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Babysitting Job For 14 Years Old

Babysitting is an excellent job. You take care of children and make fast cash.

Most babysitters begin working between the ages of 11 and 14, but there is no legal minimum age to babysit in most places. At the age of 11, you can enroll in a Red Cross babysitting course.

You are old enough if your parents think you are responsible enough to offer you a job.

You probably had to watch Your little brother or cousin before anyway. Why don’t you do the same and be paid?

While it’s fun to be a babysitter, you should remember that it isn’t just fun.

At the end of the day, the parents hire you with trust, so you have to take this job seriously.

Not everyone is cut out for babysitting. You must be constantly aware of what is going on around you and the children.

When you advance to this level, you’ll need some time to get used to it.

Read Also: Can’t Find a Career that Interests Me

Article Road Map

How to Start Babysitting.

Begin as a complete beginner and work your way up the “childcare ladder.”

Learn the skills required for babysitting by enrolling in a babysitting course.

You can usually choose whether or not to become certified as a babysitter, though this may be influenced by local laws.

It is required in some areas. You can obtain these certifications by attending physical classes or by taking online courses (if that is permitted in your area).

So, in general, you have a lot of options for getting started. In this article, I’ll walk you through the steps of becoming a babysitter.

Babysitting is a fantastic job in any case. It can be extremely rewarding, and children are fantastic.

Taking care of them as a babysitter entails becoming a part of their world.

1. Make a resume

As with any profession or skill, a well-written resume is preferable. This will highlight your qualifications and experience.

You can find a plethora of online templates to use. Once you’ve finished, have someone else read it over to ensure that everything makes sense and that there are no typos. You want to come across as professional!

Even if you have no prior work experience, a resume will demonstrate that you are mature, responsible, and take babysitting seriously. Resumes take time to create, but it demonstrating that you are self-motivated.

If you don’t have much work experience yet, include things like your school grades and other activities or volunteering that you’re involved in to demonstrate that you’re interested.

2. Set your schedule

Set your schedule even before you think about babysitting. Is babysitting realistic? You will most likely not be of many benefits to families when you are up to your neck in extracurricular activities from morning till night seven days a week.

Take a look when and if you are free to baby, so you can provide the families you want to work with with a clear, accurate schedule.

Every time you are hired, keep a record of the dates and times of your babysitting appointments.

You will be able to use them as personal reminders and to ensure that you do not accidentally double schedule yourself.

You can also keep track of your payments in a notebook or app for personal accounting purposes, as well as record all of your client’s contact information and any special notes about the children you babysit.

3. Learn about care and safety for children

Take a couple of courses now to help you learn the ropes.

Experts advise potential babysitters to study and learn CPR and first aid. Usually, they’re cheap and short, so it definitely pays off!

Many organizations, like community centers, hospitals, and the Red Cross, offer them in your area.

As an additional bonus as a babysitter, you can earn more money! According to Red Cross surveys, 80% of parents believe that babysitters should be paid more for first aid and CPR.

You must be prepared for any type of emergency, from a minor scrape or cut to a house fire.

Make sure you know where the first aid supplies are in the child’s home and that you always have a mobile phone with you so that you can quickly call emergency services if necessary.

4. Perform a Safety Check

Because safety is so important when watching children, always be on alert!

Before you even consider babysitting a child, make sure you understand what to do in an emergency, such as:

  • A choking child.
  • Children sustain a minor abrasion or cut.
  • The child is riding his bike and hits his head.
  • Get locked out of the house.
  • Fire outbreak.
  • A burglary.

5. Begin slowly

You don’t have to start watching strangers’ children right away. Offer to babysit your family members’ and neighbours’ children to build your resume and gain experience with real children.

If you’re new to babysitting, you’ll need adult supervision at first, and then you can progress to paid sitting.

6. Set Your Rate

The most crucial aspect is money. How much do you think you should charge for babysitting?

Some families may want to pay you a dime because that’s what they used to get paid when they babysat 20 years ago. Don’t be taken in by it.

You can ask for more if you’re responsible, experienced, and well-trained in safety.

Your price will also vary depending on how many children you are watching, their ages, whether you will be playing with them the entire time or if it is nighttime and they are sleeping.

To get a good rate, use your discretion and consult with a parent or trusted adult.

always strike a bargain with families, but it’s helpful to have a starting point in mind.

7. Spread the News

Now that you’re ready to begin, you’ll need children to babysit. Inform your friends, family, and neighbors that you want to babysit.

Post a notice on community bulletin boards in places where parents frequent, such as the grocery store, library, and pediatrician’s office.

Inform everyone you know and trust that you’re looking for babysitting work: your parents’ friends, your aunt, your neighbors, your tutors, your soccer coach…everyone is a potential dollar sign.

Make a flyer with all of your contact information and distribute it to all of the parents you know.

They probably won’t need to schedule you when you first tell them you’re starting a babysitting business.

However, if you leave them with a flier, they will keep it in their purse or on their refrigerator and have something to refer to when they do need you.

Keep in touch with them regularly to remind them that you are available.

You don’t want to be overbearing, but an email or phone call once in a while is not bad.

8. Interview in a Secure Environment

When you find a job your parents will certainly want to interview you, either over the phone or in person.

Before speaking with someone you don’t know, make sure your parents are fully informed about the job and the person you’re interviewing with.

If you notice anything out of the ordinary, notify your parents right away. You, too, must remain safe!

On an interview with a family, inform your parents of the time and location of the interview, as well as the names and addresses of the parents.

Request that they drive you to the interview and that they wait outside. Alternatively, call them as soon as it’s over.

Practice a few times with your friends and family before your first interview. They can provide feedback on how you answer questions and present yourself.

9. Plan Your Activities

You’re not done once you get that babysitting job. Consider what you’ll do to keep the kids entertained.

Ask the parents ahead of time what kinds of activities their child enjoys so that you can plan accordingly. Consider whether the activities you’re planning are age or developmentally appropriate.

Bring some activity suggestions or books to share with the children to the job. Make sure to ask the parents if they think these will be enjoyable for their child. you can visit this article for more guidance

10. Be Timely

Arrive on time to demonstrate your professionalism. This demonstrates that you respect the parents’ schedule and are dependable.

If soccer practice is running a few minutes late, make sure to notify the family.

Don’t cancel at the last minute.” You can say goodbye to your babysitting job because word will spread among local parents.

11. Put your Phone Aside

Young children can quickly become involved in dangerous or fatal situations, so a babysitter must avoid being distracted by socializing while on the job:

There will be no texting, Facebooking, or Internet/email/Twitter checking,  no personal phone calls, and no personal visits from friends.

Besides, when you tell your friends you couldn’t talk or text back because “you’re working,” they’ll be impressed.

You have a little more freedom after the rug rats have gone to sleep and the house is quiet.

However, make sure you ask the parents before they leave what is acceptable: TV, phone, computer, and so on. Keep an ear out for noises, avoid distractions, and remain quiet – you don’t want to wake the kids!

12. Clean-up

If you want to impress the parents, make sure you clean up before they arrive. It will demonstrate how responsible you are.

Please make sure all toys are put away before bedtime.

Wipe off the counters. Put the books away. It is that simple.

13. Go an Extra Mile

How can you ensure that your parents will call you again? Be well-organized.

Most parents are satisfied when you arrive on time, have a positive attitude, and follow their rules; however, if you arrive at the first gig with a thousand bells and whistles, you may overwhelm both the parents and the children.

However, over time, you can demonstrate to the parents that you are truly invested in the job by repeating what the kids have told you, showing up with activities you know they will enjoy, or offering ideas for future outings – these are genuine efforts, not forced ones.

14. Don’t Strive for Perfection

Recognize that no matter how prepared you are, babysitting is a difficult task. You have a life to live, and you must please every parent.

I learned to be confident despite these minor setbacks and to be a good sitter, if not a perfect one. When it comes to dealing with children, confidence goes a long way.

Should You Babysit for Free?

To gain experience, you may have to babysit for free at first. If you don’t want to do it for free, you may have a more difficult time landing your first few jobs.

Some parents will not hire babysitters who do not have any prior experience or qualifications. You will have no choice but to do it for free in this case.

When you reach a higher level of experience, you should have no trouble charging for your time.

Don’t be put off by this; it usually doesn’t take long before someone is willing to provide you with a good reference. It would be unusual to be required to babysit for free more than a few times.

How Much to Charge For Babysitting?

Babysitters are in high demand. Parents are looking for someone they can rely on to look after their children.

This does not imply that they will entrust their child’s care to anyone.

There will most likely be a few people interviewed for the position, so bring your A-game.

However, once you’ve passed that stage, it’s time to start earning money! Babysitters in the United States earn an average of $15.71 per hour.

Babysitters earn more money when they work in cities and towns. The general rule is that areas with a higher cost of living will have to pay more.

In San Francisco, for example, the average rate for babysitting is $16.65, compared to the national average of $15.71.

Unfortunately, I can’t give you a single number to use as your babysitting rate. There are far too many babysitting variables to consider.

I believe that $10 per hour (or the equivalent in your region) is a good starting point.

At those prices, you’d be competitive in almost any city in the United States, Canada, or the United Kingdom. A good starting salary in Australia would be closer to $15 per hour.

One thing to keep in mind is that you will most likely not be making the average wage when you first start. You’ll be earning much less, so gain experience to turn this into a great part-time job!

Other Factors That Can Affect Your Pay While Babysitting.

  • Age
  • Your Experience
  • Are You A Highly Qualified Babysitter?
  • Location
  • The number of babies to babysit.
  • Will You Be Watching Pets As Well?
  • When Will You Be Babysitting?
  • How Involved Will You Be As A Sitter?
  • Are You Providing Any Extra Services?
  • How Far Do You Have To Travel?
  • Are You Getting Any Extra Babysitter Perks?

Should You Enroll in a Babysitting Course?

There are numerous options for babysitting classes available. These courses can also teach you things you wouldn’t learn on your own, such as CPR and First Aid.

Babysitters should also bring a portable first aid kit, they’re cheap and could save a life!

When working with children, unexpected events can occur. When the need arises, you must be ready to act quickly. These kinds of certifications can go a long way toward assisting you in landing a job.

Read Also: Personal development (Adding value to yourself).

Is it Necessary to Have a Babysitting License to Babysit?

Being certified and licensed makes it much easier to get started. However, whether or not you are legally required to be certified depends on where you live. In any case, regardless of legal requirements, this is usually a very good idea.

Approach babysitting as if you were starting your own company. You’ll do well if you take it seriously and strive to be the most qualified person in the room.

What skills should Babysitters have?

Parents and guardians look for specific characteristics in a babysitter. If you can master these skills, you will be much more likely to land jobs and succeed as a babysitter.

1. Punctuality is extremely important.

You must arrive on time for work. You should also stay until the right time.

2. Friendliness

You should definitely be nice to the kids. Knowing how to keep little minds occupied is also a valuable skill to have as a babysitter.

3. Accountability.

Recognize that you are caring for someone else’s child. Do it with caution and pay attention to what is going on around you.

4. First-aid knowledge.

Knowing basic first aid and CPR will give the parents much more peace of mind while they are away.

5. Previous knowledge

When it comes to babysitting, prior experience with children is advantageous. You stand a much better chance of being hired as a babysitter.

6. Be Intellectual

Know how to be creative with kids when it comes to planning activities to keep them occupied. If you can pull that off, the kids will have a great time and beg their parents to let you babysit them again.

Read Also: Importance Of Loving Your Job

7. Be patient

When babysitting, this is a must-have. Kids have an uncanny ability to irritate people. As a young adult, you must handle this appropriately. Controlling your anger and frustration will help you with this.

Parents always want the best for their children, so they will go to great lengths to find the best babysitter available. Check out this article to learn more about the skills you should develop as well as what you’ll learn on the job.

If you have any concerns about the children, it is best to notify their parents. They can assist you in sorting it out, and they understand their children’s needs better than anyone else.

There is no guarantee that you will always have a well-behaved child. It will change from time to time. You may have the impression that you are in the presence of angels at times. At times, you’ll feel as if you’re working with a swarm of demons. Don’t tell your parents, though.

Can a 14-year Old Babysit?

This is heavily influenced by where you live. Canada, for example, you must be at least 12 years old to babysit.

In other places, the Red Cross suggests its babysitting course for children aged 11 to 15. In most areas, this is a good guideline for determining when children can begin babysitting. Most parents would be uncomfortable with a child aged 10 or younger acting as a babysitter.

Is Babysitting For You?

It should go without saying that to enjoy babysitting, you must enjoy being around children. And this isn’t just a case of “I think babies are cute.” Can you keep kids entertained for several hours at a time, or do you find them exhausting?

If you dislike being around children, babysitting is not for you. When dealing with young children, you will become frustrated and irritated.

If you’ve decided to start babysitting, go ahead and do it. It’s a fantastic opportunity for you to make money in your spare time.

What About Overtime Compensation?

Do you charge extra for extra time if a family calls to say they’ll be a couple of hours late?

In most cases, I would recommend asking for your regular rate for any extra hours rather than having a separate overtime rate.

Because babysitting is typically a part-time job, you are not entitled to overtime pay if you work more hours than expected.

The only exception is if you work as a full-time babysitter. In that case, you may be entitled to overtime pay in some places (usually half your normal rate.) Especially if the family considers you a household employee and deducts taxes from your pay.

Many parents will pay you a little extra as a tip if you stay late. But I don’t think it’s worth jeopardizing your relationship with the family for a few extra dollars.

FAQs

Things You Should Never Do While Babysitting

Don’t take the kids out of the home without permission
You shouldn’t take or post photos of the kids
Don’t be on your phone all the time
Don’t smoke, drink or do drugs
Don’t make the family’s business public
Don’t watch inappropriate shows or videos like Nudes.

What Should You Wear For Babysitting?

Wear neat casual clothing for your babysitting job. Ensure you are comfortable and will be able to move around easily.
Make sure your clothing will allow you to do things like sitting on the floor with a toddler, carrying a baby around, and playing games with the kids.

What Are The Things A First-time Baby Sitter Should Know?

1. Practice child care basics
2. Know the ins and outs of baby care
3. Learn the house rules and follow them
4. Be respectful at all times
5. Get some safety training
6. Know the contacts and procedures incase of an emergency.

What Qualities Make A Good Babysitter?

1. A good sense of responsiblility
2. You should be playful
3. You should be active
4. You should have experience in child care procedures.
5. You’re a teacher
6. You’re sensitive.

Do You Need Qualifications To Babysit?

The qualification that is essential for professional baby sitters, however, is a well-evidenced experience of working with children.
Baby sitters registered with Sitters all need a minimum of two years’ childcare experience, for example, and many of them have much more.

Conclusion

Your babysitting rate is determined by a variety of factors. Even the same babysitter may charge vastly different rates to different families, depending on the number of children, their behavior, and other factors.

In general, you can’t go wrong with a flat rate of around the minimum wage in your area. Typically, it is around $10 or $11. This can be your starting salary in an ideal scenario, such as a family living next door with one well-behaved child.

After you’ve established a base salary, you can add on extras. For example, if a family has a second child, you could charge an extra $1 per hour to clean and tidy the house after the kids have gone to bed, and $1 or $2 per hour if it’s a unique occasion.

My advice is to begin by charging a rate comparable to what other babysitters in your area are currently charging.

Inquiring with other friends who babysit can be a good place to start for an initial price.

Then, for future clients, you can begin offering higher rates based on your growing experience and see how much you can charge before people begin to say no to you due to your high charges.

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