11:27:22 +0000

From the time a baby is born until he is about six months old, he requires more sleep than an adult — a lot more. Newborns may sleep between 12 and 18 hours out of every 24-hour period. After a child is about six months old, his sleep requirements are a bit higher, but very similar to an adult’s sleep requirements.��

It is of the utmost importance that parents help the child to establish a regular sleep/wake schedule as early as possible. This will make life easier for everybody in the household, including the baby. Babies, even as young as six months old, like continuity.

A regular “go-to-bed” time and a regular “get-up” time as well as a regular “naptime” will help to prevent all kinds of sleep-related problems.

There are lots of reasons why children can have sleep problems. Some of the problems are caused by physical discomfort or illness. Some sleep problems are caused by emotional or developmental problems that might seem totally unrelated to sleep. If your child is consistently unable to sleep (and consistently is the operative word here) it is best to talk to your pediatrician about the problem and have him or her help you resolve the issue.

The thing to remember is that when humans are tired, no matter how old or young they are, they sleep if they aren’t having mental, physical, or emotional pain. Sleep is natural; it isn’t a behavior that must be learned.

If you have worked to establish a regular schedule for your child (eliminated all of the foods and drinks that might prevent sleep, read him a story and tucked him in), and sleep continues to be a problem, it really is time to seek professional help. The lack of normal sleep is a symptom, not a disease.

The post Childhood Sleep Issues appeared first on TLC Family Care.

Different Ways to Instill Responsibility in your Kids

TLC Nannies & Sitters — Wed, 08 Jun 2022 11:57:19 +0000

Responsibility is always something that comes with a price. Part of the problem with a lot of situations and children today is that they simply don’t have the responsibility that they need to make good decisions and to do well in the world around them. There are many reasons for this, and there are many things that a parent can do in order to help their children learn more responsibility in the long run.��

First of all, the best way to teach a child responsibility is to model it. It is a proven fact that a child will respond best to what he sees around him. This means that as a child watches the way that you run your life and the things that you say and do to others, this is what they are going to learn. Therefore, if you are not responsible, and if you do things that you might not think are the best ways to do things, you will see that your child will model these behaviors as well. There are many times when you might find yourself faced with this type of choice – and you should know that the best way for you to get children to be responsible is to show them what it means to be responsible.

The other way that you can teach your children to be responsible is to start small. Many times when a parent feels that their child is ready for responsibilities, they shove many onto them at once. This creates a situation where a child has absolutely no idea of how to proceed with their responsibilities, and they might feel as if they have been totally overlooked. If you want to make your child responsible and teach them how to be so, you have to start out in ways that they can understand. Start with small projects and small tasks, and then work your way to the larger things. This is the best way that you can help your child be just as responsible as you need them to be. You cannot teach a child to be responsible by giving them so many tasks that they cannot see a way to be successful. Check out our for ideas the whole family can use when being more responsible with chores.

Therefore, you have to start small. Give a child one thing to do, and make sure that they do it. If, for some reason, they do not do what you have asked them to do, there should be a consequence that happens. Doing small projects with small consequences is the best way that you can make sure your children learn how to be responsible.

Remember that part of being responsible is wanting to take control of things and want to be the person who is in charge. Often, a small pet such as a fish or a hamster is a good way to teach a child to be responsible because they are fairly easy to care for and they are something that a parent can deal with if they need to. If your child wants a larger pet like a cat or a dog, you can start small and see how they handle the responsibility of that smaller pet. If they are able to take care of the smaller pet, you might find that they are ready for bigger responsibilities. Remember, a child will be more likely to show you what they are ready for, and they will be more likely to help you understand what they can and cannot do yet. So take your cues from them, know your children, and you will see that this is the best way for them to become responsible.

Finally, be sure and check out for ideas the whole family can use when being more responsible with chores.

The post Different Ways to Instill Responsibility in your Kids appeared first on TLC Family Care.

Is Make-Believe Healthy?

TLC Nannies & Sitters — Tue, 12 Apr 2022 11:24:34 +0000

Young children take life literally. They view all situations as “good” or “bad.” Water is either “hot” or “cold.” Young children do not assign “degrees” to any situation, and in the young child’s world, everything is real. The three-year-old has absolutely no doubt that Sponge Bob or Dora the Explorer really exists. These characters are just as “real” to the child as Mommy and Daddy. Santa can circle the globe and visit every child on the planet in a single night and the Easter Bunny can deliver baskets of colored eggs just like Daddy can make the car go and Mommy can make food magically appear.��

In my opinion, make-believe is not only healthy, it is essential. Make believe helps a child to make sense of the world around him. He assigns his perceptions of a person, place, or thing with the help of make-believe.

There are those who advocate removing all make-believe from childhood. These experts tell us that make believe causes children to delay their perception of their reality. Shame on them! Too much “reality” isn’t good for adults much less little kids.

Grown-ups attend movies and plays and get caught up in the action on the screen or on the stage. Just for a moment, they believe what they are seeing and hearing. Adults, of course, can separate fact from fiction and fantasy from reality. Kids will learn to make those distinctions as they grow older. Meanwhile, that fantasy is helping them learn how to deal with life in a safe and nonthreatening way.

As long as the make-believe is healthy and doesn’t desensitize the child (make killing seem good and evil seem desirable), I see no harm in make-believe.

The post Is Make-Believe Healthy? appeared first on TLC Family Care.

Advantages for Using a Nanny Placement Agency

TLC Nannies & Sitters — Tue, 13 Oct 2020 11:33:16 +0000

Working with a nanny placement agency is a great and effective way of finding an exceptional nanny for your family. The purpose of a nanny placement agency is to locate both nannies and families and match them.

Below are some benefits of going to a nanny placement agency:

• Going to a nanny placement agency saves a lot of time and effort for both the family and the nanny because of procedures (advertising, screening, recruiting and counseling) that are already tested.

• Most nanny placement agencies are well-established which draws more and more families and nannies into their lists. This improves the parents’ choices. TLC has been serving families for over 30 years!

• A nanny placement agency treats both families and nannies equally. They are considered clients that need each other.

• They have a contract for both the family and nanny.

• A nanny placement agency also serves as a counselor for both clients in case of problems.

• Placement agencies are also known for their customer service and competence of the nannies.

All nanny placement agencies have devised their own screening procedures. Other than this, they have a system for fees for registration and placement. What is so good about a nanny placement agency is that they also provide references before registering.

Below are the typical standards for recruitment:

* The nanny should have prior experience as a nanny or working exclusively with children. Most agencies require a minimum two years or more experience. Experience in teaching is a huge advantage.

* Today, many parents require that the nanny has received at least two years of college education. Before, a high school diploma was sufficient.

* Interviews are performed in person or video / Skype for long-distance applicants (both family and nanny). In-home interviews can also be requested.

* Applicants should have no criminal records.

Most applicants are also given a set of uniformed questionnaires during the interview that is very useful in evaluating all applicants. All applicants are screened to asses their individual personalities for nanny and family compatibility.

Fees are generally non-refundable due to the tedious processing of a placement. For this reason it is very important that parents and nannies are both realistic with their expectations and take the process seriously to get the most of the fees. Get as much information about the nanny placement agency as possible before signing up and make sure you are dealing with a credible company.

TLC For Kids, Inc. has been St. Louis’ premier nanny and babysitting agency for over 30 years. TLC For Kids’ dedicated staff is ready to assist you in finding nannies, tutors, newborn care specialists, sitters and more in Atlanta, Charlotte, Chicago, Ft. Lauderdale, Jacksonville, Miami, Orlando, Palm Beach, Sarasota, St. Louis, Tampa and more!. Reach us at��tlc@tlcforkids.com��or 314-725-5660.

The post Advantages for Using a Nanny Placement Agency appeared first on TLC Family Care.

Brain Breaks for Kids and Why they are so Important

TLC Nannies & Sitters — Tue, 22 Sep 2020 11:14:15 +0000

“It’s time to do homework.”��

This simple phrase is often dreaded by kids��and��parents. And it’s understandable.

With so many changes this year, including much more learning from home, parents want to��more than ever. But spending too much time on homework only seems to lead to distraction, frustration or exhaustion (or all of the above).

It might feel like a constant battle, and homework stress can lead to��Ի��for kids if you’re not careful.

That’s why��brain��breaks for kids��are so important for reducing stress and keeping kids motivated to learn!

Check out for more ideas to get the whole family moving.

The post Brain Breaks for Kids and Why they are so Important appeared first on TLC Family Care.

Nanny Jobs for Teachers

TLC Nannies & Sitters — Tue, 21 Jul 2020 11:29:11 +0000

Nannies and teachers are alike in many ways.�� More and more teachers are thinking about leaving the classroom to become�� nannies. Nannying gives teachers the�� opportunity to work with kids on a one-on-one basis. Here we explore how you can translate your teaching experience into effective childcare as a nanny!

Nannies, like teachers, have to pull from a broad skill set in their work. One of the most important qualities a teacher has is creativity. If you have teaching experience of any kind, you are probably more creative than even you realize. Whether you’ve had to create art projects and games, modify lesson plans to suit your students’ needs, or invent new ways to motivate students, you have had to think outside the box to find what works best for your class. You can use the same effort you put into engaging your students, to come up with a variety of activities and adventures for the children now in your care as a TLC nanny.

As a teacher, meticulous planning and creative lesson plans are never quite enough; students always manage to come up with new ways to challenge you. The patience and kindness you show in these situations are important skills for any nanny. When you are caring for a child, it can be difficult to stay “on” at all times and be positive at any given moment – particularly if you are tired, or distracted, or don’t really want to read the same book to your kids for the fifth time today. But if you have teaching experience, this is a hurdle you’ve jumped often. If you can produce the patience and fairness to be a good teacher to your students, you’ll find you have that same ability as a nanny.

Like teaching, nannying can be unpredictable work. There are many times when you need to strike that perfect balance between being reliable and flexible. You know how important it is to leave space in your schedule in case you have to deal with a last-minute issue; you know to always come prepared with an activity, but ready to abandon or modify it to suit your kids’ needs. That balance is at the heart of any work in which you are tending to the needs of other people.

Taking care of children, whether as a teacher or as a nanny, challenges you to use the best parts of yourself – your creativity, your compassion, your dependability, your flexibility, and so much more. That’s exactly why it’s such rewarding work.�� If you would like to apply for a TLC nanny position please visit our website.

To assist with the current crisis, ��ë��˵�� temporarily offering FREE MEMBERSHIP and DISCOUNTED AGENCY FEES to all Medical Professionals and First Responders. We know you cannot work at home and want to help you ensure you have solid care arrangements for your loved ones. Call TLC at 314.725.5660 to learn more and get started.

The post Nanny Jobs for Teachers appeared first on TLC Family Care.