Tips of the Trade: How to Successfully Book more Bright Horizons Childcare Gigs
Bright Horizons Backup Care offers families last-minute and fill-in childcare as part of a benefits package through their employer. Through Smart Sitting’s partnership with Bright Horizons, we provide their clients with stellar babysitters, while enabling us to offer the great sitters in our network a nearly endless amount of work opportunities.
We have previously detailed how these Bright Horizons bookings (BUCA) are a great way for nannies and sitters in the Smart Sitting network to get a lot of work and gain valuable childcare experience. Not to mention - our top sitters earn additional cash bonuses through our Smart Stars program. Smart Sitting booking coordinator Ellen sat down with one of our busiest Smart Stars, SmartSitter Khiry S., to get the inside scoop on how to nail a booking and earn repeat work.
Smart Sitter Khiry S.
Smart Sitter Khiry S. on Bright Horizons Bookings
I’ve worked with great families and kids through the BUCA program. I’ve noticed that it’s easier if you work with clients where you can be at their home for at least one week. When you have a week, the family can show you what they need and give you all the details. My priority is always the kids, so I make sure to listen to the instructions and then put energy into bonding with the kids. I think it makes a big difference to parents when you really listen and do what they say.
Sometimes I do get bookings that are only two days. Then I make sure to get properly acquainted with their routines on the first day so that on the second day I can just jump right in. Once you get the schedule and understand what their day looks like it’s much easier.
Top tips for successful bookings
There are a few things you can do that will make your bookings successful - and will make sure the parents request you for future bookings. It can be intimidating at first, for sure, but once you get your feet wet, it’s great. These are my top tips:
Ask questions! All the questions - even if it seems like it may be obvious.
Be as polite as possible, and be sensitive to families’ different cultures.
Show as much interest in the kids as possible. Parents and kids both love that.
Be proactive: have your own ideas of what to do in a day and keep the kids entertained.
It’s great to have your own bag of tricks, even if it’s a make-believe game on the fly.
In general, you’re building a relationship with the families you work with. So if I‘ve had a great booking with a family, I really try to make myself available for them in future bookings. Kids will also also be your mini agents - if they like you, the family will keep you on their radar!
Do you have what it takes to be a BUCA Smart Star?
Do you love working with kids and have great experience as a caregiver but aren’t yet a Smart Sitter? Fill out an application online today! As always, we love to hear from you on Facebook or Instagram. For more information about SmartSitting and useful tips on childcare work, sign up for our Newsletter.