Sort of au pair- help needed

[Southeastlondonmum]

My husband recently took a career break so we had to let go of our beloved nanny. After three months off he got a short term (3 month) contract to take him to summer hols. All good. After trying to find a nanny/ childminder to pick up the kids (4 yo and 6 yo) twice a week we in the end had to go for a local college kid (19yo) who is the elder sister of one of my eldest friends to do pick up twice a week.One day the pick up is from after school club, second day they are home for about three hours. She's v responsible but this is definitely her first gig of this type. First day, no problems. Second day, they managed to convince her they regularly have caffeinated tea at 6pm (never had it before and were still awake at 10pm), on the third day, the house actually look like a bomb had gone off. Their room had been ransacked, shoes and coats were all over the floor and she had given them a sandwich directly on the table. This is probably not a long term solution, but given how hard it was to find someone I'm thinking I need to give her some direction and clear instructions and hope things improve until my husband is off again (hence posting this in au pair). FYI I'm paying her a good wage so not abusing her in any way

Help and advice please

She's not an au pair she's a babysitter. Babysitters don't generally clean/tidy.

I would mention kids aren't allowed tea if that's an issue but I wouldn't write her to do lists else I suspect she'll tell you to bog off!

Aware she's a babysitter but given age posted here for advice.
I'm not expecting her to clean but I'm also not expecting to come home twice a week to a properly ransacked house when I left it in a reasonable state. I also think it's common sense to put a sandwich on a plate!!!

She is 19. She isn't a qualified childcare professional. You can give her instructions but you can't reasonably expect her to meet your expectations.

Get someone who is doing a childcare course to do it. My babysitter leaves the house immaculate (well, like it looked when she arrived at any rate!)

You can use the au pair mantra - ASSUME THEY KNOW NOTHING.
You can reasonably expect a after school helper/nanny/au pair to look after the children to a reasonable standard whilst also tidying up after them. I do.

Write everything down so;

When the children arrive home, they need to put their shoes and coats away.
Then they can have 30 minutes TV, followed by reading book etc.....
Please make a sandwich for diner, they need to have it on a plate, please don't let them have tea after ...o'clock.
Please put the plates in the dishwasher after they have eaten.

Basically go through in your head exactly what you would do in that situation.

Its only short term, but you may find that if you can get her to improve she will be a good solution for the future.

I agree with a checklist, she will probably really appreciate the guidance as every home is different - her parents may have been ok with shoes left in the hall and just not realise it's an issue. It will also give her the backup she needs in order to stand firm if the DCs don't respond to her requests re coats on floor etc.

Are you paying babysitting rates or nannying rates?

Yes I think that I need to write everything down including a schedule - as suggested. Definitely no tv before clearing up and ask her to regularly check on children upstairs. We leave them up in room on their own but she's been paid to check.I'm also wondering whether I should pre- make the sandwiches and leave the plates out to save me clearing up. Part of the reason I need the help is that I'm not v mobile (awaiting major surgery so a bomb site house is really problematic. To give people some idea of the state of the house, it took three hours to clear up with both kids helping!!!! I'm paying £10 gross / hour. My previous professional nanny was on £12.50 gross

We had a babysitter just like yours. She was working at the local nursery so I was expecting more from her. After a handful of trials we decided to not use her anymore. It was giving me way too much grief with the amount of tidying up and cleaning I had to do after her and the whole point of having a babysitter is to help and make life less stressful. as you said tidying up toys and cleaning after food is just common sense. hope things get better for you.

Thanks all. I've written her a minute by minute list of what needs to happen and will premake the sandwich so hopefully things will improve

And a word with your own kids about their behaviour and what you expect from them with consequences.

At 4 and 6 they are capable of NOT trashing the house, understanding what they are allowed and not allowed to eat etc.

Much better tonight. She was v receptive to list and much less mess