HOW DO I GET A FREAKING BABYSITTING JOB!?

Question

I have tried putting ads on Craigslist... Didn't work. I tried putting up fliers...Didn't work! How do I get a darn babysitting job?

Answer 1

Does anyone you / your parents know have little kids? If so, offer to babysit them and word will spread. I also worked in a creche and the parents asked us to babysit after hours cos we knew their kids. (unfortunately it's all about who you know!)

Answer 2

Try a child care agency.

Answer 3

I wouldn't want a creep who puts up flyers to watch my kids...try finding parents you actually know and tell them you would like to babysit for their kids sometime.

Answer 4

you spoiled brat you have to find someone WITH A BABY

Answer 5

just ask your neighbors that you think look stressed out, and that have a kid.

Answer 6

Try looking for a babysitting company in your area and apply there.

This is a great option because you will always have a job when you want it and the schedules are very flexible.

Parents are starting to go to these companies because they are usually very trustworthy and all the babysitters have to be CPR and first aid certified and have background checks done.

Answer 7

Here are some good answers:

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;...

Answer 8

Try putting an ad in the newspaper, or putting fliers on bulletin boards at the grocery store

Answer 9

go door 2 door or to friends with little kids

Answer 10

I babysat for a teacher before. How about you ask people you know. And get certifications like CPR and other lifesaving training.

Answer 11

Check out care.com and babysitters4hire.com

Print up some free business cards from vistaprint and leave them at schools, gyms, large companies, any where moms hang out.

Answer 12

Its hard finding a baby sitting job because parents barely know you and cant trust you. Start off by offering to babysit relatives and then maybe they'll recomend you.  

Getting Started

First, you need to be old enough to babysit. Although in most places there is not a law governing how old you need to be, most parents agree that 12 or older is a good age. You should always check the laws of your country, province or state to be sure you are old enough to babysit. Talk to your parents as well. They can give you a lot of feedback as to whether or not they believe you are ready to babysit at your age.

Second, you need to determine whether or not babysitting is your thing. Taking care of someone else's children is a big responsibility. If you can handle that burden, enjoy spending time with children, have patience, are trustworthy and dependable, have good organizational skills, are a good communicator and enjoy teaching through fun activities, babysitting may be a good job for you.

Third, you should know what babysitting is all about before you jump head first into your first babysitting job. It is always a good idea to participate in a babysitting training course. These courses are usually offered through your school or local YWCA. You can sign up for an online babysitting course as well if you want to do the training from home. These courses often offer babysitting certificates of completion, excellent advice and safety instructions. Many parents prefer a babysitter who has taken one of these courses.

Fourth, always get your parents permission before beginning a babysitting business. You will need their support and guidance in your new position.

Finding a Job

First, you need to determine what kind of babysitting you would like to do. These questions should help you in your determination:

How many children can you handle at one time?

What ages are you prepared to deal with? Do you prefer infants, toddlers or older kids?

Do you want to babysit on weekends only? Weekdays only? Or, both?

What times and days are you available?

Are there certain times of the school year you are unavailable (exams, projects)?

Do you want to babysit children with disabilities or behavior issues? Can you handle that responsibility?

Are you patient? Can you handle a crying or demanding child?

Are you able to enforce parents rules without giving in?

Do you have support at home that you can call when you need advice on the job?

Second, you need to look for work. Let your parents get the word out that you are available for babysitting. Hand out flyers in your neighborhood or at your school. Sometimes people put want ads up online and in newspapers looking for reliable part-time or occasional babysitters. Call these people and find out more about the job. Let your parents come with you to meet the family before you take on a job.

Third, determine what your wage you will work for. In order to determine this you need to do a bit or research. Find out how much babysitter are paid in your area. You can ask friends at school how much they charge or ask family friends how much they pay their babysittes.

Getting Things Ready

First, meet the parents and children of the job you are considering accepting. This not only gives you an opportunity to get a "feel" for the family, it allows you to impress the parents and show them that you are knowledgeable and can be trusted.

At this meeting, you should fill in the following forms:

Babysitting Planner

Emergency Information

Job Information

You should also leave them your, About Me sheet at this meeting.

Second, let your friends know when you will be available after a babysitting job. This way you will not be distracted by telephone calls or unexpected drop-ins by friends.

Third, keeping safety in mind, plan activities for the kids. Keeping kids occupied is the key to an enjoyable babysitting job.

Here are a few suggestion to pack in your activity bag to help keep the kids occupied and happy:

Go on a scavenger hunt.

Pack a different book each time you go to babysit. Or, pack their favorite one!

Bring plastic containers full of ingredients to make cookies. Kids love to bake.

Bring the materials needed to make a fun seasonal or theme craft.

Pack some crayons, glue, safety scissors, markers and glitter. Print out some coloring pages and have fun!

Make a game by asking what their favorite things such as colors, animals, food, songs, and make up a story together that includes all their favorite things.

Cut up the front of a cereal box in fun shapes to make a puzzle. You can glue pictures from kids magazines on cardboard and cut them up too. Keep puzzle pieces in zip lock baggies.

Mix 1 cup water, 1/3 cup dish soap (Joy, Sunlight, etc) and 2 Tablespoons light corn syrup to make bubbles. Use things from around the house as bubble makers, apple corer, potato masher, handle of a basting brush, etc.

Make forts out of pillows and sheets. Making forts is easy for them and gives them a little hiding place. Bring along a flashlight or two and camp out in the family room.

Toddlers love to play pretend. For an ice cream store you will need a table, clean ice cream containers, ice cream scoops, and cones made from paper. For a fun day at the beach you will need bathing suits, towels, sunglasses, a radio, and beach toys. To go grocery shopping you will need to gather empty food boxes and containers, play money, and cardboard boxes for shopping carts.

Bring along a board or card game to play with the children. Try operation, candyland, go fish, crazy eights, tic-tac-toe, etc

LEGO provides hours of endless fun through imagination. A bucket of lego is a good business investment.

Bring along some CD's and/or tapes and dance and sing.

Go for a nice walk and play I-Spy along the way.

Enjoy yourself and always remember to keep safety in mind when playing with and watching young children.

Hope i could help and good luck:]

Answer 13

I was going to say the same thing as maggie, change that lil attitude of yours!

Answer 14

Remove piercings and bad attitude.

Talk to Mom's friends

Stop beating smaller kids.

Good luck!

The Fantastic Brainiac has SPOKEN!!!

Answer 15

try sittercity.com, it's an awesome place where sitters can find parents and parents can find sitters. It's free to open an account.  

Answer 16

if you know anyone with kids, like ur parents friends, then let them know. make friends with the kids and they might ask u back the next time. They will only want u if they trust u.

Answer 17

i don't think she'd go around cursing out the kids she's babysitting, but one way to help get a job is get cards with your credentials and contact info, and pass them out to friends with kids.

Answer 18

Contact your local church, temple, cathedral and place a businesscard on their community service board.  Do the same at local supermarkets and grocery stores.

Good luck!

Answer 19

ask a friend or relative with a baby

Answer 20

you just have to keep trying.  sometimes it takes a while.  tell people you know and have them tell other people.  

Answer 21

Try babysitting for your family and family's friends first and ask them to recommend you as a babysitter.

it's what I do.

Answer 22

Try going to public parks where you can see parents with their children and then pin down the kid and sit on them for 30 seconds without them getting away and hopefully the parents will see how dedicated and reliable you are at babysitting and ask to hire you.

Answer 23

With language like that young lady I do not think that you will.  

Answer 24

Don't say FREAKING.

Answer 25

You yell on forums like this. That'll make parents flock to you.

Answer 26

Loose the language if some day you have children of your own, would you trust them to someone looking for a freaking job!!

You need referals from responsible adults, starting with parents, aunts uncles etc to other adults with young children who can attest that you are resposible trustworthy and mature to take on this very important responsibility.

Answer 27

Cool the attitude! I wouldn't hire you if you act like that.

Do your parents know anyone with small children?  

Answer 28

by getting rid of youre pedophile charge you received for touching me 2 years ago

Answer 29

you will never get 1

Answer 30

go to a day care center and ask if you can post some fliers there =]  

Answer 31

I am so freaking glad I didn't answer your darn ad!

Seriously,  I won't let people I'm not super sure of watch my kids.  I wouldn't hire anyone I thought was going to have a hard time with their temper or language, or spend the whole time on the internet. I'd love to hire someone who really enjoyed kids, had a plan for how to spend the time with them, showed up on time and had her own transportation.

Do you know any kids? You might try volunteering to babysit for free to get some experience and meet some parents...like at churches (they always need nursery workers) or a health club.