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| |    Preparing Your Child to Babysit: An Overview by Susan E. Davis reviewed by Robert Needlman, M.D., F.A.A.P. Sometimes it starts from a desire to make money, sometimes from a heartfelt impulse to nurture babies and young children. Many times it's both. But whatever the motivation, there's a good chance that your daughters or sons may decide to hang up a babysitting shingle when they hit age 11 or so. There are many good reasons for you to support this decision. Babysitting helps children learn to be responsible, professional, and to manage their time, all the while learning child-care skills that will come in handy when they themselves become parents someday. And if you take an active role in deciding the who, when, and where of her clients, you can be more assured that your child will be in safe situations. Babysitting, of course, is not a frivolous job, as it entails caring for small children (not to mention another family's house and property), and all parents know how much work and responsibility that is. So, as you watch your son wrestle with his little brother over the TV remote control or sadly gaze at the ocean of dirty clothes, teen magazines, hair accessories, and food containers engulfing your daughter's bedroom, how exactly do you know when your child is ready for this important role? It's time to take a clear-eyed look at her maturity, sense of responsibility, coping skills, and training. Signs of readiness "While there is no set age at which a child is ready for babysitting," says Connie Harvey, the American Red Cross health and safety expert who reviewed these articles, "there are certain signs that show children are ready for this job, including whether or not they can make decisions on their own, how responsible they are, and how well they communicate with adults. The latter's important because they have to be able to understand what's expected of them, as well as tell the parent what concerns or problems they're having with the children." Here are some questions to help gauge if your child is ready for babysitting:
Before your child starts looking for babysitting jobs, she should have a clear idea of what the job entails, including general expectations about professionalism (e.g., be on time, neat, and courteous) and specific expectations about babysitting (e.g., there will be poopy diapers and there may be temper tantrums, separation anxiety, and even a medical emergency.) She'll need to learn about safety considerations and perhaps even take a babysitting courses or two. If she's taken care of younger siblings, cousins, or friends' babies, she'll have a leg up, but there are many other ways to help prepare your child for this important job, as the following articles will show.
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