Babysitting requires skills in creativity, adventure, and play. But those skills
are no help if you don't know what to do when a kid has a playground tumble or you're
not prepared for a 2-year-old's temper.
How do you cope? You plan ahead for all kinds of possibilities!
Have a Business Plan
Planning starts before you get a babysitting job. To get clients,
you need to know the best way to find them. If you're new to babysitting, you might
want to spread the word only to family, friends, and neighbors until you get more
experience.
Babysitting is about your safety and comfort level as well as
the kids'. Find out if a job is right for you by asking careful questions
about what the family expects. Plan how you'll get to and from jobs safely and know
how you'll stay in control in an unfamiliar house.
Think ahead about the kids you'd like to care for. If you're not
comfortable looking after newborns or kids with special needs, don't take that job.
Wait for the next opportunity to come along. It will!
Be Prepared
Do you know how to change a diaper? How to bathe a child? Find out before you show
up for your first day of work.
Your first priority in babysitting is to keep kids safe. Being
a good babysitter means knowing how to handle everything from a splinter to a real
emergency.
The best time to prepare for an event is before it happens. Yes,
it's very unlikely the child you're looking after will eat something poisonous. But
knowing where to find the poison control number gives you enormous peace of mind.
Even when it comes to something as simple as fixing lunch, a little advance planning
saves you time and worry. Does the child have any food
allergies? Which foods are choking hazards for toddlers? How will you ensure young
kids or babies stay safe and out of trouble while you prepare a meal?
Young children demand your time and attention every second. They also need structure,
such as regular meal and nap times. Organize your day, including what time
the kids will eat, what you'll feed them, when they nap, and when they go to bed.
The best way to prepare for all kinds of babysitting possibilities is to take a
babysitting training or safety course. Your local community center or hospital might
offer one. It also helps to talk to experienced babysitters to see how they do things.