Whether you are returning to work or need a few hours to yourself, leaving your child under the care of someone new can be a daunting task for many parents.
Following are some guidelines that can help parents when hiring a babysitter:
- Invite the sitter to a formal interview and get acquainted with her.
- Prepare a list of questions regarding their skills, hobbies and experience. You may also wish to know what they enjoy about babysitting and how they have handled conflict or emergencies in the past. The interview also allows the sitter to express any concerns or questions they may have, for example, if your child is an infant, it may make a sitter uncomfortable if they have never cared for one before.
- After the interview, allow your child and the potential sitter some time to get to know one another. We encourage you to stay in the house but observe the quality of the interaction from afar. It is important that both you and your child feel comfortable and safe with the sitter.
- Thoroughly check the sitter’s references.
- If your child is old enough, make sure he understands that he has the right to feel safe and protected at all times. If someone touches him or asks him to do something that leaves him feeling uncomfortable or scared, he has the right to say NO!
As children grow into adolescence, they become more mature and seek to be more independent. Babysitting is a great way to earn money, but it comes with a lot rules and responsibilities. Following are some helpful tips that will help prepare your teen for the important duties of a babysitter: