The best babysitters in your area have regular clients, earn a great hourly rate and take pride in what they do. The good news is that elevating your level of service may be easier to do than you may think. Incorporate these tips our sitters tell us makes them successful in your efforts to be the best babysitter ever.
1. Be Reliable.
The most valued quality a babysitter can have is reliability. Being on time, if not early, goes a long way and is appreciated by parents. Ensuring that parents trust you will help with earning regular gigs.
2. Ask Questions.
Whether you are on the phone discussing a job possibility or you are receiving instructions before the parents leave, ask as many questions as you need to. Some babysitters assume that parents will think that they are inexperienced by asking questions, but most parents prefer that you have all of the information that you need to keep their children safe.
3. Obtain Certifications.
If you have not already obtained your CPR certification and taken a babysitter training class, now is the time to do so. You have to be prepared for all possibilities when you are entrusted with the care of someone else’s children, and these training courses provide you with invaluable information and skills.
4. Understand and Enforce Rules and Limits.
As a babysitter, you are tasked with enforcing all of the parents’ rules and limits. Most parents may tell you about their children’s ploys and behaviors, and they will likewise tell you how you can overcome those issues and enforce the rules of the house.
5. Feel Confident About Reaching Out.
Parents understandably do not want to be bothered numerous times every hour with questions and feedback, but they do want their children to be safe and properly cared for. If you need to know where the extra diapers are or if the children need sunblock on before playing outside, you should feel comfortable reaching out.
6. Be Observant.
Your eyes should be on the children at all times. You also should be aware of the potential environmental dangers that lurk nearby. Take preemptive steps to avoid dangers.
7. Stick to the Routine.
The parents will provide you with a routine to follow, including times for meals and naps. Many parents follow a schedule at home, and they want you to stay as close to that schedule as possible. If you put children to bed an hour or two later than you should, you may not be called for a second job.
8. Interact with the Children.
Your primary job is to keep the kids safe and healthy, but you also need to keep them happy and entertained. Be respectful and firm, but also friendly and fun! If you babysit regularly, it makes sense to put together a bag of books and games that are ideal for all age levels. Before each job, you can fill your bag with age-appropriate items.
9. Choose Your Clients Wisely.
Many parents in your area are looking for a babysitter, but you do not have to accept every job that comes your way. If you know that children are unruly or if you feel uncomfortable about the ages or number of children, for example, you can turn down job offers.
10. Provide Honest Feedback.
At the end of each job, parents inevitably will ask how things went. Avoid simply saying that things went well. Instead, provide honest feedback about your challenges and how you handled things.
When parents are looking for a babysitter, they want the most qualified individuals who they know will keep their children safe and happy. When you apply these tips to your efforts, you may develop several regular clients.
Here’s a good project for preschoolers. It’s a DIY holiday card using their handprint and finger paint. The instructions recommend using washable finger paint because it’s thicker and of course, easier to clean up than the real deal paint. You simply help kids coat their palm in paint and press it onto the front of cardstock to make a Christmas tree or menorah. You can use other colors and fingerprints to decorate the tree if you are making a Christmas tree print, or for the flames on the tips of the menorah candles. It’s a simple project that requires few materials, and produces great results.
