Is My Child Mature Enough to Babysit?
Babysitting is serious business.
You may ask yourself, "Does my child have the confidence needed to handle any situation that may happen on the job? What exactly should she know before babysitting?" Readiness to babysit is not a specific age but a stage of development.
There are many things to consider and you know your child's capabilities best.
So, the first and most basic question to ask yourself is, does my child seem capable enough to handle the responsibilities of caring for a younger child? A child who's up to the task is able to stay in control of herself while maintaining control of younger children.
For example, you've seen your child remain calm and focused when handling an infant who won't stop crying.
She practices safe habits for herself and that same care and consideration is shown to younger children around her.
Because of such conscientiousness, you feel comfortable that your child is also able to handle typical household situations, such as telephone calls or someone at the door.
Naturally, a child who's truly ready to babysit should feel comfortable at someone else's home after dark with no adults present.
When there are adults present, your child should seem comfortable talking to them.
After all, as a babysitter, he'll need to be able to listen to and follow any important instructions parents will give him before they leave and put him in charge of their house and children.
When your child is left alone with children, he should be able to be an advocate for himself and know his limits.
He should genuinely enjoy children and, if he finds they naturally gravitate toward him, all the better! However, just because your child enjoys children doesn't mean he wants to babysit.
Has your child actually asked to babysit? It's important to stress the seriousness of babysitting to your child when making this decision.
When your child accepts the responsibility of babysitting, she is accepting the responsibility for a child's life.
It is absolutely essential your child knows how to rescue a choking child and be able to handle a life-threatening emergency; i.
e.
when and how to call 911.
In addition to handling life-threatening emergencies and care of a choking infant or child, she should also be aware of the business and ethical aspects of babysitting, her personal safety and the safety of the children, injury prevention, basic first aid, how to care for children and behavior management.
If you enroll your child in a comprehensive babysitting course, make sure it includes all of these essentials! If there isn't a babysitting course available in your community or if the only babysitting course available doesn't include how to rescue a choking child, your child needs to take a course in child CPR.
Your child needs to know that every time he accepts the responsibility of babysitting, he is accepting the responsibility for a child's life.
He must understand that babysitting means watching the children at all times and obeying the house rules.
As much work as babysitting is, he also needs to know that babysitting is fun and very rewarding!
You may ask yourself, "Does my child have the confidence needed to handle any situation that may happen on the job? What exactly should she know before babysitting?" Readiness to babysit is not a specific age but a stage of development.
There are many things to consider and you know your child's capabilities best.
So, the first and most basic question to ask yourself is, does my child seem capable enough to handle the responsibilities of caring for a younger child? A child who's up to the task is able to stay in control of herself while maintaining control of younger children.
For example, you've seen your child remain calm and focused when handling an infant who won't stop crying.
She practices safe habits for herself and that same care and consideration is shown to younger children around her.
Because of such conscientiousness, you feel comfortable that your child is also able to handle typical household situations, such as telephone calls or someone at the door.
Naturally, a child who's truly ready to babysit should feel comfortable at someone else's home after dark with no adults present.
When there are adults present, your child should seem comfortable talking to them.
After all, as a babysitter, he'll need to be able to listen to and follow any important instructions parents will give him before they leave and put him in charge of their house and children.
When your child is left alone with children, he should be able to be an advocate for himself and know his limits.
He should genuinely enjoy children and, if he finds they naturally gravitate toward him, all the better! However, just because your child enjoys children doesn't mean he wants to babysit.
Has your child actually asked to babysit? It's important to stress the seriousness of babysitting to your child when making this decision.
When your child accepts the responsibility of babysitting, she is accepting the responsibility for a child's life.
It is absolutely essential your child knows how to rescue a choking child and be able to handle a life-threatening emergency; i.
e.
when and how to call 911.
In addition to handling life-threatening emergencies and care of a choking infant or child, she should also be aware of the business and ethical aspects of babysitting, her personal safety and the safety of the children, injury prevention, basic first aid, how to care for children and behavior management.
If you enroll your child in a comprehensive babysitting course, make sure it includes all of these essentials! If there isn't a babysitting course available in your community or if the only babysitting course available doesn't include how to rescue a choking child, your child needs to take a course in child CPR.
Your child needs to know that every time he accepts the responsibility of babysitting, he is accepting the responsibility for a child's life.
He must understand that babysitting means watching the children at all times and obeying the house rules.
As much work as babysitting is, he also needs to know that babysitting is fun and very rewarding!