How to Start a Babysitting Ministry
In today’s world, there are thousands of single parents struggling to make ends meet while providing adequate, safe care for their children. Some parents, however, just don’t have the financial means to hire babysitters. According to a news report by the Phoenix.gov, “one third of all school age children between the ages of five and thirteen are latchkey kids.” That means that children who aren’t capable of taking care of themselves are being left alone, to fend for themselves. This is a tragedy that can be prevented. All it takes is a few good men and women.
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Instructions
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Get certified. By taking a course in babysitting, you can feel confident that the care you provide is the best care available. Certification courses help you choose child-safe toys, child-proof your surroundings, create fun and active schedules, and deal with difficulties that may arise. These courses also train you to handle emergency situations such as administering CPR and first aide. There are several companies that offer babysitter certification for a very nominal cost.
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Set babysitter rules. Babysitter rules tell parents and children exactly what you expect in return for your services. It can be extensive or simple. Rules can consist of things like, if a child bites another child, the child will be placed in time out for one minute per year of the child’s age. It could also consist of rules that tell children what time they must do their homework, what chores they must complete before their parents arrive home, and how the children are to treat you—a.k.a. respect. This is also a good time to request the parents’ list of dos and don’ts.
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Child-proof the house. Whether you’ll be babysitting the children in their own homes or in yours, take the time to make sure the house is child-proof. That means all chemicals and medicines are stored in top shelves and out of reach of children. All knives go in locked drawers or cabinets, and all electrical outlets are covered with plastic covers. Anything the children have an allergic reaction to should also go under lock and key.
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Grab volunteers. There is safety in numbers. If you’re uncomfortable watching a child alone, thanks to the all the child abuse or child molestation reports—some of which are falsified because of angry children who don’t get their way -- seek a babysitting partner.
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Obtain emergency contact information. Besides the traditional police, ambulance, and poison control numbers, make sure you get the parents’ cell phone numbers, work numbers, and the number of the facility they’ll be residing in while you’re watching their children. Also, get phone numbers of family or friends you can contact if there is an emergency with the children and you cannot reach the parents or the parents don’t arrive home hours after stating they would.
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Write and sign a contract. Even though you’re providing your babysitting services for free, you should still protect yourself legally. A contract can also keep parents from taking advantage of you. For instance, you can state that you’re offering two hours of free babysitting from the hours of 3 p.m. to 5 p.m., but if the parents don’t arrive home before 5 p.m., you’re babysitting for a fee. Then state the fee you plan to charge. For instance, you can charge an hourly rate of $6 per hour, broken down into 15 minute increments.
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Watch the children. Take notes of anything you may be concerned with, such a little Timmy throwing up in the bathroom after eating a bowl of popcorn, or Caroline telling you that she was hit at school by another child. Then, discuss those matters with the parents upon their return.
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Tips & Warnings
Adults aren’t the only one who can watch children. Teenagers can prevent latchkey kids by giving up a few hours after school to care for children younger than themselves.
