Interviewing a caregiver
We strongly encourage you to interview potential student caregiver(s) before confirming childcare arrangements. Asking opened ended questions about their childcare experience and skills is a good way to get to know them better. This is also a good time to discuss the details of the position (e.g. childcare expectations, tasks), the hourly rate, and ask for references.
Interview questions
- What are the ages of children you have provided care for before and in what circumstance?
- What was the duration of care?
- What activities are you involved in in your spare time?
- Your profile lists that you are available on ______ days and times. Is that still correct?
- Your profile listed $_____ as your preferred hourly rate. Is that still correct?
- The date we need care to begin is __/__. Would you be able to start then?
- What do you like best about providing childcare and what activities do you enjoy doing with kids?
- How do you/would you handle an emergency situation?
- What is the most difficult situation you have encountered while providing childcare and how did you handle it?
- How do you comfort and discipline children?
- What do you think is the best way to handle temper tantrums?
- What is your comfort level with cooking and preparing meals for kids? OR What is your experience preparing and heating a bottle?
- Do you have experience changing diapers? (If applicable.)
- How comfortable are you with bathing children and bedtime routines? (If applicable.)
- What questions do you have for me?
Questions for reference checks
- What were his/her (the caregiver’s) responsibilities?
- Did your child(ren) feel safe and attended to in their care?
- How did he/she relate to your child?
- Was he/she responsible, reliable, and punctual?
- Did he/she follow house rules?
- How highly would you recommend his/her services?
- Would you hire them again?
Other information to help orient your childcare provider to your home and child(ren)
- Take them on a tour of your home.
- Establish a cancellation notice (i.e. if they can’t provide care for you, they should let you know at least __ hours in advance).
- If they are providing transportation for your child(ren), discuss whether they’ll be using their own car or your car.
- Ask them if they know how to use a child seat (if applicable). If they don’t, show them how to use one before they provide transportation.
- Give them emergency contact numbers: yours, friends or neighbors, doctors, emergency services.
- Review guidelines and routines regarding meal times, naptime, bedtime, and playtimewhether it’s specific food requests or allergies, brushing teeth, washing hands, changing diapers, assisting with toilet training, amount of television time, etc.
- Explain possible behavior problems and how you want them to be handled (i.e. time outs, loss of privileges, grounding, etc.).
- Let the caregiver know whom your child(ren) may play with or visit.
- Leave a list of activities that your child(ren) would like and where items can be found.
- Explain what medications should be given, how, and where they are kept.
- Let the caregiver know whether it’s okay or not for them to sleep after they have put the child(ren) to bed (if applicable).
Factors the influence caregiver hourly rates
- The number and ages of child(ren) cared for.
- Where you live and how far the childcare provider has to travel (you may want to add a couple of dollars for gas or ask them to record their mileage for reimbursement).
- How much responsibility you are expecting of the childcare provider and how much experience they have.
- Long hours and late or overnight hours may require a higher hourly rate.
*Payment should be discussed before you officially hire a student caregiver. We’ve included each student caregiver’s preferred hourly rate on their profile. You may also find this rate calculator to be helpful in determining the average hourly rate for caregivers in Lexington.*