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Have fun with your kids while doing something useful – container gardening! This will certainly help keep them from getting bored and they will love learning how to plant in garden pots. And, seriously, what could possibly be better than getting their little hands dirty while growing their own food. They might just be inclined to try some new foods they wouldn’t ordinarily try (I know this works since I saw it happen with my own 6-year old son.)

The Containers

Let’s start off with the containers. Garden pots come in a wide variety of styles and materials they are made from, like clay, stone, wood, plastic, etc. For kids, the safest material to use is plastic – its lightweight and its pretty hard to break. The next best option is wood but wood containers are mostly used for decoration as they don’t hold water well and a plastic pot will have to be placed inside the wood container.

This is a really good time to have your kids decorate the pots. On both wood and plastic, acrylic paint works great. Be sure to use paints that are non-toxic. Once your child is finished, pick out a location now where you want the pot to go since it will be harder and heavier to move when its filled with soil.

The Potting Soil

Instead of just putting your plants in plain old dirt, I recommend using a good potting soil. Commercial potting soils are made specifically for container gardening and they’re made to retain water (that means less maintenance!) Helping your freshly placed plants get a good start by feeding them with proper nutrients is always a good idea. Use the guide that is printed on the side of the bag and mix the recommended amount into the potting soil. You can kill the plant by adding too much so be careful.

Plants

Whether flowers, vegetables, or herbs, choosing your plants by type is an easy way to start. Once you have the type picked out, choose the size of plant appropriate to the size of your pots. Some plants will require larger pots (like tomatoes). You can always transplant them into larger pots if they get too big for the pot you started with. This is a great project for your kids (and YOU). They are sure to love seeing (and also eating) the fruits of their labor.

Before starting any project using garden pots, make sure you check out Andy Raydalls web site about container gardening: AllGardenPots.com

Looking for a babysitter? Now, it isn’t so hard. Babysitting agencies are a great help. Getting a sitter from an agency will give you some assurance that procedures have been followed to ensure that you have a qualified sitter. Different agencies however have different methods and procedures. You would want to be with an agency that can source the best sitters. How do you know that you are with a good agency?

Source of Sitters

Background – Finding out about an agency’s background is a given. Your next step should be finding our exactly where they get their sitters. It would be good if an agency can get sitters from various sources. After all, this is not a question of discriminating against certain places as sources for sitters. It’s about finding out how they screen their applicants.

Your agency should have a service that conduct preliminary checks, investigation and screening. This includes verifying a sitter’s real identity and checking for past records of cases of misdemeanor. Determine how an agency conducts its checks.

Agency Requirements for Sitters

Ask about the agency’s requirements for accepting sitters. What exactly are these requirements? Are sitters required to have certificates in first aid courses? In some cases, sitter applicants aren’t required to have these certificates. This is because not every sitter would have the motivation or resources to take these courses. Some agencies however take it upon themselves to provide learning opportunities. A sitter who is well-versed in emergency response is valuable. You would want a sitter who can respond to emergencies and accidents.

Sitter Matching

Look for an agency who is careful to address your special needs. Your sitter for example should be able to work well with kids who have the same ages as yours. You may also have special requirements such as sitters being able to cook as well. Find out how an agency will help you find the exact sitter that you need. Some agencies will help you interview their sitters so you can find a good match. Others will interview you personally so they can determine your needs and find a sitter who fits.

Agency Guarantees

Agencies should have some form of guarantee. Products typically have money back guarantees. Agencies on the other hand have guarantees for replacements. This is important because there will be instances when your sitter will be unable to come in. It is also quite possible that you may not be satisfied with your sitter and would like a replacement. Will your agency replace a sitter at no extra cost?

Cost

As with everything else, the price is a crucial factor. How much do you have to pay your agency for a sitter? You may have to pay an initial fee whether or not you finally decide to get a sitter from them. Some agencies have non-refundable initial fees. You then have to pay for a placement fee. This amount covers the costs for agency services include background checks. In some cases you may have to pay extra for transportation costs. Once you have your sitter, you have to pay her an agreed sum every month.

Babysitting agencies may be a bit expensive. If you think about it though, the cost may be worth every penny. Just think about it as paying a large amount for the safety of your kids.