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Girls learn babysitting is serious business

Brian Wilkinson

(Updated: Thursday, July 22, 2010, 5:15 PM)

Six members of the Oakhurst Boys and Girls Club learned Saturday there is more to babysitting than plopping a child in front of a television with a bowl of popcorn and a box of juice.

The six girls spent seven hours with American Red Cross volunteer instructor Arlene Williams of Coarsegold to gather helpful information and a variety of skills to help them become successful babysitters.

The Red Cross Babysitting Training course was designed to provide the knowledge and skills needed to safely and responsibly provide care for infants and children.

Attending the workshop were Tasah Dragoo, 14, Katelyn Suderman, 13, Jessica Tanoury, 12, Cece Garcia, 13, Allison Patterson, 11 and Alyssa Brekhus, 11.

Williams said the basic goals in babysitting are "keeping children safe, respecting the family's rules and having fun."

Williams told the group that they should talk to their parents before accepting any babysitting jobs because they will have ideas about when, where, how often and for whom they may babysit.

Williams, who also gives classes in aquatics safety, discussed what it takes to be a leader and role model. "A role model sets an example for others to follow and modeling good behavior is important because the children you babysit will look up to you and follow the example you set."

"A good babysitter should also be able to communicate with adults," Williams said. "The way you speak with parents can show your leadership skills and increase the chances that they will hire you. Always be positive, honest and polite."

Williams stressed to the girls to never put their name, address or phone number on the Internet as a way to seek a babysitting job. "It's not safe to allow total strangers to get that information. The best way to get business is to have your parents ask friends, relatives and neighbors if they need a babysitter."

The students were taught that an interview before a babysitting job is the best way to discover if the job is right for them. "Even if you really like the family or want the money, you should never take a babysitting job that exceeds your abilities," Williams said.

Skills taught were bottle-feeding, diapering, sanitation and first aid methods for external bleeding, burns, insect bites, nosebleeds, heat exhaustion, asthma, fever and poisoning. CPR and how to use an automated external defibrillator were demonstrated.

"I was surprised by all the forms you need to fill out for a babysitting job like family rules, consent forms, safety inspection checklist and all the medical information about the children," said Suderman. "I liked the CPR training and how to pick up babies the correct way."

Suderman, who has done some babysitting for her nephew, says she now feels more comfortable and confident. "I hope to get some more babysitting jobs because of the class."

Williams said the girls in the class were attentive and polite. "They learned organizational skills some skills that could be life saving."

The girls were given a training handbook, a first aid manual and a babysitting CD-ROM with templates for a résumé, business cards, activity work sheets, family and emergency phone numbers and household rules. Each participant will receive an American Red Cross certificate for completing the class.

Details: Fresno/Madera Chapter - American Red Cross, (559) 455-1000, redcross.org.