Am I Ready to Babysit?

One question I get all the time is “Am I ready to babysit?” Well, the truth is, I can’t answer that question for you. But, here are a few questions you should definitely ask yourself before babysitting:

Are you responsible?

When I ask if you’re responsible, I don’t necessarily mean “Do you turn your  homework in on time?” That is a huge part of being responsible, especially if you’re still in school—but what I’m really getting at is whether you feel ready to care for yourself and others. As a babysitter, you are responsible for ensuring the safety and wellbeing of the children in your care, as well as yourself. The fact that you will be responsible for someone’s else’s children is huge, remember that while considering your answer.

Are you prepared to handle emergency situations if they should arise?

I totally don’t want to scare you, but sometimes emergency situations do happen; it’s a fact of life. As a babysitter, you have to be prepared and able to handle these situations as they arise. Before I began babysitting, I took the Red Cross Babysitter’s Training Course, as well as their First Aid/CPR/AED certification course. These courses were extremely helpful, and truly helped me feel more prepared to babysit. I strongly encourage you to check out programs like these in your area.

Are you ready to be a good example to children?

A huge part of being a babysitter is being a good role model—that means you have to be the best example you can be for the kids in your care. When you spend time with kids, there are little eyes on you at all times, and they are learning from you. Think about your behavior and actions—are you setting a good example?

What kind of experience do you have?

It’s important to consider your past experience (if any) in babysitting. Not only will this information be helpful to present to a potential client, but it will also help you set your hourly rate as a sitter. As with any job, it is important to evaluate your skills and experience before getting started.

Do you enjoy spending time with kids?

This may seem like a silly question, but as a babysitter, you’ll be spending A LOT of time with kids. Before you begin sitting, you should spend some time considering whether or not you truly enjoy kids.  Babysitting may seem like all fun and games (for the most part, it is), but kids can be pretty tough as well. They are not always on their best behavior, sometimes they are bouncing off the walls, messy, etc.

I suggest volunteering in your local daycare, or church Sunday school in order to gain a little experience and help you make this decision. This can also help you gain contacts (who you can invite to join the Sitter app!) in your community. Babysitting is a great way to make money, but like any job, it’s better if you enjoy what you’re doing.

If you’re answering these questions right now and you can confidently say that you are ready to babysit, then go ahead and get started! If you are still unsure whether you’re ready or not, check out some of the suggestions listed above to help you get more comfortable. Good luck!

 

How did you know you were ready to babysit Comment below or tweet us at @SitterMe.