Say aloha to Keiki Sitters at upcoming events

September was a busy month for Keiki Sitters, and October is off to an eventful start, as well! We have lots of exciting events coming up that we’d love to see you at. It’s always fun to meet new moms, sitters and families!

Keiki Sitters owner Kathy Custer at the air show on the Marine Corps Base in Kaneohe.

Keiki Sitters will have a booth at the Windward Community College Fair on Saturday, Oct. 6, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. There are 15,000 people expected to attend – be sure to be one of them! Stop by and say aloha to Kathy Custer, the owner of Keiki Sitters, and learn what makes our sitters qualified to care for your keiki. It’s going to be a fun-filled day at Windward Community College – the Windward Ho‘olaule‘a 2012 will be taking place, a homegrown celebration with food, entertainment and crafts. It’s a great cause, too, because all proceeds from the Ho‘olaule‘a are going to fund Windward Community College scholarships and programs.

Then on Sunday, Oct. 7, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Keiki Sitters will have a booth at Hawaii’s Children and Youth Day at the State Capitol! This free annual event honors keiki and the contributions they make to our community.

We hope to meet you at one of these events, and mahalo nui loa to all of those who have stopped by the Keiki Sitters booth at the September events and in the past. Be sure to connect with Keiki Sitters on Facebook and Twitter, as well as on our website, www.KeikiSitters.com. Aloha!

Keiki-friendly staycations on Oahu

Oahu is a playground for keiki and adults of all ages. Why travel when we can look no further than our own backyards for fun with the family?

If you’re here visiting Oahu on vacation, welcome! Be sure to visit Keiki Sitters’ sister company, Aloha Sitters, to have a sitter come to your hotel. Our sitters can talk with you ahead of time about bringing your keiki on one of these fun activities.

Whether you live here or are visiting, these activities are sure to provide a fun day for keiki!

Hit the beach

Oahu’s beautiful beaches provide us with an endless amount of fun activities for keiki. Whether you’re watching surfers catch a wave, building castles in the sand, looking for sea creatures in the ocean or splashing on the shoreline, keiki are sure to have a fun time. Just be sure to keep them safe by applying and reapplying sunscreen, and always stay with them when they’re near or in the water.

Hike a trail

There are numerous hiking trails on Oahu that are appropriate for keiki, whether they’re little and you’re carrying them on your back or they’re a little bigger and are hiking with you. When choosing a trail, check the conditions ahead of time. If it’s an area that’s had rain, the trail may become muddy and slippery, which is not ideal for children. Trails with paved walkways, such as Makapu‘u Point Lighthouse Trail and Diamond Head Summit Trail, may be better choices. Both provide spectacular views, too.

Visit a museum

Rainy day? No problem! Even if it’s sunny out, spend some time visiting one of the island’s many museums. They’re a goldmine of information about culture, history, the environment and much, much more. Many will provide kama‘aina admission rates, so be sure to ask before you buy your ticket.

What are your favorite ways to have a staycation on Oahu? Share your ideas with us in the comments section below. For more information about Keiki Sitters, visit www.KeikiSitters.com and for more information about Aloha Sitters, visit www.AlohaSitters.com.

Love for the work makes for an outstanding sitter

Families all over the world are talking about Debbie. Visitors she’s babysat for recommend her to their friends who will be vacationing on Oahu, and request her for their return trips to paradise.

“I love my job,” Debbie said. And the families she sits for love her, too!

Debbie has been working for Keiki Sitters for about a year. Most of the families she babysits for are visitors; her Waikiki location makes it convenient for her to get to the hotels where they’re staying so the parents can get out and enjoy the island together.

“I love going to all the hotels. I love the families, I love the kids. It’s the perfect job,” Debbie said. “I really like the fact that I get to interact with people from other countries and I like the fact there’s all ages of children that I sit. I like that it’s always different.”

Before arriving for a babysitting job, Debbie does her homework. She prepares for the job by learning the ages of the children and if they’re boys or girls so she can fill her small suitcase with the appropriate activities. She always makes sure she looks neat and clean, wearing her Keiki Sitters shirt and a flower in her hair, which the kids and parents love to see.

 

Understanding that every parent has their own style of parenting, Debbie takes the time to talk with and listen to the parents. “I follow all their instructions to the T,” Debbie said. She also always makes sure she has a phone number available and tells the parents to feel welcome to call or text her. “A lot of parents do check,” Debbie said. “I make sure I’m always accessible.”

She also writes down what the keiki did while she was sitting for them, so when the parents return they know how much the kids ate, or napped, and of course, all the fun they had together! No matter what the age of the child or children she’s babysitting for, Debbie reminds herself that it’s their vacation, too. “They need to be safe, number one, but they need to be comfortable and they need to be having fun,” she said.

Debbie loves her job, which is what makes her such an outstanding sitter.

“It’s a gratification knowing that the families can enjoy themselves and also, it’s gratifying to me that I know the child – whether it’s a 2-month-old baby or a 12-year-old boy or girl – I know they’re having fun,” she said.

How to interview your sitter

The interview is an important step in finding the right sitter for your ohana. Keiki Sitters makes the process easier by vetting potential sitters for you to choose from, but it’s important for you to meet with and interview a sitter to ensure you find the one that’s perfect for your family.

We recruit our sitters from the local universities and community colleges. We specifically visit the classrooms of students majoring in early childhood development, education and nursing. These sitters have a passion for caring for others and plan on making a life-long commitment to it.

Keiki Sitters has two requirements for someone interested in joining our services:

1. The sitter must be at least 18 years old.
2. The sitter must return a clean background check.

The background check is a national criminal search that checks all 50 states for felonies and misdemeanors. It is so thorough that we can even sometimes see minor traffic violations.

Once the sitter has returned a clean background check and her age is verified, she can then log onto www.KeikiSitters.com and upload her photo, fill out her profile, resume, references and availability calendar.

Because we are an online service, anyone can sign up. It is very important that parents conduct interviews to ensure the sitter has the qualifications they are seeking (CPR/First Aid, a certain number of years of experience, etc.) and that the sitter's personality is a good match for their family.

Sitter interview questions

To help ensure you find the right sitter for your ohana, ask these interview questions:

• What do you like and dislike about babysitting?
• What would you do if a babysitting job lasts longer than expected?
• Would you have a backup ride home in case we could not drive you home?
• What is your past childcare experience?
• How old are the children you’ve babysat for in the past?
• Do you have any allergies to or are you uncomfortable with cats, dogs or other pets? (Tailor this question to the pets in your home)
• Can you drive in the case of an emergency?
• What do you do when a child won’t go to sleep?
• What is your proudest babysitting moment?

It is very important that you speak with parents who employed this sitter in the past. Ask them questions such as:

• Did she ever cancel or not show?
• Was she ever late?
• Did she ever bring crafts or toys from her home?
• Does she do light house keeping while the children are sleeping, without being asked?
• Does she dress conservatively?
• Did your children ask for her when she was not there?
• Do you trust her with the valuables in your home?

One important question to ask toward the end of your conversation is:

“I understand that this sitter has done a fabulous job caring for your children and that you strongly recommend her, but if there was just one thing that you could change about her, what would it be?”

Past employers who have had a good experience with their sitter will often share the positive things and neglect to tell you the little things that bothered them. Using this question will show them that they can open up to you, because you understand how wonderful this sitter is. If the parent still has nothing that they would change about her, then you know you have found a keeper!

Find the perfect sitter for your family; join us online at http://KeikiSitters.com.

How to handle an overactive child

Whether you’re a sitter or a Mom, you’ve probably been faced with an overactive child. There are safe and productive ways that you can help an overactive child to release their energy and remain in control.

Safety steps

It is important to childproof the home and to use products that will promote safety, both inside and outside. High-energy children tend to run or sprint, which can be dangerous, especially when turning corners or walking (or running!) close to the street. They may look a little funny, but children’s backpacks with a “leash” are an effective way to ensure a child is secure, walking within a safe distance from the parent or sitter. They’re available in fun designs, too!

Eddie Bauer Harness Buddy – Monkey, available at Target

Caring communication

It may sound simple, but using kind words is important to do when communicating with all children, and overactive children are no different. Typically overactive children get into more trouble than others, and it is very important for the child to still feel loved and cared about while being guided and mentored.

Bounce it out!

You have an overactive keiki – don’t let him or her bottle all that energy up – let your keiki bounce it out! 808 Bounce has an Indoor Fun Center at the Windward Mall and Pearlridge Center that lets keiki run wild and bounce out their energy for less than $10 all day long. Keiki will have a blast while you get a little time to relax!

What are some of your ideas for how to deal with overactive keiki? Please share them with us!

Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with a pot of gold

Let’s face it: March is a long month. There are no days off for holidays, and with all the rain we’ve been having, keiki have been stuck inside after school and on weekends. Luckily, after all of this rain, there will be a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow on Saturday as we celebrate St. Patrick’s Day!

There are plenty of ways to share in the luck of the Irish and celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with the kids. Be sure you’re all wearing green on Saturday while you try one or two of these desserts and games!

Desserts

St. Patrick’s Day is a great day to try out some Irish cooking. After a traditional corned beef and cabbage dinner, have some St. Patrick’s Day dessert with the keiki. These Little Lucky Whoopie Pies, a recipe of Betty Crocker’s, may not be an Irish tradition, but they sure look like fun to make! 

Leprechauns love a taste of the rainbow, so if you don’t like chocolate, try making these Taste a Rainbow creations from FamilyFun Magazine:

Games

DLTK offers many St. Patrick’s Day game ideas for kids. We like this maze, which challenges kids to help “Sean” navigate through the maze to find the pot of gold! Print one copy of the maze for each little leprechaun who wants to play.

Disney FamilyFun shares a great idea for a St. Patrick’s Day scavenger hunt that you can organize in or outside of your home. Let’s hope for good weather on Saturday so you can play the game outside! The scavenger hunt is simple; you just need a few basic items from home:

• Paper
• Marker
• Black pot
• Chocolate gold coins or other prize item
• Scissors
• Green paper

To get started, fill the pot with the chocolate gold coins or another prize item somewhere in your home or outside in a safe place, such as next to a tree trunk or under a bush in your yard. Using the green paper, cut out several four leaf clovers. Write clues that’ll lead your little leprechaun to the hidden pot of “gold,” and give the first clue to your keiki to get the game started. Good luck!

Do you know of a great St. Patrick’s Day game or recipe we didn’t include? Please share it in the comments section.

Need a sitter for the evening while you paint the town green? Give us a call at 808-861-7294 to schedule a sitter or check out the Keiki Sitters website!

Mahalo and happy St. Patrick’s Day!

The Hawaiian Humane Society

Kathy and Kiwi

Always passionate about animals, the owner of Keiki Sitters, Kathy Kuster, recently added a new addition to her life: she adopted an eight-year-old toy Fox Terrier named Kiwi from the Hawaiian Humane Society.

"I recently took the dogs sailing, and Kiwi, who loves the ocean, ran right off the deck and jumped in the water," says Kathy. "Captain Dave had to jump overboard to help us lift her back into the boat!" Kathy's other dog, Ipo, a two-year-old Chihuahua, is terrified of the water and stayed safely on board.

Kathy is an ardent supporter of the Humane Society and recommends to families that they look there first, when choosing a new family pet.

In 1883 the Hawaiian Humane Society opened its doors to abused and abandoned animals. With a long history as advocates for our furry friends, the Humane Society champions humane animal laws and cares for upwards of 30,000 animals a year.

Serving as a community hub, the organization is dedicated to finding loving homes for animals and educating the public on how to properly care for their pets. The Humane Society offers a robust volunteer program (children as young as eight years old may volunteer with a responsible adult), stays active in the state legislature, hosts adoption programs and events, and has an island-friendly pet surrender policy.

Many are pleasantly surprised to learn that Keiki Sitters extends its services to care for dogs, cats, and the occasional goldfish. Pet owners may request a sitter to stop by or stay in the home with their animals. Additional services run the gamut from walking, grooming, socializing, feeding, and transporting. Want to schedule a pet or home sitter on Oahu? Call: 808-861-7294.

(Get to Know Us: Hawaiian Humane Society)

7 Valentine's Day Treats Not To Miss

Valentine's Day is upon us! Get inspired with our roundup of adorable treats for your keiki! 

Win over keiki hearts with pink-centered Woopie Pies or Raspberry Tarts:

 

The Mad Baker brings us her rendition of the macaroon that looks as sweet as it tastes:

Toaster pastry-inspired Heart Tarts are sure to be crowd pleasers:

Are you ready for this? Red Velvet Cheesecake Milkshake and Valentine's Day Confetti. Enough said. 

 

For emphasis, collect your cookies in a tin (from Tiny Pink Elephants):

May your Valentine's Day be full of the sweets, people, and keiki that you love!

Announcing Our First Giveaway with Baby Banz!

Keiki Sitters and Baby Banz have 

teamed up for a holiday giveaway!

Baby Banz is a brilliant company which was originally born in Australia. With the deterioration of ozone, their keiki-friendly sunglasses continue to fly off shelves. 

We'll be drawing for (2) $30 gift certificates on January 2nd!

Here's how to enter:

LIKE us on Facebook (two entries)
Follow us on Twitter (one entry)
Re-Tweet the giveaway (one entry)
Post a comment below on which Baby Banz product is on your wishlist (one entry)

Thanksgiving Treats for Kids

Turkey and stuffing is right around the corner. 

To celebrate, we've rounded up some of this season's most 

creative treat ideas that your keiki will love to help make and eat. 

Woman's Day has whipped up pilgrim hats that are easily assembled with 

three ingredients (chocolate wafers, orange frosting, and peanut butter cups). 

Tonya Stabb has two Thankgiving cupcake winners that we are crazy about:
cupcake pilgrims (take the Woman's Day recipe above to a whole new level)
and cupcake turkeys.                                                                                                               

Plymouth Rock cookies add historical context.

Disney's FamilyFun gets creative with edible Indian corn

and a fun turkey-handprint pumpkin pie topper. 

We've saved the best for last.  

Aren't these Oreo turkeys from OurBestBites really too cute not to make?

We thought so. 

As always we're grateful for life and the opportunity
to work with such incredible families and sitters on a daily basis.