What do you need to consider when searching for teen babysitters to care for your young children after school or on school holidays? Parents need to look for certain qualities in a great babysitter. However, picking that perfect candidate can be stressful.
Characteristics of a Responsible Babysitter
Age
Consider the age you think is appropriate for teens to care for young children alone. Do you know them or their parents personally? The best babysitters love young children and enjoy being around them. They are attentive to them by playing and interacting with your children. By focusing on the children, they are sensitive to children’s needs.
Maturity
Think about the maturity level of the youth; they should show good manners. They should be courteous and pleasant. Teen babysitters need to be able to use guidance strategies to discipline effectively. Being mature also includes being respectful of your children as well as the privacy of your families’ personal belongings.
Training
A babysitter has to be dependable and reliable. Have they taken any kind of training? Do they have the knowledge and skills necessary to care for young children? Babysitters should have a basic understanding of the stages of child development. They should be kind and gentle, yet firm when needed.
Safety of Young Children
Babysitters are responsible for your child’s safety. Can you trust the sitter’s judgement; are they safety conscious? Can you rely on them to know the kinds of activities that are safe and which ones might be at risk for an injury? They need to be able to handle themselves in an emergency or crisis. A babysitter should have some knowledge of first aid and CPR.
Recommendations
Ask for recommendations among your family, friends and/coworkers. Word-of-mouth is the best advertising for a good babysitter. A babysitter shouldn’t hesitate to supply some good references.
Ideally, you will interview a teen candidate for babysitting your young children. Have them come to your house so you can observe how they interact with your children.
Expectations
After you have hired a teen babysitter to take care of your children, please don’t expect them to do laundry and clean your house too. Of course, they should pick up after the kids and themselves. Additionally, once hired, set up expectations with a teen babysitter for limiting cell phone use and not allowing friends to come over, even after your child has gone to bed.
Lastly, make sure the babysitter has all the information needed to best care for your young children.
