SitterCity.Com Coupon, SitterCity Coupon, Promotion Code

Sittercity.Com Coupon Code 15% OFF INSTRUCTIONS

2012-07-30T00:36:00.000-07:00

Click Here To Use SitterCity.com Coupon

sittercity.com Store Description: ( 20% Code Added! )

Sitter City is America's first and largest online babysitter network, and the leading babysitter website. With hundreds of thousands of care providers across the US, Sitter City makes it easy to find the perfect babysitter. Now, in addition to babysitters, users can find nannies, petsitters, housesitters, elder care providers, and tutors. Sitter City provides free access to backround checks, parent reviews, video interviews and is easy to use. Sittercity.com is offering coupon promotion code with links that is posted in this site. Find out more to effectively use Sittercity.com coupon

Need a babysitter?
Sittercity helps parents and babysitters to contact each other.
Need a petsitter or dog walker? Sign-up to find the perfect petsitter at Sittercity.com.
Need a babysitter? The best local sitters are at Sittercity.com. Save up to $20 with promo code

Step 1: Click on promotion link below.

Promotion Link

Click Here To Use SitterCity.com Coupon

Step 2: At SitterCity.com, click "JOIN NOW" button to The Registration Page.

Step 3: At Registration Page, in Billing Information part you will see a box for entering SitterCity promo code as shown in image.

**Highlight & Copy To Use Coupon

SNOW20

20% off a monthly, quarterly or annual membership to Sittercity.com

**Highlight & Copy To Use Coupon

SCHOOL

20% OFF Registration! until end of AUGUST 2011

**Highlight & Copy To Use Coupon

TENSAVE

10% OFF Registration! (Extended through APR 2011)

SitterCity Promo Code
Promo Code	Discount	Expire Date
TAKE15	15% OFF	N/A

Step 4: Click on "APPLY" button to verify your discount.

RESULT: YOU SAVE 15% !!!

Five Things Every Babysitter Should Know

Instead of just looking for a sparkling personality, there are five basic things every babysitter should know before you leave them with your precious children.

The first is leadership. Evaluate them as they interact with your children. Do they have fun with the kids–but stay in control? Do they try to find the best ways to settle arguments and encourage positive behavior?

The second skill is that of basic care. Can the babysitter cook meals, prepare baby formula and change diapers? Is she comfortable doing those daily tasks?

The next skill is basic first aid. Make sure that you inquire as to how she would handle everything from scrapes and bruises to life-threatening emergencies. You need to make sure she knows exactly where your first aid supplies are located and is comfortable using them.

She should also know how to guide the children in age appropriate safe play. She should be able to evaluate the toys and activities available in your home, yard, or playground to determine what is and what is not appropriate for each of your children based on age and skill level.

Finally, although not a necessity, every babysitter should be familiar with basic CPR skills. You may want to offer to pay for a course in basic first aid and CPR if you find a babysitter that you truly believe in but does not have these necessary skills yet.

If you want to find a babysitter that already has these skills, you can search for one online at a babysitter site like Sittercity.com. These sites allow you to know the kind of training your babysitter already has…so now all you have to do is find that sparkling personality!

Save now with Sittercity Coupon "CLICK HERE"

SitterCity Coupon Sitemap

SitterCity.com VS Care.com : who's the daddy?

2011-11-06T23:05:00.000-08:00

Sittercity.com And Care.com : which one to go for?

In the world of online, the products and services are being distributed and advertise through it and the information flows much faster than the wind and the speed of light. We have seen a lot of queries about the babysitting service websites that have been operating since from the past and customers would like to know which babsitter service or web service they should go for? At this moment, we can see that, there are 2 major players in the nanny service industry. These 2 website services offer subscription based for the parents and care finder to be able to access the care provider personal database from their server and they have the freedom to hire or pay for the caregiver to come to their houses and take care of the person they want such as babies, kids, aged people, incompetant people and so on. Sittercity.com and Care.com are the websites that are according to what people compare, People are comparing the services of these 2 sites as they're offering very similar type of service by the size of the care giver databases and the subscription price. Normally, there are certain points for comparison between the 2 services which are the popularity of the service, the discount or promo code comparison, and the overview comparison for the 2 sitter services.

The Popularity Comparison ( Sittercity.com VS Care.com )

In order to look at how well the baby sitter service websites are doing, measuring the popularity of each site could be a great idea to know which of the sitter finder service is more popular than the others. We have applied this method into play and thus making the comparison clearer.

Which Sitter site is more popular?

Looking at the statistics provided by google.com/trends, sittercity.com trend from the searchers or probably from the customers side have started since the year 2007 and it has stability grown up during 2008, 2009, and tried to shoot up during 2010 and 2011 which is this year. The search volume scores at 6.0 points as the maximum. This graph shows us that Sittercity.com has been known country wide in the United States for more than 5 years and it gets more popular each year with higher and higher search volume for sitter services.

When we turn to look at Care.com sitter finder services. We can see that it has a longer history than sittercity.com since the last quarter of 2005, it went up and down according to the trend of the sitter services in the market. The search graph looks much better after 2006 and it keeps climbing up every year. The graph looks healthier than sittercity.com popularity as it goes up smoothly and had jumped very high during the 2nd and 3rd quarter of 2011. However, if we look at the search popularity of the 2 sites, we have found out that sittercity.com has more search volume than care.com.

From this, we can conclude that Sittercity.com is known and more popular than Care.com if we look at the online popularity from the trends.

The price and the promo code

Of course, when the sitter services are comparable to each other such as offering day care, night care, baby sitters, pet sitters, and so on. Now it's the time to compare the pricing and promotion from the 2 services. We have already posted an article comparing the promotion and discount from the 2 sites. So we do not have to compare them here again. Just visit Care.com Promotion Code page, and Sittercity promo code page to find out by yourselves. In conclusion, for promotion from both sites, there are no best way to tell which service is the best or which service is superior, it has to be from the "test by yourself", these sitter services offer customers with the free trial period and that's a good opportunity to go for and anyone should have the access to the database, try and see if which site is the most suitable for you.

Care.com Coupon VS Sittercity Promo

2011-10-03T07:44:00.000-07:00

Care.com VS Sittercity.com

The discount that we're going to talk about here has nothing to do with the babysitters to register with both of the sites but for parents and care seeker to be able to register with either of the site and get discount promotion by using these special discount code. ( this comparison has nothing to do with the site comparison and sitter service comparison but coupon discount only) The coupon code and promo code definition is different by its meaning, the coupon, as we know is working as the coupon to help customers to get discount on purchasing products and services from the store, however, for promo code ( in which sittercity promo code that is) is also working as the coupon code but its meaning is the promotional code that has been released as a method of promotion of products or services. Now, if you do not know that to register with care.com and sittercity.com as a care seeker or service seeker, you would need to pay them some registration fees which might go up to as high as $200 per year. But there are some techniques and ways to save on these registration fees which is to use coupon code and promo code. In this article, we would like to compare the use of coupon code and promo code to apply in order to register with either of the site and see which one would be more worthy that will help parents to save some budget and to be happily registered with either site.

10%, 15%, 25% Coupon/Promo Code, Who's the best?

We can also see that care.com and sitter.com offer quite the same discount rage when we actually calculate and you might be wondering of which service to go for? Sittercity.com, Care.com? by considering the coupon codes and promo codes that sittercity.com has given, sittercity.com usually issues 10% - 15% off promo codes very often and we can hardly ever find coupon codes that offer higher value than 15% ( there has actually been 20% off promo code but not very often ). However, on the other hand, customers will usually find care.com offer higher value discount coupon code and most of the time it goes up to 25% discount. This is the point where we should consider. If sittercity.com promote 15% promo code as its top discount rage, that means, if we're going to go for the highest membership rate at this site, we need to handle $140/year and which means we can take 15% off that will reduce the price down to about $119 per year or about $9.99 per month only. But for care.com promotion code, if we're to select to use the highest discount coupon at 25% off on the top subscription package per month at $120 minus 25% and it's only $90 per year or it's only a little over $7 per month.

EXAMPLE OF CARE.COM COUPON

PRO10

10% OFF subscription

**Highlight & Copy To Use Coupon

RTCare15

15% OFF Subscription

**Highlight & Copy To Use Coupon

Click Here

10% OFF premium membership at care.com

**Highlight & Copy To Use Coupon

PRO15

15% OFF premium membership at care.com

EXAMPLE OF SITTERCITY PROMO CODE

FALL20

20% off a monthly, quarterly or annual membership to Sittercity.com until 9/30/2011

**Highlight & Copy To Use Coupon

SCHOOL

20% OFF Registration! until end of AUGUST 2011

**Highlight & Copy To Use Coupon

TENSAVE

10% OFF Registration! (Extended through APR 2011)

So care.com wins?

We would have to say "NO", because the simple logic is that, if sittercity.com knows that its promo code and its pricing does not beat care.com and still keep it on like this without value added service, it should never have setup the company! But at the matter of fact sittercity.com has something to offer the customers when they choose to pay $2 more instead of joining care.com. The first one is the detail search function in which care.com does not have as well as the free 1 week trial for the customers to try the feature and function of sittercity.com before deciding if they like the service. These are the value added in which sittercity.com is having which still make them to continue to receive more member joining everyday! Now, we did not say that care.com isn't doing a good job and only reduce the price to pull attention. But because care.com wants the pricing to be more attractive and thus offer more options for the customers to select to subscribe with them.

Care.com Promotion Code 10% 15%

2011-08-20T08:11:00.000-07:00

Care.com Promotion Code for Membership

After we have so many discussion on Sittercity promo code and its related promotion, we would like to talk about care.com and its promotion coupon just like we used to have babysitter service comparison from various sources. Care.com is the one stop babysitters website that is for parents who are looking for babysitters and for babysitters to look for the jobs from the parents. Care.com is mostly targeted at the parents to visit the site and register with them in order to find the babysitters in the area and that match the need of the parents the most. The registration fees at care.com is different in tier. The pricing are $25, $45, and $120. Each of the pricing tiers represents the level of services that the parents are going to get from care.com. When seeing the price, some might think that the pricing is a little too high for registering for the babysitter services. However, Care.com has thought about this and is ready to give the customers some discount of up to 20% OFF.

Using Care.com coupon code.

The use of coupon code to register with care.com website is just like when doing shopping and trying to use coupon to redeem at the storefront. It's a another breakthrough way for the customers who want to purchase anything online no matter they are the baby product such as baby clothes such an such, these pricing can be reduced by using coupon code. On the same hand, care.com is also offerin discount code or what we call coupon code for parents to register with the site and get discount instantly. At the matter of fact, parents should know about this for quite sometimes for the coupon codes that are being offered by this babysitter finder site. Because the very first coupon code from care.com was being launched during the year 2009 which was about 2 years ago and at that time the coupon codes had helped tha parents to save about 10% - 15% off the subscription price at care.com babysitter finder services.

**Highlight & Copy To Use Coupon

CWINNER

10% OFF subsciption

**Highlight & Copy To Use Coupon

RTCare15

15% OFF Subscription

**Highlight & Copy To Use Coupon

Click Here

10% OFF premium membership at care.com

Strong points of Care.com ( Why Care.com ? )

There should be some questions such as why it does have to be care.com and not other babysitter sites? It's actually depends on the need of each parents because each baby sitter service has its own selling points that might be good in one part but also acceptable in one. At care.com, parents and those who wants care would find Babysitters & Nannies, Pet sitters, Tutors, House keeping, Senior cares, Special Need Care services, and Personal Assistants services and this considered to be " Complete " line of care giving service that care.com will be able to offer. With one of its unique selling point which is the care on call, those who wants immediate care can also get the care giver, babysitters and other position on demand. This is usually very helpful when a the babysitters are taking leaves, House keepers are on vacations, as this care on call would provide instant substitution service to customers and should bring the house situation to normal.

Sitter City Promo Code for April 2011

2011-03-31T10:31:00.000-07:00

What's New in April 2011 For Sitter City?

As always, Sittercity.com offers new sitter city promo code every month and this month we have 10% Discount promo code for parents to register with sittercity.com with cheaper price. Parents can save 10% on their Sittercity membership with promotion code. This deal has been extended through April 30, 2011. Give yourself a great deal on access to tons of local sitters and nannies.

Why Sittercity.com offer promo code?

Of course, everyone wants to save more on everything, Sittercity sees this important point and would also like the parents to save more on the subscription too! The promo code will be able to be used only once and this is the only promo code that is active in the internet which gives the highest discount amount in percentage!

End of semester is coming and you need Babysitter!

2011-03-26T20:22:00.000-07:00

School Ends, and You Need Babysitters

The end of the semester is coming and the rate in find babysitters are growing. Before the end of spring time and starting the summer, we are recommending to find babysitters from sitter city with its promo code to find cheaper sitters for your lovely children at home. But first and foremost, we'd like to walk you to a little of how the rate for hiring a babysitter in order to find the right hiring rates ( if not using the online service ). Imagine when you find the rate of the online babysitting service, have you ever asked yourself of how the rate be calculated? we have the answer for you right here.

Factors determining the pricing for sitter services.

Before you get the quote from the sitter's service, they will ask you how many children are there in your house that need care when you are not around. The number of children in your house will cause the hourly wages of each sitter become higher. Some places will charge more if there are more boys than girls as boys are slightly more naughty than girls. And this factor has become very common in wages calculation in today's time.
The age of the children has become one factor that the sitter will consider the rate of the wages. The younger the more expensive, this means if you have children in your home and they are up to 1-2 years old, you might have to pay more wages per hour as the younger the children are the more care and more complicated service the sitters will have to provide to you.
Special care needed, this is another factor that the sitter in the city would consider as a major factor. Special care means, if your children need extra care on medication or special requirement on food and other health care services or even more activity that the sitters will have to take care of your children ( not just feed and get them to sleep ), the sitters that would take care your children would have to be skilled and well-trained and thus more wages per hour.
The ages and the years of experiences of a babysitter is considered another factor affecting the wages per hour. The more experience and the older the sitters are, the more wages per hour you're expecting to find out from them.
This is the most common factor that is varied by the frequency and the length of time in each week. That is the number of days that you wish your sitters to take care of your child. Surprisingly, if it is a regular weekly basis, the wages per day and per hour can be reduced, since the sitters will know their routine work and can arrange his/her time to find other supplement jobs ( just like hiring an employee to work for you and you don't have to pay them in daily basis ). On the other hand, if you plan to hire a sitter on demand, that is you do not know your schedule and all of the sudden an urgent business trips pops up and you need the sitter right away, the wages rate for babysitter is usually higher in this case.

Did You Know?

You can always ask your friends and neighbors about the rate of the wages that they are using to benchmark and compare the rate of the sitter that you're trying to hire ( provided that they come from different sources ).
You can always use the online services like Sittercity.com or compare other sitters service to control the rate of the wages as all these rates will be shown in the website in which you can control them.

Recommendations

It's better off to use the proper online services. These websites are professional and you can keep record, track, and study the babysitters from the site directly without having to face to face interview each sitter. Plus, you will have the best chance to compare the wages per hour from the services from the site. Let's make your life easier using Online Babysitter services!

Sittercity.com VS Care.com VS Nannies4hire.com

2011-02-19T02:03:00.000-08:00

Comparing Sitter’s Services : Which one should you choose?

There are more than 10 babysitter services that are actively in the world of internet. All of them are offering almost the same services. This is quite difficult for sitter seekers in order the choose the most appropriate sitters for them, on the other hand, it’s quite beneficial for the sitter themselves in order to register with these sites and to be found by their applications. Thus, this article will be focusing on helping sitter seekers to select the best of their choice on the sitter’s sites.

Try New Sittercity Promo Code, Highlight and Copy it!

SNOW20

20% off a monthly, quarterly or annual membership to Sittercity.com. See how to get discount from using sittercity promo code on this page. *** Get 20% off sittercity.com subscription cost instantly.

We have selected the 3 most well-known sitter sites for this review which are Sittercity.com, Care.com, and nannies4hire.com. The 3 sitter websites are being compared based on the personal judgment and facts being seen on each site. The reader will be provided with trend graph and comparison table with tips and tricks to get lower prices registering with them. This review will be focusing on the appearance of the sites, number of different services, pricing options, and coupon & promotion codes for each sites.

The appearance of sittrcity.com

As far as the records have been noted. Sittercity.com had done about 2 major changes on its site during the past 2 years. Light pastel blue is the major theme color with eyes friendly and very easy to navigate. There are 2 major categories in sittercity.com which classify clearly for the “Parents” and the “Sitters”. This has made it very clear for the visitors to the site to know their role and which button to push on. On the first page, The visitor ( both parents and sitter ) will be educated right on the spot, that is the steps and procedure for them to register or to search for the sitters. Apparently, sitters require no payment to make but to register for free, on the other hand, parents are the side that would have to pay for the registration fees.

The appearance of Care.com
Care.com had also changed its website appearance for the past 2-3 years. At first Care.com used beige pastel color. At the present the site appears to use blue and violet in order to position to be more attractive and aggressive to the visitors. Unlike sittercity.com, Care.com first page focuses on letting customers to register with the site. By providing the boxes to enter the personal information in which visitors can choose if they are to hire a care giver, or apply to be a care giver. Care.com first page does not focus on the instructions to use the site or to navigate through it. In turn, it provides more information on the knowledge of the babysitting of both parents and those who apply to become care giver.

The appearance of Nannies4hire.com
Nannies4hire.com is just another well-known babysitters and nanny web services who focuses more on the babysitters and nannies search for the parents. It also serves nannies ( care givers, babysitters ) in order to register with its site. It uses green, blue, and violet pastel color for the site as to make the site appearance looks cool and calm. Unlike Care.com, Nannies4hire.com focuses on putting the zip code to find nannies on the very first page in order to let the parents and families see the nannies in their area and pay for the service later on.

Level of Services offer by each sitter providers
Each of the sites Sittercity.com, Care.com, and Nannies4hire.com has its own strength in providing the services up to the certain level.

Sittercity.com focuses more on providing ranges of services such as Babysitters & Nannies, Pet care, Senior Care, Housekeepers, and tutors, but it actually focuses more on the Babysitters & Nannies. With over a million caregivers ( All of the categories included ) all over United States and with intelligent and deep detailed search from sittercity.com. Parents are able to match their right needs to the right persons. Rating of each sitters are provided for the parents to choose in order to ensure the reliability of who’s going to work for them.

For Care.com, its strength is to offer the parents with a more complete line of care giver services. The care givers that are available in Care.com are Babysitters & Nannies, Pet sitters, Tutors, House keeping, Senior cares, Special Need Care services, and Personal Assistants. One of the best differentiation point that makes Care.com become unique is the “care on call” feature. This feature works as “urgent substitute” in case one of your care givers are not around right on your busy day. All you need to do is to call them and Care.com will be notifying all of the care givers around your area and thus fulfill your urgent need with its services.

Nannies4hire.com is in turn focuses on the Babysitters & Nannies for family only. Unlike other sitter service. Nannies4hire.com lets the parents see over 500,000 rough profile of the Babysitters & Nannies first before deciding to register and pay with its search feature. All you have to do is to place your zip code in the box appears on the very first page of the site and hit search. All of the sitters and nannies around your area will be shown and thus decide whether to use the service.

Sittercity.com VS Care.com VS Nannies4hire.com
The popularity of the 3 Sitter Sites.

How to check the popularity of the 3 sitter sites that which one is the most popular? Of course, a small blog like this wouldn't dare go out in to the sitter market and do the questionnaires or survey or even pick up the samples. We have a more simple way to measure this.

Google Trend for Sittercity.com

As you can see, Sittercity.com was originally started to be BOOM during the year 2009. and trends have been very fluctuated during 2009 to 2010. In which we would say the popularity of Sittercity.com is still stabilized.

Google Trend for Care.com

We can see that Care.com has been in the sitter finder market for so long since the year 2005 on wards. The popularity of Care.com has been gradually increased over time. Subscribing with Care.com sitter service is another good choice to go.

Unfortunately, Nannies4hire.com does not rank in Google Trend, so we could not find informative trends for this sitter site.

Each Sitter Promotion ?

Of course, if we're to review these 3 sitter's sites, we would have to encourage you to apply for any of them. To do that, it needs some motivations which makes the visitors to this page feel "Worth it".

Sittercity.com Promo Code

Sittercity.com is the babysitter site that has been providing this type of promo code to let the parents save more online registering with Sittercity.com. All of the promo code for Sittercity.com can be found on this blog Click here to see all Sittercity Promo Code. The discount will range from 10% to 15% OFF and of course deducted the subscription price right off.

Care.com Promo Code

Use These coupon codes in Care.com Website to save from 10% up to 25% OFF the subscription list price. "SURVEYSAVE25" - Save 25%, "CWINNER" - 10% OFF, "SAVE20JAN" - Discount 20% OFF.

Nannies4hire.com Coupon

Sadly there have been no coupon codes or promo codes for Nannies4hire.com, but, the discount will be appeared from some certain coupon site links only. Check out Couponwinner.com for their coupon link to get special discount right in your registrations.

In Conclusion to this comparison

Each of the Sitter Service Sites including other sites that we have not done our review here have their different perspective and strong points which are suite for each parents needs. For example, SitterCity.com might be suitable for parents who have specific needs. Care.com is suitable for urgent needs when your current sitters are not around, and nannies4hire.com is for those who wants to see what type of sitters or care providers are available first before deciding and in need focusing on babysitters & Care Providers only.

Sittercity.com New February 2011 Promo

2011-01-31T17:00:00.001-08:00

Sittercity.com Launches Feb 2011 Promo Code

With Valentine's Day right around the corner, parents are looking for a night out and now is a great time to look for babysitting service around your neighborhood. Here are just a few ways to get more discount using sittercity.com promo code to save more

Sittercity.com has launched a brand new promo code that will save 10% on the registration with sittercity.com. The promo code can be found here. The previous promo code from Sittercity.com will be expired on February 4th 2011. And the new discount is only 10% OFF.

If the parents wants to save more on Sittercity.com registration, They need to be hurry as the 15% coupon and promo code is expiring soon.

Sittercity.com makes finding the perfect sitter quick, safe and simple. With over a million caregiver profiles nationwide, Sittercity is America's largest and most trusted site for matching parents with local babysitters and nannies as well as dog walkers, senior care providers and tutors.

Sittercity.com announce new membership pricing

2011-01-05T08:46:00.000-08:00

Sittercity.com a portal for you to quickly find the sitters nearby your area with simple function register and find. All of the United States, Sittercity.com is said to be one of the biggest sitter finder service as it has about over a million of caregiver profiles. It's one of the most trust able portal across the nation.

Now during 2011. Sitter City has not yet launched the new promo code but instead it announces the new membership pricing which are shown below

New Sittercity Membership Pricing:

* Monthly Membership - $35/month
* 3-Month Membership - $70/month# (33% Savings)
* Yearly Membership - $140/month (66% Savings)

This means, if you're looking for more options in joining Sittercity.com, here they are! Now sitter finders can select more choice to register with some small fees, longer period ( 3 months ) and even renew the subscription to 1 year and get up to 66% Saving!

Baby sitter suspected of taking drunken nap

2010-10-24T09:58:00.000-07:00

Find Your SitterCity Coupon Here
A Lake Geneva man accused of falling asleep drunk while baby-sitting a 3-year-old boy injured when he jumped from a second-floor window remained in the Walworth County Jail on Wednesday on a probation hold.

David A. Rasch, 41, was charged in late July with one count of child neglect resulting in great bodily harm, a felony that carries a prison sentence of up to six years.

Rasch appeared in Walworth County Court on Wednesday, but his case was reset for a 1 p.m. hearing on Oct. 27.

County officials want to hear from the state Department of Corrections about its plans to hold Rasch on 2007 criminal cases involving drugs and drunken driving as a repeater.

According to the criminal complaint in the child neglect case:

On the evening of May 30, Elkhorn police went to the apartment to help a boy that witnesses said had fallen out of a second-floor window.

The boy was lying on his back and screaming that he was hurt.

Neighbors told police they tried to contact an adult at the boy's apartment but nobody answered the door.

An officer knocked on the door for nearly two minutes and then tried to open it, but the door would open only a few inches.

The boy told police he had wanted to go outside, but he couldn't use the apartment door because a chair was in the way.

The boy then decided to jump out of a window.

The officer saw another child in the apartment who ran to a back bedroom and got Rasch out of bed.

As the officer talked with Rasch, he smelled of alcohol. Rasch then admitted drinking and falling asleep.

A breath test by police confirmed Rasch had been drinking.

The boy was treated at a hospital for a concussion, scrapes and bruises.

Pet sitter cares for local animals when masters are away

2010-10-03T23:48:00.000-07:00

Sitter City Promotion 50% OFF

The 17-year-old silver and black-striped house cat has kidney failure, and for the past 10 years he has needed someone to hydrate him by plugging a needle into his side and injecting him with moisture. It's the feline equivalent of dialysis.

It's the middle of the day, however, and Sammy's owner aren't home. Jim and Joyce Deuser travel often, leaving him behind in their north McAllen home.

Enter Chris Chavez. For the past 10 years, Chavez has helped Sammy's owners by administering his medicine. Sammy knows him well, and he perks up and waits for his treatment when he sees Chavez.

Chavez pulls the hydration bag from a nearby cabinet and hangs it from the top of a door beside the ottoman. After a few minutes, the procedure is done.

Sammy jumps down and heads to the kitchen, where Chavez gives him a treat. The cat also waits and stares at Chavez until he pets him.

Doctors at Texas A&M treated Sammy years ago for his kidney problems. At first, the Deusers brought him to a veterinarian each time he needed hydration. Sammy became tense and aggressive. Joyce Deuser says hiring Chris has kept the cat happy and healthy.

"He's just been outstanding, reliable, dependable, and we trust him, he's like a second son to us," Joyce says. "(Sammy) is as fond of Chris as we are, and Chris gives him shots every week."

A former veterinary technician, Chavez now works full-time as a pet sitter for Sammy and hundreds of other Valley animals.

While you're away all day or on vacation, Chavez cares for your dog, cat, reptile, bird or livestock. If they need medicine, he can administer that, too. He can also taxi them to a veterinarian's office.

If you're away for a while, he will also care for your home. He'll bring in your mail and newspaper, he'll water your plants and he'll make sure your pet hasn't messed on the rug or broken a lamp.

He has more than 150 clients throughout Hidalgo County, and his business has slowly grown since he started it in 1999.

Back then Chavez was a veterinary technician at Nolana Animal Hospital in McAllen. He worked with the animals, specializing in aggressive and uncooperative pets. He handled snapping dogs and cats that scratched.

"Some animals get scared at the doctor's," he says. "You can have a really good cat or dog go in there and be really different."

So Chavez would put on thick, arm-covering gloves and wrap the animals in a protective blanket. He would sit with them until they relaxed. Chavez, who is soft spoken, says owners tell him his calm demeanor soothes their pets.

His work with aggressive animals led to his career as a pet sitter. A client at Nolana Animal Hospital had a giant Schnauzer who didn't like strangers. The client couldn't board the pet at a kennel or even have a friend tend to it, so it was nearly possible to go on vacation.

Chavez volunteered to help.

"It took me a couple months going out there, but finally he got used to me," Chavez says.

That client told friends about Chavez. Thanks to word of mouth, Chavez began to pet sit for many people.

He continued to work at the animal hospital as his side business grew. By 2004, he had enough work to leave his tech job. He went full-time with the pet sitting and registered his business, which he named Pet Sitting Services Plus.

He charges $10 a visit, and a little more for elaborate services such as watching a house over night or caring for larger animals.

Business booms during the summer and the holidays, when many families go on vacation. Around Christmas, Chavez often works from 7 a.m. until midnight. Occasionally his girlfriend helps him, but only with clients that he has known for years.

He doesn't advertise his business, and picks up new clients largely through word of mouth. Nolana Animal Hospital recommends him to patients.

Chavez enjoys his job, and he loves working with animals. His dream, however, is to eventually open a kennel. He doesn't have financing or a location, but Chavez has developed a business plan and blueprints.

Most importantly, though, he already knows hundreds of dogs, cats and other animals who are comfortable being around him.

Different Between Sittercity Promo Code and Coupon Links

2010-09-15T10:06:00.000-07:00

Sittercity.com Promo Link and Code : What's the different?

Some might be confused when trying Sittercity Promo Code that are available in our site. The Maximum Promo Code for Sittercity.com is not 50% OFF since those available and active code for sitter city will only give just 15% Maximum ( see more in homepage )

Now, What is the different between the coupon link and the promo code itself? The Sittercity Coupon Link, once click, it will redirect you to the page that already have discount on ( see the image below )

By using the coupon link you'll be landed on a completely different page which will give you instant discount at 15%. However, if you do think that the coupon code that you have would give more discount than 15%. Then try to enter Sittercity.com homepage and rush to registration and enter the coupon code in the box provided.

Will There be any different with the Link & Code?
The answer is NO. Either Promo code directly from Sittercity.com and Coupon Link will give the same discount result. There won't be any problem during checkout and after you've registered with Sittercity.com

Promotion for Sittercity.com

2010-08-31T08:17:00.000-07:00

Back-to-school time is always one of the best seasons for Sittercity, and this year is no exception. You can help helping parents find sitters and nannies for new school year. Visit sittercity.com by using coupon code

From the region

Man is indicted in death of mother

WORCESTER- A Leominster man charged with stabbing his mother to death is scheduled to be arraigned Sept. 8 in Worcester Superior Court.

Thomas B. Scesny, 27, of 39 Biscuit Hill Drive, Leominster, was indicted Aug. 20 on a charge of murder in the April 12 stabbing death of 46-year-old Lisa Scesny in the family's home.

Mr. Scesny, who was arrested the day of the killing, is being held without bail at Bridgewater State Hospital, where mental health professionals have deemed him mentally incompetent to stand trial, according to his lawyer Leonard J. Staples. Mr. Staples said the issue of Mr. Scesny's competency to stand trial must still be addressed by the court.

Lawyer James G. Reardon Jr., who represented Mr. Scesny at his April 13 arraignment in Leominster District Court, said Mr. Scesny had a history of mental illness and had been diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia.

Judge Mark E. Noonan committed Mr. Scesny to Bridgewater State Hospital for a psychiatric evaluation. The case was transferred to Worcester Superior Court as a result of the Aug. 20 indictment.

Webster

Special permit sought to keep 13 dogs at home

WEBSTER -The Zoning Board of Appeals will hold a public hearing Monday on a special permit application from a couple who want to keep 13 dogs in their Slater Street house.

Christopher J. Roy and Michelle M. Poirier have asked for a special permit to keep their dogs at 37 Slater St., which is zoned single-family residential.

The Slaters' menagerie of dogs includes black Labradors, greyhounds, golden retrievers, beagles and Chihuahuas. Several of the dogs are old, and three dogs - two of which are on medication - experience periodic seizures. The couple included reference letters from the Southbridge town clerk and dog officer with their application, as well as notes of support from their dog sitter, veterinarian and former neighbors in Southbridge.

The couple said their dogs have always been current on their vaccines and properly cared for.

They said they have received no complaints from their former neighbors about the dogs being offensive or obnoxious in any way related to noise, odor or waste. The couple also said they would be willing to sign a letter stating they do not intend to replace any of the dogs when they die. There is nothing in the town's general bylaws regulating the number of dogs owned by an individual.

The public hearing is scheduled for 7:15 p.m. Monday in the basement conference room of Town Hall.

Shrewsbury

5 school choice seats still open for Grade 9

SHREWSBURY - The high school still has five seats available for the ninth-grade class through its new school choice program.

The School Committee voted to open 20 seats in the ninth grade at the high school to school choice participants for the 2010-11 school year as a way of making up some of the $100,000 lost as a result of Shrewsbury residents going to school outside the district.

Diane Abbott, registrar, said yesterday that 15 students are registered through the program. She said 12 are girls and three are boys. They come from Charlton, Boylston, Leicester, Northbridge and Worcester. School begins Tuesday.

Anyone interested may go online to www.shrewsbury.k12.ma.us to get information or download an application. Questions about the school choice application process should be directed to Ms. Abbott at dabbott@ shrewsbury.k12.ma.us or (508) 841-8320.

Sittercity.com Back to School!

2010-08-14T21:01:00.000-07:00

Back to school with SitterCity.com
Back to school is an exciting time for both parents and children: new friends, new clothes, new notebooks; but what can not be too exciting is the prospect of finding a new nanny or babysitter. Back to school is the time of year when, due to sitters going off to college and changing schedules, hundreds of thousands of parents across the nation are left scrambling to find safe and effective child care. But if parents act now, they can have a smooth transition. Sittercity.com, America's largest and most trusted online source for nannies and babysitters, offers the following tips to find the perfect sitter for fall:

Tip One: Start Early - The best time to start searching for a "replacement sitter" is before you lose your current sitter. Post your babysitting job on Sittercity.com a month before your regular sitter goes to college. This will allow adequate time to identify and screen new candidates, check references and run background checks. Even better, this will afford you time to have your regular sitter train your new sitter on the ins and outs of the job.

Tip Two: Write Out a Schedule - Back to school is a busy time for families, so it's important to work with your new sitter to create a written schedule clearly outlining the job times, children's activities and general responsibilities. Include details such as the pick-up/drop-off times at your children's school, where to pick the children up, when they should start homework, what time they need to be at soccer, etc.

Tip Three: Cover the Details - Before your new sitter starts, make sure you have thought through all of the details and provided her with everything she needs to make the job run smoothly. For instance, if she will be driving your car, be sure to add her to your insurance and get her a key. Also, make sure the sitter has a cell phone and that you know the number, in case she needs to reach you or vice-versa.

Tip Four: Plan Check-Ins - Once you have prepared your new babysitter for the job, schedule regular check-ins to make sure everything's running on schedule. Check-ins are great on a regular basis, but very important in the beginning of a relationship when the sitter is new to the job and experiencing a learning curve. If you establish these meetings regularly, you'll have a clear line of communication and any problems or schedule changes can be dealt with quickly and efficiently.

With Sittercity.com, parents have full access to hundreds -- even thousands -- of local quality babysitters and nannies in their neighborhood, all with detailed profiles that feature their experience, background checks, references, reviews and photos. Parents can either search for the perfect sitter using a wide range of caregiver criteria or post a job so the most qualified caregivers come directly to them. So now's the time for parents to get ahead of the back-to-school scramble and start setting up their Fall child care today.

About Sittercity.com

Sittercity.com, the inventor of online caregiving, is America's largest and most trusted online source for babysitters, nannies, pet sitters, senior care, housesitting, housekeeping and tutoring. Sittercity has a network of more than a million caregiver profiles nationwide, and helps families and individuals across America find the perfect in-home care provider quickly, easily and safely. Sittercity's care seekers can use the company's four-step screening process, which includes checking references, reading caregiver reviews, conducting interviews and utilizing free access to background checks. Sitter profiles also come with photos, experience, training, safety skills, availability calendars, reviews and more. Sittercity's Corporate Program now serves a number of marquee clients, including Avon, MasterCard, FOX Networks, Pitney Bowes and Monster Worldwide. For more information, visit the company Web site at http://www.sittercity.com.

Looking for Promotion code for Sittercity.com?

Sittercity.com, the Chicago based Web site that links babysitters, dog walkers and other care providers to customers, has won a contract from the Department of Defense to provide service members and their families free access to the site.

Sittercity.com founder and CEO Genevieve Thiers declined to release the financial terms of the one-year contract, which is eligible for renewal for four more years. But even if the Chicago-based company received only a penny for every active duty member and reservist, the contract would still be worth tens of thousands of dollars.

Consumers are typically charged a $39.99 signup fee for a monthly membership and $9.99 per month. This contract, however, came out of Sittercity's corporate division. Launched in Jan. 2008, its goal is to persuade companies to add the site as an employee benefit, much like healthcare or a 401(k).

St. Patrick’s Day Ideas

2010-03-15T21:42:00.000-07:00

St. Patrick’s Day is celebrated in many countries around the world, and in different ways by many. Regardless of how you choose to celebrate, you’ll want to wear a bit of green on St. Patrick’s Day to avoid getting pinched by another. Here are a few craft ideas to do with the kids to help you get in the spirit for March 17th. This is just in case that you will not be around. Let a Sittercity helps you with the child care. Register with Sittercity.com now with coupon code to save more

Wear It:

Lucky Charm Rings: Materials needed: green, white, or gold pipe cleaners, white craft glue, green food coloring or green paint, cotton balls.

For each ring, wrap the pipe cleaner around your finger (size small if for a child’s finger). Dye three small cotton balls green by dipping them in green paint or a dish with green food coloring (or just use green pom poms from the craft store). Let the paint or dye dry. Glue the three green balls on the ring with craft glue. Once dry, the ring is ready to wear!

Lucky Charm Pins: Materials (may want to use a variety to design your pin): glitter, glue, green construction paper, gold sequins, safety pins.

For each pin, trace the size of your shamrock you’d like then decorate the shamrock using your imagination and any materials listed above. Once you are satisfied with your creation, cut out your shamrock, then weave the pin through the design and fasten it to your jacket or shirt.

Eat It:

Eggs: Scramble up some eggs just the way you like them then add some green food coloring to them prior to adding them to the pan.

Pancakes: Make pancakes just the way you normally do, but add green food coloring prior to adding them to the pan. When you go to pour them into the pan, instead of pouring one or two separate flapjacks on the pan, pour three small pancakes next to each other, making the shape of a shamrock. Garnish with some fresh spinach leaves and enjoy!

Gift It:

“Pots of Gold”

Materials needed: green tissue paper, ribbon, recycled paper towel cardboard roll or recycled cups from egg cartons, a bag of green or yellow M&M’s.

If recycling egg cartons, use scissors to cut each cup from the carton. If recycling paper towel roll cardboard, cut two inch pieces, keeping the cylinder in tact. Lay each cup or piece of cardboard on top of a paper towel-sized piece of green tissue paper. Fill each cup with either green M&M’s or yellow M&M’s (a healthy alternative is to use almonds in place of the candy, or make a trail mix). Gather tissue so it wraps around the cup. Pre-cut 12-inch strips of gold, white, green, or black ribbon. Tie ribbon around gathered tissue so that the cup of treats is on the inside of the tissue. You should have nice little “Pots of gold” to give to your friends. Optional: attach little messages to each ribbon.

Play It:

Scavenger Hunt: find the pot of gold. Materials needed: Paper, pen, imagination, “pots of gold”

Create a scavenger hunt game with the pots of gold you made (above). Each pot of gold will have a ribbon with a clue attached to it, giving you a clue to where the next pot of gold can be found.

Sittercity Adopting a Child

2010-03-14T20:17:00.000-07:00

Feel like adopting a child? or you're not able to have one? There are 4 main points that you should know before adopting ones. Visit SitterCity.com Blog

Towards the end of the adoption process, families should think about their childcare needs. Families may chose to hire a sitter, work with a day care center, or stay home with the child. Each family has different reasons or circumstances for choosing to go back to work, to work from home, or stay at home with the newly adopted child. Whatever your decisions and circumstances are, work with your childcare provider to make the transition into your home a smooth one for your new family member

1. Should I adopt domestic child or international one? There are points to determine

a. the costs of both, the cost can go up to $40,000

b. the wait time (depending on the country and child chosen, wait times can be significant, or, in times of urgent need for placement the wait time can be minimal)

c. the number of children available

d. medical and social history of the child

e. legal concerns of each process

2. If choosing a domestic option, the next decision you need to make is whether you will choose private adoption (newborns/babies), foster child (older children and siblings) and whether you have a preference of choosing a child with the same ethnic background as yourself, or if you are prepared to raise a child from an ethnic or racial background different than yours. You have already, or may want to, consider adopting a child with special needs. Many times, the costs associated with adopting special needs children are lower and wait times are shorter.

3. Determine who will assist your family with the adoption

4. Once you’ve done your research and have determined which options are best for you, you will want to begin the adoption process. While the process is slightly different for domestic than it is for international adoption, the process is essentially as follows:

f. Make contact with an adoption specialist who can answer all of your questions and concerns.

g. After you have researched which adoption service or agency you are planning on using, request an information packet.

h. And Lastly, try to Create an adoption plan

Advice for Elder Care

2010-03-13T19:02:00.000-08:00

Sittercity and Advice for Elder Care

Advanced age, unfortunately, is often accompanied by dementia, whether from Alzheimer’s disease, strokes, small and large, or any of a number of other illnesses. By some measures, half of those over 85 suffer from dementia. The more severe the dementia, the more assistance seniors need getting through the day. To find sitter for senior care, you can always visit sittercity.com, during the payment page to subscribe to look for sitters in your territories, sittercity coupon code can be used to reduce the subscription price.

Seniors with dementia can also be at great physical and financial risk due to their own risky decisions and their susceptibility to abuse, either physical or financial. Depending on the situation, protecting seniors with cognitive impairment, as well as those around them, can be difficult.

What can family members do when a parent should stop driving, but refuses to do so? What if the parent responds to every telephone solicitation that comes their way? What if a loved one refuses help in the house or resists moving to an assisted living facility?

In many instances, seniors can be cajoled to do what’s best for them—but as with my client, that’s not always the case. In such instances, there is the legal remedy of guardianship. Unfortunately, as we shall see, the law can be a blunt instrument.

Guardianship proceedings are problematic on a number of levels.

They take away the protected person’s rights – he can no longer make decisions for himself.
He is declared to be incompetent, which can be hurtful.
There is the cost of hiring attorneys and doctors to get through the process.
The protected person’s situation and finances become part of the public record and the guardian and conservator must make annual reports to the court.
Finally, depending on the state, many financial and estate planning steps that may be advisable can only be taken with court approval, which causes delay and increases legal fees.

Sittercity Coupon Promotion EXTENDED

2010-03-12T09:14:00.000-08:00

Sittercity.com will be extending its current coupon promotion through the end of April. Parents are searching for Spring Break babysitters to care for their kids while schools are out, so now is the best for the sitter seekers to use this promotion coupon

Sittercity Affiliate Offer Details
Promo code SITTERSAVE provides $20 OFF an annual membership or $5 OFF a monthly membership to Sittercity.com.
This promotion code expires 4/30/2010.

Professional Pet Sitters Week

2010-03-11T07:18:00.000-08:00

Pet Sitters International is asking pet owners to help celebrate Professional Pet Sitters Week, March 7-13. During the week members of PSI will be educating pet owners about the advantages of in-home pet care and encouraging others to explore pet sitting as a career.

In a news release Patti Moran, president of PSI, wrote, "Professional pet sitting has become an important service industry in the past 13 years. Their dedicated service affords their clients the ability to leave home for business or vacation with the knowledge that their beloved pets are in the capable hands of caring professionals."

Brandyn & Brandi Wehde, owners of B & B Petsitting, are two of PSI's 7,900 members.

If you're looking for a sitter, sittercity.com is your best choice

SitterCity Find a Sitter and Stay Out of Jail

2010-03-11T00:06:00.000-08:00

Always Check Sitter Profile from a trust source like Sittercity.com before deciding to hire one! Also Check out Sittercity promo of the month to receive discount from the site

About Sittercity Inc

Sittercity, the inventor of online caregiving, is America's largest and most trusted online source for child care, pet care, senior care, housesitting, housekeeping and tutoring. Sittercity has a network of more than a million caregiver profiles nationwide, and helps families and individuals across America find the perfect in-home care provider quickly, easily and safely. Sittercity's care seekers can use the company's four-step screening process, which includes checking references, reading caregiver reviews, conducting interviews and utilizing free access to background checks. Sitter profiles also come with photos, experience, training, safety skills, availability calendars, reviews and more. Our Corporate Program now serves a number of marquee clients, including Avon, MasterCard, FOX Networks, Pitney Bowes and Monster Worldwide. For more information about the company, visit the company Web site at http://www.sittercity.com. For more information about the Corporate Program visit www.sittercity.com/corporate.

Recently a Michigan mom was held in contempt of court and almost thrown in jail for bringing her children to jury duty when she couldn't find someone to watch them. While this is an extreme case, childcare issues create a crisis for American parents everyday - but there's an answer. Sittercity.com wants to offer parents three simple steps to being prepared when the unplanned happens so they can get to work, meet their deadline OR stay out of jail.

Develop a short list of potential sitters in your area. The web is a great tool for vetting potential sitter candidates. On Sittercity, you can view comprehensive sitter profiles that provide background, experience, skills like CPR and First Aid and safety information like a background check. The also provide references and parent reviews so you can get a feel for others' experience with the caregiver.

Conduct in-person interviews with selected candidates. While online profiles and third parties can provide critical information on a potential sitter, there is no substitute to a face-to-face interview. Make sure you're prepared with a list of questions so you get the answers you need. You can find a suggested list of interview questions at http://babysitters.sittercity.com/article/parent_interview_checklist.html.

Make sure you have an arsenal of childcare providers before you need them. Once you have gone through the process, you may begin to use your favorite but make sure to keep in touch with the runners-up - you never know when you'll need a back-up.

Pet sitter talks about animal caring

2010-03-09T00:21:00.000-08:00

Looking for Pet Sitter? Sittercity can Help. Register with sittercity coupon code. Save more

Up until a few years ago, Diane Wilcox had a regular desk job. When she realized she was unable to sit at a desk all day, she quit to start her own business. Since she loves animals and enjoys helping people, she began her own pet and errand service. She said it is the best move she has ever made.

"I feel like this is my calling. Life is too short to not do something you love," she said.

What is rewarding about what you do?

People can go away on trips or when they are gone to work and they can feel totally confident that I'm taking care of their pets. The animals are always appreciative. I always get a wagging tail and a lick.

What the things you do for your clients?

Every home is different. When I first started, I did errands and pet service. I used to do grocery shopping, but I don't anymore. I mostly do pets. I feed them, give them fresh water, clean up after them, walk them, take them to the vet or grooming appointments. I get the mail and newspaper, take out garbage cans on garbage day. I water and look at the house and make sure it hasn't been broken into. Some animals are better off going to the kennel, but some get freaked out, so they are able to stay in the comfort of their own homes.

What is the strangest thing someone has asked you to do?

I would say (when someone) asked me to come over and pick up the dogs' bedding and wash it.

What do you enjoy most about your job?

I enjoy taking care of the pets. The other day was a beautiful, sunny day. I was out walking a dog and I was thinking, "I get paid for this."

What is your favorite pet?

My favorite pets are dogs.

Which is your favorite breed?

Labs.

Have you had a funny or memorable experience?

I have a client who has a Persian cat that is mean. Whenever I go to her house, she leaves a broom by the door. I have to use it to protect myself because she will attack me. One day, she chased me around the island in the kitchen. I have to tell her, "I'm here to feed you, not harm you."

Where would you like to see your business in five years?

This is a seven-day-a-week, 365-day-a-year job, so I can't say I can't work a Saturday. Right now I have a gal who works for me. I would like to get to a point where I have more people working with me.

Do you ever feel like you are running around crazy? How do you deal with it?

Yes, all the time. What I do now is usually at night I look one day ahead and look at my schedule. If I go and look too far out, it gets overwhelming. I've learned to take it one day at a time.

Do you have to deal with wild pets and how do you handle them?

I do. It is typically the larger breeds like the labs. (In the past) I was around a trainer so I know how to handle them. I'm confident around all kinds of dogs and their behavior. I need to learn how to be more confident around aggressive dogs like pit bulls.

Do you ever get too attached to people's animals?

I do. I've had a lot last year where older dogs passed away. I've had a client for the past two years, her dog was only seven and had heart problems. During his last few months, I would have to check him twice a day because my client worked in Sacramento. That was hard when he passed away.

What is the best advice you can give someone who wants to do this?

Be ready to work a lot of hours and you have to really cater to people. They have different needs and you have to learn to be flexible with people and their pets.

House-sitter charged with theft

2010-03-07T20:38:00.001-08:00

An Austin woman was charged with felony theft Thursday after she allegedly stole $6,000 from a house's safe last year because she didn't feel she was being paid enough to "house-sit."

Patricia Marie Viktora, 64, is summoned to appear April 1 in Mower County court on the single criminal count.

According to a criminal complaint, police were notified of the incident on Dec. 3 when a 64-year-old man and his 87-year-old mother returned home from a trip.

The two noticed nothing disturbed throughout the house, located on the 2700 block of 12th Street Southwest, but they did discover $6,000 missing from a safe. The man said he believed Viktora was the only one to have access to the home as they had left her to watch it.

Initially, Viktora told authorities that she had nothing to do with the missing money, the complaint states. Instead, she claimed she saw a "suspicious" man near the home while the couple was away and indicated it may have been him.

However, Viktora's written statement differed, and upon further police questioning, she admitted to taking the money.

She said she thought she had only taken $2,700 from the safe, the complaint states. Viktora said she committed the theft because she wasn't being fairly compensated for watching the home.

Time Constraint From Snow?

2010-03-06T22:40:00.000-08:00

Evening news announces "Snow is coming down and School is Closed tomorrow" and immediately the kids are jumping and cheering for joy as this means a day to stay home and play! However, for many working parents their reaction to this news is anything but exciting, knowing that the next several hours will be spent struggling to find last minute childcare for their kiddos. Worries no more: SitterCity can help! ( see also sittercity coupon )

Sittercity is able to help with last minute sitting help for unexpected emergencies which will allow mom or dad the ability to get to the office knowing that their children are at home with a prescreened and experienced Professional Babysitter. And one simple call to Sittercity is all it takes to request a sitter as Sittercity does all the work for you!

SitterCity Supports Haiti Victim

2010-03-06T22:37:00.000-08:00

On January 12, a 7.0 magnitude earthquake struck Haiti. Sittercity.com is helping support the relief efforts by donating $3.00 for each job scheduled in February. Check your local office for donation details.

Other ways to help

Also accepting cash and in-kind donations are the following sites: Clinton Bush Haiti Fund, UNICEF (1-800-4UNICEF), Direct Relief, Yele Haiti, Partners in Health, Red Cross, World Food Program, Mercy Corps (1-888-256-1900), Save the Children, Lambi Fund, Doctors Without Borders, The International Rescue Committee, Care, William J. Clinton Foundation, Meds & Food For Kids, Feed the Children, Habitat for Humanity, Mayor's Fund for NYC

The following organizations are accepting SMS donations in the US only:

SMS text "HAITI" to 90999 to donate $10 to Red Cross relief efforts
SMS text "YELE" to 501501 to Donate $5 to Yele Haiti’s Earthquake Relief efforts
SMS text "GIVE10" to 20222 to donate $10 to Direct Relief

SitterCity.Com Extending Coupon Period

2009-11-24T16:25:00.000-08:00

The holidays are almost here! This time of the year is one of the busiest for parents, filled with holiday parties, last-minute shopping, and of course New Year's Eve (one of the top babysitting nights of the year). It's a perfect time to maximize your Sittercity affiliate campaign and get your ads in front of parents who are scrambling to find holiday season sitters.

15% Off Deal Extended

To help Parent make the most of the holiday season, Sittercity is extending our 15% off promotion a bit longer. Your site visitors can save 15% on a monthly or annual Sittercity membership with promotion code SAVE15 through January 15, 2010.

Families pay fee to tap into database, request background checks

2009-10-26T05:57:00.000-07:00

So why not your baby sitter or pet sitter?

I'll admit, when I saw a news release about Sitter City, which claims to be America's first and largest parent-baby sitter matching site, I giggled.

What ever happened to finding the neighborhood teenager to watch your kids? Or asking friends and relatives for recommen-dations?

After all, I want to know the family of the teen watching my kids. Do we share the same values? Is there someone at home nearby if something were to happen and the baby sitter needed some backup?

But the more I thought about it, not everyone has an ample supply of neighborhood baby sitters or recommendations from friends and relatives to tap into.

So it seems a little ingenious to have a service to match parents and baby sitters. Maybe even a good business model -- sitters register for free for work, and parents pay a fee to search the database.

Genevieve Thiers thinks so.

The founder and chief executive officer of Chicago-based Sitter City came up with the idea while she was contemplating what to do with her life after graduating from Boston College.

Thiers was looking out her dorm room window one day when she saw a woman who was nine months pregnant waddling up a steep hill. Thiers ran downstairs to help the woman, who was posting fliers looking for a baby sitter. Thiers, who had been a baby sitter in college, offered to post the fliers around for the woman.

As Thiers was posting one of the signs next to an elevator, the idea hit her. Why not launch a Web site to match sitters looking for jobs with parents who need help?

Though Thiers thought the idea was great, it wasn't easy to convince venture capitalists to provide seed money -- especially older men.

"We were the first. No one thought it was going to work. I got laughed out of the room with most" venture capitalists, she said. "I had to launch it by foot."

She posted 20,000 fliers around Boston and had two college friends start her Web site.

In September 2001, she had 600 sitters registered and 30 parents. "It was magic," she said.

She now has half a million users, including companies that have paid to sign up their employees as an employee perk to find child care. Thiers later moved the corporate offices to Chicago.

Sitter City is not the only site out there. Put "baby sitter" in a search engine, and you'll get others. Sitter City is also branching out to match pet sitters and pet owners on its site starting in June.

Here's how Sitter City works:

Sitters must be 17 or older -- so that knocks out most of the neighborhood teens. Thiers said the company is debating starting a junior site, but there are too many liability issues with younger sitters. The typical sitter on the site is 17 to 23, though there are older sitters. About 80 percent of the sitters are people looking for part-time work; the others are full-time nannies.

Sitters don't pay a fee to register.

Parents can pay either $39.99 for the first month and $9.99 for each month after, or $95 for a full year.

Not exactly cheap, but it is a service for parents who find it valuable.

Background checks can be run on sitters for a $10 fee. A sitter can pay that fee and post the background check on the sitter's profile, or the parent can pay $10 for each check requested.

The background checks, which include a nationwide check and driving violations, are a resource for parents, in addition to a feedback system on parents and sitters, said Thiers.

In our society, which is becoming more mobile, Thiers said a service like hers helps make life easier.

Her company's statistics show that 64 percent of the parents have moved in the preceding two years.

"When people are moving from city to city,... they end up in this new place with no family and no support network. They're dumped in a new area, and that's where Sitter City is incredibly helpful," she said.

Finding right fit

Carol Gregory of Strongsville has some relatives in town to help watch her kids sometimes, but she needed someone to come over to the house during the day when she occasionally works from home.

But the area college professor, who is the mother of a 1-year- old daughter and 3-year-old son, said she got nowhere when she posted fliers in grocery stores and on college campuses and called people through newspaper ads.

"Even just based on the phone conversation, I wasn't entirely comfortable it was a good fit for us. It wasn't enough detail for me to bring that person into my home to meet my children," Gregory said.

A neighbor then told her about Sitter City. She has used three sitters through the service and has been very happy with them all. Gregory said that as her sitters' situations changed -- one got pregnant, and another moved away -- she was able to go back to the site to find other suitable ones.

The Gregorys now have Ashley Schindler, 22, of Copley Township watching the kids one day a week. For Schindler, an early childhood education major at the University of Akron, the site was a good way to connect her to parents who needed sitters.

She baby-sits for several families -- some are just an occasional weekend job.

Gregory said she's still comfortable with a combination of using an older sitter from Sitter City and the neighborhood teen. She just likes having the choice.

Seniors raise concerns over funds

2009-10-18T06:43:00.000-07:00

Some senior citizens on the coast say they are concerned about what's happening to state programs as tax revenue continues to contract.

Program after program is being hacked and sliced to pieces, they said Tuesday during a meeting sponsored by the Commission on Aging of the Coastal Regional Commission, at Darien Church of God. Some programs are being scrapped altogether due to lack of funding.

One program, the Kinship Care program to assist grandparents rearing grandchildren, has been eliminated be budget cuts, Monica Couch, elder rights program manager at the Coastal Regional Commission, told the 150 persons in the audience.

Other programs being slashed include ombudsman services, which helps monitor elder abuse; the caregivers resource center, which provides adult day care services; and respite care, which allows caregivers to take a break from caring for an elderly ill person at home by providing a sitter on occasions.

Couch said on the state level, the Senior Legal Hotline and the Center for the Visually Impaired have been eliminated, and other programs, including Alzheimer's Services, have faced severe cutbacks. Just how many people are being affected by the cuts is hard to determine, Couch said.

"We currently have a wait list of more than 20,000 people statewide for home- and community-based services," she said. "As of Sept. 1, there were 1,497 individuals waiting for one or more services in the region we serve."

So far, no one has had services discontinued, but Couch said persons on waiting lists cannot be served until additional funding is received.

Couch said the Coastal Regional Commission is the designated Area Agency on Agency for the region, which includes Bryan, Bulloch, Camden, Chatham, Effingham, Glynn, Long, Liberty and McIntosh counties. The agency plans and coordinates services and programs for senior citizens, persons with disabilities and caregivers.

Many of the cuts stem from Gov. Sonny Perdue's mandated 5 percent across-the-board cuts for all Department of Human Services programs.

"We understand the economic difficulties facing state government, but advocates are deeply concerned about the depth of service reductions for aging services and the impact they will have on the frail elderly and their caregivers," Couch said.

Alberta Mabry of Darien, a senior advocate, said every day some seniors are faced with having to decide between purchasing food or medicine. Some, she said, only get one hot meal a day from the Darien Senior Center.

Many have watched savings dwindle and are living solely on Social Security.

"We're living longer now, and that makes things more complicated," Mabry said.

Mabry is in favor of respite care and bemoans the cuts that have been made.

"You can remain in your home, rather than be in a nursing home," she said. "Respite care gives the caregiver a short break to go to the store or to get their hair done or see a movie."

The ombudsman program is also critical, Mabry said. "There is lots of abuse toward the elderly," she said.

She said she would like to see an adult day care center opened in McIntosh County. Currently, those with Alzheimer's and other forms of dementia must travel to Savannah or Brunswick to participate in adult day care programs.

"We have lots of folks here in McIntosh with Alzheimer's or dementia," Mabry said.

U.S. Rep. Jack Kingston, R-1, on a town-hall meeting sweep through the district, stopped at the gathering and addressed Social Security concerns. He said cost-of-living increases would most likely not occur for 2010.

"The COLAs are tied to inflation, and with inflation in 2009 down, no COLA is anticipated this year," he said.

Taking questions from the audience, Kingston agreed with a resident who suggested using stimulus funds to fund Georgia Cares, which is Georgia's Medicare Part C and D program.

"We will work with you on it. We support Georgia Cares," Kingston said, explaining that he would look into the possibility of using federal stimulus funds to help replace some lost state funding, even though he has voted in Congress against all stimulus programs other than an extension of the so-called cash for clunkers auto incentive.

"There's a lot of stimulus money sitting out there. It might as well be put toward something useful," Kingston said.

Parents to sue baby-sitter, her mother and the town

2009-10-18T06:30:00.000-07:00

The town has received notice that a Cortland Circle couple intends to sue the town as part of a broader legal action stemming from the May 2 drowning death of their 3-year-old son.

New Haven law firm LoRicco, Trotta & LoRicco on Sept. 14 filed the notice of intent to sue the town on behalf of Richard and Diane Veenhuis, according to legal papers. The Veenhuis family will sue the town for negligence that resulted in the death of their son, Cole, who drowned in the family's swimming pool, attorney Frederick Trotta Sr. said Friday.

Also named as defendants in the notice are Michele Repko and her daughter, Krista, who was baby-sitting Cole and his twin sister, Hannah when the drowning occurred. Hannah is listed with her parents as seeking damages from the town and the Repkos, according to Trotta.

"This has had a profound effect on the Veenhuis family," Trotta said. "They feel quite betrayed by Michele Repko's misrepresentation of her daughter's fitness to be a baby-sitter."

Trotta said the town is party to the lawsuit, which he intends to file within two months, because Michele Repko met the Veenhuis family while working with Cole at the Darcey School, the town's only public kindergarten, to improve the child's speech. Also, Krista Repko took a baby-sitting class that was run by the town, Trotta said.

Town Manager Michael Milone confirmed Friday that the town had received the Veenhuises' intent to sue letter, but declined to comment on the matter.

At some point after meeting the Veenhuis family, the relationship between Michele Repko and the family grew to the point where she recommended her daughter as a baby-sitter for Cole and Hannah, the attorney said. Richard and Diane Veenhuis met Krista Repko and were comfortable enough with her being around Cole and Hannah that they let the teenager take the twins to one of her baby-sitting classes, Trotta said.

But Trotta said the lawsuit will contend that on the day that Cole drowned, Krista Repko "froze up for a significant period of time and didn't immediately jump into the pool to rescue the youngster."

"The girl's a shot-putter on the Cheshire High School track team and an honor roll student," Trotta said. "How does somebody like that not jump into the pool immediately when she saw the boy in the pool?"

Trotta added that rescue efforts were hampered when Krista Repko couldn't initially give a police dispatcher the address where was she baby-sitting.

"Emergency services did a magnificent job coaxing it out of her," Trotta said.

Following an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the drowning, the police and the state's attorney's office chose not to press charges, he said.

The Repkos were not available for comment Friday.

Child-care center won't get $3 million from state

2009-10-12T08:10:00.003-07:00

CHEYENNE -- Supporters of a publicly funded child-care center got a quick no Thursday morning from the state's top officials.

The disappointed members of the Laramie County Early Education and Development Joint Powers Board said afterward that they had to regroup, but their quest for quality child care would continue.

"It's not over. There's still a need in the community, and we want to fill that need," said board member Rich Wiederspahn.

The non-profit planned to run a center with expanded hours for shift workers and to offer an accredited education program.

The Wyoming Business Council board had already turned down the $3 million request to build the Laramie County Early Childhood Education Center in the Cheyenne Business Parkway in east Cheyenne. The State Loan and Investment Board had the final vote.

This was the second time SLIB considered this request. This spring, SLIB sent it back to the Business Council, asking it to review current demand for child care. Local providers said it would hurt their businesses.

Thursday's 4-1 vote was in keeping with the Wyoming Business Council's new recommendation, which was based on a revised study that showed there was less need for child care.

Jim McBride, state superintendent of public instruction, was the lone vote in support of the project.

Supporters of the Laramie County Early Childhood Education Center showed up, ready to testify. But Gov. Dave Freudenthal polled the other SLIB members and said they would skip having a public hearing.

They all received plenty of information, he said.

"Everyone's made up their mind," Freudenthal said. "There's no sense on having a fourth hearing on this matter."

Freudenthal said Wednesday it broke his heart to not award the grant because he believes in early childhood education.

But the Business Council's revised study shows there are more slots at Cheyenne day-care centers than children -- which is contrary to the intent of the Business Ready Communities Grant.

Lisa Romsa, owner and director of Diamonds in the Rough, was an outspoken opponent of the grant.

However, Romsa said she hoped that the issue of expanding quality child care would not disappear with this grant request -- in the past six years, she said, people see child-care providers as "more than babysitters."

This time, she'd like to see proponents work with current providers -- for instance, to help offset accreditation costs.

"Everyone needs to still work and come up with solutions," Romsa said. "But putting all the eggs in one facility does not accomplish that goal."

Cheyenne City Councilwoman Georgia Broyles said she was set to urge SLIB to look at funding pre-kindergarten education. Wyoming is one of five states that does not do this, she said.

For instance, the state could oversee a curriculum available to day-care providers n those "who wish to pursue that."

Credit: Wyoming Tribune-Eagle, Cheyenne

Lawsuit expected in Cheshire pool death: Parents to sue baby-sitter, her mother and the town

2009-10-12T08:10:00.001-07:00

The town has received notice that a Cortland Circle couple intends to sue the town as part of a broader legal action stemming from the May 2 drowning death of their 3-year-old son.

"This has had a profound effect on the Veenhuis family," Trotta said. "They feel quite betrayed by Michele Repko's misrepresentation of her daughter's fitness to be a baby-sitter."

Town Manager Michael Milone confirmed Friday that the town had received the Veenhuises' intent to sue letter, but declined to comment on the matter.

But Trotta said the lawsuit will contend that on the day that Cole drowned, Krista Repko "froze up for a significant period of time and didn't immediately jump into the pool to rescue the youngster."

Trotta added that rescue efforts were hampered when Krista Repko couldn't initially give a police dispatcher the address where was she baby-sitting.

"Emergency services did a magnificent job coaxing it out of her," Trotta said.

Following an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the drowning, the police and the state's attorney's office chose not to press charges, he said.

The Repkos were not available for comment Friday.

Credit: New Haven Register, Conn.

Bowman woman pleads not guilty to meth charges

2009-09-30T09:09:00.000-07:00

A Bowman woman facing five drug-related charges pleaded not guilty at her preliminary hearing Tuesday.

Nick Gates, South Sakakawea Narcotics Task Force investigator, said Social Services alerted authorities in July that there was allegedly a 17-year-old babysitter in Chelsey Soehren's home while drug paraphernalia was present. The babysitter was reportedly watching two children at the time.

Gates said the babysitter, the mother of the babysitter and two children were at the residence when officers arrived.

"... at approximately 4 a.m. that same morning, Ms. Soehren had shown the babysitter methamphetamine," Gates said. "She believed that from the story she was told, Ms. Soehren was intending to sell the methamphetamine and may have in fact been under the influence of methamphetamine at that time."

Gates said the babysitter directed officers to several pieces of drug paraphernalia inside and outside the residence.

Officers had search warrants for Soehren's residence, her vehicle and they had a warrant to search Soehren, Gates said.

Officers reportedly went to Soehren's work where they searched her and her purse. About 2.1 grams of methamphetamine were allegedly found in Soehren's purse, Gates said.

"She told me that she received approximately an eight ball of methamphetamine, which is approximately 3.5 grams, from an individual named Jake," Gates said. "Her intention was to sell the methamphetamine and give Jake ... approximately $600 and she would be able to keep whatever money was left over for herself."

Gates said Soehren didn't know what "Jake's" last name was.

Soehren had allegedly told Gates she had sold one gram of the meth.

Soehren is charged with delivering meth, possession of meth with intent to deliver, possession of meth paraphernalia, possession of marijuana and possession of marijuana paraphernalia.

Jay Greenwood, Soehren's attorney, said officers did not have a search warrant for Soehren's place of work. The warrants also didn't allow officers to search containers that were not on Soehren, or in her home or vehicle.

During the hearing, Stark County Assistant State's Attorney Jim Hope said he expected Greenwood to file a motion to suppress evidence gathered in the case. Greenwood said he likely would.

After the hearing, Hope declined comment on the issue. Greenwood was unavailable for comment after the hearing.

Despite an objection from Soehren, Southwest Judicial District Judge Zane Anderson ordered that Soehren can not contact the babysitter.

Part of Soehren's conditions of release stipulated she take random drug screenings and live with her parents in Bowman. However, Greenwood said she would like to move into her own apartment in Bowman and Anderson agreed to let her.

The baby sitter who called 911 said little Julia Rivera looked "like she was on another planet." Injuries included a skull fracture and brain injuries

2009-09-21T07:27:00.000-07:00

It didn't take the baby sitter long to realize that something was terribly wrong when Rachel Reeves brought her 15-month-old daughter to the sitter's Minnetonka apartment on March 26.

Reeves placed little Julia Leigh Rivera in a crib without removing her snowsuit and told the baby sitter to leave her alone. If the toddler woke up, Reeves instructed, the sitter was to give her some medication Rivera put in the refrigerator.

About 15 minutes after Reeves dropped Julia off, the baby sitter pulled off the snowsuit and discovered to her horror that Julia was in bad shape. Her eyes were open but "had a blank look," the sitter later told police. She was "extremely pale and just with her eyes very empty ... like she was on another planet."

Four days later, Julia was dead.

After a six-month investigation by Minnetonka police, Reeves, 29, of Burnsville, was charged late last week with second-degree murder in the death of her daughter. The Hennepin County medical examiner listed the cause of death as a homicide by blunt-force trauma. Prosecutors say Reeves caused her daughter's death by assaulting her in a way that caused a skull fracture, a detached retina and a significant brain injury.

According to the criminal complaint, Julia lived at the time with her single mother and a 7-year-old sister in a Richfield apartment.

On March 25, the older sister spent the night with friends, leaving Reeves alone with Julia from 3:15 p.m. until 7 a.m. on March 26, when Reeves brought her to the baby sitter in Minnetonka.

Worried about the baby's "blank look," the sitter, whose age and name the complaint does not reveal, began to prepare her some milk when Julia arched her back and began "twisting," the complaint said. The sitter called on her adult son for help. He called 911 and performed CPR, following instructions from a dispatcher. Emergency responders arrived to find the baby without a pulse and not breathing.

She died March 30 at Minneapolis Children's Hospital.

Reeves told police that Julia had been sick for about two weeks and that she took her to the pediatrician March 24 because she was "pulling at her ears, irritable, fussy and frequently waking at night." The pediatrician described her state at the time as "alert, interactive, no acute distress," and found no injuries before prescribing an antibiotic.

Reeves also told police that the only injury to her daughter was when Julia fell out of bed 2 to 3 feet to the floor two weeks earlier. But doctors said such a fall could not explain Julia's injuries.

Reeves provided several other possible explanations, but none was plausible, according to doctors and the medical examiner. Reeves said she had been the only person with the baby.

Reeves, who was arrested Thursday, will make her next court appearance Sept. 30. She remains jailed in lieu of $250,000 bail.

Reeves' employer, who was not identified in the complaint, told police she was often tired at work and fell asleep at meetings. She reportedly told her supervisor that Julia did not sleep well and often woke her at night.

And Julia's older sister told police that the toddler often cried and woke her mother. The sister reported that she would try to soothe Julia so her mother could sleep.

In an April 2 online obituary for Julia, dozens of people expressed their condolences to Reeves, who left the following message dated July 11 for her daughter:

"I miss u ... I think about u everyday ... I love u mamacita chula! Love always, your mom."

Abby Simons --612-673-4921

Credit: Star Tribune, Minneapolis

Couple's Web site offers tips on travel with animals

2009-09-10T05:30:00.000-07:00

-Hitting the road with a medium-sized shar pei was manageable.

Then Buster joined Amy and Rod Burkert's family.

The German shepherd made booking hotels a challenge and prompted the Pennsylvania couple to develop a Web site that helps others who want to share vacations with their pets.

"I spent two full days looking for seven hotels on our road trip and said, 'There has got to be a better way to do this,'"

said Amy Burkert, a native of Gays Mills. "But there wasn't.

I spent another two days looking and couldn't find anything."

The Burkerts launched GoPetFriendly.com in June after researching lodging, dining and attractions nationwide that welcome both humans and their furry friends.

"Dogs want to be with people. Our dogs want to go. They don't want to be left behind," Amy Burkert said.

"For some, pets are our children," Rod Burkert said.

Traveling with pets can be more economical, as boarding costs can exceed $600, Rod Burkert said. As a sign of the times, more places are becoming more accepting of four-legged visitors, he said.

The Burkerts also have included information at the site on veterinarians as well as doggie day care and pet sitters, since some attractions people will want to visit simply won't accommodate pets, they said.

The Burkerts are on their first GoPetFriendly.com tour, with stops planned in Cleveland, Chicago, Iowa, Canada and Niagara Falls.

Ty and Buster are traveling with the couple in the GoPetFriendly.com vehicle and they'll stop along the way to check out an RV.

"We're traveling with our pets to make it easy to travel with yours," Rod Burkert said during a stop in La Crosse.

"We gave up our jobs for our dogs," Amy Burkert added.

"We call ourselves recovering accountants," Rod Burkert said.

Credit: La Crosse Tribune, Wis.

NEWS: 2 who held kids at gunpoint get 8-year terms

2009-09-06T23:29:00.000-07:00

Tamara Peterson's two young children were at home with a teenage baby sitter when she received a phone call at work that they had just been robbed and threatened by three armed men.

"My [7-year-old] daughter still jumps when someone walks in," Ms. Peterson told Judge Denise Ann Dartt in Lucas County Common Pleas Court Monday. Ms. Peterson said the intruders told her 5-year-old son he'd be killed if he moved.

Two of three men were sentenced yesterday after being convicted of forcing their way into a home in the 1800 block of Marne Avenue and robbing the house after ordering the two young children and their 15-year-old baby sitter to the floor with threats.

Kenneth Powell, 20, of 411 Langdon St., and Darnell Cox, 18, of 1902 North Superior St., were each sentenced to eight years in prison Monday. They entered no-contest pleas Aug. 18 to one count each of aggravated burglary and kidnapping, both with one-year gun specifications.

A third suspect, Joshua Robinson, 17, is charged with one count each of aggravated robbery and aggravated burglary as well as three counts of kidnapping, each with gun specifications. He is being held in the Lucas County jail in lieu of $375,000 bond and is scheduled to go to trial Sept. 15.

Authorities said Powell and Cox broke into the home about 6:45 p.m. May 27. They fled with clothing, cash, and televisions.

They were arrested a short time later after police found the getaway vehicle with the stolen items inside.

Cox and Powell apologized for their actions and promised the judge they would emerge from prison as different people.

"... I'm working to change my life," Cox said. "When I go to prison, I'll come out a new man."

Judge Dartt sentenced both Cox and Powell to seven years for each charge plus a mandatory one-year gun specification.

She ordered the sentences be served concurrently.

As part of the plea, Judge Dartt dismissed for each defendant two counts of kidnapping as well as a charge of aggravated robbery.

Ms. Peterson said she knows the incident could have been worse and is thankful her children and their baby-sitter weren't injured. But she wanted the men to be held accountable for their actions and for the long-term impact they had on her children.

Judge Dartt said that each of the defendants had juvenile records similar to the crime that brought them before her.

She also noted the ages of the victims. "The victims in this case were very young," she said.

"The baby-sitter was only 15," she said. "I find that to be very disturbing."

Suspect should be tried as juvenile

2009-09-06T23:27:00.002-07:00

Psychologists from both sides have recommended that a teenage boy charged with luring a 7-year-old girl off a playground and raping her inside his Crofton townhouse be tried as a juvenile.

The recommendations came despite one of the psychologists testifying Wednesday, during the first day of the two-day hearing, that there was a "high risk" that David Benjamin Raszewski, 17, of Granite Court, would attack another girl.

The doctors said the juvenile system would simply offer a better chance of rehabilitating the teen.

The hearing is expected to resume Tuesday in county Circuit Court in Annapolis, with defense attorney James Crowford Jr. arguing his case for the juvenile system and Assistant State's Attorney Sandra Howell making her final push for adult court.

Circuit Court Judge Philip T. Caroom is expected to make the final decision at that time.

Raszewski, a junior at South River High School, is charged as an adult with first-degree rape in a March 20 attack on the girl who was playing behind his house. He is being held at the Jennifer Road Detention Center.

If convicted in adult court, he faces up to life in prison. If found delinquent in juvenile court, he can be held until he is 21 at a juvenile facility.

Raszewski is one of two Crofton teens charged in high-profile crimes now trying to have their cases tried in juvenile court.

Javel George, 16, is charged as an adult with manslaughter in the May 30 death of Christopher Jones. A waiver hearing is scheduled Oct. 9 and a trial is scheduled Oct. 15.

According to charging documents, Raszewski confessed to police that he approached the girl just before 4 p.m., after the child's baby sitter had left the playground to take the girl's younger brother to use the bathroom.

He told police he asked the girl to come inside his home while his own mother was out. He led the child upstairs, pushed her into his bedroom and molested her, police said.

Howell said yesterday that Raszewski approached the girl for the sole purpose of sex, that the child cried during the attack and that he knew what he did was wrong.

"I think I practically destroyed this girl for the rest of her life," Raszewski told police, according to Howell.

New details

The hearing, attended by several members of the families of both Raszewski and the victim, revealed new details about the teen and his life.

Dr. Teresa Grant, the psychologists hired by the state, testified that doctors at the Kennedy Krieger Institute in Baltimore evaluated Raszewski as a child and wanted to diagnose him with autism. She said Raszewski's mother rejected that diagnosis because of the stigma associated with the disorder.

Grant and Dr. Michael Hendricks, the defense expert, both said Raszewski had an unspecified "autism-spectrum disorder." They also said he appeared to be of at least average intelligence, if not high-average.

Raszewski has had at least one girlfriend -- who was two years older than him -- and is addicted to pornography, Grant said. She added that after the rape, Raszewski played poker with his mother as if nothing had happened.

Grant said Raszewski moved around a lot growing up, spending several years in Hawaii before his parents divorced and moved to Maryland. He did not have any alcohol or drug problems as far as she could tell and did not suffer from any conduct disorders, she said.

Howell noted that Raszewski had a lot of trouble learning in school, holding up a binder full of "individual education programs" developed for Raszewski over the years.

Grant said she believed there was a "high risk" that Raszewski would re-offend, but she still recommended the case be handled in juvenile court. She said the juvenile system would offer more intensive treatment and that with that help he would be less likely to harm anyone else.

"He needs very specific sex-offender treatment," Grant said, arguing he be placed in a secure noncommunity juvenile facility.

Hendricks agreed that Raszewski needed "focused treatment," but said he could receive that treatment almost anywhere -- including home. He told the court that with treatment in the juvenile system, there was a "90 percent" chance Raszewski would not offend again.

"He really wants to do something to be better," Hendricks said.

Baby sitter to serve 5 years in boy's death

2009-09-06T23:27:00.001-07:00

Amari Jackson's mother, Sara Hicks, cried and lunged toward Sharon Patterson in the courtroom Tuesday when Patterson tried to apologize for her negligence in Amari's death by dehydration.

The emotional scene came just after Superior Court Judge Bruce W. Thompson imposed a 10-year sentence on Patterson, to be suspended after she serves five years.

Judicial marshals quickly prevented Hicks from getting close to Patterson, then pushed Hicks out of the courtroom. She could be heard crying loudly in the corridor and exclaiming, "Five years !"

Late Tuesday afternoon, Hicks called the sentence "a disgrace" and the trial "a mockery of his death."

"Shegotoffwithmurder,"Hicks said. "The marshals should've let me go (at Patterson). If they had, justice would've been served."

Thompson, who June 16 found Patterson guilty of criminally negligent homicide, two counts of risk of injury to a child and two counts of intentional cruelty, could have imposed a prison sentence of up to 31 years. But he decided Patterson's cognitive disabilities (she is classified as "mildly mentally retarded") mitigated the sentence.

The sentencing marks the end of a case that began the morning of Feb. 26, 2008, when Hamden police went to the Putnam Avenue apartment Patterson shared with her brother, Robert Patterson, and found 23-month-old Amari unresponsive. He was taken to Yale-New Haven Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

The office of the chief state medical examiner ruled Amari died from dehydration. Police said Amari was deprived of liquids for at least seven days, and Sharon Patterson fed him hot sauce to discourage him from drinking out of people's glasses and wetting beds.

Hicks, now 21, said she left Amari with Patterson because Hicks was pregnant and suffering from morning sickness. She said she didn't know Patterson has a mental disability.

Robert Patterson said he had been concerned about Amari and had told his sister she should give him fluids, but then he left for work. He pleaded guilty to risk of injury to a minor and received a suspended five-year prison sentence. Senior Assistant State's Attorney Michael Pepper has said Robert Patterson's role in Amari's death was "arguably passive."

During legal arguments Tuesday, Pepper told Thompson that Sharon Patterson, now 40, should receive a "significant" sentence because "over approximately 10 days, she tortured this child."

Pepper charged Patterson "purposely deprived him of water and purposely served him hot sauce as a form of punishment." When she was questioned by police after Amari's death, he asserted, she tried to cover up what she had done by giving different versions of events.

Pepper said, "I can't imagine the suffering" the boy endured. He described Patterson's actions as "flat-out cruel."

But defense attorney Joseph E. Lopez said, "I don't think Miss Patterson is a monster." He added that she is "not a mean person."

Lopez noted psychiatric experts found Patterson's ability to make moral judgments were that of a 6-year-old.

"She has had a very hard life," Lopez added. "Her mother was an alcoholic and had substance abuse issues. She (Sharon Patterson) was raped at the age of 12. Five of her children have been taken away from her for various issues."

Co-defense attorney Scott Jones said Hamden police misunderstood her statements. "She said she did in fact give Amari water. She did not intentionally deprive him of water over an extended period of time."

When Hicks addressed Thompson, reading from a statement, she asked for "the most severe sentence the law allows." But she added, "There is no sentence sufficient for what happened to my son, not even death."

Hicks noted she has two other children, "but there is no love greater than that of a mother for her first-born child."

She charged Patterson was "getting high and drunk while my son was dying." She concluded, "Today I cry out for justice for Amari."

Thompson declared it "one of the most difficult cases I've had. ... I have a child whose life has been cut off before it could really begin and a mother who's devastated. There is a defendant with significant cognitive disabilities, which is why I acquitted her of manslaughter."

Thompson said the evidence showed Patterson "did not appreciate the fact that what she did could lead to the death of Amari Jackson. But the evidence shows there were deliberate actions with reckless disregard for the consequences."

Heimposedthe10-yearsentence, suspended after five years, for one of the risk of injury to a minor counts. On the other risk of injury count, he imposed a one-year sentence, to be served concurrently.

For negligent homicide, Thompson imposed a one-year sentence, also concurrent and three-year concurrent sentences on two cruelty counts. After her release, Patterson will face five years of probation.

When Thompson asked Patterson if she had anything to say, Patterson said, "I'm sorry," but the rest of her remarks were never delivered because of Hicks' outburst.

Sittercity HELPING CHILDREN GAIN SPORTS SKILLS

2009-09-02T09:05:00.000-07:00

Sittercity promo Code
Team sports leagues for children have taken the place of casual games with neighborhood children. As a result, a great number of children want to improve their skills, and their parents are eager to help them do this. This has opened up a wonderful variety of careers for those who wish to combine a desire to work with children and sports. Of course, few children will ever go on to become sports superstars; however, sports can bring children great enjoyment and satisfaction during their school years and can lead to a lifetime of interest and participation in sports activities. Through sports, children are able to learn many different skills, including ones not just related to sports, such as:

• Handling defeat and victory

• Being part of a team

• Making a contribution to a group effort

• Learning to follow rules

• Learning how to play fair

• Learning how to overcome adversity

• Disciplining their emotions

There are opportunities for careers teaching children such sports activities as swimming, gymnastics, tennis, golf, bowling, ice-skating, bicycling, basketball, baseball, horseback riding, archery, badminton, ice hockey, soccer, scuba diving, ﬁshing, or fencing. Parents are willing to pay for both private and group instruction in sports to help their children gain skills that may lead to participation in a team sport while in school, a possible professional sports career, or simply a lifetime of enjoyment.

Babysitter In the City Working with children in Sports and Recreation

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Indoors and outdoors, sports and recreation activities are very appealing to children. After school, and especially in the summer, they can be a lot of fun. What’s more they are very healthy activities, as they discourage a sedentary lifestyle of too much TV, too many video games, and too much time in front of the computer. They also beneﬁt children because they help them make new friends and to feel better about themselves. Interesting careers await those who wish to help children gain sports skills or enjoy their recreation time. These careers truly present an opportunity to combine avocation and vocation. Karate aﬁcionados can spend their workdays introducing children to the intricacies of this sport. Former basketball players can share their skills with children eager to follow in their footsteps. Camp counselors and directors can help children develop a love of the outdoors. YMCA/YWCA instructors can introduce children to new recreational pursuits. All of these careers let individuals share enjoyable activities with children.

BABYSITTERS ARE IMPORTANT CAREGIVERS

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Babysitters in the city give parents worry-free workdays because they know their children are being carefully watched. They allow parents to have a few carefree hours of togetherness or a vacation without the company of their children. Children need trained, well-qualiﬁed babysitters to help them grow and develop into healthy, happy people when their parents cannot be with them. The job of babysitter is an important one. Get sittercity coupon here

HELPFUL HINTS FROM A YOUNG BABYSITTER

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Jessica Donaldson, an eighth grader, has already been babysitting for more than three years. Starting at such a young age has become common because of the shortage of babysitters. Jessica does not establish a price with her clients. Instead, she feels that most people pay her a fair wage. The families that hire Jessica to babysit expect her to keep the children out of trouble and to clean up any messes made by the children. Jessica believes that the major task in babysitting is to keep all the children entertained. She always asks families to provide her with speciﬁc information about how to reach them, when they will be home, and special directions for mealtimes, bedtimes, and any medications that need to be given.

Jessica has solid advice for prospective babysitters. She advises them to begin by going on a job with an experienced sitter to see what the job entails. Jessica believes that babysitters need to prepare for this job by learning how to change diapers and ﬁnding out what kind of things children of different ages like to do. Also, it is important to keep babysitting fun for both the sitter and the children so it does not become a routine and boring job. Jessica points out that the test of being a successful babysitter is being asked back again and again because the children love to have you.

The Business Side Of SitterCity.Com Coupon

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Sittercity Coupon Code To avoid misunderstandings, business arrangements need to be discussed before babysitting for the ﬁrst time ( SitterCity Coupon ). This includes discussing the fee before accepting an assignment, ﬁnding out how many hours the parents want the babysitter to work, transportation considerations, and whatever special chores the family wishes done outside of babysitting.

Most babysitters ﬁnd jobs through people they know or by advertising their services on bulletin boards, in bulletins of churches and other local organizations, and in newspapers. Some babysitters work for agencies that will assign them to jobs. Earnings are based on community standards. A babysitter in New York City or Chicago will earn more than one in rural North Dakota. Earnings are typically an hourly fee. However, older, experienced babysitters will be able to charge more for their services than their younger, less experienced counterparts. Young beginning babysitters often start at $5.00 to $7.00 per hour while more experienced adult sitters will typically earn $10.00 to $25.00 per hour based on the number of children in a family. Overnight sitters often receive a ﬂat fee.

Understanding That Families Are Different

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All families do not have the same values. Babysitters need to ask questions to be sure that they understand the way that individual families want them to care for their children. They need to know about limitations on TV time and the types of programs that the children are allowed to watch. The same goes for watching videos and using the computer.

Also, they should know whether prayer is part of such rituals as eating or going to bed.

Babysitter Tool : What Do Babysitters Need on the job?

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For all jobs, babysitters need to know where the following items are located in the home:
ﬂashlight candles matches ﬁrst-aid kit clock cleaning supplies sponge vacuum cleaner paper towels writing paper pencils, pens tissues telephone thermostats

When babysitters watch children in their own homes, they have the additional responsibility of making their homes safe for children. This includes doing such things as:

• Keeping the home tidy

• Placing child-resistant covers on all electrical outlets

• Storing dangerous chemicals and all drugs out of children’s reach

• Keeping ﬁrearms locked away

• Making sure cribs meet safety standards

• Safety-prooﬁng stairs

• Installing toilet seat locks

• Keeping knives out of children’s reach

• Storing tools, especially power tools, out of reach

THE BABYSITTER’S RESPONSIBILITIES

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Babysitters have several responsibilities from the moment they enter a home. Their major responsibility will be to watch the children, which includes:

• Playing with the children

• Preventing accidents

• Selecting safe and appropriate toys and games for each child

• Giving the children their undivided attention

• Changing diapers of infants and toddlers

• Bathing and dressing infants and young children

• Feeding babies

• Fixing meals or snacks for the children

• Cleaning up messes • Handling the household

If a babysitting job is going to be long-term, the babysitter must meet with families ahead of time to establish their guidelines and expectations. On ﬁrst-time assignments as well as subsequent jobs, babysitters need to secure ﬁve vital pieces of information before the parents leave:

1. General behavior guidelines

2. Rules on television viewing and snacking

3. The children’s ofﬁcial bedtime

4. Special duties to be performed, such as bathing or feeding the children, doing dishes, etc.

5. A telephone number or information on how to reach the parents in case of an emergency

BABYSITTERS NEED TO BE AWARE OF HOW CHILDREN DEVELOP

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Unless babysitters understand what young children can and cannot do at certain ages, they will not be able to understand the behavior of their charges or how to choose appropriate activities for them. In Chapter 2, a detailed list of the skills children should have acquired by the ages of ﬁfteen months, two-and-a-half years, and ﬁve years are spelled out for ten important skill areas: listening, thinking, ﬁne motor, social, self-help, selfesteem, speaking, prereading, math, and gross motor.

Learning BabySitting Skill in The City

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Taking classes and learning how to care for children is no guarantee that a prospective babysitter will be an excellent one. Certain special qualiﬁcations are needed. Babysitters need to have patience to play endless games with children. They should truly enjoy being around children, whether the children are crying babies or rambunctious youngsters. Furthermore,

babysitters need to be conﬁdent that they can handle children ranging in age from infant to preteen. Finally, having a cool head in a crisis is an absolutely essential skill, as babysitters must remain calm in emergencies.

Child care classes do give practical training in health and safety and important information about child development. They provide instruction on how to prevent injuries and reduce the spread of infectious diseases. In these classes, babysitters and other child care providers learn how to recognize and care for common childhood illnesses. They also ﬁnd out how to improve their skills in communicating with children and their parents.

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Working As A Babysitter

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Almost every parent has a need for a babysitter either occasionally or on a regular basis. There is always a very high demand for and low supply of babysitters, especially for special occasions. Many child care providers began their careers as babysitters. While most babysitters are teenagers, many are adults who work in the children’s home or their own homes on a part-time or full-time basis.

Even though there are no licensing or training requirements for this job, the more skilled babysitters are, the more clients they have, and the more money they earn. Well-qualiﬁed babysitters know the importance of learning all they can about taking care of children. They must be ready to perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) in an emergency, handle a child with a sore throat, or treat a sprained ﬁnger. These skills are learned through classes at YMCAs or YWCAs, high schools, vocational schools, and community colleges, and through the American and Canadian Red Cross.

The Rewards of Being a Babysitter Sittercity coupon

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The care of children in a home setting can be a rewarding career. Nannies are able to provide children with the nurturing care they need; in return, the nannies will receive love and affection from the children as well as high regard from their families. Today’s nannies provide the high-quality in-home care that parents are seeking and receive respect as well-trained professionals.

Schools For Babysitters : Sittercity coupon

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Choosing a Babysitters School The International Nanny Association publishes the Annual Directory of Nanny Training Programs, Nanny Placement Agencies and Special Services. The book’s section on schools has information about the length of training programs, program costs, admission requirements, and availability of ﬁnancial aid for schools that meet the association’s requirements.
Before enrolling in a nanny school, prospective nannies should carefully check out the merits of the school’s program, according to Joy Shelton, former chairperson of the American Council of Nanny Schools.

FAMILY AND CONSUMER SCIENCES– PROFESSIONAL NANNY CERTIFICATE 2305 A One-Year Certiﬁcate of Graduation Program Professional Nanny Certiﬁcate • Nanny Certiﬁcate • Family and Consumer Sciences: Professional Nanny Certiﬁcate Intensive training program for Child Care Professionals who will enter family homes and share in the responsibility of rearing their children. This program prepares students to meet the varied needs of the families they serve and integrate their lives with those of their employers. These duties could include adapting menus to special dietary needs, managing the day-to-day affairs of the household, aiding a handicapped or gifted child, and communicating with schools, parents, and children.
Students who wish to continue their education ﬁnd that the Child Care Professional Nanny Certiﬁcate is the ﬁrst step in their career ladder. These credits received at Vincennes University can be applied toward an associate’s degree. This training can often be applied toward a degree in teaching or other child care professions.
Upon successful completion of 31 semester hours of speciﬁed courses, students will receive a certiﬁcate of accreditation as a Child Care Professional Nanny from VU.

She offers the following suggestions on how a program should be assessed: 81 Working as a Nanny
1. Talk to graduates.
2. Talk to families that have hired students from the school.
3. Check with the Better Business Bureau and local chamber of commerce to make sure that no complaints about the school have been received.
4. Check with the state’s department of education to determine if the school has a license.
5. Find out if the school is accredited.

The International Nanny Association lists these questions for prospective nannies to ask about a training program:

1. What speciﬁc courses does the nanny program curriculum include?
2. If the program requires work with children as part of the training, is the work supervised by an instructor?
3. Is the program accredited by a federally approved accrediting body?
4. What are the qualiﬁcations of the instructors?
5. How many students have completed the training program? Were they able to ﬁnd jobs as nannies?
6. Is it possible to visit the school or sit in on a class?
7. What is the tuition refund policy if the student drops out of the course? Can the course work be transferred to another school or program?
8. Is counseling or tutoring available to the student who may be having trouble with the program?
9. What percentage of students who sign up for the program complete it?

Sittercity Competencies related to the physical care of children

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• Perform tasks related to the physical care of children

• Maintain appropriate hygienic standards for children regarding bathing, hand washing, and care of the hair and teeth

• Feed, change, and bathe infants

• Prepare infant feedings and care for feeding equipment

• Select clothing appropriate to the child’s physical/social activities

• Plan and supervise rest, bed, and nap times

• Plan and prepare nutritionally balanced meals and snacks

• Care for the mildly ill child

• Recognize symptoms of common childhood illnesses

• Keep accurate records

• Perform appropriate ﬁrst-aid techniques

• Handle emergency situations

• Observe appropriate safety precautions when traveling with children

Competencies related to domestic tasks and care of the child’s environment:

• Perform domestic tasks related to care and maintenance of the child’s areas of the home such as bedrooms, playrooms, bathrooms, and outside play space

• Launder and make simple repairs to children’s clothing

• Observe safety precautions appropriate to a private home

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Competencies related to professionalism Baby Sitter

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Competencies related to professionalism, personal development, and social skills:

• Present a professional attitude and appearance

• Use good judgment

• Use appropriate language and manners

• Demonstrate initiative in planning and performance of tasks and an ability to work unsupervised

• Participate in social, cultural, and educational activities to enhance personal growth and maintain and improve competency

Babysitter SALARY AND FRINGE BENEFITS Coupon

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BabySitters are the elite of child care workers and are enjoying rising wages. The actual salary that a nanny receives does vary widely based on where the nanny lives and the nanny’s qualiﬁcations and experience. The 2006 salary survey of the International Nanny Association showed a range of weekly earnings from a low of $300 per week to a high of $1,000 per week. These results are shown in Table 5.1. Monthly salaries for live-in nannies in Canada vary from C$1,400 to C$2,000 while those for live-out nannies go from C$1,900 to C$3,000.

In addition to a salary, nannies may receive paid health insurance, room and board, a car to drive, travel to exotic vacation spots, membership in health clubs, and an opportunity to attend college part time. Some families even pay college tuition for their nannies. An International Nanny Association survey shows that more than half of all nannies receive paid sick days and national and religious holidays. About one-third of the surveyed nannies received two weeks paid vacation, use of an employer’s vehicle, and paid personal days. Plus, 20 percent of the nannies received 100 percent employer paid health insurance.

Baby Sitter Required Competencies With Family

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Competencies related to interaction with parents/employers and to family dynamics:

• Communicate effectively, both orally and in writing

• Articulate a personal philosophy of child care

• Maintain the conﬁdentiality of the employing family

• Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of parents’/employer’s philosophy of child rearing and recognize the special role a nanny assumes in becoming a part of the child-rearing “team”

• Recognize the ultimate authority of parents in making decisions regarding the welfare and care of the child

• Follow instructions and directions in a timely manner

Baby Sitter Required Competencies

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Required Competencies Through education, nannies can acquire the competencies needed to provide quality child care and a nurturing environment for all children. The International Nanny Association speciﬁcally recommends that a nanny demonstrate the ability to perform competently in the following areas:

• Observe and assess the behavior of children

• Plan and implement consistent daily routines

• Create an environment to foster trust, self-esteem, and independence in children

• Use age-appropriate behavior management techniques in interaction with children

• Plan and implement developmentally appropriate play/learning activities for children

• Choose and care for developmentally appropriate play materials and equipment 77 Working as a Nanny

Babysitter Support Group

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The three sitters whose careers are described later in this chapter often arrange playdates for their charges. Besides giving the children an opportunity to play with other children, they also give the nannies an opportunity to share experiences and enjoy adult company. Nannies ﬁnd it easy to meet other nannies at preschools, parks, and children’s classes. There are also many nanny support groups which provide social opportunities, professional development, and networking opportunities. Visit nannynetwork.com to ﬁnd where some of these support groups are located.

Responsibilities to Self : Babysitter nanny

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A Babysitter/Nanny shall:

• Present herself/himself as an acceptable adult role model, take pride in personal appearance and professional behavior, and refrain from activity that might injure credibility or produce a negative representation of herself/himself or an employer.

• Continue to improve personal knowledge of child development by seeking contemporary information through formal and informal means, such as membership in child care organizations.

Profile of a Babysitter

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As a college student, Sarah Wegert was asked to babysit for a family during her spring break. Although it meant that Sarah would spend her spring break at home in Vail, Colorado, Sarah agreed to help the family who was visiting from Chicago. Sarah quickly bonded with the family and their three young girls, and was asked to nanny for the family for six weeks in the summer back at their home in Chicago. Because Sarah had family in Chicago, she felt comfortable accepting the job.

That summer, Sarah moved in with the family, who provided her with a car, mobile phone, gas, and spending money. Sarah’s day typically began around noon when she picked the children up from their activities. The young girls and Sarah would spend the remainder of the day together, riding bikes, going to the pool, or visiting museums in Chicago. Sarah was asked to rejoin the family the next summer, and she agreed. During her second summer with the family, Sarah joined them on their family vacation to Sydney, Australia for the Olympics. The family provided all accommodations and Olympic tickets for Sarah, and she helped watch the children during the trip.

Sarah enjoyed her experience the most because of the strong connection she made with the family. She said, “They made me feel a part of the family.” Sarah continues to speak with the family and visits them when she is in Chicago with her family. While she had never been a nanny before, Sarah felt prepared because of her many years of babysitting. According to Sarah, a good nanny must enjoy playing with children, be ﬂexible, and feel comfortable working (maybe even living) with a family. Today, Sarah is a thirdgrade teacher in Colorado.
73 Working as a Nanny

On The Job With Babysitter in The City

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No two babysitters will spend their time in exactly the same way. Observing how one babysitter spent her day caring for three young children— Mary (7), John (5), and Larry (3)—will give you an idea of what this job can be like:

7:00 A.M. Start work.

7:05 A.M. See that Mary gets on the school bus.

7:30 A.M.–9 A.M. Feed the boys. See that they get dressed. Children then watch television. Help John with kindergarten speech. The children help clean up the house.

9:00 books. A.M.–10:30 A.M. Go to the park ﬁrst, and then to the library to choose

10:30 A.M.–11:00 for kindergarten.
Prepare lunch for the boys. Make sure John is ready

11:00 A.M.–12:30 P.M. Feed the children. Walk John to kindergarten.

12:30 hold tasks. P.M.–2:30 P.M. Read to Larry. Larry rests. Do laundry and other house

2:30 P.M.–3:00 P.M. Visit with Mary, who has returned from school.

3:00 P.M.–3:30 P.M. John returns home. Serve afternoon snack to children.

3:30 tices piano. The children do their chores and homework.

Mary prac4:30 P.M.–6:30 P.M. The children play during the next two hours with some supervision. Dinner is prepared.

6:30 P.M. Family meal.

7:00 P.M. Day is ﬁnished.

BabySitter Training Programs

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There are several approaches to acquiring the formal training Sitter need.
Some Sitters obtain associate or bachelor’s degrees in early childhood education. Many attend training programs in private schools, vocational schools, and community colleges. Typical nanny training programs offer a variety of courses related to children and child care. There are courses in child growth and development, psychology, food and nutrition, health and safety, play activities, ﬁrst aid, cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), and family dynamics. The programs often include hands-on care of children. Many schools provide the future nanny with information on personal health and grooming, etiquette, social skills, and professional development. Nannies who do not have formal training should have babysitting or daycare experience or have raised their own families.

A Public College Program

Vincennes University in Vincennes, Indiana, has a professional nanny program. The program is a one-year, certiﬁcate degree program and requires completion of thirty-one credit hours. Figure 5.1 shows the actual curriculum as it appears in the college catalog.

What is NANNY's Duties?

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The job description for a nanny will obviously vary from household to household. In general, nannies have the following responsibilities, according to the International Nanny Association:

• Tending to the child’s basic daily physical needs

• Meal planning and preparation

• Laundry and clothing care

• Organization of play activities and outings

• Discipline

• Intellectual stimulation

• Language activities

•Transportation Any housekeeping responsibilities nannies may have are related primarily to the care of the children.

PREREQUISITES FOR BEING A NANNY

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The International Nanny Association has adopted minimum standards for nannies specifying that a nanny must be at least eighteen years of age, have completed high school or the equivalent, and be in good general health, with proof of immunizations and, where required, negative TB test and/or chest x-ray. The one qualiﬁcation that all nannies must also have is genuine respect for and devotion to children. The association also lists the following skills that nannies need to have:

• The ability to work in isolation without the support of coworkers

• The ability to handle new and different surroundings

• Knowledge of the basics of taking care of the physical and emotional needs of infants and young children

• The ability to handle an emergency

• Basic knowledge of child development

• Good communication skills

• The ability to be organized 71 Working as a Nanny In addition, families expect nannies to have no history of alcohol or drug abuse and a safe driving record and almost always prefer a nanny who does not smoke. And of course, it certainly helps if a nanny has a sense of humor.

Different Between Nanny and BabySitter ?

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Nannies have far greater responsibilities than babysitters. They are ﬁlling in for parents all day— not for just a few hours— and play a vital role in the family support system. Unlike babysitters, they may live in with a family. Plus, they will have a much longer workweek of from forty to sixty hours. Like babysitters, most nannies are females; however, there are a few male nannies. Tom Cruise hired a male nanny.

APPLYING TO A BABYSITTER SCHOOL

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Baby Sitter schools are looking for candidates who have the backgrounds, interests, and experiences that will enable them to become excellent Baby Sitters after training. Most use a screening process to make sure that enrollees do

not have a criminal record or their name on a child abuse registry. In addition, the schools are looking for candidates with an above-average driving record, a clean drug and alcohol record, and no medical disabilities that would prevent them in any way from caring for their charges. Physically, they should be able to stoop, kneel, crouch, and crawl. Good vision and hearing are necessary, as well as being able to lift ﬁfty pounds. On the personality side, schools want prospective students to demonstrate creativity, time management skills, initiative, responsibility, self-conﬁdence, and a love of teaching and children.

SitterCity Nanny Credential Exam

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International Nanny Credential Exam The INA Nanny Credential Exam was created as a way to measure a nanny’s working knowledge in the following areas:

Child Development
Family/Provider Communication
Child Guidance Multicultural/Diversity
Awareness Learning Environment
Personal Qualities of a Nanny
Safety Management Skills
Health Nutrition Professionalism

Because the exam is challenging, it is strongly recommended that anyone sitting for the exam has a minimum of 2,000 hours of professional child care experience and current certiﬁcation in infant/child CPR and ﬁrst aid. After the exam is scored, nannies who pass will be given a certiﬁcate that can be added to his/her portfolio or résumé.
79 Working as a sitter

Need For Nanny SkyRockets

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U.S. News and World Report has described “nanny” as a “hot Job Track,” where demand really outstrips supply, especially in major metropolitan areas. It is also an appealing job because it can offer such beneﬁts as good pay, an opportunity to travel, paid vacations, use of a car, and health insurance. Read the following advertisements from the classiﬁed sections of

newspapers and online employment websites, and note the range of positions open for employment as a nanny: NANNY— Loving, exp’d, responsible. M– F. 3 young children. No housework. Health insurance. 30-hour week. 317-555-9872.
Nanny— Part time. Needed for daughters ages 12 and 14. Evenings and weekends. Own transportation and references req’d. Leave message. 212-555-0986.
Nanny— Needed for professional couple. Care for newborn. Transport 2 year old to and from preschool. Must be able to work 10-hour days (M– F). 612-555-4000.
Nanny— Needed M– F 6 A.M.–4 P.M. for quiet 5-year-old girl. Experience and references required. 703-555-2163 after 6 P.M.
Nanny— Must be willing to travel abroad. Twin 5-year-old boys. Contact travelingfamily@nannyhelpwanted.com.
Nanny— Two kids. Girl 4, boy 20 months. Four 10-hour days. Competitive pay. Generous beneﬁts. Must drive. busyfamily@nannyhelpwanted.com.

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What it takes to become an Babysitter?

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The International Nanny Association strongly supports specialized training for nannies who care for children in an in-home setting. Prospective nannies should contact this international network of nannies, nanny placement agency owners, nanny educators, and nanny employers for career information. Write to International Nanny Association, 2020 Southwest Freeway, Suite 208, Houston, TX 77098, or go online to sittercity.com

BabySitter in The City Responsibilities to the Parents

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A Sitter shall:

• Treat parents and other family members with respect by maintaining conﬁdentiality and respecting the family’s right to privacy.

• Work together with parents to create an environment conducive to the healthy development of the child.

• Respect the family’s child-rearing values and parents’ rights to make decisions for their children.

• Support the family value system, cultural expression, and individual characteristics and refrain from imposing personal values or biases on the child.

• Be an advocate for children and work to protect their rights.

• Not hold the child accountable for negative interactions between parents and nanny.

• Inform parents of physical injury, illness, and emotional crises should they occur in the child’s life.

BabySitter Code of Conduct

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The International Nanny Association has adopted a Code of Conduct to promote professionalism and ethical practices among nannies, educators, and those who employ and place in-home child care specialists. By virtue of their membership in the International Nanny Association, members agree to abide by this Code of Conduct and to support quality in-home child care for the world’s most valuable resources— our children.

Responsibilities to the Child A Sitter shall:

• Respect each child as a human being and never knowingly participate in any practice that is disrespectful, dangerous, exploitive, intimidating, or psychologically or physically harmful.

• Maintain a safe and healthy atmosphere that encourages optimum social, emotional, intellectual, and physical development of children.

• Provide various learning opportunities through which a child can explore and utilize his or her continued personal growth and development.

• Recognize the unique potential of each child, encourage questions, and present answers that children can understand.

• Keep abreast of current activity in the areas of childhood development through continued education, either formally or informally.

• Work toward promoting knowledge and understanding of young children and their needs and act as an advocate for children’s rights.

• Be familiar with the signs of child abuse and neglect and be knowledgeable of procedures for dealing with them.

Working As Nanny

2009-08-27T19:55:00.000-07:00

The television viewing audience has become far better acquainted recently with the profession of nanny through watching real-life nannies turn around families with poorly behaved children in just a week. It’s rather like seeing the “practically perfect” Mary Poppins in action. While TV nannies have brought attention to this profession, it is deﬁnitely not a new one. The original nannies were trained in England at the Norland Institute. On the job, they wore starched brown uniforms with white aprons, little brown hats, and sensible, sturdy shoes. Much has changed since then. Today’s nannies receive their formal training in community and nanny colleges and dress casually for work in jeans and sneakers. While Mary Poppins, the well-known ﬁctional nanny, ﬂew through the air with the Banks children, nannies are now found skateboarding with their charges.

OWNERSHIP OF CHILD CARE CENTERS

2009-08-26T21:17:00.000-07:00

While all child care centers are organized to care for young children, there is diversity in the ownership of these centers. Most centers in the United States are operated by nonproﬁt organizations. In Canada, it is the same story, with 80 percent of the child care centers operated on a not-for-proﬁt basis— usually by community-based or parent organizations. Although people hear a lot about national child care chains, most of the for-proﬁt child care centers are locally owned. The ownership composition of child care centers in the United States is shown in Figure 3.1.
There are advantages in having so many different types of child care centers. Not only do parents have a choice, but child care workers also can choose the work environment that is most appealing to them.

CHILD CARE WORKERS ARE NEEDED

2009-08-26T21:09:00.000-07:00

About 50 million women of the close to 120 million women age sixteen years and older in the workforce in the United States today are working mothers. The U.S. labor force has experienced a revolution with the entry of working mothers in dramatic numbers. As recently as 1975, only onethird of women with children worked outside the home. Now, approximately 70 percent of all mothers work in this country. It’s a similar story in Canada, where about 66 percent of all women with children under the age of three work, and about 75 percent of those whose youngest child is age three to ﬁve work. The major impact of this change in the workforce is the overwhelming demand that now exists for child care workers.

As the children of working mothers move through school, there will be a need for more child care workers for supervision of beforeand after-school activities and during vacations and holidays from school. More workers are also needed because of the very high turnover rate among child care workers. Approximately one-third of all child care workers leave this profession each year. The National Women’s Law Center attributes this to the fact that child care workers are among the lowest-paid workers in the United States, with wages only slightly above the poverty threshold. This is also true in Canada, where many workers earn local minimum wages. These very important caregivers in both countries actually earn less than many pet sitters.

MANY CHOICES FOR WORKING WITH CHILDREN As the number of working mothers has increased, a need for a variety of child care arrangements has emerged. This, of course, has created many career choices that center on the care of children. Although approximately 20 percent of all families in the United States and 40 percent in Canada rely on relatives for satisfactory child care arrangements, the rest must look for help beyond their immediate family circle. The two most popular choices are child care centers and family child care homes. This chapter explores the different types of child care centers and the job opportunities they offer.
Careers in family child care homes will be investigated in Chapter 4.

HISTORY OF CHILD CARE CENTERS Before the Industrial Revolution, children were typically cared for in their homes by their families or by caregivers hired to assist family members. In the mid-1700s, factories sprouted up all over England and Scotland, and large numbers of women left their homes to work in them. This change was due largely to the invention of two machines, the spinning jenny and the water frame, which took the manufacture of textiles out of homes and into factories. Women were not able to leave their young children at home nor have the children at their sides in the factories while they were working. To solve this problem, factory owners established rooms for their workers’ children and hired untrained adults, boys, and girls to supervise the children.
These were the ﬁrst child care centers. The establishment of child care centers in the United States occurred almost a hundred years later, when manufacturing became a major industry and women ﬁrst joined the workforce.
Besides pioneering child care centers, Great Britain also introduced nursery schools a short time later to improve upon the care children were receiving at factory child care facilities. Robert Owen, a mill owner and social reformer, set up the ﬁrst program to teach and supervise the children of factory workers and hired people with some teaching qualiﬁcations.
During World War II, women were needed to work in the factories. The U.S. government responded by passing the Lanham Act, which provided funds to set up child care centers in defense plants. At the end of the war, these centers were shut down, and many women left the workforce. In the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s, women began returning to the workforce and the need for child care centers grew. Today, there are more than a hundred thousand centers serving young children.

In the mid-1960s, the federal government began to play a more prominent role in the care and development of young children. The Head Start program was launched to help prepare the children of poor families for school. Activities were designed to stimulate the social, emotional, mental, and physical growth of young children. Many parents of children in this program work in centers as aides or as volunteers. The Head Start program continues today. Also, the federal government began to provide some child care services for mothers receiving welfare payments who were enrolled in job training programs.

Many proposals for federally sponsored child care programs have been introduced since the 1960s in the United States and Canada. A comprehensive proposal, the Child Development Act, was passed in the U.S. Congress in 1971 but was vetoed by President Nixon. This legislation would have expanded Head Start and provided preschool education for all children who needed this help before enrolling in school. Every year child care bills are introduced in Congress; however, no comprehensive national child care plan has yet emerged. Some states have begun to offer prekindergarten programs for four-year-olds in their most disadvantaged school districts. And others are considering legislation requiring all schools to offer programs for threeand four-year-olds. A wide variety of child care programs 25 Working in Child Care Centers

CAREERS IN CHILD CARE are subsidized by federal, state, and local governments, and more will appear in the future to meet the demand for quality child care. Canada now has a Universal Child Care Beneﬁt that will give parents C$1,200 a year per child under age six but, for the present, has rejected a plan to create muchneeded, licensed child care spaces.
During the 1980s, business and industry became aware that working mothers with young children had more absences from work and left their jobs more often owing to the responsibility of caring for their children. The problems were greatest with the mothers of preschool children. In response, employers devised child care options to help their working mothers. A few have developed both on-site and off-site child care centers. In some cases, a group of employers have joined together to provide child care for their employees. An employer may also establish a referral service to help families ﬁnd child care. Many employers offer vouchers for child care or include some form of child care in their beneﬁts packages. With research showing that employer-sponsored day care programs improve morale and cut personnel costs, more companies have started some type of child care program. This trend is expected to continue, and to accelerate, in the future.

The early years curriculum 1: Birth to Three Matters

2009-08-26T20:55:00.000-07:00

Since 1997 there have been a number of initiatives regarding the care and education of young children, including very young children. One of the most important things to happen was the bringing together of childcare and education and a recognition that what happens to children in their earliest years may be critical to their subsequent development.

Increasingly, women who are mothers want or need to return to work after the birth of their children. There is still a view in the United Kingdom that these women are ‘bad’ mothers, who put their careers or their financial security before the well-being of their children. There is also a general and lingering suspicion of childcare away from the home, despite a substantial body of evidence highlighting the benefits of children being with other children and other adults. Dahlberg et al. (2004), in the most recent edition of their book looking at quality in early childhood provision, talk, deliberately, of early childhood institutions rather than of early childhood services. They point out that a service implies a giver and a taker, a buyer and a seller. This is the language of the market. Talking of institutions, they argue, takes the discussion into a more public arena where aspects of culture and society, fairness and equity, may be discussed.
Despite the bringing together of care and education, parents are still faced with a plethora of perplexing choices when making decisions about what to do with their young children. The wealthy might employ a nanny or an au pair, or send their child to a private nursery. Some might opt for playgroups, where parents often play a role. Many will try to get their children into the nursery school if there is one in their area and if there is a space. These are often like gold dust! Many will send their children to day care centres and more and more will select children’s centres offering all-day provision.

Think about these words: Nursery, crèche, childcare centre, daghem, asilo nido (which means ‘nest’), nursery school, nursery class, kindergarten, école maternelle, scuola d’infanzia, children’s centres, wrap-around care, maintained schools, private schools, special schools, independent schools, playgroups

And these: Teacher, teaching assistant, nursery nurse, educationalist, carer, pedagogue, volunteer, helper, manager, childminder, nanny, au pair childcare centre worker, practitioner, manager, Sure Start And these: Montessori, Reggio Emilia, High Scope, Sure Start, Steiner, schemas, Te Whaariki,

Foundation Stage, Birth to Three Matters, Every Child Matters Are you confused? Not surprising, really. These words have been taken out of several current and popular books on early childhood education and care, and it is no wonder that those working with children or thinking about their learning and development feel that they are walking through treacle. We are not going to unpick all these terms now, because there is not the space. You have been asked to think about them purely to get a sense of the complexity of the field.
In 1997 the UK government decided that the time was ripe for developing what it called a framework to support those working with children from birth to the age of three. Already in place was the Curriculum Guidance for the Foundation Stage, which applies to children from the age of three to the age of five-plus. (We will turn our attention to that in the next chapter.) The resulting document was called Birth to Three Matters (Department for Education and Skills 2004b), a title which holds the promise of a recognition of something we all know. In the foreword to the document, Baroness Ashton tells us that the publication of the document constitutes a milestone in recognising and valuing our youngest children and the contribution made to their growth and development by the adults who work with them. It raises the status of work with this important age group and marks our commitment to supporting quality and effective practice with children from birth to three.

The New ChildCare Bill

2009-08-26T20:48:00.000-07:00

We have seen a new document relating to the care and education of children from birth to the age of three (which we discuss in detail later in this chapter) as well as the publication of the significant document Every Child Matters and a revised Children Act 2004. Arising out of all this will be the Childcare Bill, which is due to be published before the end of 2006, resulting in what will be called the Early Years Foundation Stage— due to be introduced in 2008 and effectively merging Birth to Three, the Foundation Stage and elements of the National Standards for under-eights day care and childminding. This will be compulsory for all those currently registered with OFSTED as well as for independent, maintained and non-maintained settings catering for children under the age of three. The new regulations will apply to all children from birth until 31 August following any child’s fifth birthday. It will have the same legal status as the Foundation Stage currently has under the National Curriculum and will remove the Foundation Stage from the National Curriculum.

The Early Years Foundation Stage will start with six areas of learning and development. These are:

• personal, social and emotional development;

• communication, language and literacy;

• problem-solving, reasoning and numeracy;

• knowledge and understanding of the world;

• physical development; and

• creative development. You will see that there are few changes in the six learning areas, but those there are, are significant. Mathematics, for example, currently in the Foundation Stage, is to be replaced with the more relevant and meaningful problemsolving, reasoning and numeracy. The new documents will specify early learning goals, educational programmes and assessment arrangements, and it is encouraging to read that these are going to be largely based on the observations adults make of children at play. Another change is the introduction of aspects of welfare— things like the qualifications and training of the adults, the suitability of the premises and resources, how complaints are dealt with and how records are kept. In a press release called ‘Direction of Travel’ (December 2005) we are reminded that the current Foundation Stage was built on research into early childhood provision— specifically the Effective Provision of Pre-school Education (EPPE)—a longitudinal study— and Researching Pedagogy in the Early Years (REPEY). Birth to Three was based on a reading of relevant literature and publications, including a project carried out by Professor Edward Melhuish in June 2004 for the Daycare Trust. This

showed that three aspects of interaction between children and carers were key: affection, responsiveness and communication.
The new document will highlight the importance of children learning through selfchosen activities— that is, through play— and will advocate that there is a sensible balance between childand adult-initiated activities. The starting point for all provision will be the five outcomes detailed in Every Child Matters and the Children Act (2004):

• Be healthy.

• Stay safe.

• Enjoy and achieve.

• Make a positive contribution.

• Achieve economic well-being. Settings will use the four aspects of Birth to Three Matters, work towards the early learning goals and look ahead to the five aspects outlined above. The fourteen national standards may also apply. It is a far-reaching proposal, making some needed changes and bringing together currently separate strands into one document and one legal framework.

Partnership with Parents

2009-08-26T20:16:00.000-07:00

Partnerships with parents You can be left in little doubt that it is generally considered to be a ‘good thing’ for parents and carers to be intimately involved with the schools and settings which care for and educate their children. Birth to Three Matters, the Curriculum Guidance for the Foundation Stage and the Foundation Stage Profile: Handbook all remind us of this. Parents, we all know and appreciate, are children’s first educators. Current UK government thinking places parents high on the agenda, talking about ways of helping parents (particularly mothers) go back to work or study and offering them that ‘golden’ word: choice. Indeed, in December 2004 the government published a policy document called Choice for Parents: The Best Start for Children and described the policy as a tenyear strategy for childcare. The goals of the policy are laudable: more money, more training, more inter-agency work. The policy arises out of the research mentioned in an earlier chapter (Daycare Trust 2004) and the Effective Provision of Pre-School Education (EPPE) Project. Here are some of the things being proposed:

• The setting up of children’s centres where the youngest children are brought together in one setting so that there is care and education for babies, toddlers and pre-schoolers.

• The leaders of these children’s centres to be offered training through a one-year programme focusing on leadership (currently being trialled).

• By 2008 there are supposed to be children’s centres serving 2,500 communities.

• The setting up of childminding networks to link childminders caring for children in homes rather than settings to be linked into the system.

• The setting up of extended day programmes for schools, allowing parents to be offered care for their children beyond the hours of the traditional school day. • Funding for childcare through working tax credits which is aimed to go beyond the current figure of £135 per week for a single child and £300 for two children in a family.

• Joined-up services for families.

• A proper qualifications strategy for childcare workers.

• Attention paid to parental leave and to flexible working. It is up to you to decide whether this approach takes seriously raising the status of childcare as a profession, of childcare workers within society, of children within our culture. Sceptics might suggest that the policy has more to do with getting parents back to work to boost the economy than about offering universal, free quality care and education to all children whose parents want it. In terms of parental participation there is a wealth of documented evidence showing that where parents and practitioners work closely together, children thrive. It is imperative that in any setting a genuine two-way partnership is established. This means

Partnerships with parents You can be left in little doubt that it is generally considered to be a ‘good thing’ for parents and carers to be intimately involved with the schools and settings which care for and educate their children. Birth to Three Matters, the Curriculum Guidance for the Foundation Stage and the Foundation Stage Profile: Handbook all remind us of this. Parents, we all know and appreciate, are children’s first educators. Current UK government thinking places parents high on the agenda, talking about ways of helping parents (particularly mothers) go back to work or study and offering them that ‘golden’ word: choice. Indeed, in December 2004 the government published a policy document called Choice for Parents: The Best Start for Children and described the policy as a tenyear strategy for childcare. The goals of the policy are laudable: more money, more training, more inter-agency work. The policy arises out of the research mentioned in an earlier chapter (Daycare Trust 2004) and the Effective Provision of Pre-School Education (EPPE) Project. Here are some of the things being proposed:

• The setting up of children’s centres where the youngest children are brought together in one setting so that there is care and education for babies, toddlers and pre-schoolers.

• The leaders of these children’s centres to be offered training through a one-year programme focusing on leadership (currently being trialled).

• By 2008 there are supposed to be children’s centres serving 2,500 communities.

• The setting up of childminding networks to link childminders caring for children in homes rather than settings to be linked into the system.

• The setting up of extended day programmes for schools, allowing parents to be offered care for their children beyond the hours of the traditional school day.

• Funding for childcare through working tax credits which is aimed to go beyond the current figure of £135 per week for a single child and £300 for two children in a family.

• Joined-up services for families. • A proper qualifications strategy for childcare workers.

• Attention paid to parental leave and to flexible working. It is up to you to decide whether this approach takes seriously raising the status of childcare as a profession, of childcare workers within society, of children within our culture. Sceptics might suggest that the policy has more to do with getting parents back to work to boost the economy than about offering universal, free quality care and education to all children whose parents want it. In terms of parental participation there is a wealth of documented evidence showing that where parents and practitioners work closely together, children thrive. It is imperative that in any setting a genuine two-way partnership is established. This means

50 Best Beauty Tips of All Time

2009-08-25T08:56:00.002-07:00

Band-Aids for wrinkles, deodorant before bed, and sugar packets to thicken hair. What other secret tricks did the 100 experts we consulted divulge? Read on ...

GET UNSTUCK

Nail polish cap won't budge? Wrap a rubber band around it for a better grip.

--Julie Kandalec, L.A. manicurist

FAKE A NOSE JOB

Draw a line with cream shimmer down the bridge of your nose. The highlighter reflects light, creating the illusion of a straighter sniffer.

--Tasha Reiko Brown-Jovel, L.A. makeup artist

Nars the Multiple in Copacabana, $37; narscosmetics.com.

SOOTHE IRRITATION

After plucking ingrown hairs, crush two aspirins (an anti-inflammatory) into powder, then add a few drops of water to create a paste. Apply over tender area and let dry.

--Peter Kopelson, L.A. dermatologist

MAKE YOUR MANI LAST

Remove polish with acetone polish remover; wash each nail with soap and dry well. Wipe again with remover. This gets rid of any oils that prevent polish from adhering completely.

--Jaimi Brooks, L.A. manicurist

REESE WITHERSPOON

CREATE LIVED-IN CURLS

To get the most natural look, alternate between using a small and a large curling iron. This creates tousled waves that vary in size.

--David Babaii, L.A. hairstylist

PLUMP UP YOUR LIPS

Dab your pout with peppermint oil. It's an instant lip plumper, setting off a small allergic reaction that causes swelling.

--David Bank, Mount Kisco, N.Y., dermatologist

FIND YOUR BEST BLUSH

Choose a shade that matches the pink of your knuckles when making a fist.

--Dustin Lujan, N.Y.C. makeup artist for Le Métier de Beauté

PREVENT WRINKLES

Affix adhesive butterfly bandage closures to facial lines before bedtime to stop yourself from frowning in your sleep.

--Francesca Fusco, N.Y.C. dermatologist

Band-Aid butterfly closures, $2/10; drugstore.com.

ENHANCE YOUR CONDITIONER

Warm it in a microwave-safe bowl for 15 seconds. The heat helps open up the hair cuticle, causing the conditioner to penetrate more deeply.

--Tippi Shorter, N.Y.C. hairstylist

MIX YOUR OWN DRY SHAMPOO

A fast and inexpensive fix for greasy hair: Combine equal parts baking soda and baby powder, sprinkle over hair, and then brush. The baking soda helps remove buildup, and the baby powder soaks up excess oil.

--David Babaii

BLOT OIL ON THE GO

It sounds crazy, but toilet seat covers make perfect blotting papers. The thin tissue absorbs oil like a sponge.

--Bruce Grayson, L.A. makeup artist

Johnson's baby powder in Cooling Cucumber Melon, $4; at drugstores.

APPLY DEODORANT BEFORE BED

Your body temperature is higher at night, so the deodorant will permeate more deeply into the sweat ducts. It will block wetness the next day, even after you shower.

--David Bank

BOOST LASHES

Before putting on mascara, dust lashes first with a translucent powder to add instant volume.

--Tasha Reiko Brown-Jovel

Laura Mercier translucent loose setting powder, $34; sephora.com.

EVA MENDES

ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT DARK NAILS

TAKE YOUR TIME

Rather than polish the whole nail in one fell swoop, break the process down into at least three strokes: First, paint the center, then swipe along each side, keeping the coats thin to prevent chipping.

--Bethany Newell, N.Y.C. manicurist

STAY IN THE LINES

For a finished, professional look, always leave a small space between the cuticle and the polish line.

--B.N.

STOP THE COLOR FROM BLEEDING

Before removing polish, brush cuticle oil on each nail to avoid staining the base of the nail or fingers. The oil creates a barrier that keeps the color from penetrating the skin as you rub it away.

--Tabitha Belesis, N.Y.C. manicurist

KEEP COLOR REAL

If you really like the way lipstick looks in the tube, prime lips with a touch of foundation before applying. That way, you start with a blank canvas and the color appears more true.

--Anthea King, N.Y.C. makeup artist

DIY HAIR SPF

Don't dare go in the sun without first misting your hair with a mixture of equal parts water and sunscreen--it will keep color from fading and hair from drying out.

--Giselle, N.Y.C. colorist

ZAP FRIZZ

Wrap wet hair in a towel that's been soaked in ice-cold water. This seals the shaft, so as hair dries, it will stay frizz-free.

--Ursula Stephen, N.Y.C. hairstylist

AMP UP YOUR LASH CURLER

Warm it with a blow-dryer up to a maximum of three seconds before using it on your lashes. The heat will open up the cuticle of the hair, boosting the curl.

--Christy Coleman, L.A. makeup artist

Shu Uemura eyelash curler, $19; shuuemura-usa.com.

SAY "SEE-YA" TO BRASSY HAIR COLOR

Wash with a mixture of grape Kool-Aid powder (just a pinch) and four tablespoons of your regular shampoo. The purple blue cancels out the brassy gold orange in overprocessed hues because it's on the opposite side of the color spectrum.

--Tippi Shorter

REDUCE REDNESS

Spritz a small amount of nasal decongestant on red areas to decrease the color in a flash. The spray, which lessens the inflammation that triggers nasal congestion, will do the same for a pimple.

--David Bank

THICKEN HAIR

Add two sugar packets to a 20-ounce bottle of water to create a natural volumizing spray.

--Oscar Blandi, N.Y.C. hairstylist

GUARANTEE A PERFECT SHADE

When coloring hair at home, start your timer as soon as you begin applying the dye, not when you finish. Otherwise the first sections you do (front, hairline, and nape of the neck) will be overcolored. If the rest of the hair isn't timed perfectly, it doesn't matter as much because it's not as visible.

--Rita Hazan, N.Y.C. colorist

TAME UNRULY BROWS

Comb mustache wax onto eyebrows. The wax coats each hair and locks it in place.

--Troy Surratt, N.Y.C. makeup artist

Clubman Moustache wax, $5; drugstore.com.

PUNCH UP NEON POLISH

Apply an opaque white polish before your neon shade. The flat base brings out the pigment of the color and illuminates it from underneath.

--Patricia Yankee, N.Y.C. manicurist

OPI matte Nail Lacquer in Alpine Snow, $9; ulta.com for stores. Zoya nail polish in Paz, $6; zoya.com.

CURTAIL A BLEMISH

To dry up oily secretions, spray a makeup sponge with clear antiperspirant and dab it on the pimple before putting on your makeup.

--Jake Bailey, L.A. makeup artist

Secret antiperspirant and deodorant aerosol spray in Powder Fresh, $5; at drugstores.

THREE SURPRISING USES FOR DANDRUFF SHAMPOO

WASH AWAY DRY SKIN

Clean your face with anti-dandruff shampoo to decrease flaking. It reduces the yeast levels that cause scaly skin.

--Elissa Lunder, Wellesley, Mass., dermatologist

BRIGHTEN HAIR COLOR

Lather your tresses with a flake fighter and let sit for 20 minutes. This revives color and even removes the green tints that may result from chlorine.

--Sean James, L.A. hairstylist

FIGHT BACNE

Shampoos that contain salicylic acid can also help with breakouts on your back.

--Monica Schadlow, N.Y.C. dermatologist

Kérastase Bain Gommage, $39; kerastase-usa.com.

WAKE UP TIRED EYES

Apply black mascara, then tip the ends of your lashes with a mascara in plum or navy to make the whites of your eyes look brighter.

--Brett Freedman, L.A. makeup artist

Diorshow mascara in plum and black, $24 each; sephora.com.

ATTACH FALSE LASHES WITH EASE

To get the clearest view of your upper lash line, hold a hand mirror below your chin and look down.

--Tasha Reiko Brown-Jovel

THIN OUT CLUMPY MASCARA

A drop of Coca-Cola will reinvigorate your mascara's consistency. The syrup in the soda adds just enough moisture without making it watery.

--Brett Freedman

PREVENT ACNE

Keep separate hair and face towels so the oil from your scalp doesn't cause breakouts.

--Amy Wechsler, N.Y.C. dermatologist

HEAL DRY HANDS

Rub the inside of a lemon directly onto the backside of your hands. Lemons have high concentrations of citric acid and vitamin C, which stimulate connective tissue production. The sting lasts a few seconds, but it's worth it.

--Macrene Alexiades-Armenakas, N.Y.C. dermatologist

SAFEGUARD SKIN

Slather on sunscreen before every flight, and choose aisle over window seats. There's a greater level of UV rays at high altitudes than on the ground.

--Elissa Lunder

Aveeno Positively Ageless sunblock lotion SPF 70, $10; drugstore.com.

ADD OOMPH TO LIPS

Always keep a sheer golden lip gloss in your makeup bag. It instantly warms up any lip color and gives you a brand-new shade.

--Anthea King

L'Oréal Paris Colour Juice lip gloss in Golden Splash, $9; ulta.com.

SHIELD UNDEREYE AREAS

Don't forget to cover the area beneath your eyes when spreading on sunscreen. The skin around your eyes is thinner, making it more susceptible to damaging UV rays.

--Jeanine Downie, Montclair, N.J., dermatologist

HARDEN NAIL POLISH FASTER

Once they're partially dry, run nails under cold water. The icy temperature will speed up setting your polish.

--Bethany Newell

AVOID BREAKOUTS FROM BRUSHES

Wash your makeup tools regularly with a clarifying shampoo to rid them of product buildup that can cause blemishes.

--Tasha Reiko Brown-Joval

CONTROL SHINE

Tea is a natural astringent. To reduce oil, splash your face with cool black tea, but do not rinse.

--Peter Kopelson

ONE PRODUCT, THREE WAYS CUTICLE OIL

HALT SMUDGES

Drop cuticle oil on each nail just after polishing. The oil makes nail surfaces slippery, serving as a buffer between the lacquer and any object that might tarnish it. This works for pedicures too: Immediately after applying top coat, add cuticle oil; then slip on sandals for a flaw-free trip home.

--Jaimi Brooks

FIX SMEARS

Oops! Already spoiled your freshly painted manicure? Brush cuticle oil onto the nail and gently rub out the crease with fingers.

--J.B.

REFRESH DULL POLISH

A spot of cuticle oil adds a nice sheen to lackluster lacquer. It hydrates nails, while sinking into every nook and cranny to smooth out imperfections.

--J.B.

Jessica Phenomen Oil intensive moisturizer, $14; jessicacosmetics.com.

RECYCLE CRACKED POWDER

Crush broken blush in a bowl--the back of a spoon will do the trick--until it's a fine powder, then blend with a lip balm for a perfect cream blush.

--Fiona Stiles, N.Y.C. makeup artist

broken powder blush + lip balm = cream blush

Sue Devitt Silky blush in Los Angeles, $20; ulta.com. Chapstick lip balm SPF 4, $2; drugstore.com.

ERASE NAIL STAINS

Soak fingers in denture cleaner for about three minutes. The liquid's oxidizing agents will help remove stains.

--April Foreman, L.A. manicurist

HELP YOUR SKIN TURN BACK TIME

Dip a washcloth in soy milk and rest it on your face for 10 minutes once a week. Soy is a skin brightener and contains phytoestrogen, a plant-derived estrogen that is thought to help prevent wrinkles.

--Debra Luftman, L.A. dermatologist

JULIANNE HOUGH

GET NO-BUDGE SHADOW

For a creamy eye shadow that won't crease, use waterproof eyeliner pencil. Draw over the eyelid, then blend with finger.

--Jake Bailey

Make Up For Ever Aqua Eyes in Champagne, $17; sephora.com.

TEXTURIZE HAIR

Clear liquid soap adds great body to hair. Plus, it comes out easily when you wash it out.

--David Babaii

CREATE LIQUID LINER

Add a few eyedrops to dark eye shadow. The drops are mess-free and sterile, which means you won't introduce dangerous bacteria into your makeup.

--Troy Surratt

MAC eyeliner brush No. 210, $18; maccosmetics.com.

Clarins Single Eye Colour in Totally Black, $20; clarinsusa.com.

Rohto V Cooling Redness Reliever lubricant eye drops, $7; drugstore.com.

growing pains

2009-08-25T08:56:00.001-07:00

What do you do when your well-mannered kids suddenly go off the rails with a certain behavior? Parents and child-development experts explain how to get back on track.

Once you made it through those sleepless nights with an infant and your child responded to English, it seemed most problems could be tackled with a stern no. Or maybe three. But even kids who initially follow every rule eventually start veering off course. Suddenly a child who loved green beans refuses anything but waffle fries. To help you straighten out those wayward souls, Real Simple talked to moms who have done it, then consulted experts to find out why these women's solutions were successful. So no matter which path your kids choose, you can keep them moving in the right direction.

"My child started throwing tantrums to get what he wanted."

--Rachel O'Connell, Ashland, Massachusetts

the problem: A two-year-old who learned that a screaming fit usually resulted in a toy. "My son would let loose these truly bloodcurdling screams that would go on until one of us would give him whatever it took to make that awful noise stop," says O'Connell. "One day he screamed so much he lost his voice."

the fix: A nifty disappearing act. As soon as her son launched into one of his fits, O'Connell and her husband would calmly and promptly remove themselves from the action. "We'd go into another room right away, but we'd tell him he could come find us when he was finished," she says. "Knowing that we weren't going to get riled up or be around did the trick eventually. Within a week, the screaming sessions were down to less than a minute."

the expert take: "When you say, 'I'm not going to stay in the room with you for this,' it's removing attention from the tantrum, which says, 'This is not acceptable,' " says Rex Forehand, a professor of psychology at the University of Vermont, in Burlington, and a coauthor of Parenting the Strong-Willed Child (McGraw-Hill, $16). "Toddlers might erupt like Mount Vesuvius, but then they have to vent and let go of upset feelings," says Robert A. MacKenzie, a family therapist and the author of the Setting Limits book series (Three Rivers Press). Stuck in Target? You can't leave a screaming child in housewares. Forehand suggests picking up the child, leaving the store, and putting him in the backseat of the car--alone--while you stand outside with the keys. Wait a few minutes; if the tantrum stops, let him out and go back inside.

"It took two hours to put my child to bed."

--Kerri Eastham, Torrance, California

the problem: A bedtime process that dragged on into the wee hours. Eastham's 2½-year-old daughter had, over time, become a master of delaying bedtime. "Some requests were legitimate, like 'One more trip to the bathroom.' Others were ridiculous: 'One more dinner, please'? " says Eastham.

the fix: A photo-driven bedtime routine. "I took pictures of my daughter brushing her teeth, washing her face, and so on. We laminated them and taped them in order to a strip of paper. When each one was completed, she would say, 'Check!' " says Eastham. "And if she asked for another drink of water, I'd show her the chart and say, 'See? We already did that.' It worked right away."

the expert take: "Kids love clarity--they crave it," says MacKenzie. "An approach like this answers all the questions: What's next? How far can I go? How much is left?" To keep the novelty of the chart from wearing off, MacKenzie recommends updating it from time to time--which Eastham has done by subbing in new pictures (showing off new teeth or new pink pajamas) and adding in stickers that function as check marks (and peel off easily from the laminated photos).

"My kids rushed through dinner just to get to dessert."

--Gia Blout, Pasadena, California

the problem: Using dessert as a reward for eating well eventually turned dinner into an afterthought. "My two boys would rush through dinner and eat the bare minimum to earn their 'reward.' There were constant negotiations and power struggles," says Blout.

the fix: Blout began to serve dinner family-style, with all the dishes--even dessert--presented at once. The boys were expected to serve themselves and make their own choices without any intervention from their parents. "The first night, my younger one grabbed a cookie and inhaled it. But then he relaxed and ate a complete meal," says Blout. Eventually she began phasing out dessert at every meal--without protests.

the expert take: "It's important to stop distinguishing between 'good' and 'bad' foods," says Adele Faber, a coauthor of How to Talk So Kids Will Listen & Listen So Kids Will Talk (Collins Living, $16). "Making food attractive, like arranging peas in the shape of a smiley face or cutting fruit into shapes, will make kids more likely to eat it." Considering dessert as a part of the meal, rather than as an overvalued treat, eliminates it as a bargaining chip. And if your child does eat six cookies before serving himself any spinach, consider this: "In studies, when kids were allowed to eat whatever they wanted, they just ate dessert at first. But within a few weeks, they were back to a balanced meal," says Kevin Leman, a psychologist and the author of Have a New Kid by Friday (Revell, $18).

"My child was obsessed with TV."

--Elizabeth Williams, Hoboken, New Jersey

the problem: A nonstop loop of Duck Tales: Raiders of the Lost Harp. "Our four-year-old son became obsessed and wanted to watch constantly," says Williams.

the fix: Williams didn't want her family to spend their waking hours glued to the tube or have television be the go-to source of entertainment, so she banned it during the week--for Mom and Dad, too. "Exceptions are made for presidential debates and speeches and baseball opening day," she says. "It was clear-cut, and the rule applied fairly to everybody." Williams subbed in plenty of card games (Uno was a favorite), kitchen science experiments, and even timed "drills." "I would say, 'How long will it take you to walk backwards around the apartment three times? I'll time you!' He loved being timed," she says.

the expert take: "The idea of limiting time in front of the set is great, but whether you need to cut it out altogether is up to you," says Forehand. Even if you do allow your kids to watch during the week, there are ways to diversify the subject. Use your child's interest in particular programs to create an educational experience. "Say, 'Oh, you're interested in ducks? Let's learn more about them. We can go to the library and find books that tell us what they do,' " suggests Faber.

"My daughter went berserk when we left her with a babysitter."

--Jan Schwieters, Eden Prairie, Minnesota

the problem: Temper tantrums at the sight of a sitter. "Our three-year-old became hysterical when we left her with someone else. We would hand over a screaming toddler and bolt. It was terrible," says Schwieters.

the fix: An earlier arrival and special activities. "If we were leaving at seven, I'd have the sitter come at 6:40 and set them up for a popcorn party or outside play time," says Schwieters. Her daughter felt secure enough to get fully engaged in the thing she was doing, since Mom and Dad were still home, and she barely batted an eye when they left.

the expert take: "This is an excellent solution for three reasons," says Forehand. "It takes the stress out of the parents' leaving, it gives the child the opportunity to see that being with a sitter is fun, and it creates a distraction." To make the tactic even more successful, "have fun activities that are reserved for times when the sitter is there," says Nicholas Long, a professor of pediatrics at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences and a coauthor of Parenting the Strong-Willed Child. Make up a new cookie recipe (Baby-sitter Butterscotch Bombs!) or let them build a fort your child can sleep in.

"My daughter's room was a disaster site."

--Michelle LeMasurier, Duluth, Minnesota

the problem: A formerly neat 14-year-old whose bedroom slowly morphed into a landfill look-alike. "At its worst, you couldn't see the floor," says LeMasurier.

the fix: Top Secret Operation Heave-Ho. LeMasurier bagged all her daughter's out-of-place belongings (clothes, books, papers, toiletries) and moved them to the garage while she was out one afternoon. "Wow, did that get her attention," LeMasurier says. To get the items back, her daughter had to reorganize. "We reworked her closet area--she helped design it--and she arranged things the way she wanted to keep them in the future," says LeMasurier. Now her daughter is proud of her room and keeps it spick-and-span to show it off.

the expert take: "Shock value definitely works," says Leman. "Older kids don't like their stuff touched." The key to success is to remain unemotional (no giving in when she starts crying over her gymnastics trophy). "Just say, 'I got tired of looking at it, and you'll find your stuff out in the garage,' " he says. Don't want to deal with the (literal) heavy lifting? Try skipping ahead to the second step. Get your child involved in the organization (shopping for new bookcases or cool baskets helps), and teach her about tidiness in the process.

"My son suddenly wouldn't touch healthy food."

--Samantha Meiler, Millburn, New Jersey

the problem: A two-year-old whose picky eating suddenly went extreme--he shunned anything but waffles, grilled cheese, French fries, and ice cream. "For six months, we tried reasoning with him," says Meiler.

the fix: Surprise! "Doing nothing at all," she says. "We put different foods in front of him. If he didn't eat them, we didn't make a big deal about it." (There was always one option they knew he would eat, like fries, in addition to the others.) It wasn't always easy. Meiler says she would occasionally leave the room to avoid getting frustrated. But the patience paid off. About a month into the new approach, "he started trying things. Suddenly he was eating chicken, strawberries, raisins, apples, corn. We were diligent about exposing him to new foods, and one day he simply ate them," she says. (Research shows that kids may need to be exposed to a food 15 times before they'll readily eat it.)

the expert take: "Hunger becomes a teacher," says Leman. "When a kid refuses to eat something, don't fuss over it." Many parents underestimate the downside of being too pushy, says Long: "Sometimes if we back off, they'll try things on their own. When you're more relaxed, their curiosity can take over."

Back-to-School Fair puts spotlight on kids' safety

2009-08-23T13:57:00.000-07:00

The Lake County Community Traffic Safety Team will present its annual Back-to-School Safety Fair from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday at Lake Square Mall, 10401 U.S. Highway 441, Leesburg.

The fair, which helps families prepare for the school year, will include bicycle- and helmet-safety programs, a child-seat safety checkpoint, a child-identification program, face painting and more.

Sir Gus Jr. the camel will be there.

Other agencies participating include the Lake County Department of Public Works, local law-enforcement agencies, Lake County Schools' Parent Resources, Children's Home Society, Florida's Blood Centers, Florida Division of Driver Licenses, LakeXpress bus transportation and SADD (Students Against Destructive Decisions).

The Lake County Health Department also will offer free required immunizations for students. Children must be accompanied by a parent or guardian and must have proof of immunizations -- a Florida Certificate of Immunization or "blue card." The blue card is supplied by family physicians or local county health departments.

Business after hours

The Lady Lake Area Chamber of Commerce will have a Business After Hours on Thursday at 5:30 p.m. in the commission chamber at Lady Lake Town Hall, 409 Fennell Blvd.

Lady Lake's growth-management staff will answer questions about day-to-day responsibilities of the department, general process and procedures, and services offered to the public.

Refreshments will be served.

Reservations: 352-753-6029.

Marion County chief elected

The Florida Fire Chiefs Association recently elected Marion County Fire Rescue Fire Chief M. Stuart McElhaney as its 54th president.

McElhaney has served on FFCA board of directors for the past nine years and will serve a year term as president. He has been the fire chief for MCFR for 15 years.

Music and food

Pine Lakes Community Association will have a fundraiser beginning at noon Aug. 15 at the Pine Lakes Community Building, 31635 Lakeview Drive, off State Road 44 near the fire station.

The Hilltop Ramblers, a local group, will perform. Lunch and drinks will be available for purchase.

Proceeds will go toward the community building.

Classes for older drivers

AARP's Driver Safety Program helps participants refine their skills and develop safe driving habits. Upon completion of the course, Florida drivers 50 or older might be eligible for insurance discounts.

The cost is $12 for AARP members and $14 for nonmembers, which includes a workbook. Payment must be by check; no cash or credit cards.

The program, an eight-hour, two-day course, will be offered Monday and Aug. 12 from 1 to 5 p.m. at Leesburg Senior Center, 1211 Penn St.

Registration: 352-326-3540.

Safe Sitter classes

South Lake Hospital in Clermont will offer Safe Sitter, a course designed to train baby sitters for girls and boys ages 11 to 13.

The program teaches baby sitters how to handle crises and how to nurture and guide a child. Thousands of adolescents have been trained by Safe Sitter to handle life-threatening emergencies. Youths will get advice on safety and security precautions, such as what to do if a stranger comes to the door and when and how to call for help.

Students also will learn the basics of infant and child CPR using a mannequin.

The $50 two-part class is 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday and Aug. 11 at the National Training Center on the hospital's campus, 1109 Citrus Tower Blvd.

Seating is limited. Preregistration is required by calling 352-394-4071, Ext. 4419.

Books for a good cause

The Lake County Agricultural Center, 1951 Woodlea Road, Tavares, is selling the Bath Pond series written by Central Florida author Lowell Teal through the end of September.

The fictional series is a look at a Florida citrus family during the Depression. Half of the proceeds from the book sales will benefit the 4-H club's citrus project. Citrus growers, processors, packers and other support industries purchase citrus trees for members of the 4-H program so they can learn about the citrus industry, as well as complete a record book of their tree's care.

The four novels, which include Bath Pond, Fortunes Crossing, Inherited Journey and Promise to Poppy, are $14.95 each for softcover or $24.95 for hardcover. Cash and checks are accepted.

Details: Maggie Jarrell, 352-343-4101.

Recycle newspapers, magazines

W.T. Bland Public Library in Mount Dora has a newspaper-recycling bin in the library parking lot, 1995 N. Donnelly St.

Acceptable items include newspapers, magazines, catalogs and white office paper.

No telephone books, plastic bags, cardboard, wrapping paper, bows or trash will be accepted.

Funds made from the recycling collection will go toward purchasing youth materials for the library.

Details: 352-735-7180, Option 5.

Mail community news to Debbie Manis, Orlando Sentinel, 1898 E. Burleigh Blvd., Tavares, FL 32778-4366, fax 352-742-5938 or e-mail dmanis@orlandosentinel.com.

Credit: The Orlando Sentinel, Fla.

Runaway teen who fears family after Christian conversion ordered to DCF custody

2009-08-23T11:56:00.001-07:00

She looked more like a timid child clinging to her protector than an Ohio teen runaway brazen enough to flee her Muslim family out of fear for her life.

The girl, who turned 17 on Monday, is at the center of a custody dispute in Orlando, where she sought help from a family she barely knew -- a pastor and his wife willing to take in a teen who feared her own family's retribution because she converted to Christianity.

The Orlando Sentinel is not identifying the teen because of her age.

The girl appeared before a crowded courtroom full of lawyers and spectators on Monday when an Orange Circuit Court Judge ordered her into Department of Children and Families emergency custody.

It was another in a series of legal decisions in a complicated case: Beyond the girl's religious preferences, the court must solve jurisdictional issues related to child services and courts.

In addition, the teen, a native of Sri Lanka, is not a U.S. citizen.

Her dispute with her family became news several weeks ago when the girl ran away from her home in Columbus, Ohio. She hitch-hiked to a Greyhound station and boarded a bus to Orlando.

Once here, she borrowed a cell phone to call Beverly Lorenz, who with husband Blake Lorenz is a pastor of Global Revolution Church in Orlando. The Lorenzes met the girl through a prayer group on Facebook.

Although the girl was a stranger, Beverly Lorenz told her they would house her. The teen told the Lorenzes she feared her family would hurt her, kill her or send her back to Sri Lanka, Beverly Lorenz said.

"We are doing everything we can to protect her," said Blake Lorenz, who said he has been told his life may be in jeopardy.

Meanwhile, the girl's parents reported to Ohio law enforcement authorities that their daughter was missing. They put together a flier, with her picture on it, asking for tips to her whereabouts.

Beverly Lorenz said they called an abuse hotline, prompting a visit on Friday from the Orlando police. Officers picked up the girl to be placed in state custody.

The Lorenzes appeared in court with the teen Monday, as did her father from Ohio.

When the petite girl walked into court, she immediately bolted for Beverly Lorenz, who held her. The teen then joined Blake Lorenz at a table with lawyers. He comforted her throughout the entire hearing with his arm around her shoulder.

Rosa Gonzalez, an attorney with the Alliance Defense Fund, told Orange Circuit Judge Gail A. Adams the teen is in fear for her life. The sight of her father makes the teen "frantic and hysterical," Gonzalez said.

The teen's father said little during the hearing.

Reached by a Sentinel reporter by phone, the girl's mother said little. "Yes, of course" her daughter would be safe should a judge eventually order her back there, she said.

And her father would not harm his daughter if she wanted to be a Christian, the woman said. She referred other questions to her husband. He did not answer his cell phone after the hearing.

Gonzalez said her organization, which sends pro bono lawyers to work on cases involving Christian issues, is concerned the teen could be returned to her parents.

"We don't take those threats lightly," she said.

Imam Hatim Hamidullah, with the Islamic Society of Central Florida, said the Muslim faith does not call for a father to hurt his child, should she convert to another religion.

"It is not Islam for the father to bring harm upon his blood daughter or any other human being because of anger," he said. "Our position is to exhaust all measures that would bring peace and harmony back to the family," Hamidullah said. "Being angry and threatening the life of someone is not one of those methods."

A DCF spokeswoman said the agency is working with Ohio officials to ensure the teen's "safety and well being."

Attempts to talk to the teen after the hearing were unsuccessful -- her legal guardians ushered her out of the building without letting her speak to a reporter.

On a baby sitter Web site, the girl described herself this way: "One of my favorite things to do in my spare time is cheerleading for my high school and of course tumbling as well. I have a little brother who is about to turn 5 years old. With this, I have had a lot of experience with toddlers and many years of sitting for him."

Blake Lorenz, who retired after serving as pastor at Pine Castle United Methodist Church for several years, said the teen believes her dad will kill her.

"We are doing everything we can to protect her," he said.

Lorenz said he has been told his life may be in jeopardy.

After Monday's hearing, Blake Lorenz said he was relieved the teen is not returning back to her family in Ohio immediately, but he's still cautious. He's "very concerned that the system will let her down."

Walter Pacheco contributed to this report. Amy L. Edwards can be reached at aledwards@orlandosentinel.com or 407-420-5735. Rene Stutzman can be reached at rstutzman@orlandosentinel.com or 407-650-6394.

Questions, answers on local stimulus plan

2009-08-23T11:56:00.000-07:00

Call it our own local economic stimulus plan. Or call it what we're calling it: "$20 on the 22nd." Regardless of the name, the campaign's goal is to encourage local residents to step up and give our community a much-needed economic boost. How? Simply spend $20 more on the 22nd of August on local goods and services you would not have otherwise purchased that day.

Ahhh, but you have questions. Let me try to answer a few anticipated ones to give you a better understanding of why we're doing this.

Why the 22nd?

Actually, we were tempted to go with "$20 on the 20th," but the 22nd is a Saturday, when most folks can get out to shop and dine.

Why $20?

There is a lot you can do with $20. We know times are tough, but we're hoping most of us can find $20 to inject into our local economy as our contribution to the cause.

Do you really think my $20 will make a difference?

Yes, we do. Consider this: If every adult in Yuba, Sutter and Colusa counties spends an extra $20 on the 22nd, that will mean an additional $2.7 million pumped into our local economy. Not only will it generate the sales taxes that pay for police, parks and potholes, but it helps businesses stay in business and pay employees who continue to put money back into the local economy.

But what happens after the 22nd?

Studies show money changes hands about six times in a community, Laura Nicholson, executive director of the Yuba- Sutter Chamber of Commerce, said in a recent A-D story:

"You buy a car, go to the bank, you take that money and go out to a restaurant, where you tip the waitress, who goes home and pays the baby sitter, who buys a soccer uniform for her son, who plays in a game sponsored by (local businesses)," Nicholson said.

Besides, if this program proves successful, we can do it again.

What's in it for the A-D?

We're just trying to do our part in sustaining the vitality of our community.

Let's face it: The newspaper is only as healthy as all the other businesses within our area, so we all share a vested interest in surviving the current economic mudslide. And yes, we hope that lots of businesses buy newspaper ads to let resident shoppers know what they have to offer for $20. Nonetheless, we're going to sell those ads to businesses at $20 each, which is heavily discounted from our regular rates. We're not doing this to make a buck right now -- we see it as an investment in our future and that of our community.

So there you have it. Set aside two bucks each weekday for the next two weeks and you'll have your $20 for the 22nd. Go spend it and have fun!

Contact Appeal-Democrat Publisher Dave Schmall at dschmall@appealdemocrat.com.

Credit: Appeal-Democrat, Marysville, Calif.

Should government be in long-term care business?

2009-08-23T11:10:00.000-07:00

Medicaid, a 1960s-era program that was supposed to provide health care for poor women and kids, has become the biggest single payer of long-term care services -- more than $100 billion annually, or 43 percent of all home care and nursing facility costs.

Supporters insist that Medicaid is a valuable safety net for the poorest elderly and disabled. They are right, but what they don't say is that the program is hopelessly outdated, financially unsustainable and often defeats efforts to provide the best possible care to a medically fragile population.

If you are a middle-class senior and suffer a heart attack, Medicaid's sister program, Medicare, will pay tens of thousands of dollars to treat you in a hospital, provide follow-up care from your doctor and, if you have Part D drug coverage, even pay for your medications. If you need rehab after you are discharged from the hospital, Medicare will pay for that, too.

But what if you suffer from dementia? While there is very little that acute care can do for you, it is likely that you will need increasing levels of personal assistance like help eating or bathing. But Medicare won't pay for that.

So family members do what they can, and you draw down your own savings to hire aides. When you have spent nearly all of your financial assets (the government lets you keep just $2,000, some personal possessions and perhaps your house), you become eligible for Medicaid, which is run jointly by the federal government and the states.

Medicaid is only required to pay for nursing home care. While most states also provide assistance at home, they don't have to, and these programs are often woefully underfunded. And because Medicaid is among the states' biggest spending programs, it is also a huge target whenever the economy slumps and tax revenues sag -- like today. In recent months, California, New York, Illinois, Rhode Island, Florida and other states have all put Medicaid benefits on the block.

While states and the federal government struggle to update Medicaid though a maze of waiver programs and patches to an increasingly outdated law, their efforts are a little like trying to add disc breaks and an electronic ignition to a 1965 Plymouth. It is, in the end, still a 1965 Plymouth.

Not only are the frail elderly and disabled at the mercy of increasingly desperate governors and state legislators, but they have to jump though incredible hoops to get the care that is most appropriate for them.

For example, many frail elders suffer from multiple chronic conditions. More than almost anyone, their care needs to be carefully coordinated. Ideally, the medical system would make sure they could move seamlessly from acute care to long-term care, either at home or in a nursing facility.

But, with the exception of a handful of programs such as PACE, which combines adult day care with medical treatment, that almost never happens. As hard as it is for even one insurance company to coordinate care, think about what a challenge it is when your care is being paid for by two separate programs -- Medicare and Medicaid -- that rarely even communicate with one another.

Despite that tragic lack of coordination, Medicaid now spends nearly one-third of its total budget on long-term care services and half of its funds on medical and personal care combined for those frail elderly and adults with disabilities who are jointly eligible for Medicare and Medicaid.

That huge bill is a big reason why the long-term financial sustainability of Medicaid is at risk. The Congressional Budget Office projects that by mid-century, the federal government will be spending one out of every six tax dollars on Medicaid alone. Two-thirds of all federal revenues would be spent on Medicare and Medicaid combined. Realistically, that won't happen.

Is there an alternative to this unsustainable mess? There are several actually. We could transfer long-term care to Medicare, or sell universal private long-term care insurance through Medicare in much the same way we sell the Part D drug benefit today. Or we could create a national long-term care insurance program -- something like the CLASS Act that Sen. Edward Kennedy, D-Mass., has proposed. With premiums as low as $5 a month for those with very low incomes, the CLASS Act would make coverage accessible for even the poorest Americans.

However, its benefits would be modest -- not nearly enough, for example, to pay for nursing home care. So low-income seniors would still have to rely on Medicaid to pick up the difference. A better plan would create a special Medicare benefit to supplement insurance for those seniors who need extra financial help. That way, those elderly would get all of their care -- both acute and long-term -- through a single program.

None of these plans is perfect, but they are all better than the mess we have.

Locally Owned: Family Friend filling need for caregiving

2009-08-23T10:30:00.000-07:00

SitterCity.Com Coupon Code Here

Each week, the Daily News profiles a locally owned business.

Name of business: A Family Friend Care Services

Location: 1053 Lovers Lane

Type of Business: In-home child care, nannies, senior care and household help.

When did it open? January 2009

Owner: Larissa Kreilein and Kim Lindsey

Number of employees: Two owners and one part-time assistant

Specialties: We cater to the needs of families. Through our extensive screening process, we provide families or organizations with nannies and caregivers they can trust.

How did the business get started? As a single mom, it has been my top priority to care for my two sons, ages 9 and 11. The need to have a professional care service I could trust was not available when my children were young. We saw a need, and A Family Friend fills that need.

What is your background? Both Kim and Larissa have had other businesses in Bowling Green.

What's your business philosophy? A Family Friend provides caregivers, baby-sitters, nannies, senior care and household help. If we wouldn't have them care for our families, you can feel confident we wouldn't send them to you.

What issues are affecting your industry? As the recession has caused all of us to tighten our belts a bit, we still believe the most important thing to all of us is taking care of our families.

What are the factors that make your business successful? Trust -- knowing when you call us, you can expect the very best care for your children or loved ones.

How do you handle competition? Our philosophy is to concentrate on being the very best at what we do, which is providing the best possible caregivers that match your family's needs.

What is your advice to someone thinking about opening a business? Don't be afraid because chances are, if your business is a service you would use yourself, there are others who feel the same way.

Credit: The Daily News, Bowling Green, Ky.

Holcomb kids say so long to summer

2009-08-23T09:54:00.000-07:00

A breeze blew through the trees outside the Holcomb Recreation Commission facility Saturday as Hutchinson-based band Shotgun Sons pounded out tunes like "Feel Like Makin' Love" and "Simple Kind of Man."

Lawn chairs were scattered on the yard outside the recreation facility. Children dug and ran around in the sand volleyball pit after games finished up. And The Ice Cream Wagon served up refreshments.

Life was good and free Saturday night as Holcomb residents, including 11-year-olds Gunner Hebrlee and Alex Barriger, took in the last days of summer before school for Holcomb USD 363 started this morning. Saturday's Holcomb Recreation Commission second annual SummerFest included a bike rodeo, bicycle ride, sand volleyball, inflatables and games for the kids, a treasure dig and free concert and hamburger/hotdog feed at night.

Alex shook sand from his back as he and Gunner sat on the side of the sand pit, making sand sno cones in leftover Styrofoam cups.

"Yeah, we're just messing around," Gunner said. "We're selling them for a quarter if anybody wants one."

The two had yet to sell a sand cone that night as they explained why they were excited for the first day of school to arrive. Alex is headed to the sixth grade, and he's happy because school will give him something to do.

Gunner enters fifth grade this year, saying he's excited about getting his favorite fifth-grade teacher, Pam Foster.

"Foster really likes me, and I really like her," Gunner said.

Of course, there are sacrifices to be made as students trade in summer for the start of school.

"Free time, waking up late, messing around," Gunner listed off as what he enjoys about summer. "I know me and Alex both like sleeping in. It's one of our similarities."

Eric Jantz, director for Holcomb Recreation Commission, said SummerFest is a community event meant to bring Holcomb residents together. There is something everyone can enjoy, he said, and the only charge Saturday was for the sand volleyball tournament.

Jantz said last year's event was held after school started. This year, the rec commission experimented by holding the event right before school started. He estimated the HRC fed between 300 and 350 people and 300 to 500 participated throughout the day with various SummerFest activities.

Jantz threw coins into the sand Saturday night as children anxiously waited to be allowed to venture into the sand.

Maggie Roth, Faith Biermann and Regan Roth, all 11 and sixth-graders this year at Holcomb Middle School, were part of Saturday's SummerFest action.

"I'm excited," Maggie said of school starting.

"So am I," Faith said.

"The summer's getting kind of boring," Maggie explained.

The girls said they've spent their summer free time on activities like playing softball, swimming at the pool, hanging out with the baby sitter and spending time with friends.

Both Maggie and Faith said they were looking forward "to just being in a new school." Faith said the most nerve-wracking thing on the Sunday before school starts is choosing what she's going to wear and worrying about first impressions on teachers.

Mary-Louise Parker It's Story Time!

2009-08-23T09:09:00.000-07:00

The Tony Award-winning actress visits day-care centers to get kids excited about reading.

"Books were my best friends when I was little," says the Weeds star, who as the new spokeswoman for the literacy group Jumpstart spends time sharing her favorites with youngsters in low-income communities. "I wasn't a social kid, and books were my escape." She loves reading aloud to her son, Will, 5, and daughter, Ash, 3--and applauds the nonprofit's model of building educational skills through one-on-one mentoring. This fall she'll join the world's largest reading event when Jumpstart holds its fourth annual National Read for the Record Day on October 8. "Books allow you to relate to what you don't understand, which teaches you compassion," says Parker. "It's why I'm so passionate about the organization."

THE BUTTERFLY EFFECT

One way Jumpstart will launch this year's literacy initiative is through a limited-edition rerelease of The Very Hungry Caterpillar. The version of the classic book, which will be read to almost 1 million children worldwide, comes with instructions on how to engage young readers. $9; jstart.org.

The actress reads from The Very Hungry Caterpillar, by Eric Carle, at the Westside Children's Center in Culver City, Calif.

CREATIVE TIME

"Afterward, we got into some arts and crafts," says Parker. "We made our own caterpillars from sticks and pom-poms."

SHOW AND TELL

"It's amazing how kids respond immediately to a good book," Parker says. "It's so simple, but they just love it."

How You Can Help

Make a pledge to read to young students at a school, or host a reading event in your hometown on October 8 (sign up and download the tool kit at readfortherecord.org). Or donate: $50 can provide a preschool with a library of 20 books. "There are kids who don't have access to books," says Parker. "That limits their opportunities immeasurably. Nothing but good can come from teaching children to read."

An Ecological Model of Prevention and Intervention Strategies for Sexual Abuse in Special Education

2009-08-23T07:09:00.001-07:00

Children with disabilities are 3.4 times more likely to be sexually abused than their nondisabled peers. Moreover, the abuse will likely be committed by someone they know and trust such as a parent, sibling, teacher, day care provider, priest, or coach. Given this, it is critical that schools implement sexual abuse prevention and intervention programs for children with disabilities. Prevention and intervention programs based on Bronfenbrenner's ecological model infused with the three categories of prevention: primary, secondary, and tertiary as espoused by the Centers for Disease Control is proposed.

Their business is baby-sitting; Northboro boys put skills to work

2009-08-22T08:59:00.001-07:00

NORTHBORO - Will Moore and Brian Hatch know the business of kids - how to entertain them, how to mediate disputes, and how to handle emergencies.

They are experienced and tested, though only 12 years old, and have boiled down the business of being the eldest sibling into an impressive resume to start B and W Babysitting. In an economy where even adults are having a hard time finding jobs, the two friends are putting a professional spin on chores - not just baby-sitting, but lawn mowing, plant watering and pet sitting.

Working with the slogan "Four eyes are safer than two, two heads are better than one," the Melican Middle School students have been friends since the fifth grade.

"We're a team," said Brian.

Brian and Will trained last year in the American Red Cross baby-sitting course, and earlier this summer, they signed on for the Babysitting Faire, sponsored by Northboro Public Library, in search of their first summer jobs.

"They said we should use the marketing skills we have," said Will, adding that their skills have been put to use around their own homes.

The two pre-teens did just that, putting together a resume that could rival the professional presentation of a college graduate - a team-based mission statement, a concise list of education, experience and skills, a list of available references, and a business e-mail, bandwbabysitting.com. They have also established a sliding-fee scale based on the job.

The two cut their baby-sitting business teeth at their respective homes. Will has been watching his two younger siblings, ages 10 and 4, for five years, and Brian, his two younger brothers, ages 5 and 6, for four years.

"We know what to do when someone gets sick," said Will, with Brian adding, "We know what do to when someone gets hurt."

But they didn't want to limit themselves, and this year, with the summer job market difficult for teens and adults alike, the two decided to take a professional attempt at a nontraditional role - boy baby-sitters.

"We don't always want to be baby-sitting our own family," said Brian. "We wanted to branch out."

The library's fair offered parents the chance to interview prospective teens, and the boys came prepared - with a resume, which they posted at locations throughout town.

"We signed up for the baby-sitting program together and the baby-sitting fair together, so we decided we should work together," explained Will.

Brian and Will are trained in basic care and first aid and age-appropriate problem resolution.

"When kids are fighting, I can separate them to make them stop fighting, and then find a way to make them both happy," said Will. "I have two brothers, and a lot of the time they'll tell me things, so I can handle the situation before it gets to my parents."

They specialize in games for boys, such as tag and touch football, basketball, baseball and bike riding.

"We can watch girls, but we specialize in boys, because we are boys," said Brian.

They are a rare team in the baby-sitting world. According to Sitters.com, a Web site that matches caregivers to needs, 94 percent of the registered sitters, or caregivers, on the site are female, with 6 percent male.

According to Cori Sanzano of Sitters.com, the general minimal guidelines developed by licensed social workers and sitters network is that sitters be at least 13 years old, but parents need to also consider maturity level and training of the potential sitter. Sitters.com has a minimum age requirement of 17 before anyone can register with the site.

Other considerations include a safe, physical environment where the baby-sitting will take place; the length of time, the number of hours, the age and number of children, and the time of day must be consistent with the sitter's age and ability; access to a responsible adult who can offer assistance if necessary; the knowledge of how and when to summon help; and a safety plan for what to do in an emergency.

Will and Brian also offer other services such as being a mother's helper.

"We didn't want to just do baby-sitting," said Will. "Not all people have kids; they need pet-sitting; they need their trash taken out."

In addition to younger kids, the boys also have experience handling the needs of a variety of animals. Will has a dog, a cat and two guinea pigs; Brian has a dog, four ferrets and hermit crabs.

Brian said the boys can bike to jobs in their neighborhood, and transportation will be provided for them to get to other jobs in town, or in the immediate area.

B and W Babysitting is not a temporary summer venture. The boys hope to continue it throughout the school year, so long as it does not interfere with their studies and certain after-school activities.

Maryann Hatch, Brian's mother, said she is proud of the boys' effort in creating B and W Babysitting. "This is something they wanted to do. There aren't many boy baby sitters, and it's a team effort between them."

Credit: TELEGRAM & GAZETTE STAFF

TV on DVD

2009-08-22T08:53:00.000-07:00

Sittercity Coupon Promotion Code

thirtysomething: The Complete First Season

Ken Olin, Mel Harris, Timothy Busfield

21 EPISODES, 1987--88

We can blame all our misery on thirtysomething--or, at least, all the hours of televised angst we've seen since then. When the seminal yuppie drama premiered in 1987, it took flak for its characters' constant whining over such trivial matters as babysitters and breakfast rooms. But in dramatizing the mundane, the show became emblematic of a generation, and an indelible influence on future programming from Party of Five to Grey's Anatomy. The generous EXTRAS (eight hours of cast commentaries, plus documentaries!) reflect this obsessive ethos. Still, the indulgence is well earned: Even current thirtysomethings will relate to the series' sentiments--if not the cast's suspenders and high-waisted pants. A

WHERE ARE THEY NOW?

A look at the 'thirtysomething' cast twentysomething years later

TIMOTHY BUSFIELD

After playing adman (and philanderer) Elliot Weston, Busfield continued his TV success with a recurring role on The West Wing and as a producer of numerous shows, including NBC's Lipstick Jungle, Lifetime's Maneater, and CBS' Without a Trace.

POLLY DRAPER

Draper (a.k.a. career woman Ellyn Warren) went on to write and direct The Naked Brothers Band: The Movie, a mockumentary starring her real-life sons, and created the Nickelodeon series The Naked Brothers Band. She is now touring with the band.

MEL HARRIS

The show's chief matriarch (Hope Steadman) has remained a TV fixture, turning up on The West Wing, Dawson's Creek, Touched by an Angel, and House.

PETER HORTON

The man behind shaggy-haired Professor Gary Shepherd has been on multiple TV shows, including In Treatment and Brothers & Sisters, and he's also a respected TV director (Grey's Anatomy, The Shield, and The Philanthropist).

MELANIE MAYRON

After portraying successful photographer Melissa Steadman, Mayron directed films like The Baby Sitters Club, the TV movie Toothless starring Kirstie Alley, and such TV shows as Greek, In Treatment, Drop Dead Diva, and Draper's project The Naked Brothers Band.

KEN OLIN

Olin, who played Hope's husband, Michael Steadman, is married to costar Patricia Wettig, with whom he has two children. Olin currently appears on ABC's Brothers & Sisters alongside his wife.

PATRICIA WETTIG

Wettig went from stay-at-home mom Nancy Weston to CIA psychotherapist Dr. Judy Barnett on Alias (which Olin helped produce and direct), as well as Vice President Caroline Reynolds on Fox's Prison Break. She's now a series regular on Brothers & Sisters.

EarlyChildHood News

2009-08-22T08:51:00.000-07:00

Music for Learning
Featured Song for August: "Worms."

You'll find downloadable MP3 files from award-winning Miss Jackie Silberg. Lyrics included! And don't miss the correlating activities for your center!

ECN Radio
Listen to this week's podcast: Mom, Take This Game and Shove It! as journalist and author Mark Hyman is interviewed by Rae Pica, well-known author and early childhood expert. Each week ECN Radio brings you Rae's interviews with experts in the fields of early childhood education, child development, physical education, neuroscience, play, and more-just another free resource from Earlychildhood NEWS!

Our Job Board!

Check out our Job Sharing Board. Another great resource from Earlychildhood NEWS!

white-coat confessions

2009-08-17T11:30:00.000-07:00

Pediatric experts reveal the one thing they wish every parent knew--and spill the beans on where they slack off with their own kids.

When your child leaves the doctor's office, it's usually with a lollipop. When you leave, it's with a list of questions you meant to ask but forgot. What if you could corner your child's pediatrician--and a sleep specialist, a dentist, and a child psychologist--and ask each to share his or her single best tip for keeping your kids healthy? Well, Real Simple did just that. And since these experts also happen to be parents, we asked them to admit where they struggle. Because even their own medicine can sometimes be hard to swallow, which should make you feel better already.

"Toys can be simple."

--Maia Magder, a speech-language pathologist in private practice in Washington, D.C.

What I want you to know: A colleague of mine gives a box of tissues to one-year-olds as a birthday present. It teaches great fine motor skills and language skills--"In," "Out," "All done," "More." Really, the most important piece of equipment you need to foster language and communication in a baby is you. Just play with your child.

Where I slack off: For infants, "tummy time" (when you place the infant on his stomach) is something you're supposed to do to encourage increased trunk tone (think Pilates for babies). I knew I was supposed to do this, but my son hated it, so I never did.

"Don't give up on brushing your child's teeth."

--Mark Hochberg, a pediatric dentist in New York City

What I want you to know: When parents say that they haven't been brushing their child's teeth because "he won't let us," I tell them it might not be pleasant, but it's much preferable to having cavities later on. So let this be the last thing you let slide to keep the peace. And start early with visits to the dentist. Kids should see one by age one.

Where I slack off: Every Halloween, all bets are off when it comes to candy. No limits on sugar intake!

"Kids don't always need an antibiotic."

--Diane M. Straub, an associate professor of pediatrics and the chief of the division of adolescent medicine at the University of South Florida, in Tampa

What I want you to know: Viral infections, despite being very annoying (think missed work for you and school for them), need to run their course. They do not get better with antibiotics, and using antibiotics when they are not necessary promotes resistant bacteria. If you aren't sure what your child has, check with her doctor before giving her any medication.

Where I slack off: I don't remember to give my daughter vitamins consistently at all.

"If you have time to read one book after the baby is born, let it be about sleep."

--Alexandra Barzvi, a child psychologist in private practice in New York City

What I want you to know: Parents spend a lot of time reading about pregnancy and childbirth but don't pay enough attention to what happens afterward. That's understandable, given the time limitations. But learning about sleep--and coming up with a sleep plan early on--will make life much easier. I recommend Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child, by Marc Weissbluth (Ballantine, $25).

Where I slack off: Even though I specialize in behavior issues, I admit that I sometimes laugh when my daughter does something she shouldn't do, despite the fact that I know that's just reinforcing a bad behavior.

"A few ear infections a year aren't a big deal."

--Nina Shapiro, an associate professor of pediatric otolaryngology at the Mattel Children's Hospital at the University of California at Los Angeles

What I want you to know: This is quite normal and not a cause for alarm. A child's immune system is simply still developing, as is her anatomy. Some parents worry that several infections will be the cause of speech delays, but that's not a problem. Kids will catch up.

Where I slack off: My kids have eaten food off the floor. Just the other day, my six-year-old son's toast hit the floor--butter-side down, no less--and I picked it right up and handed it to him.

"When it comes to eating habits, practice what you preach."

--Kathleen Hart, a child psychologist in Portland, Maine

What I want you to know: The concept of three well-balanced, well-portioned meals a day should be an automatic. It is something kids will carry with them through their childhood, and it will help prevent eating problems (and disorders) down the line. So be firm--and a good role model. Mommy can't slug back six-packs of soda or subsist on fat-free yogurt. Kids notice.

Where I slack off: I never remember to pack basic over-the-counter medicines when we travel. Which inevitably leads to a mad scramble for ibuprofen at 2 A.M.

"If you want your child to sleep well, get the electronics out of the bedroom."

--Jodi Mindell, an associate director of the Sleep Center at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and a coauthor of Take Charge of Your Child's Sleep (Da Capo Press, $16)

What I want you to know: TVs, computers, handheld games, iPods, and cell phones are stimulating, making it hard for kids to settle down for sleep. They're also engaging. Kids want "five more minutes" to finish the game, pushing back lights out. With younger children, turn off the electronics an hour before bed. For teens, 30 minutes. And don't leave them temptingly on the bedside table.

Where I slack off: As a family, we're not very good about exercising regularly. My daughter swims for school, but other than that we don't enforce physical activity.

"Play doctor before going to one."

--Tanya Remer Altmann, a pediatrician in Los Angeles and the author of Mommy Calls: Dr. Tanya Answers Parents' Top 101 Questions About Babies and Toddlers (AAP, $13)

What I want you to know: Buy a play doctor's kit and let your toddler get used to the equipment. Teach her where her heart and ears are and explain that the doctor is going to look at them. Let her listen to your heart and examine your ears. Make it fun. And be honest. Don't tell a child a shot won't hurt, but let her know that it's a little poke designed to keep her from getting sick. If prepared, she's more likely to get a thorough exam.

Where I slack off: When my husband isn't home, my kids eat cereal for dinner. At least they get whole grains, fiber, and protein.

"Remember who's in charge."

--Traci Pitts, a clinical psychologist in Reno

What I want you to know: I've seen three-year-olds running the household, where the parents are so overly attentive to the child that the kid gets an "I'm in charge" complex. We're part of a generation that communicates with our kids a lot more, and kids become the center of family decisions. The downside to this is that you can forget that you're the parent and not the friend.

Where I slack off: I let my kids listen to and watch some things that are more explicit than what might be recommended for their age. I figure that they will see it anyhow, so it's futile to keep them away from it.

"Never let up when it comes to safety measures."

--Steve Shelov, the chair of pediatrics at Maimonides Medical Center, in Brooklyn, and the editor in chief of Caring for Your Baby and Young Child: Birth to Age 5 (AAP, $20)

What I want you to know: Be as rigorous as you can with car seats, seat belts, and child-proofing, and update your equipment as your child ages--moving older children to car seats that fit their height and weight ranges, for example. There's no need to be over-protective, but there are simple things you should always do.

Where I slack off: The American Academy of Pediatrics rule is to keep kids away from the television before age two, but I let my children watch before that age. An hour of Fred Rogers wasn't so bad.

"Don't potty train too soon."

--Alanna Levine, a pediatrician in Tappan, New York

What I want you to know: Parents often decide it's time to toilet train because of a school deadline or because they are sick of changing diapers. You're better off waiting until your child approaches you. The goal is to transfer the responsibility from the parent (noticing a full diaper) to the child (deciding she needs to go the bathroom). If you become the "potty police," asking every 10 minutes, "Do you have to go to the bathroom?" then you might as well keep her in diapers. If you wait for the child to be interested, she'll tell you when she needs to go.

Where I slack off: I have a major sweet tooth, so I'm lax when it comes to sugar. I can't remember the last day that my kids didn't have a cookie or candy.

"Sunscreen works only if you use it properly."

--Paul Horowitz, a pediatrician in Valencia, California

What I want you to know: A good amount of total lifetime sun exposure happens before age 18. Make sure you put on sun-screen ahead of time--not when you get to the beach or pool. And don't go five hours without reapplying. Spray sunscreens are great for kids (the less goop, the better). But don't spritz once, then rub the mist all over a leg or a belly, because when you spread it out, you dilute the effect. Instead, make sure you spray every nook and cranny thoroughly and leave it. And if it's a windy day, the spray can go everywhere before it reaches your child. So go inside if you need to reapply.

Where I slack off: My children don't wash their hands before every meal, even though I know they should. And every single night after dinner, I let them have ice cream!

"Houseplants can remove up to 90 percent of certain pollutants in your home."

--Alan Greene, a clinical professor of pediatrics at the Stanford University School of Medicine and the author of Feeding Baby Green (Jossey-Bass, $17)

What I want you to know: According to some research, the air in your house has more environmental toxins than the air outside. Yet your family spends a lot of time indoors, so having fresh air should be a focus. A houseplant is the easiest solution to make your home healthier. Try something low-maintenance, like a peace lily.

Where I slack off: I have backed off from how I was raised when it comes to cleaning your plate. I'm not going to bribe them with dessert to finish their vegetables every night.

"Shop around before you settle on a pediatrician."

--Sue Hubbard, a pediatrician in Dallas and the host of The Kid's Doctor, on kidsdr.com.

What I want you to know: Your pediatrician is your parenting partner for up to 24 years. I like rules, strict bedtimes, routines. If you you're loosey-goosey and want more autonomy for your kids, find someone who agrees. Ask questions about the pediatrician's parenting philosophy. In the end, most doctors treat illnesses with the same amount of strictness they use for behavioral issues.

Where I slack off: I never stressed when one of my children learned at a different rate than other kids, even though I'll tell parents to have their children tested if they're worried the kids are falling behind.

"Know the difference between a true food allergy and a less serious reaction."

--Subhadra Siegal, a pediatric allergist and an immunologist at Westchester Medical Center, in Valhalla, New York

What I want you to know: One often cited study showed that only one-third of children suspected of having a food allergy actually do. A true allergy will cause hives or facial swelling, vomiting, diarrhea, or wheezing, usually within 15 minutes to two hours of eating a food. Much more common are adverse food reactions, which can include any type of food intolerance, like an upset stomach, gassiness, or headache. Don't jump to the conclusion that your child is allergic to his food. Check with your pediatrician. And relax: Food allergies aren't necessarily a lifelong curse. A large proportion of kids outgrow allergies to milk, eggs, and wheat.

Where I slack off: I don't treat my daughter's fevers with medication unless they're high enough that she's irritable or uncomfortable. Fever is an immune response to infection. It's not dangerous on its own; you just need to find out what's causing it.

"There is such a thing as too much information."

--Laura Jana, a pediatrician in Omaha and the author of Heading Home With Your Newborn: From Birth to Reality (AAP, $16)

What I want you to know: People can read too many books and too much online. This breeds parents who have no confidence in themselves. Instead, use what you read to make your own judgments. And when shopping for a parenting book, look for one that combines the practical with the medical, like American Academy of Pediatrics Baby & Child Health, by Jennifer Shu (DK Adult, $13).

Where I slack off: I can admit to leaving my first born in a dirty diaper for too long. My husband and I would each think the other one had taken care of it.

the moment: my son drooled peas into my mouth

2009-08-17T10:30:00.000-07:00

i am afraid of a lot of things. I worry about crime. I don't like flying. I try to avoid sleeping under framed photographs for fear that they will fall as I sleep and shatter on my face. But, most of all, I am afraid of germs. Like many hypochondriacs, I find it's the things that I can't see that scare me the most. At my worst moments, I have to open bathroom doors with my feet because I cannot bear to touch the handles with my freshly washed hands. When someone coughs in my vicinity, I hold my breath so as not to inhale the army of microscopic enemies that have been unleashed all around me. I have squirted so much hand sanitizer on myself that I am probably personally keeping the industry afloat.

Which is why, some two years later, I still feel shocked by a particular moment with my son, Isaac. It was a winter afternoon. Isaac was around eight months old, and the two of us were playing on the carpet. Isaac's most recent meal had been peas, and like a soldier in camouflage, his face was still largely hidden behind a thin green film.

If I recall correctly, our activity that afternoon was a little game I had taken to calling Gouge Daddy's Eyes Out, because it consisted of little more than Isaac pawing at my face with one of his pudgy, little hands and poking at my pupils. At some point amid the fun--probably in a desperate effort to save my vision--I lifted Isaac in the air over my face and began to coo at him in that uniquely dorky way that only a parent can.

And that's when it happened. Out of my son's sweet, little mouth came a line of thick, green drool. There may have been a split second--spit second--for me to save myself, but by the time I had gasped and flinched, it was too late. The drool landed not just on me but in my still gasping mouth.

Isaac had scored a direct hit. Had another baby been on the scene, he probably would have given Isaac a high five or a chest thump. Normally, if another person has salivated within a mile of me, it is enough to make me want to stop what I am doing and take a shower. Another person drooling directly into my mouth should have been enough to make me want to shower for the rest of my life. But at that moment, as I lay on the carpet tasting my son's lunch on my own tongue, I realized something incredible: I didn't care that his pea drool was in my mouth. I didn't even feel compelled to run to the sink and spit it out. My affection for Isaac was so great that it outweighed even my most powerful and fundamental fear: the germs of another human being.

Love is a notoriously hard thing to define. Western poets have been at it for a good millennium and still there is no consensus on just what it is that defines this most powerful connection between one human being and another. But, for a hypochondriac, there could be no better definition than this: When you truly love someone, it will not bother you when green liquids pour out of his or her mouth and into yours.

rites of passage

2009-08-17T09:50:00.000-07:00

First day of school? First night with a new sitter? First flushed goldfish? Here's how to manage 10 stress-prone milestones. (R.I.P., Swimmy.)

Sure, there are those purely blissful firsts, the ones that get a full page in the baby book, immortalized in home videos--tweeted about, even. But there are also the angst-ridden instances that come with a hefty dose of how-the-heck-do-we-handle-this head scratching and plenty of tears (rushing to the ER, say). Deep breath. Here's how to take these situations in stride so your kids can, too.

the first...day of kindergarten

how to handle it: "The kids who tend to do best are those who have come to school beforehand and familiarized themselves with the teacher and the classroom," says Louise Lang, who has taught kindergarten or first grade in Huntington, New York, for 25 years. Call your school district's office to learn about orientation, which is typically held the spring before school starts; often a "practice" bus ride is included. And get your child excited: Read going-to-kindergarten books; point at buses going by. Then give it some time. "This is a big adjustment for kids, and some may take until December before they feel completely comfortable," says Lang.

and for heaven's sake, do not: Pull a Steven Spielberg. "I once had a dad follow the bus with his video camera the entire way to school. Then he filmed the kid getting off the bus, walking down to the classroom, hanging up his coat," says Lang, who also had a parent who hid in the bushes and peeked in the classroom windows. Besides being embarrassing for the child, creating too much of a fuss will add to the anxiety he might already feel.

the first...sibling

how to handle it: Get the child eager to meet the new baby before she gets there, says Michelle Duggar, a Springdale, Arkansas, mom who knows a thing or two about welcoming a new addition into the family (she's the mother of 18; see for yourself in the TLC reality series 18 Kids and Counting). "I let them talk to my belly and tell them the baby can hear them," says Duggar.

With all that buildup, you have to be careful when the baby comes home, as kids tend to be aggressive with their attention. Duggar has her children practice holding their dolls and teaches them to kiss on the back of the head and be gentle. Even with this training, have someone stand guard. "Without fail, the 16-month-old wants to touch the baby's eyes," says Duggar. Finally, says Dawn Huebner, Ph.D., a child psychologist in Exeter, New Hampshire, and a coauthor of the children's book What to Do When You Worry Too Much (Magination Press, $16), keep as much the same as possible: "If there is to be a bed change or a room change, have it happen in advance of the baby's arrival."

and for heaven's sake, do not: Forget to carve out quality time with the eldest child. While it's always great to look for opportunities for him to be the big helper, give him one-on-one time, too.

the first...crush

how to handle it: Talk about it. "The first crush is a good opportunity to start discussing what your child likes about different people, what qualities attract her to one person over another," says D'Arcy Lyness, Ph.D., a child psychologist for KidsHealth.org. Of course, she will probably be on to Chris or Will by week's end, but if she's having a tough time getting over Timmy, share your own first-crush experience. "Tell her it's something we all go through," says Lyness. For insight into what the first-crush experience might be like for your child, add Little Manhattan, a kid-friendly 2005 film about an 11-year-old falling in love for the first time, to your Netflix queue.

and for heaven's sake, do not: Make a joke of it. No matter how cute/ridiculous/silly you think your child's swooning is, don't let it show. "Try to tread that nice middle ground between not taking things too seriously and dwelling on it too much," says Lyness.

the first...trip to the ER

how to handle it: Call your child's regular doctor immediately, before taking her to the ER, says Mary Ellen Renna, a pediatrician in Woodbury, New York, and the author of Medical Truths Revealed! (Select Books, $15). "Your pediatrician may be able to help you interpret test results, expedite waiting time, and speak to the doctors about preexisting conditions while you're waiting in the ER," she says. As for preparing the child, less is more. If it's an X-ray, tell her someone is going to take a picture of her; for an IV, say there will be a pinch and then the medicine will go right in to make her feel better. "The number one thing kids want to know when I send them to the ER is 'Will Mommy be with me the whole time?' " says Renna. And the answer is yes. Apart from X-rays, there is almost no time a parent has to leave a child alone in the ER. You can tell older kids more: "At 10 years old, their fantasy of what the ER is like is scarier than the reality, so details help," says Renna. Reassure a child that even if he has to stay overnight, you'll be there the whole time (in one of those comfortable bedside chairs). Try to bring something from home (a blanket, a toy) to make the child feel safe.

and for heaven's sake, do not: Avoid talking about it after the fact. "You don't want children to be afraid of the doctor going forward," says Renna. Besides, kids are usually eager to recap their hospital adventures.

the first...big loss in sports

how to handle it: The key is to focus on the performance (complimenting your child on a great play, for example), not the outcome. "Be sympathetic, let your child express his disappointment, then remind him that sports are about socializing and having fun, not just winning," says Brooke de Lench, the founder of MomsTeam.com, an online resource for youth-sports parents, and the author of Home Team Advantage: The Critical Role of Mothers in Youth Sports (Collins Living, $15). But let's be honest--who wants to be a loser? "I'm not one to sit there and say, 'It's totally fine to get beat all the time,' " says Drew Brees, quarterback for the New Orleans Saints, who admits to some post-game tears in his youth-sports days. "I think it's good for kids to get upset when they lose." But once they've cooled off, they should learn from it, too. "Pull them aside and say, 'Do you know what you would do differently in the future?' Ask them to say it rather than telling them," says Brees, a three-time Pro-Bowl pick and a new dad who plans to coach Little League some day.

and for heaven's sake, do not: Hurl your hat into the stands or kick dirt at the ump. "A child's reaction tends to be directly proportional to the parents'," says de Lench.

the first...bad grade

how to handle it: "Kids will be more open to talking about the grade if you sympathize first with their embarrassment or anger," says Huebner. Give your child time to react on her own, then ask questions to help her figure out what happened. Did she not understand the work? Did she make careless mistakes? "Stay as nonjudgmental as possible, even if you know the F is her fault," says Huebner. Then talk about how to correct the problem in the future. Sharing one of your own failures (a bad grade, a bad performance review) and how you coped can help her move on.

and for heaven's sake, do not: Lose perspective. "One bad grade is one bad grade," says Huebner. "It doesn't mean your child is going to fail the class, so encourage her to let it go."

the first...experience with death

how to handle it: Children learn to grieve by watching you grieve, says Kate Atwood, the founder of Kate's Club, an Atlanta-based organization for children who have lost a parent or a sibling, and the author of A Healing Place: Help Your Child Find Hope and Happiness After the Loss of a Loved One (Perigee Trade, $15). It's OK to let them see you express your feelings and to involve them, in an age-appropriate way, in the rituals of commemorating the deceased. "It helps to give them closure," she says. Other tips:

* Talk about the person who died in the weeks and months following his or her death. "Kids recognize their parents' sadness and often stop talking about the loved one in an attempt to keep the sadness away," says Huebner. Creating a scrapbook of photos and happy memories is one therapeutic activity. And be sure to let your kids know that it's OK to not feel sad all the time.

* Offer reassurance. "When someone dies, kids often become fearful that others will die, too," says Huebner. "Talk about the death as unique. 'Grandma had a special kind of sickness different from the way we usually get sick,' for example."

* Finally, if it's a pet that has died, don't rush out to replace it. "While it's fine to eventually buy another dog, encourage your child to give it a different name and to recognize it as a totally different animal--not Fido II," says Huebner.

and for heaven's sake, do not: Confuse your children by using vague language. "Say 'dead,' not 'lost,' 'gone to sleep,' or some other euphemism," says Huebner.

the first...sleepover

how to handle it: Find out what's planned so you can walk your child through what to expect. It's also good to let him know he might be nervous or miss you. "Some parents skip this step, as they don't want to trigger their child's fear, but it actually helps more to talk about nervousness in a way that normalizes it," says Huebner. Then give the child ideas for how to deal with it. Some kids might want to bring their own pillows--or your pillow. Let them know it's OK to call you to check in, especially before going to sleep.

and for heaven's sake, do not: Dwell on what went wrong if you get a come-pick-me-up phone call. "Discuss the fun parts of the sleepover," says Lyness.

the first...night with a new babysitter

how to handle it: You know how excited you are to be going out for a change? Make your child that pumped up to be staying in. Introduce the babysitter before the big night, then plan something fun for your child that evening. For example, fix his favorite dinner, buy cool snacks, or rent a movie that he's dying to see (or the one he's watched 25 times that he's still dying to see). It's also good to tell him where you're going and when you'll be back.

and for heaven's sake, do not: Forget to check in periodically to remind your child that you've still got your eye on him and that you're OK. "Some kids worry about their parents when they're not home, so when they hear from you and know that you're having a good time, that reassures them," says Lyness.

the first...lost tooth

how to handle it: Anxieties can soar around this experience. The dangling! The blood! "Some kids think the tooth might be attached to something important, something they need," says Dustin James, a pediatric dentist in Wilsonville, Oregon, who sees about 70 sets of mini teeth a day. At your child's regular dental appointment (before she starts losing teeth), ask your dentist to explain to her exactly what's going to happen and what it will feel like and why. James shows his patients X-rays so that they can see how the new teeth are trying to come in. Then get the child psyched for the Tooth Fairy. Go to Officeofthetoothfairy.com for incredibly official-seeming Tooth Fairy swag, then check out Oeuf's adorable molar-shaped pillow with a pocket for the tooth at Oeufnyc.com. "This can be one of the most exciting things for a kid," says James. "When I tell patients they're about to have a loose tooth, their faces light up."

and for heaven's sake, do not: Get impatient. "Parents usually worry more than the kids about why the teeth haven't loosened up yet and when they can expect them to." This can happen as early as five years old and as late as seven. It's best to let the teeth come out on their own, says James.

read all about it

Real Simple's experts agree that scenario-specific books can be a great way to guide a child through first-time experiences and feelings. Here are some of their favorites.

The Kissing Hand, by Audrey Penn

(Tanglewood Press, $17)

Good for: Reassuring your child that you're thinking of him when he heads off to school that first day--and giving him a trick (placing his mom-kissed palm to his cheek) for times he misses you.

The Tenth Good Thing About Barney, by Judith Viorst

(Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing, $16)

Good for: Helping children focus on the happy times with their deceased pets and teaching them that everyone has a different idea of heaven.

How to Be a Baby... By Me, The Big Sister, by Sally Lloyd-Jones

(Random House Children's Books, $16)

Good for: Previewing the feeding, diapering, crying, and cooing that come with a new baby--and just how special it is to be the older (wiser!) sibling.

Sam Is Not a Loser, by Thierry Robberecht

(Clarion Books, $12)

Good for: Teaching sportsmanship in different game situations and showing kids that playing and not winning is more fun than never playing at all.

When Dinosaurs Die: A Guide to Understanding Death, by Laurie Krasny Brown and Marc Brown

(Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, $8)

Good for: Explaining why someone dies, the rituals that might take place, and pretty much everything else there is to know about death.

The Berenstain Bears and the Sitter, by Stan and Jan Berenstain

(Random House Children's Books, $4)

Good for: Revealing just how much fun a night with a new baby-sitter can be, even if she seems really scary at first.

[BOX]

tip

For a complete insider's guide to the emergency room, including questions to ask the doctor before you leave, go to realsimple.com/emergencyroom.

Got old love letters in the attic? What about an awkward photo of you, shortest kid on the basketball team? Tangible evidence that Mom or Dad hit tough times will cheer up a bummed-out kid.

50 Best Beauty Tips of All Time

2009-08-17T09:20:00.000-07:00

Band-Aids for wrinkles, deodorant before bed, and sugar packets to thicken hair. What other secret tricks did the 100 experts we consulted divulge? Read on ...

GET UNSTUCK

Nail polish cap won't budge? Wrap a rubber band around it for a better grip.

--Julie Kandalec, L.A. manicurist

FAKE A NOSE JOB

Draw a line with cream shimmer down the bridge of your nose. The highlighter reflects light, creating the illusion of a straighter sniffer.

--Tasha Reiko Brown-Jovel, L.A. makeup artist

Nars the Multiple in Copacabana, $37; narscosmetics.com.

SOOTHE IRRITATION

After plucking ingrown hairs, crush two aspirins (an anti-inflammatory) into powder, then add a few drops of water to create a paste. Apply over tender area and let dry.

--Peter Kopelson, L.A. dermatologist

MAKE YOUR MANI LAST

Remove polish with acetone polish remover; wash each nail with soap and dry well. Wipe again with remover. This gets rid of any oils that prevent polish from adhering completely.

--Jaimi Brooks, L.A. manicurist

REESE WITHERSPOON

CREATE LIVED-IN CURLS

To get the most natural look, alternate between using a small and a large curling iron. This creates tousled waves that vary in size.

--David Babaii, L.A. hairstylist

PLUMP UP YOUR LIPS

Dab your pout with peppermint oil. It's an instant lip plumper, setting off a small allergic reaction that causes swelling.

--David Bank, Mount Kisco, N.Y., dermatologist

FIND YOUR BEST BLUSH

Choose a shade that matches the pink of your knuckles when making a fist.

--Dustin Lujan, N.Y.C. makeup artist for Le Métier de Beauté

PREVENT WRINKLES

Affix adhesive butterfly bandage closures to facial lines before bedtime to stop yourself from frowning in your sleep.

--Francesca Fusco, N.Y.C. dermatologist

Band-Aid butterfly closures, $2/10; drugstore.com.

ENHANCE YOUR CONDITIONER

Warm it in a microwave-safe bowl for 15 seconds. The heat helps open up the hair cuticle, causing the conditioner to penetrate more deeply.

--Tippi Shorter, N.Y.C. hairstylist

MIX YOUR OWN DRY SHAMPOO

--David Babaii

BLOT OIL ON THE GO

It sounds crazy, but toilet seat covers make perfect blotting papers. The thin tissue absorbs oil like a sponge.

--Bruce Grayson, L.A. makeup artist

Johnson's baby powder in Cooling Cucumber Melon, $4; at drugstores.

APPLY DEODORANT BEFORE BED

Your body temperature is higher at night, so the deodorant will permeate more deeply into the sweat ducts. It will block wetness the next day, even after you shower.

--David Bank

BOOST LASHES

Before putting on mascara, dust lashes first with a translucent powder to add instant volume.

--Tasha Reiko Brown-Jovel

Laura Mercier translucent loose setting powder, $34; sephora.com.

EVA MENDES

ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT DARK NAILS

TAKE YOUR TIME

--Bethany Newell, N.Y.C. manicurist

STAY IN THE LINES

For a finished, professional look, always leave a small space between the cuticle and the polish line.

--B.N.

STOP THE COLOR FROM BLEEDING

Before removing polish, brush cuticle oil on each nail to avoid staining the base of the nail or fingers. The oil creates a barrier that keeps the color from penetrating the skin as you rub it away.

--Tabitha Belesis, N.Y.C. manicurist

KEEP COLOR REAL

If you really like the way lipstick looks in the tube, prime lips with a touch of foundation before applying. That way, you start with a blank canvas and the color appears more true.

--Anthea King, N.Y.C. makeup artist

DIY HAIR SPF

Don't dare go in the sun without first misting your hair with a mixture of equal parts water and sunscreen--it will keep color from fading and hair from drying out.

--Giselle, N.Y.C. colorist

ZAP FRIZZ

Wrap wet hair in a towel that's been soaked in ice-cold water. This seals the shaft, so as hair dries, it will stay frizz-free.

--Ursula Stephen, N.Y.C. hairstylist

AMP UP YOUR LASH CURLER

Warm it with a blow-dryer up to a maximum of three seconds before using it on your lashes. The heat will open up the cuticle of the hair, boosting the curl.

--Christy Coleman, L.A. makeup artist

Shu Uemura eyelash curler, $19; shuuemura-usa.com.

SAY "SEE-YA" TO BRASSY HAIR COLOR

--Tippi Shorter

REDUCE REDNESS

Spritz a small amount of nasal decongestant on red areas to decrease the color in a flash. The spray, which lessens the inflammation that triggers nasal congestion, will do the same for a pimple.

--David Bank

THICKEN HAIR

Add two sugar packets to a 20-ounce bottle of water to create a natural volumizing spray.

--Oscar Blandi, N.Y.C. hairstylist

GUARANTEE A PERFECT SHADE

--Rita Hazan, N.Y.C. colorist

TAME UNRULY BROWS

Comb mustache wax onto eyebrows. The wax coats each hair and locks it in place.

--Troy Surratt, N.Y.C. makeup artist

Clubman Moustache wax, $5; drugstore.com.

PUNCH UP NEON POLISH

Apply an opaque white polish before your neon shade. The flat base brings out the pigment of the color and illuminates it from underneath.

--Patricia Yankee, N.Y.C. manicurist

OPI matte Nail Lacquer in Alpine Snow, $9; ulta.com for stores. Zoya nail polish in Paz, $6; zoya.com.

CURTAIL A BLEMISH

To dry up oily secretions, spray a makeup sponge with clear antiperspirant and dab it on the pimple before putting on your makeup.

--Jake Bailey, L.A. makeup artist

Secret antiperspirant and deodorant aerosol spray in Powder Fresh, $5; at drugstores.

THREE SURPRISING USES FOR DANDRUFF SHAMPOO

WASH AWAY DRY SKIN

Clean your face with anti-dandruff shampoo to decrease flaking. It reduces the yeast levels that cause scaly skin.

--Elissa Lunder, Wellesley, Mass., dermatologist

BRIGHTEN HAIR COLOR

Lather your tresses with a flake fighter and let sit for 20 minutes. This revives color and even removes the green tints that may result from chlorine.

--Sean James, L.A. hairstylist

FIGHT BACNE

Shampoos that contain salicylic acid can also help with breakouts on your back.

--Monica Schadlow, N.Y.C. dermatologist

Kérastase Bain Gommage, $39; kerastase-usa.com.

WAKE UP TIRED EYES

Apply black mascara, then tip the ends of your lashes with a mascara in plum or navy to make the whites of your eyes look brighter.

--Brett Freedman, L.A. makeup artist

Diorshow mascara in plum and black, $24 each; sephora.com.

ATTACH FALSE LASHES WITH EASE

To get the clearest view of your upper lash line, hold a hand mirror below your chin and look down.

--Tasha Reiko Brown-Jovel

THIN OUT CLUMPY MASCARA

A drop of Coca-Cola will reinvigorate your mascara's consistency. The syrup in the soda adds just enough moisture without making it watery.

--Brett Freedman

PREVENT ACNE

Keep separate hair and face towels so the oil from your scalp doesn't cause breakouts.

--Amy Wechsler, N.Y.C. dermatologist

HEAL DRY HANDS

--Macrene Alexiades-Armenakas, N.Y.C. dermatologist

SAFEGUARD SKIN

Slather on sunscreen before every flight, and choose aisle over window seats. There's a greater level of UV rays at high altitudes than on the ground.

--Elissa Lunder

Aveeno Positively Ageless sunblock lotion SPF 70, $10; drugstore.com.

ADD OOMPH TO LIPS

Always keep a sheer golden lip gloss in your makeup bag. It instantly warms up any lip color and gives you a brand-new shade.

--Anthea King

L'Oréal Paris Colour Juice lip gloss in Golden Splash, $9; ulta.com.

SHIELD UNDEREYE AREAS

Don't forget to cover the area beneath your eyes when spreading on sunscreen. The skin around your eyes is thinner, making it more susceptible to damaging UV rays.

--Jeanine Downie, Montclair, N.J., dermatologist

HARDEN NAIL POLISH FASTER

Once they're partially dry, run nails under cold water. The icy temperature will speed up setting your polish.

--Bethany Newell

AVOID BREAKOUTS FROM BRUSHES

Wash your makeup tools regularly with a clarifying shampoo to rid them of product buildup that can cause blemishes.

--Tasha Reiko Brown-Joval

CONTROL SHINE

Tea is a natural astringent. To reduce oil, splash your face with cool black tea, but do not rinse.

--Peter Kopelson

ONE PRODUCT, THREE WAYS CUTICLE OIL

HALT SMUDGES

--Jaimi Brooks

FIX SMEARS

Oops! Already spoiled your freshly painted manicure? Brush cuticle oil onto the nail and gently rub out the crease with fingers.

--J.B.

REFRESH DULL POLISH

A spot of cuticle oil adds a nice sheen to lackluster lacquer. It hydrates nails, while sinking into every nook and cranny to smooth out imperfections.

--J.B.

Jessica Phenomen Oil intensive moisturizer, $14; jessicacosmetics.com.

RECYCLE CRACKED POWDER

Crush broken blush in a bowl--the back of a spoon will do the trick--until it's a fine powder, then blend with a lip balm for a perfect cream blush.

--Fiona Stiles, N.Y.C. makeup artist

broken powder blush + lip balm = cream blush

Sue Devitt Silky blush in Los Angeles, $20; ulta.com. Chapstick lip balm SPF 4, $2; drugstore.com.

ERASE NAIL STAINS

Soak fingers in denture cleaner for about three minutes. The liquid's oxidizing agents will help remove stains.

--April Foreman, L.A. manicurist

HELP YOUR SKIN TURN BACK TIME

--Debra Luftman, L.A. dermatologist

JULIANNE HOUGH

GET NO-BUDGE SHADOW

For a creamy eye shadow that won't crease, use waterproof eyeliner pencil. Draw over the eyelid, then blend with finger.

--Jake Bailey

Make Up For Ever Aqua Eyes in Champagne, $17; sephora.com.

TEXTURIZE HAIR

Clear liquid soap adds great body to hair. Plus, it comes out easily when you wash it out.

--David Babaii

CREATE LIQUID LINER

Add a few eyedrops to dark eye shadow. The drops are mess-free and sterile, which means you won't introduce dangerous bacteria into your makeup.