telemundo interview with
director of counseling dr. angelica diaz-martinez ’88
JULY 1, 2013
Introduction: Good morning and thank you for returning
to “Buenos Días Nueva York.” We now move on to our
segment called “Mother’s Corner,” and, on this occasion,
we discuss how to select child care. To provide some tips
(or advice) on how to find the most appropriate person to
take care of our children, Dr. Diaz-Martinez accompanies
us this morning. Welcome, Dr. Diaz-Martinez—thank
you, etc.
Question: Doctor, what characteristics should one look
for in a child care worker/babysitter?
Response: It is very important to find someone who is
mature, is responsible, someone you have confidence in,
and also someone who can react appropriately in the case
of an emergency. Also, someone who will follow the rules
of your home. That is, when you are not present, they will
not engage in other behaviors.
Question: What requirement or information should we
request from prospective applicants?
Response: Well, the first thing one should do is ask for
recommendations or referrals. You should ask people
about who takes care of their children—people you trust,
like pediatricians, teachers, family members. Once you
have recommendations, you should interview the person.
It is very important to interview the person, and, when
you interview them, also research their past. Many people
do not know that they can acquire information about the
sex offenders’ registry available to the public. You can call
the state police in your state, or you can look it up on the
Internet. They are going to put the web addresses on the
screen by state: New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut.
There is also a national registry that you can look up as
well, to make sure that the person has not committed any
sexual crimes. Also, you can call…if you are going to use
a day care center, you can call the state department of
children.
Question: Now on screen, you can see the websites you
were talking about where you are telling us we can
research. You can look for names—first and last names
of the people you are interviewing—to find out if they
have had these issues in their past.
Response: Yes, yes. Exactly. By address as well as by name.
Host: Oh, by address also, that is very good.
Question: For first-time moms who may be insecure
about this issue, what can we recommend for them?
Response: One of the things they should also do is
interview, but also, if the family has the resources, they
should bring the person to the home to take care of the
child while they are present. That way, they can see how
that person behaves with the child and how the child
reacts, and that helps the mom feel more comfortable. But
know that, as a new mother, it is normal to feel nervous
and worried for the care of their children.
Question: What is the most common error committed
by someone who is looking for child care?
Response: I think it is the lack of researching. Many times,
you follow others’ recommendations and then one says,
“ok, if it worked for this person…” (host says, “with my
friend, that’s it”), yes, if it worked for my friend, that person
is hired and brought to your house. Research, interview,
and ask questions. For example, if you have certain rules
in your house, you want to make sure they are going to
follow your rules in your home. Another thing people do
not think about is that, when they are in your home, they
should not bring company to your house—people you do
not know. Or, if they are taking your child to the park
(for example), they should not be getting together with
friends. You do not know that person, and you do not
know what the intentions are. You pay them to take care
of your child, not to entertain their friends.
Host: Exactly, not so they socialize with others.
Question: What are the advantages and disadvantages
of a babysitter when compared to day care?
Response: It all depends. It depends many times on
the financial resources a family may have. One of the
advantages of having the child in day care is that the child
is with other children, and it is good for socialization,
development, and learning. One of the advantages of a
babysitter is that when the child is sick, after the family
takes the child to the doctor, the babysitter can stay with
the child in the home—you cannot take that child to day
care. But in the end, the person…the family needs to feel
comfortable with what they choose, and it may depend on
the financial piece as well.
Question: Quickly, one final question. At what age do
you recommend that a parent can leave a child alone
without any adult supervision?
Response: It is always best to have an adult present. The
states of New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut do not
have an exact age when it would be appropriate. You
can call the department of children’s services, explain
your situation, and ask for that information. But an adult
present is always recommended. What they look for in
cases like these is the maturity of the child, that the child
can act in an emergency, that they can prepare food for
themselves. But in the end, adult supervision is always
best.
Thank you for joining us this morning, doctor.
Thank you.