How to Find Babysitting Jobs in Your Area

In a downturn economy, many people are looking for ways to make extra income. Babysitting is a great way to bring in extra income.

Whether you are a retired teacher, college grad or a teenager on summer break, you may be asking yourself, "How do I find babysitting jobs in my area?"

Use these tips to find a well paying and reliable babysitting job in your area.

Things You'll Need

• Resume
• Connections
• Good Work Ethic

Instructions

1. 

   ASK AROUND - The number one thing you can do to find a babysitting job in your area is to make it known that you are available. Tell all your friends, family members, parents, neighbors; tell everyone you know that you are interested in baby sitting. Encourage them to tell their friends and family members who have children.

2. 

   PUT UP FLYERS - The next thing you will want to do is organize, print and put up flyers in crucial places. Have your career counselor put a flyer in her office, let her know you are interested. Have your parents post a flyer at work, or if you are working post a flyer in the coffee room. If you belong to a church put a flyer on their job board, if they have a website showing job possibilities ask to include it there. Talk to the Sunday school teachers and let them know you are interested in babysitting and to pass on a flyer to any interested children. Community Centers and yoga centers or aerobic classes are perfect places to put up a flyer.

3. 

   LIST YOUR SERVICE - If after the first two steps, you would still like to find more babysitting jobs in your area, you may choose to list your services on Craigslist or in the Newspaper. Be aware that depending on your area, there may be much more competition on the web. You may also want to consider signing up for a website which is solely for finding babysitters, such as sitters.com or sittercity. These services match you up to those seeking sitters in your area. I have used sittercity in the past with much success.

4. 

   GET REFERRALS - By doing an excellent job with families you do sit for, you will get recommendations. Always make sure you show up on time or early. Bring activities for the children if possible (coloring books, watercolor and make sure to go above and beyond during your time there).

Tips & Warnings

• Before babysitting make certain you are CPR certified (or know how to do CPR, there are free classes online), and have a firm handle on how to work with children. Do not seek this job if you are not qualified. If you are a little young, but want to learn, consider asking an older adult or parent to come with you and shadow you, so that you can be in training. For techniques to work with children successfully see Conscious Discipline in the Resources section.