Is Your Daughter Old Enough to Babysit?

Around the ages of 11 or 12, many girls begin to get interested in babysitting. This sudden interest can be caused by your daughter’s desire to be more independent and earn her own money (so she can get that really cool Miley Cyrus t-shirt) or just a need to nurture younger children. Regardless of her reason, it’s usually a good idea for parents to support their daughter’s budding interest.

Babysitting can provide your daughter with many important social skills that will serve her well as she matures. Watching younger children teaches preteens and teens time management, responsibility, and professionalism. It also prepares them to handle a variety of child care skills that will eventually come in handy if they become parents themselves one day.

How do you know if your daughter is mature enough to handle the additional responsibility and stress that accompanies babysitting? In the eyes of most parents, perhaps all you see is a cluttered, messy bedroom littered with teen magazines (featuring the Jonas brothers of course!) and empty food cartons. It’s enough to make any parent question whether or not their daughter can take on an additional job let alone keep her room clean! But during the tween years, most girls, despite the appearance of their bedrooms, are up for the babysitting challenge.

Yet, according to the Red Cross, parents should be sure their daughters are ready to handle the additional reasonability of caring for children and have developed the right coping skills. Use these guidelines to help you determine if she’s ready to take on the challenge of babysitting.

Babysitter Readiness:

• Does she adhere to curfew? Does your daughter obey your curfew rules and does she have a good sense of time management? Showing up on time for a babysitting job is very important as is being able to put children to bed on time.

• Can she finish her homework on her own? If you daughter constantly needs to be reminded to finish her homework or she forgets assignments, she may not be ready for the extra responsibility babysitting brings.

• Does she seem to have good verbal communication skills? Your daughter will need to be able to communicate directly with both parents and children. She will also need to set appropriate limits and feel comfortable verbally working through any “fighting” or arguing that often accompanies babysitting siblings.

• Does your daughter seem respectful of safety issues? Watching children opens a whole new door to safety issues. Does your daughter obey common safety issues at home like remembering to turn off the stove or locking the house if she’s home alone?

• Can she talk clearly and openly about issues that bother her? Your daughter will need to be able to tell parents if she’s had any behavior problems or other issues with the children she’s sitting for. Talking with adults about how she honestly feels is very important.

Accepting Jobs:

• Before accepting a job your daughter should always check with you. She should know what kind of transportation she’ll need to and from the job, and the amount hours she’ll be watching the children.

• Parents should always know where their daughters are babysitting, phone numbers, and when she can be expected home.

• Always turn down jobs if you feel they are unsafe. If you feel the parents or children are difficult or troubling, then pass on the job.

• Your daughter should know her limits. If she is uncomfortable watching four kids, then she may want to stick to jobs with two or less children.

• Let your preteen know that she can always call you if she runs into trouble or needs assistance. Occasionally situations may arise that are out of her control. Let her know that you will be happy to come by and help if she needs it.

Helpful Babysitter Resources:

• Babysitter’s Self-Assessment Tool. This tool developed by the Red Cross is a worksheet that will help your daughter assess her “babysitting” skills and abilities. Red Cross Babysitter Assessment.

• Babysitter’s Report Record. When your daughter accepts her first babysitting job, make sure she brings along this handy “report record” to give to the parents upon their return. It’s great tool to help parents see exactly how their children behaved when they were away, and provides a quick and easy way for your preteen to discuss any behavior issues that need to be addressed before her next job. Red Cross Babysitter Report Card.

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