Volunteering to babysit is a big decision. It’s not an activity everyone is cut out to do. Have an idea of what you’re getting yourself into before signing up. Understand who the family is, how many kids they have and the overall temperament of the household.
Brush up on your skills too and know that you’re going to be working hard. You can’t know it all before you start, but there are some general guidelines to comprehend. Don’t feel pressured or like you aren’t capable of doing it, but do realize what the job entails. See what it takes to succeed at babysitting.
A Positive Attitude
You won’t survive with a household of kids unless you have a positive attitude. You have to be willing to laugh at yourself and keep an upbeat outlook. Kids are vulnerable and look up to you. Coming in tired and cranky won’t make for a very good session. Know that you may face a few obstacles along the way, but it’s nothing you can’t handle. Keep smiling and show the kids that it’s going to be fine. Displaying a positive attitude is especially important if you’re playing a game and some of the kids are getting frustrated. Show them that it’s not all about winning.
Street Smarts
Be smart and collect all of the relevant emergency numbers; also read up on how to deal with certain situations such as foreign objects in the ear and how to handle rashes from CareNow in case of an accident. You want to be prepared, should an incident occur while you’re at the house. Watch the kids at all times and don’t let them get into any mischief. Use your common sense if you’re faced with a situation and resolve it by applying your problem-solving skills. You may be asked to make a judgement call. Your best course of action is to remain calm and not panic.
A Sense of Humor
If you’re with kids, you have to bring your sense of humor. They’ll be silly and giggly most of the time, and it’s more fun if you join in on the laughter too. You’ll probably end up having a great time and pleasant evening with the kids. Let them be goofy if they want and just enjoy where you are at the time. Remember that kids are weird and funny, and sometimes you just have to roll with the punches.
Patience
Come to the babysitting job with your patience. Practice ahead of time and try not to let the kids get to you. There will be screams and spilt milk. It comes with the job, and it’s for you to handle since you’re being paid to babysit. Try not to get too riled up by any single mishap. Take one instance at a time and continue to practice your deep breathing skills. You’ll need to apply your stamina to nights like these.
Conclusion
You definitely need endurance to outlast a bunch of little kids. Put a smile on your face and remain composed. This is what it takes to succeed at babysitting.
This is good information. When I was a teen, I did do quite a bit of babysitting, and I realize the kids were quite a handful, looking back as an adult. I’d say it is good to be very sharp and observant, and to think ahead what a child could do that they could get hurt (ie climbing on things they shouldn’t, etc.). Also make sure the parents know everything, to give them a full report.