Don't Sit on the Baby ~ A Great Babysitting Read ! !

 Hi, Blogspot(:

 SUPER exited for this post! I am so happy to share with you that I found a good babysitting book for babysitters that aren't just starting out... the last few I have read or downloaded on my Nook were filled with information that would be more useful to those starting out, but I was waiting for everybody else to check out their books when I spotted Don't Sit on the Baby by Halley Bondy. I had heard of it before, and so I grabbed it off the shelf for some light reading while I waited....
 
  ... and ended up checking it out.

 Me: Mom, this is so good! I found some really good information in here that I can actually use! Yay!
Mom: You don't need to be babysitting if you need a book with advice like on the front cover.

  Anyways, I love this book. It is broken into three parts (Babysitting Breakdown, Essential Skills, and Business Basics), with every little section from Dealing With Diapers and Potties to Feeding Hungry Mouths. My words aren't really doing the book and justice right now, but it is really amazing. Perfect for any new or experienced babysitter. It's just the perfect new, fresh and clear-sighted guide to anybody seeking knowledge about childcare.

 So, again, if you are looking for advice, sympathy, and tips and extras for anything that a babysitter can reasonably expect to experience, just get it (mine is from the library, though)! You'll be happy you did.

 Thanks!

Don't Sit on the Baby by Halley Bondy

Babysitting Q&A ~ Kids That Take

  This is a question asked by my friend Abby.

  Q: What if the child(ren) take my belongings while I am there and they get broken? (iPods, phones, wallet, etc.)

 A: When I babysit, all of my necessary belongings stay in my babysitting bag (I got a free tote after taking my class with the company's logo. If you don't recieve anything like this, just designate a bag especially for when you are on the job.), which I keep far out of reach from the kids I am watching. I just make sure that when I bring my stuff, the children can't reach it whether I set it on a high shelf, or hang it on a hook under my jacket, or anywhere else the parent's of the child say it is okay to leave it.

 Make sure whatever you bring for the job is necessary, though. If you bring a whole bunch of stuff that you really just don't need, the more chances those things might be taken or broken. The top things that I have with me whenever I can are my babysitting binder (which holds a lot of stuff already, anyways), my cell phone, my first aid kit (see my other post). I bring other things when necessary, of course, but those are my regular job things. Worried about something you may not need getting damaged? Don't bring it.

 If you are watching a child, make sure the things you have are out of reach, especially away from the hands of sneaky troublemakers who have a tendancy to take (;

 Okay, but what if you're too late, and a kid has your bag right this second?
      Ask what he wants. Is he taking your phone to play Angry Birds? Your iPod to listen to a song? Your binder to have a peek inside? Maybe his upsetting you wasn't intentional, and so don't get upset just yet.

Frequently Asked Questions ~ Babysitting Interview Question #1

 Hi, everybody!

  Today I am back with my fourth post and I thought that for this one I would change it up a bit. That's why today I am starting a new series of posts you will find on my blog. As a babysitter, I have been asked many questions from clients, friends who would like to be babysitters, and even the instructors at the babysitting class that I took, and I thought that I would share some Q&A with you today. I am calling these posts Babysitting Interview Questions. You will find not only the Q&A, but I make sure to sneak in a few tips here and there(:

   Here is my first question, most commonly asked by my friends:

q: What is your favorite age group to babysit? Which group do you think is the hardest to babysit?

a: When I took my babysitting class, we had a session about child care essentials, which included a part about the four main age groups of children. The four main age groups are Infants, Toddlers, Preschool, and School Age. We viewed a chart that gave us information about each age group and how they acted and the assistance they needed when it came to NEAT (Nap/Nighttime, Eating, Activities, Toileting).
   t gave me a pretty good idea of what it was like caring for each age group. My class recommended that any beginning babysitter should start out with the Preschool age group, the "easiest". I put that in quotes because I believe that you can't base information in any chart off of just a few kids. It all really depends on the child you are watching, though I would have to agree that the majority of The Preschool Group is probably easiest.
  After babysitting for many age groups, I loved them all! But I would have to say that if I had to choose favorites, I think Babies and Preschoolers would be my favorites.
  I have to say, though, that I don't think that there is a "hardest" age group, because every age group has their goods and bads. For example, with babies, you don't have to ever worry about them not minding you as the babysitter, but they need much more care and attention from you. With preschoolers, they are at the age where they are learning so many new things, and they appreciate the attention from you, but behavioral issues start to come up at this age. No age group is perfect, but some are better for some babysitters than others. Again, it also depends on the child(ren). As you babysit you will start to find who and what is right for you.


 Thanks so much for reading my first interview question! If you have any questions for my whatsoever, please feel free to comment and I will create a post with an answer. Thanks again!