Your teen is ready to babysit. But are you ready to send her to a stranger's house to care for the children of people you don't know well or perhaps not at all? Most babysitters start out by sitting for relatives, such as younger brothers and sisters and cousins, or family friends. In fact, the most frequent babysitting job in the U.S. is babysitting for younger school age siblings. Another good first babysitting job is having your teen watch a relative's or close neighbor's child while the child's mother is at home, but doing other work. This allows new sitters to practice babysitting skills with a parental "safety net" in place.
However, what if relatives and family friends are not a source of babysitting jobs for your teen? In that case, as a parent, it's only natural you'd want play a role in helping recruit your teen for the best and safest babysitting jobs possible. Suggest his name to your neighbors and co-workers but be honest with yourself about your teen's limitations. If he's just starting out as a babysitter, he should start by babysitting for only one (One is ideal!) or two children at one time. More than two children (especially with the dangers in the environment) are too hard to guard. Short babysitting jobs are also best for new sitters. The job is too long if it's more than three hours when the children are awake and more than five hours when the children are sleeping.
Preschoolers (3 to 5 year olds) are the best age group for young babysitters to begin babysitting for. You shouldn't have your young teen start out babysitting for infants or toddlers. She shouldn't care for an infant less than six months of age until she's had at least two years of experience babysitting. An infant under six months of age involves too many risks with techniques and may lead to frustration. Even with experience, a newborn (an infant less than one month of age) is not an appropriate babysitting job for a teenager.
Your teen should also avoid accepting a summer babysitting job where she babysits every day. Even during the school year, she shouldn't accept jobs for both weekend evenings. As a young teen, she needs time to "be a kid" herself and allow time for spontaneous events with friends. Day-after-day jobs are just too demanding for a young teen's developmental level.
You can help your teen help himself! Suggest that he tell his teachers he's started to babysit. Or have him ask his friends or an older brother or sister to give his name as a substitute when they're not available. (References still need to be checked!) Your teen sitter can also volunteer to babysit with familiar families in the nursery at your church or synagogue. When parents pick up their children, they will have the opportunity to see how he interacts with their child. Showing how much he likes the children is the best way to get a parent's attention and a babysitting job.
With your assistance, your teen can also garner attention by safely marketing her availability. Help her make a flier, letter, or business card, including name, telephone number, hours available to babysit, curfews on school nights, fee rate, and if she has taken a babysitting preparation class. If she distributes flyers, it's always better to deliver them in person rather than just putting them in mailboxes. (It gives the adult a chance to ask questions and for your teen to meet the parents.) Do not allow her to post her name and telephone number in a public place or online! She should not give out any personal information by phone, flier, or internet that endangers her safety. Accepting babysitting jobs from strangers should not be allowed! Remind your teen sitter that she should not be in such a hurry to get a job that she puts herself at risk.
The first time young teens babysit can be an exciting milestone for them but a stress-inducing one for their parents. However, assuming the new role of babysitter doesn't have to mean immediately jumping into sitting for strangers. Young sitters can get the confidence they need and the experience they want by easing into childcare jobs with family, friends and neighbors. With some careful marketing and assistance from parents, young sitters can also safely introduce themselves to other potential employers and grow their new babysitting business!
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