Information/CPR Class for TBC Philly

If you have not been interviewed and/or you are not CPR certified, you do NOT want to miss this event!


What: Interview/Information Group Session followed by a CPR class (and snacks and refreshments)


When:Saturday, November 12, 2011


Schedule:

10:00am: Information Session

This is a great chance for me to get to know you, and you to know more about The Babysitting Company.  This is also a fantastic opportunity to ask any questions you may have. In addition, a chance to hear what others have to say/ask that you might not have thought of.  ** You do not need to attend this if we have already met for an interview.  However, if you want to learn more about the company you are more than welcome to join.

11:00am: CPR Class

Get trained in adult, child, and infant CPR and obstructed airway.  Also learn the use of an AED.  The certification will last you 2 years.

-The cost is $35, please pay by check or cash AT the event.

-Space is very limited for the CPR class and is on a first come, first serve basis.  If you sign up, and cannot attend, PLEASE let me know ASAP, so someone else can have your place.  The class will last about 2 hours.

-Please feel free to bring a guest, but they must RSVP beforehand.

-Check out Interview FAQ's for all the details.


Where: Fieldhouse Wellness Center, 255 Great Valley Parkway #140
Malvern, PA 19355

Thank you and I look forward to seeing you at the event!

Stop, Drop, and Roll!

When we were young, we were told to "stop, drop, and roll" if there was a fire. In 2011, there is much more we can do to prepare ourselves, our homes, and families if there is a fire (and I don't mean shorty's burning on the dance floor kind of fire). Since October is Fire Prevention Month, please take a few minutes to read over this blog, and teach your child(ren) about fire safety.

The National Fire Protection Association stated, "It is truly ironic that where people feel safest, in their homes, is where the majority of fire deaths occur. Consider this; US fire departments responded to an estimated 362,500 home structure fires in 2009. These fires caused:

-2,565 civilian fire deaths
-12,600 civilian fire injuries
-$7.6 billion in direct damage

Roughly 85% of all civilian fire deaths in 2009 resulted from home structure fires. Nationwide, once every three hours someone is fatally injured in a home fire."

There are several activities you can do with your family to make sure your home and all of your family members are prepared in case a fire does occur.

1) With your child(ren) go through this checklist and make sure your house is safe! This is a great activity for children, it's educational, and you are protecting everyone from a potential fire.

2) Read to your children and let them ask you questions about fire safety. Check out this list of recommended books from apples4theteacher. This will comfort your child to know their favorite story-book characters have survived a fire.

3) Have a fire escape plan and practice it!
                -Try to have 2 escape plans for each room

4)Teach children about smoke detectors. Why we use them and the sound they will make if there is a fire. Adults should change batteries regularly!

5)Take this survey with your kids, to teach them all about fire safety.

6)Instruct your kids not to panic if their clothes catch on fire and to stop, drop and roll.

7)Does all this work make you hungry? Stay in theme and make this yummy fire truck treat with your child(ren).
8)Own and practice using escape ladders. Store them near second floor windows.

9) Have a fire drill. Blind fold your child(ren) to ensure they can escape in the dark (obviously this is practice so be careful). Practice leaving from different rooms in the house. Have a designated meeting place for everyone to go once they are outside the home.

10) It is important that no one touches a door if there is a fire. If you need to touch the door or anything else, grab a towel to avoid burns. Also use the towels for covering your mouth when exiting the home.

11) Make sure your child(ren) know that once they are out of the house, they must go to the designated place and never go back inside the home. Kids might realize that a family member, pet, or a personal belonging is still inside. Let them know, the fire fighter will take care of everything and that it is very dangerous to go back in.

12) In case your child is separated from you, or is ever lost have them keep one of these information cards on them at all times.
There is so much more that we can do than stop, drop, and roll to protect oursevles from fire.  What else do you do with your family to observe Fire Prevention Month? We would love to hear!

Trick or Treat!

Halloween may not be the most important holiday, but it sure is a great one! This is a chance for children to express themselves, be creative, and bond with their family!

There's only one time of year when adults and kids alike, can dress as anyone or anything they want (well...almost anything). Let your child(ren) come up with their own costume and HOW to put it together. It is SO easy to save money and not spend ridiculous amounts on a Halloween costume. Costumes for children and adults can be $100 per costume! If you have 3 kids that's $300! It is so easy to create your own costume with clothes you already have, props, etc. Seriously, if you need any help with a costume let me know. If your child has an idea, I can almost guarantee you there is a way to put the costume together for under $15! Some children costume ideas are: ladybug, princess, fairy, fireman, cat, dog, cheerleader, bride, bumblebee, super hero, hula dancer, cowboy/girl, hippy, flapper, and so much more! You can always make any of these costumes spooky with some face paint and fake blood.

There are so many activities you can do with the children this time of year. You can be artistic, creative, playful, and decorate the house together as a family. Decorate your house with: lollipop ghosts, cotton ball spider webs, and PUMPKINS!, I made my first jack-o'-lantern last year, I think I was deprived as a kid, this is a definite must. There is no need to waste any part of the pumpkin,  you can season and bake the pumpkin seeds, for a yummy fall snack. Make bats out of styrofoam and pipe cleaners. Use poster board, paint, and glitter, to make a spooky Halloween sign or a grave yard in your front lawn. Other fun Halloween activities to look forward to this month include: hayride, haunted hayride, pumpkin picking,  haunted houses. You can even make your own spooky house and invite friends over for a scare. If the kids are old enough let them be the actors, you can use strobe lights, and all of your great decorations.
What is your favorite Halloween tradition, costume, snack, and activity? We can't wait to hear from you! HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!

"Ahhh what did you do to me??" - My first Jack-O'-Lantern!

Fall is Here!

It's officially Autumn (and here on out we will call this season Fall)! Whether you're in a city where the leaves change colors or not, it's still fun to celebrate the Fall, teach the children about seasons, and get ready for the holidays that come with it.

Fall, doesn't exactly have the healthiest holidays (Halloween and Thanksgiving) so it's important to keep those kiddies active this time of year. Therefore, the first activity I'm going to introduce to you is football. Oh, you've heard of it? Okay, well grab a football, go outside, and have a catch with the children and RUN!! Many U.S. citizens devote plenty of their time to football this time of year. So teach your kids how to play and maybe when you're watching it on TV, they will enjoy it too. You never know, this could be the beginning of a new tradition in your household.

Get into spirit, and work as a team to make a scarecrow! All you need are some old over-alls, but jeans work too. An old plaid shirt, a hat, rope, and either straw, hay, or newspaper. Unfortunately, I am not an expert scarecrow maker, so Check out Kids' Turn Central and find out how they suggest making scarecrows.

If you live in a location where the leaves do fall. Grab an adult sized rake for yourself, and a children's sized rake for the child and start raking! Party stores and convenient stores sell orange trash bags, so when they are stuffed they look like pumpkins.  If you are only stuffing the bag with leaves, you can then get a permanent marker and turn the trash bag into a jack o'lantern! Make this a fun and festive way to clean your front yard then decorate it too!
      
Have a day full of Fall meals with these healthy recipes from Fit Sugar:

         Breakfast: warm apple whole wheat toast

         Lunch: apple, peanut butter and pumpkin seed stacks

         Snack: banana, apple, cranberry muffins

         Dinner: apple squash casserole with a light waldorf salad

         Dessert: baked apple cider doughnuts
YUM! All of this excitement, will certainly get you and the kids ready for Halloween! Make sure you keep an eye out for the Halloween post!

Healthy Lunchbox Tips

Are you worried that your kids aren't getting the nutrition that they need when they are at school? Well stop worrying, and do something about it!

If you feel like you're running around with your head chopped off every morning, you aren't alone.  However, this frantic rushing around may leave you little to no time to pack your child's lunchbox. Therefore, you are just giving him or her money to buy an unknown lunch, or throwing whatever you can find into a brown paper bag. To ensure that your child is getting the lunch they need and deserve pack your kids lunchbox the night before so you can ensure a healthy meal.

Don't forget the protein! I know this can be difficult but it is very important for your child's health and their energy levels while they are at school. This is also a great way to use dinner leftovers. Cut up chicken and add it to your kids favorite meal. Try adding it to soup, pizza, pasta, etc. Check out this

I LOVE this healthy hotdog recipe I found on www.healthline.com.  Take a mozzarella string-cheese stick and wrap 1 or 2 slices of lean turkey around it.  Place the wrap in a hotdog bun.  Include a couple of ketchup and mustard packets for your child to add to the "hotdog."


Do you have a picky eater? Give your child two or three options for lunch. This way they can feel like they decided on their own what they wanted for lunch. If you have the time, let your child help prepare their lunch. Your child will look forward to eating their lunch at school when they know they made it!

Make sure to include fruits and vegetables. These fun activities will remind your child its important to eat fruit and vegetables to grow big and strong:
-Let your child help peel the orange (or prep whatever fruit/vegetable they want). insulated food jar you can use to keep lunch hot for hours.
-On the napkin you put in the lunchbox, draw a picture of a stick figure with big muscles eating carrots.  But don't forget to add carrots to the meal.
-Pack organic peanut butter to let your kids dip apple or banana slices in it.
-Before pouring the grapes (or any other fruit/vegetable) into a plastic bag make a smiley face out of them and show your child. They will be thinking of that face YOU made when they go to eat it.
 
Then, when your child isn't looking, sneak a little dessert into the lunchbox. When you're doing this, think of that cute little smile on his or her face when they see it!

What is your favorite lunchbox meal or tip? We love to hear your suggestions!

Love,
Elyssa and TBC

The Big News is Here!

The big news is that we are preparing to add a new feature called Parties by The Babysitting Company! We have lots of ideas, and need your help to make it a success.

Babysitters Please take this survey

Parents Please take this survey

All feedback helps, so we truly appreciate it, THANK YOU!!

Back To School!

Back to school, back to school, back to school, how excited are you?! It's that time of year again and TBC is here to help you!

I did a little research and I found some of the best back-to-school deals at Old Navy, Apple, Staples, Target, and Walmart.  Also you really must check out this article about Thrifty Parents in the Miami Herald by Lidia Dinkova.

Are you a working parent? Do you have more than one child, with multiple schedules? TBC can help you find the perfect babysitter for your family.  We can provide you with someone for before and after school care.

Could you imagine coming home from a long day of work, and your child's homework is already finished?  Our educated babysitters can help with homework. 

I know it's a big surprise, but sometimes children just don't want to listen to their parents, sorry! Sometimes the children can be more motivated, and listen better when the babysitter is helping them with their homework.

With school starting, you know there will be Parent-Teacher night, and PTO meetings, reserve and book your sitter now!

Good luck with the new school year!

Love,

Elyssa and TBC