This article is purely for entertainment purposes and is not to be followed in any way, shape or form!
No, really - don’t ever do any of this stuff!
• Turn up late or better still, not at all. For added impact, make sure the parents don’t have any contact phone numbers or an address for you.
• Don’t wash your hair for at least a week prior to the job.
• Arrive smoking a cigarette and find a pot plant to stub it out in.
• Walk in talking on your cell phone. Try to ensure the call lasts at least 20 minutes and wave the parents away with your hand if they try to get your attention.
• Wear your best punk gear and make sure you have all your piercings on show.
• Arrive with a spotty, greasy haired, sullen, tattoo-covered teenaged boy (or girl!) in tow.
• Arrive with a bag bulging with bottles of alcohol and cigarettes.
• Begin every sentence with ‘whatever’ or ‘…like’. Better still, be monosyllabic. Grunts work well.
• Totally ignore the children.
• Go straight to the refrigerator and help yourself to a great snack and drink.
• Walk past the parents, into the living room, stretch out on the sofa and be sure to keep your shoes on.
• Put your dripping can of soda on the coffee table without using a coaster. You get extra points here if the table is polished wood or antique.
• Pick up the remote and start searching for adult films.
Having made a great first impression – you can now concentrate on what to do while the parents are out…if they have dared to leave!
• Bully the kids into bed the moment the parents go. Threats are fine – the more scary the better.
• If you’ve arranged a party – it can start now!
• Find the house phone and call all those people cross country that you need to catch up with. You get extra points for international calls.
• Break open the alcohol. If you didn’t bring any, search the house until you find some and make sure you drink it all. Spilling it is optional but if you do – don’t mop up.
• Make out with your boyfriend on the sofa – or the parents’ bedroom if you’re feeling really daring.
• Watch an explicit DVD and for extra fun, when you’ve finished, put it into one of the kids DVD cases.
• Be sure to try out the Mom’s cosmetics, perfume, clothes and shoes. You get extra points for not putting it all away carefully.
• Cook yourself and your friend some food. Use as many pots, pans, bowls and utensils as you can and leave it all dumped in the sink. You get extra points for leaving spills on the worktops and floor.
• For the big finale, make sure you’re deeply asleep when the parents return.
Super Babysitting makes it quick and easy to get babysitting advice and tips. To get your free babysitters handbook and first aid book visit the Super Babysitting, babysitters tips web site right now!
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Tuesday, 12 December 2006
Sunday, 10 December 2006
Be Safe - Health and Safety Issues for Babysitting
Homes can be dangerous places, especially for kids. The family that you are sitting for may be safety conscious and have stair gates and plug socket covers - or they may not. The fact remains that while you are caring for the kids, they are your responsibility and being safety conscious can save a lot of problems.
No one is expecting you to do a full safety check of the home - that would be impractical and inappropriate. The easiest way to keep the kids safe is to supervise them at all times. That way, if you see a safety hazard arising, you are there to step in and avoid it.
Some aspects of safety are fairly obvious. For example, don't let the kids play with anything sharp or put small things in their mouths, ears or nose; this goes double for babies!
If you have prepared food for the kids, make sure that saucepans are well back on the stove with handles turned in to the wall so that they can't be pulled down.
Keep kettles well back on the worktop out of reach.
If you make yourself a hot drink, keep it well out of reach. A high proportion of nasty burning accidents are caused by children pulling cups of tea or coffee over themselves.
Don't leave matches, lighters or medication lying around. Prevention is better than cure.
Most of safety awareness involves prevention. You are aiming to stop that accident or incident before it happens. The chances are that the kids will already be over-excited and playing or acting boisterously. Try and keep them as calm as you can and be firm.
Don't allow them to push, shove or hit each other or jump off (or up and down on) beds and sofas. Sliding down stairs or banisters or on loose floor rugs (or shiny floors) is also
a no-no.
Don't let them taunt the dog or cat. Even the most docile of pets can get fed up and retaliate!
Watch them closely if they are eating or drinking. Kids - especially over excited ones - can bolt their food, or try and talk or run about while they're chewing. If they start to
choke, you will need to know how to dislodge the food or object stuck in their windpipe. Get acquainted with the Heimlich maneuver before you become a sitter. It's quick and
simple but can save a life.
If you don't know,learn!
Taking a course like the 'Super Babysitting' DVD will give you much more confidence to handle a health or safety situation. It can teach you how to prevent injuries and how to be prepared if an emergency arises. It will also make you appear professional and competent which is what parents want. It will also look great on your resume and will impress future employers!
Super Babysitting makes it quick and easy to get babysitting advice and tips. To get your free babysitters handbook and first aid book visit the Super Babysitting web site right now!
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No one is expecting you to do a full safety check of the home - that would be impractical and inappropriate. The easiest way to keep the kids safe is to supervise them at all times. That way, if you see a safety hazard arising, you are there to step in and avoid it.
Some aspects of safety are fairly obvious. For example, don't let the kids play with anything sharp or put small things in their mouths, ears or nose; this goes double for babies!
If you have prepared food for the kids, make sure that saucepans are well back on the stove with handles turned in to the wall so that they can't be pulled down.
Keep kettles well back on the worktop out of reach.
If you make yourself a hot drink, keep it well out of reach. A high proportion of nasty burning accidents are caused by children pulling cups of tea or coffee over themselves.
Don't leave matches, lighters or medication lying around. Prevention is better than cure.
Most of safety awareness involves prevention. You are aiming to stop that accident or incident before it happens. The chances are that the kids will already be over-excited and playing or acting boisterously. Try and keep them as calm as you can and be firm.
Don't allow them to push, shove or hit each other or jump off (or up and down on) beds and sofas. Sliding down stairs or banisters or on loose floor rugs (or shiny floors) is also
a no-no.
Don't let them taunt the dog or cat. Even the most docile of pets can get fed up and retaliate!
Watch them closely if they are eating or drinking. Kids - especially over excited ones - can bolt their food, or try and talk or run about while they're chewing. If they start to
choke, you will need to know how to dislodge the food or object stuck in their windpipe. Get acquainted with the Heimlich maneuver before you become a sitter. It's quick and
simple but can save a life.
If you don't know,learn!
Taking a course like the 'Super Babysitting' DVD will give you much more confidence to handle a health or safety situation. It can teach you how to prevent injuries and how to be prepared if an emergency arises. It will also make you appear professional and competent which is what parents want. It will also look great on your resume and will impress future employers!
Super Babysitting makes it quick and easy to get babysitting advice and tips. To get your free babysitters handbook and first aid book visit the Super Babysitting web site right now!
Technorati tags ... babysitting, childcare, Parenting, Family, babycare, baby sitting
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Friday, 8 December 2006
What to do if a Child Gets Sick - Information for Babysitters
If a child is really sick, hopefully the parents won’t be going out. If they still wish to and you don’t feel happy or confident about it, you would be within your rights to refuse to sit.
However, there are some ailments that can suddenly arise once the parents have left. Children can get sick with alarming speed and it’s a good idea to know how you would handle this – before it happens!
If a child or baby does suddenly become ill for whatever reason, you must contact the parents. It may be something initially fairly trivial like running a fever, but if the parents are aware, it gives them the option of deciding whether to return home or not.
It also covers you, as a sitter. If you don’t contact them and they return home to find their child sick, they may be angry that you didn’t make that call.
Fever!
Children up to the age of five can suddenly run a fever for no apparent reason. It is a good idea to ask the parents whether the child is prone to doing this. They may have a stock of the medication that the child usually receives – or they may just open a window, take off the bedclothes and repeatedly sponge the child with a cloth wrung out in tepid water to lower the fever.
It’s important to get the temperature down as quickly as possible as some children can develop ‘febrile convulsions’ – a type of fit caused by high fever. If this happens, lay the child on their side and let the fit take its course, simply staying with the child until the fit is over to ensure their safety. It used to be common practice to put something, like a spoon or stick into the mouth during a fit but this is now considered unhelpful and possibly dangerous.
If the child is known to be prone to febrile convulsions, the parents will need to take them to see a Doctor the following day.
If they have never had a fit before or if you are worried, always call 911.
I feel sick…
Children are also prone to upset tummies. They will already be over-excited and may have over-indulged in food or drinks. They may become tearful, or very quiet, complain of feeling sick or that their tummy hurts.
If vomiting and / or diarrhoea occur, you will need to overcome any squeamishness, bathe the child and get them into fresh nightwear and possibly a clean bed.
Try and get the child to drink some water or soda to replace the lost fluid. Don’t give them a milky drink as this can trigger another attack or prolong a viral tummy bug. Once the child is comfortable and settled, you can deal with any soiled nightwear or bedding. It’s often easiest to initially put soiled bedding into the tub to soak prior to washing.
This is freaking me out!
These scenarios sound worrying but the chances are that none of these things will ever happen while you are babysitting. However, if you recognise that they might and you would rather be prepared, it can be lot less scary.
The general rule when kids get sick is to try and stay calm and deal with what you can. Most ailments will be fairly harmless and short-lived but can be alarming to deal with when you are alone and in charge. Don’t forget that you can always call your own home and ask your Mom and Dad for help or support.
The golden rules are:
Always call the parents.
If you feel out of your depth, call your Mom or Dad or a neighbour close to the family that you are sitting for.
If a child has collapsed, stopped breathing, had an accident or you are really worried about their health, call 911 first.
Disclaimer: This is not intended as a first aid or other medical guide, we recommend it as a starting point for you to inform your training - Superbabysitting.com cannot accept any responsibility or liability for your actions based on this information article. When babysitting, if you do not have proper medical training you should seek the advice of a trained person as soon as practicable.
Avoid the bedtime battles - Super Babysitting makes it quick and easy to get babysitting advice and tips. To get your free babysitters handbook and first aid book visit the Super Babysitting web site right now!
Technorati tags ... babysitting, childcare, Parenting, Family, babycare, baby sitting
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However, there are some ailments that can suddenly arise once the parents have left. Children can get sick with alarming speed and it’s a good idea to know how you would handle this – before it happens!
If a child or baby does suddenly become ill for whatever reason, you must contact the parents. It may be something initially fairly trivial like running a fever, but if the parents are aware, it gives them the option of deciding whether to return home or not.
It also covers you, as a sitter. If you don’t contact them and they return home to find their child sick, they may be angry that you didn’t make that call.
Fever!
Children up to the age of five can suddenly run a fever for no apparent reason. It is a good idea to ask the parents whether the child is prone to doing this. They may have a stock of the medication that the child usually receives – or they may just open a window, take off the bedclothes and repeatedly sponge the child with a cloth wrung out in tepid water to lower the fever.
It’s important to get the temperature down as quickly as possible as some children can develop ‘febrile convulsions’ – a type of fit caused by high fever. If this happens, lay the child on their side and let the fit take its course, simply staying with the child until the fit is over to ensure their safety. It used to be common practice to put something, like a spoon or stick into the mouth during a fit but this is now considered unhelpful and possibly dangerous.
If the child is known to be prone to febrile convulsions, the parents will need to take them to see a Doctor the following day.
If they have never had a fit before or if you are worried, always call 911.
I feel sick…
Children are also prone to upset tummies. They will already be over-excited and may have over-indulged in food or drinks. They may become tearful, or very quiet, complain of feeling sick or that their tummy hurts.
If vomiting and / or diarrhoea occur, you will need to overcome any squeamishness, bathe the child and get them into fresh nightwear and possibly a clean bed.
Try and get the child to drink some water or soda to replace the lost fluid. Don’t give them a milky drink as this can trigger another attack or prolong a viral tummy bug. Once the child is comfortable and settled, you can deal with any soiled nightwear or bedding. It’s often easiest to initially put soiled bedding into the tub to soak prior to washing.
This is freaking me out!
These scenarios sound worrying but the chances are that none of these things will ever happen while you are babysitting. However, if you recognise that they might and you would rather be prepared, it can be lot less scary.
The general rule when kids get sick is to try and stay calm and deal with what you can. Most ailments will be fairly harmless and short-lived but can be alarming to deal with when you are alone and in charge. Don’t forget that you can always call your own home and ask your Mom and Dad for help or support.
The golden rules are:
Always call the parents.
If you feel out of your depth, call your Mom or Dad or a neighbour close to the family that you are sitting for.
If a child has collapsed, stopped breathing, had an accident or you are really worried about their health, call 911 first.
Disclaimer: This is not intended as a first aid or other medical guide, we recommend it as a starting point for you to inform your training - Superbabysitting.com cannot accept any responsibility or liability for your actions based on this information article. When babysitting, if you do not have proper medical training you should seek the advice of a trained person as soon as practicable.
Avoid the bedtime battles - Super Babysitting makes it quick and easy to get babysitting advice and tips. To get your free babysitters handbook and first aid book visit the Super Babysitting web site right now!
Technorati tags ... babysitting, childcare, Parenting, Family, babycare, baby sitting
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Thursday, 7 December 2006
Before You Go Can I Just Ask ...
When you arrive at a babysitting job, the house may be calm with the children already in bed or it may be chaos!
Even if the kids are in bed, Mom will probably be in a hurry to finish getting herself ready to go out. She may have rushed home from work, fed and bathed the kids and got them into bed – no easy feat if they’re hyped up over the event. When you walk in, she won’t have the time (or energy) to spend ages telling you every important detail about the kids.
If the house is in uproar, it’s even less likely that you will get any really helpful information. You will need to pitch in immediately and take the pressure off Mom so that she can be ready in time to get out of the door!
This is where initial groundwork really pays off. When you are initially contacted for a babysitting job, make sure you ask all the right questions that will make everyone’s life easier on the night – especially yours!
If you baby-sit regularly and work for different families, it’s a good idea to write out a check sheet of questions. Make lots of copies of the sheet so that you can quickly pull one out and fill it in while you have the parent on the phone, or while you’re making a visit prior to the job.
What do I need to know?
Routine is a godsend for babysitters. You need to know if the kids have an evening and bedtime routine…and if they don’t! If there is no usual routine, your job will be more difficult. It helps to know this ahead of time so that you can work out what you’re going to do to keep them amused and how you’re going to get them into bed.
Will you be expected to feed the children and if so, what? Will Mom leave food or do you need to prepare it?
It’s worth having a question about toileting habits on your question sheet. For example, the child may usually be taken to the toilet a couple of hours after bedtime. This may be something that parents do so routinely that they may forget to tell you. This simple act can save a wet bed and the ensuing upset. It’s worth knowing where clean nightwear and sheets are kept!
Is the child on any regular medications, such as an asthma inhaler? If so, where are they kept and are the parents happy for you to administer them if necessary. If they are, make sure they show you how to use any form of medication correctly and safely so that you are all happy for this to happen.
Has the child been sat for before and was it a happy experience? If not, make a couple of short visits to get to know the child and parents.
What are the child’s usual sleep patterns? Do they sleep well or are they prone to night terrors or sleepwalking?
Essentials!
Make sure you have a cell phone number. If both parents have a cell phone, get both numbers.
You must know where the parents will be for the evening. If they are likely to change venues, i.e. from the movies to a restaurant, make sure you have the land line phone numbers of both places. Ask the parents to ring and let you know once they have arrived at a different venue.
Ask approximately what time they expect to be back.
Write down the address and telephone number of the home that you are in and keep it by the phone. In the extremely unlikely event of having to call 911, you will have the necessary information to hand.
It’s often helpful to ask the parents for the phone number of a helpful neighbour, just in case a situation arises in which you need help or support. It’s highly unlikely that you’ll need to call them, but it’s useful and comforting to know that you have backup close by.
Avoid the bedtime battles - Super Babysitting makes it quick and easy to get babysitting advice and tips. To get your free babysitters handbook and first aid book visit the Super Babysitting web site right now!
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Even if the kids are in bed, Mom will probably be in a hurry to finish getting herself ready to go out. She may have rushed home from work, fed and bathed the kids and got them into bed – no easy feat if they’re hyped up over the event. When you walk in, she won’t have the time (or energy) to spend ages telling you every important detail about the kids.
If the house is in uproar, it’s even less likely that you will get any really helpful information. You will need to pitch in immediately and take the pressure off Mom so that she can be ready in time to get out of the door!
This is where initial groundwork really pays off. When you are initially contacted for a babysitting job, make sure you ask all the right questions that will make everyone’s life easier on the night – especially yours!
If you baby-sit regularly and work for different families, it’s a good idea to write out a check sheet of questions. Make lots of copies of the sheet so that you can quickly pull one out and fill it in while you have the parent on the phone, or while you’re making a visit prior to the job.
What do I need to know?
Routine is a godsend for babysitters. You need to know if the kids have an evening and bedtime routine…and if they don’t! If there is no usual routine, your job will be more difficult. It helps to know this ahead of time so that you can work out what you’re going to do to keep them amused and how you’re going to get them into bed.
Will you be expected to feed the children and if so, what? Will Mom leave food or do you need to prepare it?
It’s worth having a question about toileting habits on your question sheet. For example, the child may usually be taken to the toilet a couple of hours after bedtime. This may be something that parents do so routinely that they may forget to tell you. This simple act can save a wet bed and the ensuing upset. It’s worth knowing where clean nightwear and sheets are kept!
Is the child on any regular medications, such as an asthma inhaler? If so, where are they kept and are the parents happy for you to administer them if necessary. If they are, make sure they show you how to use any form of medication correctly and safely so that you are all happy for this to happen.
Has the child been sat for before and was it a happy experience? If not, make a couple of short visits to get to know the child and parents.
What are the child’s usual sleep patterns? Do they sleep well or are they prone to night terrors or sleepwalking?
Essentials!
Make sure you have a cell phone number. If both parents have a cell phone, get both numbers.
You must know where the parents will be for the evening. If they are likely to change venues, i.e. from the movies to a restaurant, make sure you have the land line phone numbers of both places. Ask the parents to ring and let you know once they have arrived at a different venue.
Ask approximately what time they expect to be back.
Write down the address and telephone number of the home that you are in and keep it by the phone. In the extremely unlikely event of having to call 911, you will have the necessary information to hand.
It’s often helpful to ask the parents for the phone number of a helpful neighbour, just in case a situation arises in which you need help or support. It’s highly unlikely that you’ll need to call them, but it’s useful and comforting to know that you have backup close by.
Avoid the bedtime battles - Super Babysitting makes it quick and easy to get babysitting advice and tips. To get your free babysitters handbook and first aid book visit the Super Babysitting web site right now!
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I want Mommy! Dealing with a Distressed Child as a Babysitter
If the child becomes inconsolable at Mom and Dad leaving for the evening, it can be very difficult to deal with and can be distressing for the child and the babysitter. There are several factors to take into account here. The child could become upset before the parents leave, which could make it very difficult (and sometimes impossible) for them to go.
It may be the first time that the parents have used a babysitter and their own anxiety may be transmitted to the child. Again, this is where good groundwork can really help. If this is to be your first babysitting job for the family, ask if they have used sitters before…and how well it went. Just knowing that they have used sitters before is no help if the experience was a disaster!
If they are leaving the child for the first time, it’s important to try and make at least one visit to the family prior to the actual job. Get to know the child (and the parents) a little. Reassure the child that you’re going to have lots of fun together and that they will be safe and happy with you.
Work out a plan with the child of what you will do while Mom and Dad are out. They may have a favorite DVD that they would love to watch with you – or a favorite game to play. Having a structure to the impending experience will lessen the unknown for the child.
If the child is young, try taking a soft toy to them a few days before and ask them to look after it for you. This will make them feel important in the relationship with you and may help to lessen the natural feelings of abandonment.
Driven to distraction…
If a child is desperately upset, remind them of that DVD or game and tell them how much you have been looking forward to it. Try and get into the distraction as quickly as possible. The longer the child remains upset, the longer it will take for you to calm them down.
If nothing seems to be working, pretending to be upset yourself can often help. It sounds a little crazy but it works. Don’t overdo it - you don’t want to upset them more. Just a few quiet, gentle sniffs and sad eyes from you can often jerk the child out of their upset and into sheer curiosity. It also momentarily gives them the upper hand in the relationship and gives them back a little power that they lost when Mom and Dad went through the door.
Keep it going…
Once you have the child’s attention, keep it. Focus all of your attention on them and have the next diversion lined up ready to take over as soon as the first one has lost their interest.
Interactive games such as modelling with Play-Doh are great as they require the child to be thinking about something else other than Mom and Dad. Role playing with dolls, plastic monsters or stuffed toys is also a great distraction.
Dealing with a temporarily broken-hearted child can be very wearing and exhausting but ultimately extremely rewarding. Just remember, it’s mainly in the planning and groundwork.
Avoid the bedtime battles - Super Babysitting makes it quick and easy to get babysitting advice and tips. To get your free babysitters handbook and first aid book visit the Super Babysitting web site right now!
Technorati tags ... babysitting, childcare, Parenting, Family, babycare, baby sitting.
It may be the first time that the parents have used a babysitter and their own anxiety may be transmitted to the child. Again, this is where good groundwork can really help. If this is to be your first babysitting job for the family, ask if they have used sitters before…and how well it went. Just knowing that they have used sitters before is no help if the experience was a disaster!
If they are leaving the child for the first time, it’s important to try and make at least one visit to the family prior to the actual job. Get to know the child (and the parents) a little. Reassure the child that you’re going to have lots of fun together and that they will be safe and happy with you.
Work out a plan with the child of what you will do while Mom and Dad are out. They may have a favorite DVD that they would love to watch with you – or a favorite game to play. Having a structure to the impending experience will lessen the unknown for the child.
If the child is young, try taking a soft toy to them a few days before and ask them to look after it for you. This will make them feel important in the relationship with you and may help to lessen the natural feelings of abandonment.
Driven to distraction…
If a child is desperately upset, remind them of that DVD or game and tell them how much you have been looking forward to it. Try and get into the distraction as quickly as possible. The longer the child remains upset, the longer it will take for you to calm them down.
If nothing seems to be working, pretending to be upset yourself can often help. It sounds a little crazy but it works. Don’t overdo it - you don’t want to upset them more. Just a few quiet, gentle sniffs and sad eyes from you can often jerk the child out of their upset and into sheer curiosity. It also momentarily gives them the upper hand in the relationship and gives them back a little power that they lost when Mom and Dad went through the door.
Keep it going…
Once you have the child’s attention, keep it. Focus all of your attention on them and have the next diversion lined up ready to take over as soon as the first one has lost their interest.
Interactive games such as modelling with Play-Doh are great as they require the child to be thinking about something else other than Mom and Dad. Role playing with dolls, plastic monsters or stuffed toys is also a great distraction.
Dealing with a temporarily broken-hearted child can be very wearing and exhausting but ultimately extremely rewarding. Just remember, it’s mainly in the planning and groundwork.
Avoid the bedtime battles - Super Babysitting makes it quick and easy to get babysitting advice and tips. To get your free babysitters handbook and first aid book visit the Super Babysitting web site right now!
Technorati tags ... babysitting, childcare, Parenting, Family, babycare, baby sitting.
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