Important Points To Look For In A Babysitter

I read an interesting interview in a local newspaper; the interviewer had interviewed a wide cross-section of the parents about what they considered as important characteristics of babysitters. 15 important points were highlighted by them.

1) Babysitters have to be willing and able to adapt to changes in daily routines and circumstances; this characteristic of being flexible is all the more important while working with single parent families.

2) Babysitters should consider it their first duty to care for the children under their care; they should not spend time on the phone or Face book and be attentive in interacting with the children in their care.

3) The next important ingredient of a babysitter is patience; patience is required as the children learn to distinguish wrong from right. An impatient caregiver could cause various serious problems. Children test the authority and patience everyday and it is the babysitter that has to handle such situations with the right balance of discipline and calm.

4) It has been found by surveys that parents prefer a caregiver to be bilingual; kids get to learn a new language from the caregiver.

5) Next the babysitter or caregiver should love children, want to get to know them and enjoy working with them; this is what parents should look for while interviewing babysitters.  

6) Babysitters should be trustworthy as you trust your loved one and the entire home to them.

7) The safety of your loved one is of paramount importance; ensure that the babysitter is trained in CPR/First Aid and takes safety rules seriously.

8) Ensure that the babysitter is experienced to handle challenging or unexpected situations; also check for certifications and degrees.

9) Caring for other people also means the babysitter should possess a warm and loving personality.

10) The babysitter should be athletic, to be able to keep up with toddlers that run about in circles.

11) The babysitter should be open and honest at all times and tell you everything that happened during the day. You need to find another one if the babysitter is caught telling lies.

12) Being a good communicator is an important characteristic; the babysitter needs to get down to the child’s level when talking to them. 

13) Being enthusiastic is an important characteristic of a good babysitter that makes the children happy when their parents are away; they will come up with games and fun instead of just parking the children in front of the TV for hours.  

14) A good babysitter is constantly coming up with new ideas and activities that help keep the children engaged and stimulated.

15) A sense of humor is an important personality trait in a babysitter that not only makes them comfortable interacting with others but has high level of tolerance to tackle difficult situations.

It is difficult to find a babysitter that meets all these criteria; also every family is different and has different needs. Choosing one that meets most of these characteristics means you are in a position to find the perfect fit for your needs.

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