Babysitting Tips

Congratulations! If you are in this page, then you must have landed the job. We know that you are well aware of what you are getting yourself into but it does not hurt to give you some guidelines that will come in handy when you are already alone with the kids.

Ask to be introduced to the children before the actual day/night of babysitting. This way, the children get to know you and be comfortable with you. If the job interview took place in a different setting, this can be a good opportunity for you to be familiar with the layout of the house as well. Hopefully it will not come this but you can turn down the job if you think you cannot handle the kids based on the impression you got from them and the parents can hire another babysitter if the children show any sign of uneasiness around you.

List down emergency and other important numbers. Here are the emergency numbers that you must take note of: the local emergency number, the number of the fire department and police department assigned in the neighborhood where you are babysitting, and the number for the local poison control center. Other important numbers that you should ask for in case the parents forget to volunteer the information are their cell phone number, the number for the place they will be, phone numbers of trusted neighbors and relatives living in the area, and the number of the children’s doctor.

Know what is expected of you. You have to clarify the job specifications with the parents. In a nutshell, you have to look after the kids but they may want you to help the children with their school work, cook and feed them dinner, give them a bath, and so on.

Have a trick or two up your sleeves. If adults have a short attention span then so do children. They can easily get bored and before you know it, they get cranky or worse. Learn how to keep kids busy. Television and video games are sure ways of catching their attention but try to be creative while you’re at it. Start a guessing game, read them a new book (which is appropriate to their age), bake their favorite chocolate-chip cookies, bring some coloring books… If the kids have fun the whole afternoon, chances are you will be hired the next time they are out of town.