Nowadays, more and more parents ask for the help of a babysitter. Indeed, the lack of time sometimes appears the parents to recover their children at the exit of school, or to spend a little time with them, the time of an evening or during the vacations. Parents therefore see in their babysitter a person they can trust. The latter must possess many qualities. The security of the child, patience, listening and flexibility are key elements for a babysitter. Generally, parents tend to rely on the skills and experience of the babysitter, but also on their human qualities. The qualities to be a babysitter are :
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To have a privileged contact with the children
It may seem obvious, but to become a babysitter, the first quality is to love children. A good understanding is one of the main qualities sought. The relational aspect is very important in the babysitting job. Children need to feel that the person is listening to them, as much as to their own parents. There must therefore be a very strong bond between the child and the babysitter. The babysitter should be maternal and positive. This relationship is often created through different activities or games. This is one of the first things parents notice when recruiting a babysitter.
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Punctuality
Like any job, a babysitter must be punctual in all circumstances. Parents trust the babysitter and punctuality is a big part of it. Respecting the schedule allows the parents to fulfill their professional and/or personal responsibilities and the children to keep a regular rhythm. It is therefore important to respect the dates and times scheduled in order to maintain a relationship of trust between the parents and the babysitter.
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Flexibility: knowing how to adapt to any situation
But again, flexibility is a very important factor. The babysitter must show that she is responsible and able to anticipate problems that might arise in certain situations. You have to be vigilant with the children and know how to adapt in case of unforeseen events: know how to react if the child gets hurt, if he/she is sick, if the planned activity is not appropriate to the weather. You must be able to count on her ! Sometimes the babysitter will have to work occasionally, another reason to be close to the children. She may also be required to prepare the children’s meals or help them with their homework.
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Safety is about being able to adapt
A babysitter is a time for sharing, fun and games. However, the babysitter must always be on the lookout for dangers incurred by the child. Risks must be anticipated at all times. It is recommended to observe the possible dangers on the site, in order to reduce accidents as much as possible.
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Patience, an important element
It is certain that the role of babysitter requires a great deal of patience. It is important that the babysitter understands the child’s needs, gets used to his rhythm, does not rush him and especially does not rush him. She will have to keep her calm in any situation even if they can be capricious or cry often. Rather than getting carried away, being patient and having a sense of communication will be major assets for you as a babysitter. The child will gradually get used to your presence.
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Be mature and serious
If you are thinking of becoming a babysitter, it is also important to know how to behave. A babysitter must be mature, she must teach the right gestures and behaviors to the children. The babysitter’s behavior towards the child will inevitably have an impact on the child. A babysitter who behaves well, who is serious, mature will reflect on the child. Indeed, this will make the child want to reproduce your actions. The babysitter is therefore committed to respecting the educational values of the parents (even if they may be different from yours).
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Be dynamic and creative
If you are dynamic, you will be sure to please both children and parents. Children have a lot of time to play and have fun. So you’ll need to be dynamic and creative so that you never run out of ideas for activities! You should try to encourage interaction with the children and not leave them alone. Through play, children will acquire many skills that they will use to continue learning and understanding the world around them. Play will promote language learning and intellectual, social and sensory development.
