Be Prepared to Answer Questions
Responsible parents or guardians will interview sitters before hiring them. They want to feel confident that you can do the job.
Expect to be asked the following types of questions:
- Experience:How much babysitting have you done? Have you cared for other children the same age as theirs? Do you understand the importance of constantly supervising children?
- Training:What training do you have in babysitting and first aid? Do you know what to do in an emergency?
- References: Can you provide names and phone numbers of families who have hired you before? Are you responsible and trustworthy?
- Availability: When can you sit? How late can you sit? What ages of children can you sit for?
- Pay:Parents or guardians may ask you what you charge. You should be prepared to tell them a rate per hour that is similar to what other sitters are being paid. You need to determine what sitters are getting paid per hour in your neighborhood. Ask friends who sit and adults who hire sitters what a typical rate is. If the parents or guardians do not ask what you charge, you may politely ask them what they will be paying per hour. It is OK for you to ask how much they will pay you.
Be a Good Guest!
Remember that you are an invited guest in the house.
The following rules are good to remember when sitting:
- Only eat food if you have been given permission to do so. If you are welcome to eat, make sure to clean up and wash any dishes when you are done.
- Avoid “exploring” another person’s home, such as opening closets or drawers or looking through personal belongings.
- Avoid having friends visit you while you are sitting. This way your attention can always be on the child or children.
- Avoid personal calls or texts. The phone should be kept available for incoming calls from the child’s parents or guardians.
Last Updated 6/18/2015
Source BLAST! Babysitters Student Manual: Babysitter Lessons and Safety Training, 3rd Edition (Copyright © 2015 Jones ＆ Bartlett Learning, LLC, an Ascend Learning Company)
The information contained on this Web site should not be used as a substitute for the medical care and advice of your pediatrician. There may be variations in treatment that your pediatrician may recommend based on individual facts and circumstances.
