How to Survive a Night of Babysitting, Essay Example

Are you worried about the children you babysit having a bad time? Afraid of doing a bad job? Taking care of children can be an interactive experience, where you can have fun and enjoy the interests of the children. However, some babysitters are not confident in their abilities. As one who has survived plenty of nights as a babysitter, there are some keys that will lead to your survival. Preparation is the key in surviving a night of babysitting, allowing you to meet any need that may arise without problem.

Breakdown the Situation

When you perform any job, the initial step is arguably the same: you need to know the details. Unless you are in charge of every detail of the job, this dynamic can certainly be seen. Thus, being aware of the situation can help you prepare for the night, before you even step foot into the clients’ home. Once you get the hang of this, you can walk into upcoming babysitting gigs without trouble – you’ll be the best babysitter in the neighborhood.

Mental Preparation

In the context of babysitting, mentally preparing yourself can be a vital step. This isn’t to be confused with something akin to sports psychology; this has more to do with readiness and awareness than something more complex. After all, if you know what you’re getting yourself into and start thinking about the night, you’ll be able to meet certain needs that could surprise one who is unprepared. Most babysitters are ill-prepared – which is where the problems stem.

Start thinking about the details. Begin with the child or children that you will be taking care of for the night. Where will you be? What is the age of the child that you will be watching? Evaluate the length of the session, location(s), activities, and so forth. If you have been to the location, imagine yourself there – what will your night look like? It may be a night filled of video games and movies; or (brace yourself) that of playing with Barbies.

Something as simple as the weather can be vital – playing sports in the back yard could be a very fun activity. Even if you have not watched the child or children before, some of these steps can help you plan for the future; or, at the very least, know the right questions to ask when you arrive. Notice the layout of the home, where some of the fun activities are, and so forth; they will be your keys to success.

Physical Preparation

Prior to leaving for the night of babysitting, you may need to bring some items. These can range from the essential to those that will come in handy. Also, these items can be not only for the children, but for you as well. As helpful items are discovered, make a checklist that you can consult before you leave. Better yet, keep one on your smartphone – you can easily mold it into the “ultimate” checklist as you get better as a babysitter. These tricks can help put you over the top, as an experienced babysitter.

It would not be an overstatement to say that “many” items could be used for the night of babysitting. You could offer to pick up food for the children for dinner. Toys, cards, board games, and other activities can be a nice, professional touch as well. These can give the children some hands-on activities that they can enjoy. Rewards that are cleared by the parents might be helpful if you’re concerned about discipline (think candy, of course, or inexpensive gifts). As it will be covered later, you might consider bring a few items for yourself, such as personal items to things to keep you occupied when the children are sleeping.

Arrival: Questions to Ask

Before you arrive to take care of the children, you may have discussed certain details. It’s not uncommon to know how long you are babysitting, payment considerations, and light items concerning the children. However, that is not nearly enough, in most cases, to satisfy what you’ll need to know for the night of babysitting. While it may be a simple setup, and/or you may already know the children, it is helpful to address key areas that will come in handy later.

One key area of the discussion needs to concern activities. Meals are always a great starting point, which might involve money for pizza or a simple meal that you can create. Even if they are fed, you’ll want to know about snacks and other treats that are welcome – or commonly not, of course.

Apart from meals, there are plenty of other activities that you can talk about quickly. Make sure you’re aware of toys and things that the children can do. For instance, maybe they may or may not go outside to play. The topic of television and movies (another thing that you could bring, potentially) is commonly relevant. A must is that of bedtime, which can be simple or somewhat complicated.

Make sure you are comfortable with these activities and items. Items such as television time, toys, and bedtime can range in difficulty and/or complications. You will want to be aware of these foundations, as they can help you get out of a tough situation as needed. For instance, rewarding good behavior with a favorite toy or treat can be simple and effective, sure to make you a favorite with the children.

Other areas can be integrated into the discussion as needed. Safety is something that helps to discuss, “just in case.” Ask about any medications, contact numbers, and anything else that may be relevant here. Once you are satisfied, you can transition from the wealth of questions so that the parent(s) may feel free to leave when they would like. Don’t forget to make small talk; as in any job, being friendly is pivotal. Bring up what they are doing, if time permits – many parents enjoy talking about their plans, as well as how it went when they get back.

Structuring the Evening

Structure is a cornerstone when you are involved with children. Not only is it a healthy part of a child’s development, but it can make your life much easier. You don’t necessarily need to write down a course of action for the night. Rather, having a general idea of the night’s events can help you manage your job with ease.

Different “Stations”

It might seem overwhelming. You arrive in the early afternoon, and after the kids go to bed, you could be there well past midnight. With over 10 hours of babysitting, you might feel a little anxious about the night. Yet, by looking at the night as a number of smaller segments, or stations, you can break down the evening into more-manageable chunks.

Integrate the chunks into your interaction with the children. For instance, it might be a few hours until dinner time. Thus, you could allow the children to choose what they want to do until dinner. Allowing them to choose a movie, board game, or to play with their toys, you make the structure aware to them, as well as yourself. You could even begin “selling” what’s for dinner, and mention what fun things could occur after dinner if they eat well. As you can see, giving them the choice can be a significant key; use it to your advantage (but know when to draw the line, of course, if needed).

Voicing the Structure

Did you notice the key dynamic in the past example? When you allow the child to be “in” on the fun, it helps them to know what to expect. This is a helpful way to prevent unwelcomed behaviors, which can arise if the fun suddenly stops without warning.

This dynamic can be the best thing when it comes to the lesser points of the night, from the perspective of the children. For instance, the least-liked activity may certainly be bedtime. However, by mentioning how much fun time is remaining until bedtime, you can introduce the subject into their mind. If they have been having a great time, you can even sell them on going to be for a new “station” – another fun night the next time you babysit. In other words, if they get bored, ask them what they would love to do. “That sounds like a great idea, we can do that before you head to bed in a couple of hours,” you reply.

Leveraging these two dynamics can be the key to success. Based on the past information, you can work in sessions and structure into the night of babysitting. When you feel that the children are getting a little bored with something, you can simply find something else to move on to, based on your planning and talk with the parents. As appropriate, keep the children in the loop, as doing so can be one of the most effective ways to curb negative behavior. Don’t forget about the power of rewards as well. For instance, if they do well at the dinner table, they can play their favorite video game.

What if you run into trouble? Indeed, some babysitters will meet loud babies, children that will have numerous behavioral problems, and so forth. You might have a sick kid who is blue in the face. Stay calm and take appropriate action: utilize agreed-upon discipline methods, call the parents (i.e. for health/behavioral problems), and use different activities. Keep your cool; after all, you only have to get through one night.

Staying Aware

The final major item is not necessarily a step. Rather, it speaks more to the frame of mind that is needed when you babysit. As there can be situations that arise unexpectedly, you need to be not only ready, but able to meet it with the proper level of judgment. Once again, doing this can make babysitting a breeze. It can allow both you and the children to have much more fun.

The Children’s Needs

The children’s needs come first, of course. Invariably that of safety is pre-eminent here. You should be aware of anything that you need to know medically, of course, such as dietary restrictions, medications, and other items that should have been covered during your discussion with the parents. Use your best judgment when dealing with any safety concerns that you may have.

Make sure you are cognizant of how the children are doing. You can often get a good read when the children are interacting with each other, or just enjoying a game. If you notice the child is bored, feel free to suggest something fun. You can ask them what games they like to play, for instance. Don’t be afraid to give them options. As it has been discussed, giving plenty of options can be the best asset when you dictate the less-popular activities. Thus, giving a lot of freedom before bedtime can make matters go smoothly.

Once you do this, you will be ready for anything. You’ll be able to field desires that a child may bring to your attention. As you are aware of the parents’ guidelines and the schedule, you can easily decide whether it is time for an activity-in-question. Do the children want to play their favorite board game or basketball outside? A simple response and a reminder about impending dinner is an example of how the aforementioned dynamics come together. Be open to new ideas that you haven’t considered; there may be a park within walking distance, for instance, that would be a fun idea (you should ask before doing something like this, though).

Your Needs

The needs that you may have may be a small feature of the night of babysitting. However, you can avoid some uncomfortable situations if you take some simple steps here. Most often, taking such measures can help you remain professional – as well as keep you from being bored.

Imagine that you arrive in the early afternoon, an hour or two before dinner for a family that you’ve never met before. In such cases, you should have asked about dinner beforehand, possibly offering to pick something up for the kids. Some babysitters may not consider this topic. Some babysitters may arrive hungry in an hour, with children that have already eaten dinner.

Many babysitting gigs involve being out late. If the parents will be away for some time, you may be in charge of putting the kids to bed. What will you do after that? You may be surprised to learn that the parents have a limited cable package. As you can see, it might be a good idea to plan for “down time.”

Conclusion

Surviving a night of babysitting doesn’t have to be complicated. Some of the concepts in this brief analysis may seem that way, but they can become second-nature to the seasoned babysitter. Once you master these steps, dynamics, and areas of discussion, you can graduate to the ranks and become a favorite for different families.

Preparing is the key to babysitting. Ask the right questions and come prepared. Develop an understanding of the children, and work with them to make life easier for yourself with regard to the less-than-welcome parts of the night. With the right approach and enthusiasm, the children may happily go to bed, awaiting the next time their favorite babysitter can watch them.