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Is your teen ready to babysit?

How to know when your child is ready watch over younger children

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Originally published in Today's Parent November 2010

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It’s a big milestone in a young teen’s life — that first babysitting gig. Most are keen to do it, not only for the pocket money, but also to take on this grown-up challenge. The question for parents is: Is your teen ready to be in charge of younger children?

Samantha Wilson is a Vancouver mom and former police officer, and the founder of Kidproof Canada, which offers babysitting courses in communities and online. “Ultimately, it’s up to the parents to decide whether or not kids are up to the challenge,” she says.

While there’s no legal age for babysitting in Canada, most experts say 12. A young teen’s maturity, confidence and comfort level around younger children, the ability to prepare fun activities and make safe choices, and the capacity to handle emergencies and administer basic first aid should guide the decision.

The best way to prepare kids for that first gig is to enrol them in a babysitting course, says Don Marentette, national manager of the Canadian Red Cross’s first aid and babysitting programs. Courses typically cover child-care skills and safety, how to cope with things like crying, and a babysitter’s rights and responsibilities.

While courses are widely available in Canada, not all kids may be able to enrol in one because of scheduling conflicts or because they live in a remote area. But regardless of whether kids sign on for a course, experts recommend babysitters have a tool kit — and working together on assembling it is a great way for parents to make sure kids are well prepared. A babysitting manual is recommended, along with a first- aid kit, a list of emergency numbers and a reporting form that includes any telephone messages, knocks on the door, or issues that arose. “We also recommend kids bring along a favourite story, colouring books and crayons, playdough — things that are safe and will be a pleasant surprise for the kids,” says Wilson. “It’s a thrill for the kids if the babysitter comes with something new to play with.”

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