When Your Child's in Charge

10 Tips for Parents of Babysitters

By Gina Roberts-Grey, LCSW

The responsibility of being a paid babysitter is one that many teens willingly go in search of. They appreciate the chance to earn money for the latest CD and the ability to gain some respect for their impending leap into adulthood. Most children tend to flourish with the trust and responsibility babysitting brings. Children who are given the chance to watch a friend or neighbor's child have higher levels of self-esteem and more confidence to withstand peer pressure.

Parents of children anxious to join the ranks of the working world often question how to help ensure their child is properly prepared to provide child care. From offering guidance about establishing an hourly rate to printing introductory flyers, adults soon realize their child's babysitting venture quickly becomes a parent's second job.

Once you've determined your child is mature enough to cope with the responsibility of babysitting, there are a few tips that offer both of you additional support.

If your child is on a babysitting job, try to arrange to be home or accessible in case of emergency. Whether she needs words of experienced wisdom if a child is inconsolable or hears a "strange" noise in the basement that turns out to be the family cat, it's always nice to be able to talk to Mom or Dad. Make sure your teen knows you're there to offer "off-site" support and can reach you if necessary.

You know what you do and do not prefer in a babysitter, so pass that valuable information on to your child to help her succeed. Help her to prioritize playing with kids, tidying up toys and games and being polite and punctual. Remind her of any negative experiences you had either as a parent or babysitter for her to use as a model of areas on which to improve.

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