Tips and Tricks: A Babysitter's Guide Part One

 I’ve written extensively about how I want children but have decided not to have any. It was a difficult decision because I love children. From the moment I was old enough I became a babysitter. The entire summer I was nine I became a mother’s helper to the family next door (they eventually had four kids). When I was sixteen, I started work as a camp counselor for children who had cancer. I did this for three summers, working mainly with the kids in the three to four year old range but I helped out with older kids too. I decided for the next few days I’ll offer up some pointers you can use when interacting with children.

• Nobody likes when someone is condescending or insincere and that includes children of any age. Believe me they will see right through you. Talk to children as you might a peer even if you believe what you are talking about is silly (a monster under the bed or a dream of dating a celebrity).

• Make an effort to compromise. If it’s bedtime and they seem  very reluctant, tell them you can read them a story in bed if they are cooperative. Some people see this as bribery. I call it offering incentive.

• Get both sides of the story before rushing to conclusions or punishments. Children can get really angry especially at their siblings but it is your job to make sure things don’t escalate and people get hurt. Make sure everyone knows getting physical is unacceptable. “I know she called you a —- and that is a very mean word but you cannot hit. Understood?” It isn’t always your job to discipline but sometimes children need time to cool off rather than a time out.

• If you are surrounded by preschoolers and you have no imagination you aren’t going to go very far.  Children love fantasy. They love being princesses, pirates, ninjas and fairies. They like dressing the part but many times children just need to get into the mindset. Dolls and stuffed animals serve as companions and their own children. There are a few things you can do when you play pretend like have a tea party and invite all the toys. Maybe even brew up some real tea if they have a tea set with milk and sugar to make it yummy. I wasn’t crazy about the tea when my mom and I used to do that but I appreciated the sugar. Or you could play school. I loved teaching my parents basic math when I was a kid. I even used my real schoolbooks. When I got older I taught my parents about my favorite books and even made up quizzes and assignments (always handed in past their deadline. Just saying, Mom)

• Try making sure the kids get outside. Exercise is important for any child’s wellbeing. When I tutored children, if they finished early, I would take them for a bike ride around the neighborhood. If you (or the parents) don’t want the kids in the road stay in the driveway. Take advantage of basketball hoops, soccer balls and roller skates. Above all, make sure the children know to never run into the street even after a stray ball.

• Make sure before parents leave their numbers on the refrigerator or some other place you will be sure to see it, even in a panic in case of emergency. It it is important that you and the parents talk about what constitutes an emergency (Note: a skinned knee usually does not). But some parents will want to come home if their child has a fever. Remember if it’s truly an emergency call 911 or take the child to the hospital (all the children. Never leave a child alone).