The Best Babysitter on the Block – Advice for Babysitters and Parents from SeekingSitters

Many college students will be searching for a summer job and according to Forbes Magazine, babysitting is one of the best summer jobs around for young people.  Whether it is a college student, recent graduate or a working professional who likes children and wants to earn some extra money, babysitting can be a rewarding job. SeekingSitters interviews thousands of sitters across the country each year and only selects the best “babysitters on the block” for their families.  Here are some tips for both job candidate and professional sitters as well as families that will help ensure a smooth babysitting event:

TIPS:   

1.       Provide great references:  Offer several solid references particularly those you’ve worked for regularly.  Parents: Take time to thoroughly check their background and references.

2.       Be responsible and reliable:  Show up on time and be prepared.  Parents: The sitter should be professional in the interview.

3.       Provide a resume with experience and solid credentials:  Share  information on your babysitting experience, including any special babysitting training (Red Cross offers great classes) Be certified in CPR and First Aid and have the cards to proof it. Parents: Ask candidates to describe their experience and how they would handle certain emergencies.

4.       Bring a bag full of activities:  Find out about the children and bring along some fun, age appropriate activities for kids including games and crafts.  Parents: Make sure the sitter interacts and plays with the kids.

5.       Cleanliness: Strive to leave the home looking better than when you arrived. Parents: Don’t combine too many household responsibilities for the sitter so their main focus will be your children.

6.       Be smart about safety: Good sitters don’t open the doors to strangers and the same is true for  strangers online.  Parents: Sitters should keep the cell phone off and only use for emergencies or to communicate with you.   

7.       Ask good questions: Talk with the parents about their rules and find out in advance what is acceptable and unacceptable behavior for their family. Find out about food allergies, likes and dislikes.  Parents: Be sure to set clear expectations for the sitter.

8.       Remember that knowledge is power:  Request an instruction sheet with contact information and emergency details. Parents: Make sure safety information is handy and displayed clearly.

9.       Most of all: Have some fun!! When you have fun the kids are happy, the sitter is happy and mom and dad are happy.

Local Owner: Christina Waite – 925-309-9711, www.seekingsitterssanfranciscoeastbayinland.com; www.seekingsitters.com

Media Contact:  Diane White – 918-770-3905, Diane@seekingsitters.com 

SeekingSitters is a nationwide, on-demand babysitting referral service that does all of the work for families who sign up and become a member.  SeekingSitters finds and screens professional sitters, schedules babysitting jobs requested by members and handles all payment through an online payment system. All sitters must be 18 or older, experienced and CPR and First Aid certified.  SeekingSitters was founded a licensed private investigator and mom of three.  What really sets SeekingSitters apart are the in-house private investigators that thoroughly screen all professional sitters.