Two preschoolers on a daily basis is a full commitment - I would request a vulnerable sector police check. It's a good policy to just attend to the employer's kids -- a 10 y/o could be a real distraction, or they'd get bored or into mischief. An occasional exception might be ok though.
As long as they aren't showing up at work impaired, and are caring, competent and responsible, what they do at home is no one's business.
If you are anti-gay, you would be doing no one any favour by hiring someone who is in a same sex marriage. Can't imagine anyone who is gay wanting to work for a homophobe.
As long as the bus gets everyone where they need to go on time, I don't see that it's a huge problem. Depends on the routine, location (being carless in the country is a challenge).
I think being able to read is a critical skill for a caregiver. Labels, notices, taking down information and understanding written instructions is too important to be optional. IMO

• I would want to meet the grandaughter first, but it's similar to a dayhome where the person has kids.
• No problem.
• If it wasn't at work, I wouldn't have an issue with someone how occassionaly used marijuana.  If they were bothering to tell me, that would raise concerns that they would be doing it at work though.
• The driving depends on what I was looking for I guess.  For preschool children I don't see a need for a car.
• No reading would be an issue.  My parents always left instructions with the babysitters for an occassional night out about our medications, nebulizers, etc. even though they also sat down and discussed it with them.  I would want to be able to leave instructions from time to time.  It's also a learning time for kids.  Not neccessarily everyday, but I would expect for reading to occur together and for a book to be read to a sick child.

None of these is a deal breaker for me. They might invite other questions.

I would expect that there is a time when the interviewed person will have questions for me to decide if this is the job for them. I do not assume that "we" are perfect or that this suits "everyone".

I sometimes look after my ten year old granddaughter.   Would you have any objection to her coming here with me? 
How often is "sometimes"? What will be the arrangements fro her to get to and from school or to get here after school? Is she good with other kids? etc

I am married to a woman.
This may be a way to say, "Hey, if you are a homophobe, this ain't gonna work" or "I know you can't ask me, but you may hear this, find out, and I want it to come from me"

I occasionally use marijuana.
Why are you telling me? Do you plan on toking here while watching kids? Coming to work high or reeking of pot?

I don't drive.  Do you object if I take the children on outings on the bus?
Personally, I am all for public transit, but in rural areas there may not be transit. It would depend on whether driving was a necessity.

I can't read. 
What activities might take the place of reading stories? How will you respond if they ask you to read to them?

A deal breaker would have to do with ability to provide care and the quality of that care.

My reaction:

Occasionally bring granddaughter - no problem.    It might actually be beneficial for the kids to interact with an older child.

Married to a woman - no problem. 

Marijuana - a red flag, as alcohol would be.  How much and when?  No problem as long as not used during work, or if you come to work stoned, high, or hung over.  Don't think I would hire anyone who smoked cigerettes though.  Usually the smell (and toxins) linger on clothes and hair - and I might be concerned about her smoking at work.  Six hours without a smoke can be a long time for a smoker.

Don't drive.  Willing to take kids on the bus.  - I might have questions?  Is it a direct route or would she have to manage two kids on a transfer?  What aboout a stroller when she gets to her destination?  Is there a park nearby that they can all walk to?  Library?  Wading pool?

Can't read?   - It's only six hours, a few days.  Can she tell stories?  Talk to the kids?  follow verbal instructions?   If she was to be the primary caregiver - maybe ten hours a day, five days a week I might be more concerned.

Does she have a second language?   (I forgot to include that one)   I would consider it an advantage and ask her to use it with the kids - especially if it were French)

I might also want to know how much TV she considers appropriate for children?  And how much she watches herself

c I think this might be dangerous. If you had to leave a note, or the child had to have you read an address or phone number where she is after school and the list goes on.

Interesting list of questions seeler...and responses

Hi seeler,

Not problematic.

Not problematic.

What you do in your free time is really none of your business.  What you do when watching my child is.  If you can't get through a shift without using let me know right now.

Not problematic.

Then how are we communicating in a text based format?

Grace and peace to you.

John

Interesting and some surprising answers. 

This topic was triggered for me when an acquaintance told me that on a job interview she brought up three of these concerns.  She got the job.  Two of her questions weren't a problem for me; the third I would have to give some thought to. 

It's been a long time since I provided childcare for other people's children or hired anyone to care for mine.  More recently I've been involved with my daughter in providing or choosing care for grandchildren.  I find some of the concerns expressed and your responses to them surprising and that they possibly reflect a shift in attitudes over the years.

For instance, I would never have expected as much concern about a part time care-giver not being able to read.  I suspect that she probably can read some, but doesn't feel competent or comfortable doing so.  And, as a grandmother, she has had years to find ways of coping.  No doubt she listens well and pays close attention to verbal instructions and other clues.   My biggest concern was that she wouldn't be able to read to the children.  But she is only part time - she can take the kids to the library for story time, she can tell them stories, and the parents can make up by reading more. 

On the other hand I'm surprised at how casual people accept the fact that the caretaker uses marijuana.  But then I'm surprised by many people's casual attitude toward marijuana use.  And the more I think about it, the less of a problem it is for me.

I would expect the caretaker to limit the amount of TV the children watched, and only watch TV herself while monitoring what the children watched and discussing programs with them.    I would also expect her to take the children on outings.  My daughter hired a teenager to come to the house one summer.  During the interview my daughter pointed out a nearby park with a playground and wading pool.  She also told her where the bus stop was (on the corner), and that one bus would take them to the library, and the downtown green where musical performances and puppet shows took place.  And mentioned that when the toddler was at his grandparents she could take the older child biking on the nearby bike trail.  The sitter nodded in agreement.  But during the summer it seems she did nothing but sit on her fanny in front of the TV.  Oh, she got them a noon lunch, put the toddler down for his nap, let them play around the house and the older child played in the yard.  It was too hot to go out.  She was nervous about taking the bus. She was having her period.  They didn't ask to go out. 

Another sitter, despite good references, was a bit loose fingered with spare change, costume jewellry, or cosmetics that might be laying around.   That's something that probably wouldn't come up at an interview.

Seeler, when it comes to reading it brings up other things as well for me.  You said middle-aged and not elderly.  Literacy rates have gone up and so it suggests there is likely a major learning disability.  If that's the case, does the disability contribute to a lack of focus or lack of comprehension that could also affect care giving capabilities.

More information is conveyed today by written form than in the past.  Reading might be important when it comes to food ingredients for a child with an allergy.  What if a kid gets a fever or something?  Reading is important to know what dosage to give and even to recognize the correct medication.  Other activities require reading - cooking from a recipe or reading instructions for a game or building something.

It's also child dependent.  As a preschooler my parents used to read to me when I had a nebulizer on.  The vapour created made it difficult to see.  I used to get shaky so doing a puzzle was out.  I was also hated the thing (I still do on the occassions when I need it) and it was a good distraction.

I volunteered in Pa. with Laubuch Literacy upon learning my uncle could not read. He had raised five men anyone would be proud to say were theirs. In two US states and in Canada, I have met people who parented, worked... without being able to read. One of the people I had the pleasure of meeting was the late Clarence Brazier. He started to learn to read at 93. He also raised daughters who became school teachers as dad insisted they get an education (His girls did not know their dad's secret until they were grown)

We forget about the fact that 40-65% of Canadians are functionally illiterate.
 

I doubt most of those people would consider themselves as people who can't read though.  Also, just because someone can do something, it doesn't mean they are the best choice or someone I would want to hire.  I would be more open to hiring someone who couldn't read for a few hours as a one time thing.  Not when they would be with my children for at least 12 hours a week on a regular basis.

Thank you, SG.  I was thinking the same.  NB's record is one of the worst in the country, especially in rural areas.  Many adults did not get much beyond grade four in school.  Long distances to travel.  Needed at home.  Needed to work.  Little help from illerate parents.  Poor teachers in rural areas (not always, but the better teachers preferred the city schools.)

They were not stupid.  They learned to function, held jobs, raised families. 

 What could a caregiver of two preschool children do that wouldn't require reading.  She could tell stories.  She could play simple games - many games for preschoolers do not require reading.  She has been preparing meals for a lifetime without reading recipies - I imagine she could make lunches. 

Parents could give instructions before they left home, or record them.  Or phone once or twice a day.  She could phone them if she had a question  (ie  he seems feverish, should I give him a children's asprine?)  Anything beyond that the parents would probably want to go over with her anyway. 

If a child had more serious health issues, or required special attention, I imagine that the parents would be looking for a particular type of care-giver - one with some medical training, first-aid, etc. 

No, I don't think reading ability would be a major deal-breaker for me.

If that came up in the conversation that would also cause me to be concerned.  I would hope that someone who is looking to take care of children knows that aspirin is generally not to be given to children!

Not an immediate deal breaker, but it would cause me to question them on a few things.

Gosh Chemgal - I don't think I knew that myself - but its over 40 years since my children were little - and I would never administer medication of any kind to my grandchildren, or any children, without their parents instructions.  

What are those little pink children's aspirins used for if not for children?  Or don't they make them anymore?

I agree with all of the first two paragraphs.  It's just some of the things that couldn't be done are things that would be important to me if I had kids. 

I don't know what you mean by serious health issues, asthma and allergies are very common though.  Someone doesn't need any special training for emergency medication (inhalers, nebulizers, epi pens), but I think they should be told what to do plus have written instructions to follow as it is easy to forget in a stressful situation.  Even for children without health issues I would require a caregiver to have basic first aid, it was included with the babysitting courses that many people took when I was a pre-teen. 

I have hired different caregivers to provide part time care for my pre-schoolers while I was a t work/school. (I've also taken them out but that's another topic).

First one was a gal I knew quite well who was a free lance writer. I asked if she wasnted 3 hours a week with one 12 month old. She had no baby experience-but was my age and I trusted her. She and my son played and she learned about a baby and he was loved.

Next we used 2 sitters-who tag teamed-one just did Thurs. afternoon and one 2 1/2 days. Both gals from church. Both part time university students. One gay/one not-it didn't matter!

One older lady-from ad in paper-we shared care with neighbour across the street-so 2 kids-didn't like this one as well. She took kids to her apartment without telling us. Issue was she feed them pancakes and son was reacting to egg whites at the time.  Short lived anyhow as I went on mat. leave and was home.

Gal from India-was lovely but shorrt lived as she accepted teaching job in India.

Ms. A-who I watched grow up in church. First and only smoker. (she did 1 day a week foor us). She smoked in back yard. Neighbour complained that she threw butts in their yard. Probably not. Good care-no smoking in house-no issues

So reading-not neccessary-enough English that we could understand each other-and enoough to call 911. We didn't ask for first aid-just common sense.

Marajauna use would be a no go for me.

I'd need to meet the other child that came over. Would they bully my kids? Are they high needs themselves?

Bus trips-fine

One dayhome provider regularly took her 5 charges on bus rides around the city. She used a stroller and a kneeling bus.

Trust and communication are the big 2 for me.

One is amazed at how functional some folks are who cannot read or can barely read.

That we think someone cannot "read" to a very young child is based on not likely being around those who cannot read. There are tons of wordless picture books and one makes up their own story. Flotsam, The Red Book, The Lion and the Mouse, Good Dog Carl, The Snowman, Chalk are among the best I know of.

My much loved uncle "read" to us all the time. Little Golden Books like The Poky Little Puppy, The Ugly Duckling, Country Mouse and City Mouse and Dr. Suess books. It is what all of his children and all their cousins remember as his gift. He "read" better than anyone. He was animated and did voices.

My mom knew how to read but had never read us stories. He made me interested in books and made me want to be able to read.

Like little kids do, he "read" as a mimic. He listened to a story when my aunt read it first and memorized the words that matched each picture on the page.

He worked with all of us on recognizing and writing our lowercase and uppercase letters. We played school. Years later, I would learn that was about the extent of his ability.

When I was diagnosed with dyslexia (as an adult) and we talked about all my workaround or cheats I recognized where I had began learning them. It was at a kitchen table, playing school with my uncle. It was there that I learned that a B was a belly and the belly went on the stick on the same side my hand was on since I was right handed. The head of the snake (an s) had to be able to bite my hand. The little g needed to go, so its head pointed away and its tail pointed the way... All those things were things he taught me.

I went to thank him for helping me and working with me.Most of all, for making me want to read so badly. It was then that I learned through tears that he could not read himself. I asked if he had ever wanted to learn. He said yes and I became a Laubauch volunteer. It was the least I could do for all he had done for me. I remember his pride when he said he read "for real" to his grandkids.

SG, I remember learning how many of our sheet metal workers were illiterate.  They functioned fine, in fact, you would never know, for many many years in their job.

In terms of emergency care, or other such items, shucks, i would have expected them to phone me on cell.  I didn't leave complex instructions for any sitter.  Just phone #'s of who to call

From your list, the occasional use of marijuana is the only deal-breaker for me. It's the one that I believe poses a real potential threat to the kids.

I'd also want to run a background check on the person with the police.

Rich blessings.

Without having kids, I am thinking from when I was little.  My parents didn't have cell phones.  Even now though, if my Dad is in a meeting he can't answer his phone.  If I'm by some equipment, I can't have my cell phone will me.  Sometimes it can take 15 minutes of really trying to figure out where someone is.

I would hope a kid having an asthma attack would be given their medication by then!

Being gay is the only thing that I'm 100% okay with.  The others I'd have to think about.