What is a childcare consultant and why do I need one?
Finding childcare is overwhelming and confusing in an industry with few regulations, high price tags, and the emotional pressure of finding a safe and loving caregiver for your child. Every parent wants to give their child the best but when it comes to childcare it can be difficult to know what “the best” truly is! For some, the community and structure of daycare is the preferred route, while others feel that their family could not survive without the one on one, flexible support of their nanny. Still others would love to explore the affordable options of nanny-sharing or au pairs but simply do not know where to start to find the optimal situation for their family.
Even after having decided upon the type of childcare you want, there are still many unknowns to face as you begin your search for a nanny, au pair, or daycare provider. Because there are a lot of important choices to make, it is extremely valuable to have a coach that understands the industry and can help you navigate the process to ensure you choose and hire well.
What does a childcare consultant do?
A childcare consultant guides expectant and new parents through the childcare search and hiring process to find quality childcare that matches their family. The job of the childcare consultant is to:
- Educate parents on the requirements, standards and local community practices for the types of childcare available: daycares, nannies, nanny- sharing, au pairs
- Assist families to identify and communicate their childcare needs, child-raising philosophies, parenting style, household preferences, management ability and family culture to find a good childcare match
- Teach parents the best process to find, hire, and keep a healthy relationship with a quality childcare provider
- Offer resources to facilitate parental organization and communication throughout the search and hiring process as well as the duration of employment
- Provide support for parents, answering questions and discussing situations that they face throughout their childcare journey
How do I get started with a childcare consultant?
Choice Parenting offers affordable in-person childcare coaching sessions in the NYC metro area (or via video/phone). These sessions are customized to individual needs, to guide and train parents to confidently find, hire, and maintain childcare for their children. Our in-person coaching sessions last approximately 2-2.5 hours, preferably with both parents involved- children are welcome!
After booking your coaching session, we will send you our Choice Parenting Family Assessment to help you think through your personality, parenting style, childcare expectations, career requirements, schedule, and more. We ask families to complete and return these forms before we meet so that we can prepare and tailor the information to suit you.
During your childcare coaching session, we will provide do-it-yourself information and tips to teach you how to find quality childcare. Together, we will discuss your needs, questions and advise you step by step through the best practices for finding, hiring, training and maintaining a healthy relationship with the right caregiver.
We will discuss topics such as:
After the coaching session, we will send you the tools and templates from our Choice Parenting Store plus any service recommendations to simplify your childcare search and on-going employment relationship.
After booking your coaching session, we will send you our Choice Parenting Family Assessment to help you think through your personality, parenting style, childcare expectations, career requirements, schedule, and more. We ask families to complete and return these forms before we meet so that we can prepare and tailor the information to suit you.
During your childcare coaching session, we will provide do-it-yourself information and tips to teach you how to find quality childcare. Together, we will discuss your needs, questions and advise you step by step through the best practices for finding, hiring, training and maintaining a healthy relationship with the right caregiver.
We will discuss topics such as:
- Benefits, challenges and feasibility of the different childcare options (Daycares, nannies-live in or out, nanny-sharing, au pairs, SAH parenting)
- How to effectively interview daycares, nannies, nanny-share families and references
- Considerations, costs and how to best organize a nanny share (written expectations/contract and topics to discuss before starting a nanny share)
- Budgeting for childcare: what are the costs of daycare vs. nanny (payroll, taxes, insurances, benefits, extra expenses, backup care)
- How to perform background, reference and quality control checks
- Importance and purpose of the "nanny contract” as well as topics and clauses that should be included in your written document
- How to clearly communicate employment and child raising expectations
- Working interviews, training and trial periods for your nanny/share
- Organizing and recording emergency information, alternative pick up contacts, hours and payment tracking, development of the children, daily activities and household responsibilities
- Reviews, raises and bonuses
After the coaching session, we will send you the tools and templates from our Choice Parenting Store plus any service recommendations to simplify your childcare search and on-going employment relationship.
Ready to get started with a childcare consultant? Click below to learn more about Choice Parenting's Childcare Coaching and Childcare Consultant Holly Flanders
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