advice on getting experience babysitting?

[lisak1]

My son would like to earn some money this summer, and he'd like to try babysitting. He'll be 14, so he will be old enough, I think. I've enrolled him in the American Red Cross babysitting program, so he'll be taking that, which is a good start. Unfortunately, he doesn't have any practical "experience" in babysitting, and I'm not sure how to help him get started... any advice? He does have some younger cousins, but they don't really live close enough to see and get "experience" siitting with them very often.

 

[mtemm]

the class is a good way to get started. he might want to start as a mothers helper. if you have neighbors or friends with infants who might like a teen to come over for an hour or so while the mom is home, its a good way to gain experience for him and may result in a regular babysitting job eventually from mom.

 

[golfgal]

Do you have friends that have kids that he could babysit? Start giving out his name and then the first couple times he babysits go with him. Around her most 14 year olds are almost done babysitting. It seems like once the kids get into high school they are too busy to babysit. The middle school aged kids are the best babysitters around here. Our oldest babysits quite a bit for the two boys next door. They love him. Our twins have their first official babysitting job tonight (they are going together) for some friends that live down the street. The kids they are babysitting are 7 and 4 so they mainly need to play with them.

The kids that have taken the Am Red Cross babysitting course here have the option of putting their name on a list that goes to our Park and Rec department and people call them for baby sitter referrals.

 

[Blueeyes101817]

i was going to say the mothers helper thing too--I did that a few times when i was 13 or so...
Also, we had a child development class at my school and kids came in 3x a week.

 

[lisak1]

thanks for the advice! the mother's helper idea is very good, I hadn't thought of that. unfortunately, I don't have any friends with younger kids. I think i might contact the daycare center where he used to go, and ask if they would let him volunteer as a helper to get experience... that may not be an option, but it can't hurt to ask.
thanks again.

 

[Tigger&Belle]

Maybe he could try putting flyers on mailboxes if there are quite a few kids in your nieghborhood. My DD did this when she was 13yo and got a couple jobs. My 15yo son got my DD's leftover jobs and when she went to college he got everything. Not a lot of families, but our next door neighbors call every week and he usually earns about $20-60+/week.

 

[Parkhopper]

Maybe he could try putting flyers on mailboxes if there are quite a few kids in your nieghborhood. My DD did this when she was 13yo and got a couple jobs. My 15yo son got my DD's leftover jobs and when she went to college he got everything. Not a lot of families, but our next door neighbors call every week and he usually earns about $20-60+/week.

Just make sure that if he does flyers, that they go "on" NOT "in" mailboxes as it is a Federal offense to tamper with mail.

Suzi

 

[Blueeyes101817]

Around her most 14 year olds are almost done babysitting. It seems like once the kids get into high school they are too busy to babysit. The middle school aged kids are the best babysitters around here. \.

This depends on the area--around here, most families dont have kids that young babysitting anymore....Im 21 and im STILL babysitting in addition to my part time job and going to college. Alot of families i know are starting to use people from their day care center or putting an ad up on a college campus and getting babysitters that way..

 

[Tigger&Belle]

Just make sure that if he does flyers, that they go "on" NOT "in" mailboxes as it is a Federal offense to tamper with mail.

Suzi

I'd first typed "in" and then changed it to "on". People do put things in the mailboxes here, but it's better to put things on the flag, rubberband flyers to the doorknob or knock on the door and hand it to the person. The last thing might be the best for babysitters since he could then introduce himself to the parents, find out for sure if they have kids, etc.