If you really want to be a good babysitter, you have to know what to expect. Being prepared is the most important step so you need to know what you can expect from your experience babysitting.
Each family that you babysit for will be a little different from the last. They may have different rules and expectations and the children will be different as well. You should take some time to know the kids you are babysitting and to know the neighborhood.
Be sure you know the area and if it is your first time babysitting for this family, find out where they are, with directions and be sure you let your own family know where you are. This is important both for your safety and for the safety of the children you are watching. Should there be an emergency, you need to know how to tell emergency personnel how to get to you. Also be sure you don’t open the door for strangers, or answer strange phone calls or let people know you are there alone.
You also need to know as much as possible about the kids you are babysitting for. It helps you to know how many you will be keeping and what their ages and names are. A little background information on the children is very helpful. You might also want to see the children and meet them beforehand if you have never babysat for them before. It can help you and the child feel more comfortable.
You will also need to know how you will get home after your babysitting duty is over if you are not driving yourself. Will the family you are sitting for be taking you home? Will you have someone come and pick you up? It’s important that you have details like this figured out before hand so that there is no confusion later when you are ready to get home and rest.
Lastly, it’s also important for you to be prepared for what your job duties will include. Are you supposed to be responsible for housework and other duties like making dinner and doing the dishes? Do the kids have certain chores that you are supposed to make sure they get done? Are you responsible for bathing babies and small children and getting them into bed? Do you know the schedule that the children are on and what times they are supposed to be in bed?
It’s important that you know all of these things so that the children stay on schedule with what they are used to and so that you do a great job babysitting and will be asked to do it again. Need more babysitting tips?