Babysitting can be challenging, but training and certification in infant and child CPR, self-defense, and babysitting classes can help. Local parks, recreation centers, and volunteer centers offer training, and working as a mother’s helper can provide experience. Demonstrating skills and asking for references can make you more employable.
It can be a tough job taking care of the kids, especially when you’re new to the job. Even if you are a teenager or young adult who really enjoys the company of children, babysitting can be fraught with a variety of unplanned events. While some parents are willing to hire you, if you haven’t already babysat, training to become a nanny can help you be better prepared for your job. Training also makes you more employable, as parents know they are leaving their children in capable hands.
Several local parks and recreation centers, organizations such as the YMCA, and volunteer centers can offer babysitting training. The most important first step is to receive training and certification in infant and child cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). This can be part of the lessons in a babysitting training course, or it can be done on your own.
There may be some age restrictions on getting certified in infant and toddler CPR. Even if you can’t get certified because of your age, you should still attend classes and take a refresher course once a year. Fortunately, nothing bad or dangerous will happen to your watch, but if it does, you might be able to help a child who is choking or not breathing. Self-defense classes can also be a good idea, especially when you take kids on outings instead of just watching them at home.
Other types of training to become a nanny, especially babysitting classes, can help you do your job more easily. Lessons can focus on how to entertain children, what disciplinary action you should and shouldn’t take, how to break up sibling fights, and the standard care and entertainment requirements of each different age group. For example, if you are watching children, you might need to know how to properly feed babies and change diapers. If you’re not familiar with meal prep, you might also want to take some basic cooking classes.
If there are no babysitting classes in your area, enlist mothers who need help with children, or your own parents if you have younger siblings. You can become more experienced in childcare and childcare if you work as a mother’s helper. Most mothers would be happy to offer you the opportunity to babysit a child while they do some light housework or take a bath. Plus, they are on hand to answer questions or provide guidance on how to do some of the things you need to know. A lot of experience working as a mother’s helper prepares you to work alone when the opportunity arises.
Even if you don’t need training to become a nanny, your babysitting services are likely to be in high demand when you can demonstrate that, through classes or experience, you will provide the best possible care for children. As you become more skilled at your job, don’t forget to ask parents for references that you can share with others looking to hire you.
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