Content

• To step
• Method 1 of 4: Create a business plan
• Method 2 of 4: Prepare for work
• Method 3 of 4: Look after the children
• Method 4 of 4: Prevent errors
• Tips
• Warnings

If you want to babysit young children, be it a nephew or your neighbor, you need to practice a lot, have patience, and be understanding. Babysitting is a popular side job among teenagers and it can be challenging if you don't prepare properly. However, with some planning and coordination, it can be both fun and lucrative.

To step

Method 1 of 4: Create a business plan

1. Make a schedule. As a babysitter, you will likely work for yourself (and not for a company), so you'll need to set up and maintain your own schedule. Although it may seem old-fashioned, you can write on a calendar when you are free so that you know exactly when you are available when a parent calls.
   • A color-coded system can be useful for keeping an overview.
   • Update the calendar regularly so you don't accidentally make a double appointment.
2. Determine your rate. Although some parents already have a certain price in mind when they hire a babysitter, there are also many who rely on the hourly price that the babysitter asks. There are two options to determine your rate: you can charge a fixed amount per hour, or per child. The first option is good if you work for small families, while the second option is better if you need to babysit more than two kids at the same time.
   • The price depends on your age and experience, among other things.
   • The average hourly rate varies between € 3 and € 6, but that can differ per family.
   • If you are paid per child, the price can be between € 2 and € 5 per child.
   • After noon you can, for example, agree on the double rate.
3. Take a course. While it is not necessary to have a degree, it can be helpful to know how to care for children. See if you can take a young child care course in your area, or through an institution such as the NTI. In addition, it can be useful to follow a first aid course. In any case, read many books about dealing with children and babies.
4. Make a list of phone numbers you can call in an emergency. While you will need separate health information for each child, it is important to have general numbers available when babysitting. Make a list of police, fire, and emergency room numbers for the nearest hospital. Hopefully you never need it, but it's good to have it ready.

Method 2 of 4: Prepare for work

1. Ask for information from the parents. When you arrive at the family, start by gathering information about where the parents are going that evening. Write down their full names with phone numbers, the address where they are going and have them estimate what time they will be home again
2. Ask for emergency numbers. Have the parents give you at least two numbers that you can call in an emergency. Also ask for specific information about the health of the children, especially regarding allergies. If necessary, also ask for the telephone number of the child's doctor.
   • Ask the parents to show you the first-aid kit and medicine cabinet.
   • Ask for a list of medicines that the children should take and ask what you can give in case of an accident or if a child becomes ill (for example paracetamol).
3. Write down the schedule of the child (s). Most families have a set schedule or ritual that is followed throughout the evening. For most, that includes a set time for dinner, a time to do homework, and bedtime. If you write this down in advance, the child (especially if it is a little older) will not be able to fool you later once the parents have left home.
4. Find out what the children can and cannot do. Every family will be a little different, so it is important to find out which things are and are not allowed. Ask if and for how long they can watch TV or behind the computer, if and when they can play outside, if friends can come over and if there are parts of the house where they are not allowed to play. These rules may also differ per child within the household, so write it down in great detail.
5. Create a menu. Depending on the time you spend babysitting, you may need to feed the children once or twice. Ask the parents what they want you to prepare and what they can eat as a snack. Also let them clearly state what the children are not allowed to do; usually this involves sweets and desserts that the children will ask for when their parents are not around.
6. Find out what are appropriate punishments. At some point, a child will sometimes misbehave. Rather than guessing and punishing too harshly or mildly, ask what parents do when a child is a little naughty. This often means that you deprive the child of a privilege or that they have to sit on the "naughty chair" for a while to cool off.

Method 3 of 4: Look after the children

1. Do your best to get to know the children. Babysitting is both a job and a fun opportunity to enjoy the company of children. The children will listen to you better if they like you, and they will like you more quickly if you try to build a relationship with them. Talk to them, ask questions, and joke around to bond.
2. Play along. While your job is to keep an eye on the kids, you should interact with them as much as possible by playing with them. The type of game depends on the age; if you are babysitting a baby you may be doing nothing but making funny faces and holding up toys. Be creative and come up with fun things to keep the kids busy so they don't get bored.
   • With older children you can play with toys, board games, or other games that require activity. Ask their favorite game so you can create a fun program.
3. Come up with fun projects. If you have to be careful for a long time, you can do projects that are fun for everyone. Try an art project or cook or bake something together. When you finally made a product together, a lot of time has passed and they can be proud of themselves.
4. Check regularly if they need anything. Children are not yet able to manage their time as well as adults and they sometimes forget that they have physical needs. Check every hour to see if they need to go to the bathroom, drink water, are tired or hungry. Usually they don't think about that themselves, so ask!
5. Follow the schedule. If you've been given a clear-cut schedule of daily activities from the parents, stick to that too. Make sure the children are fed at the right times, have an afternoon nap, do their homework, etc.

Method 4 of 4: Prevent errors

1. Never leave the children alone. Whatever happens, your job is to keep an eye on the kids - so you shouldn't leave them alone. You can be in another room for a while, but walking to the supermarket to get something you forgot is out of the question. This is true even for older children, unless the parents have explicitly told you to be home alone for a short time.
2. Do not bring people into the house. Unless the kids already had a date with a friend to come and play, don't let anyone else into the house while you're there. Also, don't let friends or family come over while you're at work. It can be very tempting to invite someone over while the kids are asleep anyway, but even that's not supposed to be.
3. Don't dive into your smartphone all the time. With all the phone calls and tablets these days, it can be easy to get lost in texting with friends or checking out Facebook. As with all jobs, your phone should be turned off and should only be used in an emergency. You are paid to look after the kids, not to chat with your friends.
4. Don't put the kids in front of the TV all the time. The children often ask if they can watch TV or watch a DVD, and while it doesn't matter for a moment, long periods in front of the TV only make them lazy. If the parents have not set a maximum, stick to a maximum of two hours or less. The children like to have someone to play with and the parents see that you are not running smoothly.
5. Don't open the door unless you expect someone to come. First, look out of the window or through the peephole to make sure it's the one. There may also be a stranger at the door.
6. Clean up before the parents get home. While that is often forgotten, it is also the babysitter's job to clean up the children's mess. Maybe it's not such a mess, but if you've been cooking or crafting, make sure everything is back in place. The parents will be happy to come home to a clean house so that you will be asked to babysit again next time.

Tips

• Many children are afraid of monsters at night. If they don't want to go to sleep, tell them, "I've got a little secret. It always works for me. It's a little secret to scare away the monsters." Then tell them to say, "A long-nosed elephant blows all the monsters out of the room," or something funny. Recite the rhyme with the child, then look under the bed, in the closet, behind the curtains, or wherever the monsters might be. If you have seen together that there really are no monsters, the child will be able to sleep well.
• Have patience. Children may not always listen to you the first time, but stay calm!
• Pay close attention to your language. If the kids hear you say weird things, they might repeat it to their parents.
• Always call the parents if you think it is necessary. Most parents really don't mind, they'll just be glad you do.
• When bathing a child, never leave it alone, even for a few seconds. Make sure you have everything you need to wash the child before putting the child in the water.
• If you have to babysit several children, they probably won't go to sleep at the same time, so ask the person who doesn't need to go to bed yet to color a picture with you (or do some other quiet activity that you can engage in for a while).
• If you need to change a nappy on a changing table, make sure you have everything you need (baby wipes, nappies, powder, etc.) ready first. You cannot leave the child alone on the changing table, because if it rolls over it could fall off.
• If you are babysitting an older child who needs a bath, but is a little shy because he / she doesn't want you to see him / her naked, read a book or magazine so that you "don't look". But don't leave him / her alone in the bathroom.
• Children love stories. So bring nice books or fairytales that they don't know yet. If they don't want to sleep or eat, you can tell them a story. In scary fairytales, skip the gruesome things.

Warnings

• Don't give the children anything with sugar, even if they whine about it, unless the parents have given their consent.
• Don't fall asleep while babysitting. The children can then act naughty or an accident can occur.
• Do not let strangers in, even if the children seem to know him / her.
• Make the areas where the children play safe.Make sure that all outlets are covered and that there are no sharp objects anywhere. Also keep cleaning products away from the children. Keep medicines out of the reach of children, they may think they are sweets. Close all windows. If you are babysitting a toddler, close the door to the basement and bathroom as well.
• Put a baby not on his stomach in bed. The baby can die of SIDS if you do so. Also, do not put pillows in the crib with a baby, he can choke on them.
• If you are babysitting a small child, only give him / her bite-sized pieces that are smaller than his / her fist.
• Follow the rules specified by the parents. If you don't, you probably won't be able to babysit next time.