Press
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Andrew Adler (212-262-2754)
Only New York Sitter Service Using Educated, Child-Centric Sitters for Positive Caregiving–Smart Start Sitters Provides a Higher Level of Care for Your Child
New York, NY–September 14, 2009–Smart Start Sitters, conveniently located in Manhattan, is the only New York sitter service employing sitters with early childhood developmental education and college-educated working professionals in the arts who focus on positive caregiving for children.
Hailed by child care experts as “extremely beneficial to a child’s welfare and early development,” positive caregiving is defined by the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development as caregivers who have positive and cheerful attitudes, are attentive and respond to a child’s vocalizations, sing and play with the child, and encourage their charges in all their endeavors, among other child-centric attributes. By offering only sitters who possess such a skill set, Smart Start Sitters provides a happy, productive, and safe environment for all children entrusted to its care.
“After the birth of my son,” says founder and president Melody Rubie, “I was amazed to find that not all sitters were happy and fully engaged with the children in their care. After a lot of research and study, I realized that a caregiver’s level of education and knowledge is of primary importance for each child to reach his or her full developmental potential. And, most importantly, I knew I wasn’t the only mother who felt this way.”
Seeing that such a need existed, Rubie created Smart Start Sitters to fill it. Now in its second year, her unique sitter service continues to satisfy the needs of other young mothers who desire a higher level of care for their children.
Smart Start Sitters offers a $200 yearly membership with no other booking fee for 1 year and special pricing for families booking at least 20 hours per week.
For new clients we offer 2 interviews without a fee to secure a great sitter match. Parents are provided with a sitter synopsis including relevant resume and reference check information before they choose a sitter to interview.
Once you book a sitter, new clients are offered use of the service twice without a booking fee ($25) before joining as a member.
We also provide sitters for Events, Parties, Shared Family Bookings, Play-dates, Holidays and Travel with a sitter.
Sitter hourly rates vary depending on the age of the children, the number of children, any special needs involved, and the sitter’s experience. Every sitter employed by Smart Start Sitters is subject to a strict vetting process–including a face to face interview and a background check–and is expected to have current (every 2 years) CPR/First Aid training and participate in Melody’ Sitter Workshop on Child Development and Behavioral Techniques.
Smart Start Sitters combines safe, reliable child care with an emphasis on helping each child grow toward his or her full developmental potential. No wonder it’s being called “The Next Best Thing to Mom and Dad!”
To learn more about this unique sitter service, visit www.smartstartsitters.com or e-mail Melody@SmartStartSitters.com. You can also give her a call at 917-208-0790.
Around the Web:
Mom Trends NYC
“When our babysitter announced she was getting married and needed three weeks off, we panicked. We imagined scrambling to line up family and friends to help cover some childcare needs. Coincidently I received an email from a new babysitting service called Smart Start Sitters. I’ve heard of companies providing temporary help, but this one was different: They recruit sitters from child-centric locations such as early childhood development programs.”
Stroller Traffic
Check out Melody’s article “Five Great Questions for the Nanny Interview”
Time Out New York Kids – January Issue
Smart Start Sitters had a featured article in “Take Good Care of My Baby”,
page 30 in Time Out New York Kids’ January Issue.
City Mommy
Smart Start Sitters provides both long-term and short-term sitter services. They are unique in their approach and philosophy to child care as they are the only sitter service in the New York area to utilize skilled, child-centric sitters who are trained in positive care giving.
Big City Moms Mompreneur of the Month
Melody is recognized for Smart Start Sitters and child care success in NYC.