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Everything You Need to Know to Master the Art of Babysitting

The door slams. Parents are gone. You're alone in the house with their kids — and suddenly you think they might be possessed. One's bouncing on the couch. One dressed up the dog in her mom's nice suit. One's crying ... and his face is turning a fascinating shade of red. You're thinking: Maybe crying's not such a bad idea.... Whoa. Hold it right there. You know how to handle this: With a few simple babysitting skills. Need a crash course? We hear you.

"So, Where Do I Start?"

First, if you've never watched young kids — no little brothers, sisters, or cousins in your family — consider taking a babysitting course. And even if you are a pro with your little bro, a class can help by making you feel more confident. And, who knows? You might even learn some new tricks to make your job easier — or even a little more fun.

Check out classes offered by these organizations in your town....

The Red Cross
YWCA
YMCA
Girl Scouts

What You'll Learn:

Bethany, 11, learned about babysitting in Girl Scouts. "It was really helpful. We learned what to do in case of an emergency. I think if a situation comes up, I'll know what to do and I'll be calm. I also learned how to hold a baby. I had no idea what to do!"

"How do I get started?"

Your parents are a good place to start. They probably know people who have small children. Scope out your neighborhood — there are probably plenty of families who need you. Check with teachers and other staff people at your school. Bug your friends who have siblings or cousins — when she's sick of watching 'em, maybe her parents can pay you to do it.

Or set up a network with a bunch of friends. "Lindsey, Britt, Amy, Jennifer, and I put our names and phone numbers on a list and passed it out to families we knew," says Jane, 15. "If one of us can't work, we can refer them to another girl on the list. It works out great."

Hey — that is pretty brilliant, but don't pass flyers out all over town or hang them up in public areas. Give them to people you or your parents know, and don't put your picture or your address on them.

"How often should I babysit?"

You don't want to work too much and not have time for your homework, chores, or a social life. Says 14-year-old Rayna, "I wouldn't do it more than twice a week. Usually I sit once during the week — but only until 10 p.m.! — and one weekend night until midnight. If you do it too much, even though the money is great, you'll burn out."

"Oh, yeah. Money. How much should I charge?"

Tricky. The best thing to do is agree on a rate before you take the job — you'll probably get somewhere around $3 to $6 an hour. Ask around your neighborhood to see what other sitters charge. Your rate should depend on the number and ages of the kids — if there are lots of kids who will require a lot of attention, you should expect to be paid more. If the parents ask you to cook or clean, that's cool — but your rate should be a little higher since you'll be doing extra work.

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