Shalini asked:


Nanny is a person whom you entrust your kid with an expectation that she would take care of your kid. Nannies should have the welfare of your child as their primary concern. It is always preferable that you take good care in allocating the work which you entrust to your nanny. Allocating work to a nanny which is not related to child care may take away the focus of nanny from the original task. Tasks which are related to the child care can be as follows:

· Children’s laundry

· Meals

· Clean dishes after the child’s meals

· Keep the children’s bed area and the playing area cleaned

It is always important that you hire the best nanny in town so that your child is in safe hands. It is quite important that your child gets the right things at the right time. So to hire a nanny these would be some of the following tips which you ca follow

Follow the complete process

It is important that you follow the complete process and check for references and ignorance of this important step really cause you to regret in future. Another important aspect many people tend to skip is writing the agreement. Ignorance of this aspect can lead to a chaotic situation in future. Hence it is important that you follow the process properly without skipping any of the steps in between. Ignorance may lead you to repent in future.

State the needs clearly:

Have a clear cut idea of what you are actually looking for, be clear with the skills and characteristics you are looking for in your ideal nanny, your budget and the duties you want the nanny to perform, the time table you want the nanny to perform. It is always that you prioritize your expectations and prescribe them clearly.

Selecting the recruitment method:

The recruitment source in selecting a nanny can either be by approaching an experienced nanny agency, getting information from internet or it can even be word of mouth.

Evaluation of the candidates:

Incase you have decided to select a nanny from a nanny agency then the agency would send you portfolios of the pre screened candidates which have been done based on your needs and conditions. This is one of the advantages of selecting an agency; otherwise the tedious pre screening has to be done by us. The data collected by them on the information pertaining to nannies is collected in a structured form which facilitates an easy understanding in the evaluation of nannies. Incase you are not going for the agency then in such a case it would be a good idea that you maintain an recorded greetings which can include the timings preferable for work, details about your kids, their age, the salary range. This can lower your burden.

Shalini is a Copywriter of Nannies in New York. She had written various articles in different topics on Nannies in New York. For more information visit: www.noblenanny.com. Contact her at noblenanny1@gmail.com

Christine Groth asked:


There are many questions circulating these day’s on how to get grants to start up a small business or daycare. Unfortunately I’m here to tell you that if you are a non-profit daycare finding free money will be difficult. But don’t give up, just because the government is unwilling to supplement a business start ups cost doesn’t mean that it’s totally hopeless. It is your duty to be creative in coming up with the supplies that you will need to start up your business.

In the home study course, www.ExpertsAtDaycare.com many of these issues are addressed. Realistically you can set up a very profitable business if you think a little differently from everyone else.

One tip is non-profit independent child care business owners can try a service called,Foundation Grants to Individuals Online. This service is an online listing offering grants to individuals in the U.S. To learn more you can go to http://www.fdncenter.org. There is a charge of $9.95 per month for this service.

Here are some important steps in finding childcare grant money:

1. Do your due diligence and research. Your first step should be calling your licensing bureau office, referral agency, and child care organizations. The other organizations that also should be called an are affiliated with childcare are: Head Start, Child Care and Development Fund, Social Services Block Grant, Child and Adult Care Food Program, Even Start, Individuals with Disabilities Education Act.

While these organizations are affiliated with childcare, you also may be able to find an organization that would be willing to grant you money. Keep into consideration backyard organizations such as: Lions, Rotary, Kiwanis, and United Way.

Also, keep in mind corporations and businesses in your area. Many a time I will enter a business and ask them if they have anything they would like to contribute. One example would be going to a paper factory, stationary etc or any office that throws out paper. Remember, you need paper for your daycare and would be able to utilize what they consider trash.

2. After you have contacted the above mentioned organizations your next step would be to request their guidelines and applications. At this point and time necessary information should be collected to determine whether you and the funder are a good fit. One research tool that would help you in your determination would be Grant Smart (http://www.grantsmart.com/search/search001.html)

3. Write a description of your need for money. You will have a discuss why you need the money and what your purpose will be for those funds. Other questions that you should be asking yourself is, why should the project be done?, how long will it take?, how much it will cost?, who will do the work?, and most of all, how will it impact the quality of childcare you will provide?

4. Prepare your proposal letter. Your letter will encompass and expand on why you need the grant funds, and what your purpose is behind it, and how it will benefit your program. Be sure to include any statistics and demographics that will influence your cause. Attach any letters of support from parents, people in the community advocating your project. As well, make sure that you have fine tuned any financial numbers or budget considerations for this project.

5. Be patient and organized. Make sure that all your papers are organized into folders; there will be a time that you will need to wait. Fund organizations do receive other proposals so be patient.

(c) CG Groth Inc. 2007