Is Your Child Ready to Babysit?

By: Jamie Kaun

My daughter, Abigail, recently asked me how she could earn her own money to buy things that she wants. She is only 11 years old so her options are somewhat limited. Given that she is amazingly helpful with her younger siblings, I suggested babysitting to her. Although she’s very comfortable caring for her younger siblings, she wasn’t sure she was ready to care for other people’s children, mostly because she’s an introvert and can be a bit shy talking to adults.

Interacting with adults is intimidating to many youth, particularly when babysitting, according to Debbie Schock, childcare coordinator for the Coffman branch of the Dayton YMCA. “Knowing how to effectively communicate with adults is one reason why we offer the Child and Babysitting Safety (CABS) class,” says Schock. CABS, a program developed by the American Safety and Health Institute (ASHI), is a full-day course for youth 11-14 years old that focuses on childcare basics, child safety including first aid and CPR, suggestions on how to run a babysitting business, working with parents, and more. Upon completing the course, participants receive a two-year certification and are encouraged to continue their education by completing a CPR certification class. They’ll also take home a CABS student handbook that contains the valuable information they learn in class for easy reference whenever they need it.

My daughter recently completed a similar in-depth course to help her become more confident caring for children other than her siblings. When I asked if she thought the program was beneficial and why, she said, “I feel more prepared to talk to the parents now. For me, the safety things we learned were also really important and I know what to do if something comes up.”

Knowing when your child is ready to babysit is ultimately a judgement call that only you can make knowing your child’s maturity and their level of knowledge. For my daughter, although she is capable of caring for children on her own, she’s more comfortable for now serving as a caregiver’s helper. She enjoys earning a little money while playing with and caring for children with an adult around.

There are a few things to keep in mind that can help determine your child’s readiness to babysit, such as:

• Is my child comfortable talking to adults?
• Does my child feel comfortable in other people’s homes with no adults present?
• Does my child enjoy being around and playing with younger children?
• Can my child handle the behavior of young children, like a tantrum?
• Can my child listen and follow instructions?
• Can my child assist with basic care needs like diapering, feeding, naps, etc.?
• Does my child know their own limits and when to call for help?
• Does my child know what do to in case of a household emergency like a power outage?
• Does my child know when it’s appropriate to call 9-1-1 for emergencies and how to handle emergent situations, like a choking child?

These readiness skills are just a few things that ensure your child is prepared to babysit. Courses like CABS cover these and much more to provide your child with caregiving knowledge and the confidence to be a prepared babysitter.

The Dayton YMCA is currently offering the CABS class through the Coffman branch one Saturday a month with classes currently scheduled for March – June. The cost is only $50 for members and $70 for non-members. To register, visit this page. Select “Coffman” as the location, then “youth and family,” and finally “youth and family – child and babysitting” to see the list of dates available and to register.

For more information on the CABS class offered through the Coffman Y, contact Schock at
dschock@daytonymca.org.