GREAT BOOKS:

• Don't Forget to Come Back! by Robie H. Harris (for 4 - 8 year olds)
  A fun, funny look at how a child complains, and then copes, with her parents going out for the night. This book helps kids deal with feelings of anxiety surrounding new babysitters.
  
  
• The Berenstain Bears and the Sitter by Stan & Jan Berenstain (for 2 - 6 year olds)
  "Left with a babysitter for the first time, Brother and Sister Bear are certain they won't like her. But with her bag of tricks and comforting way of tucking them in, Mrs. Grizzle wins them over..." This classic book helps parents get their younger children ready to have a stranger come into the house to care for them
  
  
• I Love You All Day Long by Francesca Rusackas (for baby - preschool ages)
  A fantastic book to help your child prepare for the daycare experience. The review from the From School Library Journal sums it up well: "When a little pig worries about heading off to school for the day, his mother reassures him that her love for him goes everywhere he goes. 'I love you all day long,' she says. 'I love you when you make a new friend.- or when you make a mistake.' The bright, expressive illustrations and the spare text work well to bring the reassuring message home."
  
  
• Questions Children Ask and How to Answer Them by Miriam Stoppard
  Though this book isn’t about childcare or babysitting issues specifically, it is a fantastic general resource for parents. It helps with the hardest of questions, including those on loss, sex, fear, and the everyday changes that a child faces. Though at times blatant even for the most open-minded parent, it is a fantastic reference guide for being open to your child’s emotions and natural curiosities.

GREAT WEBSITES:

• Babysitting Contracts
  The A - Z Nanny Contract helps parents to establish communication and expectations with a new nanny, and guides parents through the issues and best practices that may come up in both the initial hiring process and beyond. An easy Word format allows you to personalize the document.
  
  
• General Childcare Information
  The U.S. Department of Health & Human Services Administration for Children & Families: Information on finding child care nation-wide, looking for financial assistance to help with the cost of care, and general information about quality child care.
  
  
• Ask Other Parents
  This long-running site has a great selection of parent-to-parent discussion forums, and includes opinions on everything from hiring male nannies to babysitting co-ops to helping your child adapt to a new day care. Though many of the physical recommendations are local to the Bay Area, the advice is universal.
  
  
• Great Ideas for Arts & Crafts
  Bananas, Inc. is a fantastic non-profit offering free downloads on great activities that sitters (and parents) can do together with kids. Available in both English and Spanish, the activities ranging from developing skills such as cooking or motor coordination, to science and making ornaments.