Teenagers - want to become a babysitter?

October 25, 2008

a how to guide for would be teenage babyistters

Babysitting is a great way for teenagers to earn money, working around school and social commitments, maybe even getting your homework done or watching TV when the children are in bed, and you get paid! But it is a responsible job – you have to be sensible and confident, you are after all looking after young lives. So what do you need to know?

First of all, although babysitting can be an easy job, it isn’t always! Children get sick, play up, miss their parents and you will have to cope with all of this. You need to have a certain amount of self awareness – are you mature enough to look after younger children? There are a few things that you need to be aware of to get the most out of this experience and to make sure that you and the children you babysit for are safe.

Dos:

Babysit in your local area to start off with. Whether you are a girl or a boy, you need to consider safety first. You shouldn’t have to come back home late at night from too far away - even if you have a bike. Until you know the family you babysit for really well don’t take lifts home from them, arrange for your mum or dad to collect you or ask for the family to pay for a taxi on top of your fee – if you ask upfront they won’t mind – they are parents too

Befriend the kids whom you think you will be baby sitting a few days in advance so they’re familiar with you and more importantly you with them – ask if you can pop round after school to meet them so that you are a familiar face, especially if you arrive to babysit after they are in bed. Find out where the first aid box is, any allergies, any special toys etc

Next, you need to be reliable. If you arrange to be there at a certain time, be there then, never late, maybe even a few minutes early

Before the adults leave, write down where to contact them in case of emergency – their mobile number – the name of the place they are going - and have an alternative to that as well (the next door neighbour perhaps). Ask them at what time they think they’ll be back and inform your parents about when you are should get back home afterwards

Ask (and if possible write) what is expected of you while baby-sitting, especially if they ask you to feed the children, help with homework, have rules around TV/DVDs etc

Be patient with the children but behave as one of them. It is easier to control them when you are a peer/ friend than a 'grown up' although sometimes you may have to impose house rules

Take a few things with you for the children to do – books, art stuff, anything you think might be fun. Of course they may have all this in their own house but yours will be even more special to them

Ask in advance what the parents will pay you, findasitter recommends that you set an hourly rate and that parents round up what they pay you. So if you charge £4 an hour and they go out at 7.30 getting back at 11.15, you would get £16

Find out about first aid courses (often on offer if you do Duke of Edinburgh award scheme or the Red Cross) and get on one. You'll be a much better bet for parents

Volunteer to help at after school clubs or brownies/cubs. You get great experience and again this shows you are reliable

Don'ts

Don’t go very far when babysitting – stay in your local area especially at night

Don’t take up baby sitting if any male in that family/ house makes you feel uncomfortable – use your gut feelings on this one

Don’t feel scared to immediately react if anybody touches you wrongly

Don’t hit/smack the children (NEVER use violence for controlling them); do not shut them in a room (or bathroom or closet) as punishment or otherwise. Ask the family in advance what they do for ‘punishment’ – it may be enough to say you will tell their parent, to give them timeout or put them on the naughty step etc

Don’t allow the children to leave your sight (whether outdoors or indoors); if they want to go to their room, the door to the room should stay open so you can see the kids whenever you want or need to

Don’t feed them anything unless you are asked to do so and make sure you know the house rules around snacks at bedtime, is it a glass of milk and a biscuit?

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