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About East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current | View Entire Issue (March 1, 2017)
March 2017 - EASTERN OREGON PARENT - 3 Babysitting basics: Setting up your teen as a sitter By JENNIFER COLTON So your child wants to babysit. Once you’ve decided she – or he – is ready and able to supervise younger children, it’s time to get active. Making a few conscious decisions and preparations can help keep your potential sitter safe and in control of a business where they’ll learn responsibility, problem-solving and a little money management. First steps If your child is ready to begin babysitting, talk about what age kids he or she would like to care for. Is your child able to change a dia- per? Is your child comfortable hav- ing control over older kids? These are all questions to talk about while you make a business plan. Make a plan that covers what types of chil- dren your sitter will watch, what his or her hours will be, and what he or she will charge. Will your sitter offer a discount for multiple kids? Will you charge by the hour or a flat rate? Make sure your child has a basic idea before going into nego- tiations with parents. Certification and training Having certification means your sitter-to-be has taken classes to understand some of the responsi- bilities and potential challenges of babysitting. It’s not only a good op- tion for all sitters, it’s also evidence of your child’s preparedness for parents who may not have a back- ground with your child. The longest standing and most well known babysitting certifica- tion comes from the American Red Cross. The organization offers classroom and online options for all ages, as well as optional first aid and CPR certifications. In Hermiston, Good Shepherd Medical Center offers “Babysit- ting Basics 101” for babysitters ages 10 to 15. It’s a full day class – typically 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. on a Saturday – covering childcare techniques, what to expect, and basic first aid. The class is about $35, and pre- registration is required. You can call 541-667-3509 for more information. Although St. An- thony’s Hospital in Pendleton doesn’t offer a regular baby- sitting class, it does offer tips for choosing a babysitter and making sure your child is ready: • Get references and make sure sitters have a track record of demonstrating common sense, maturity and ability to follow instructions. • Require first-aid training: At the minimum, sitters should know the Heimlich maneuver and how to use everything in a general first aid kit. The Pendleton hospital also rec- ommends making sure a babysitter knows the quickest route to the hospital and who to contact in an emergency. Safety and security Sending your child out into the world – even for an hour – has its share of fears and risks, and baby- sitting is just as much about the safety of the sitter as it is the kids he or she is watching. Do your best to minimize those risks by talking with your child about all expecta- tions and setting clear rules. Whenever you deal with parents you don’t know, you may want to drop your child off to make sure you know where they are while babysitting and meet the parents. Make sure the home environment local post offices, libraries and stores have community boards where families may post about needing sitters – or your sitter can put up a flier advertising his or her new business ven- ture. If you go with any public marketing, make sure you proofread what your child is submitting to make sure they aren’t giving away too much personal information. Balancing school and sitting is safe before you leave your child Just like any student job, babysit- alone, and help them know how ting requires striking a balance be- to stay in control in an unfamiliar tween school and work. While the house. money and responsibility can be a This is also a good time to talk nice bonus, it should never come at about what the family’s rules are the expense of school work. Before and if any kids have allergies or spe- your child begins taking babysitting cial needs. assignments, sit down and draft Marketing and finding work out a series of rules – including The best place to start gaining how late they can be out on school babysitting experience is with peo- nights. Going into the experience ple and places your child is familiar with a plan gives your student a with. If you have other children, an clear idea of what she or he should older sibling can gain experience say no to. in your own home, and if you have When looking at the balance friends who could use a sitter for a between babysitting, school, clubs, few hours, it can make it easier on and sports, having a calendar can both the children and your bud- make a difference. Even if you have ding babysitter if they already know a family calendar, give your po- each other. tential sitter a calendar – digital or Once your child is ready to ex- paper – of his or her own to keep tend past your immediate circle, he track of commitments and make or she can try advertising on Face- sure they don’t accept a babysit- book or other local social media ting job when they have a concert opportunities, and larger websites or a sporting event. While the class may also be an option. The web- schedule may stay the same, sports site Care.com, for example, allows and other activities vary, and you prospective babysitters and nannies never want to leave a client without to sign up and set up a profile. The a sitter because your child forgot site works in the same way an em- about another commitment. ployment or dating website would: ________ would-be babysitters make profiles and connect with parents looking Jennifer Colton is news director of for a sitter. KOHU and KQFM, and mother of If you live in a small town, some three, based in Pendleton.