**Babysitting Tips**?
Answer:
Don't kill the kids or kidnap them.
There.
to keep kids occupied i usually play toys with them (pretty much whatever thay want to play) i usually cleaned up after the kids when they were down for a nap so i wouldn't have to be worried about staying with them the whole time so i could be cleaning knowing the kids were sleeping and when they got up i'd stop cleaning and usually put a kids movie in for them, feed them, play some more
depends on the age as to what games is approperate for them. as far as charging that depends on your experence and if you have first aid and cpr training. most only make around 2-8.00 a hour.
most kids like to do things with there hands such as building blocks, coloring, painting, playdoh, watching movies, having books read to them, play dress up, they love to make cookies you can let them add ingredients and stir. side walk chalk, paint girls fingernails and toes,
Hide & Seek keeps them occupied for a LONG time as does Duck Duck Goose. Also movies like Ice Age...=P Nice and long and keeps the kids laughing no matter what age. I charge whatever the people want to give me unless they say something silly like 2 bucks an hour. I would say in todays world at least 4-5 bucks an hour although on one job I make 10. House cleaning...unless they instruct you otherwise just clean up the dinner dishes and the toys the kids get out while you are there otherwise there isn't much else you can do. Hope this helped!
I use to babysit all of the time. I had a great time and the kids did too. I would bring some arts and crafts, books, games, toys, and even a movie. This made the time go faster for everybody. Make sure you pay attention to them because that is what you are there for. Use the phone after they go to bed. This will make the kids ask their parents when you are going to come back which means more money for you. I don't usually worry about cleaning the house, only the mess that the kids and I made. This shows the parents you were busy with the kids. Every now and then I would do the dishes- but you don't have to. As far as charging- that depends on where you live. Babysitters on Long Island NY are making $10 an hour- but I am sure that is not everywhere. Ask people you know with kids. Don't price to high or low- then you will be asked to come again. The hardest thing that I find is getting the kids to bed. Make it a game like "who can get in there pajamas the fastest or get into their room the fastest." Read a couple of books or have some quiet talk. Don't be afraid to warn them that you will tell their parents if they misbehave. Usually if you have fun with the kids they will respect what you say. The most important thing is have fun becuase then they will have fun and want you back.
Ive been babysitting since I was like 13
im now 19
Kids love to color
they love to role play (house, school,etc.)
love to be read to
and go outside, to the park, etc
when they become roudy try naptime most kids hate this
but you will be glad you did it afterwards because it gives you a little time to youreself and also they wont get so cranky at bedtime.
turn things like cleaning into a game
children love rewards
as far as charging goes
I charge $6/hr for family
and $7/hr for everyone else.
what age are they,,,,,,,,,,read,walking,dra... let them help you with the house keeping.that's learning responsibility,
You don't mention ages, time frames, etc so I'll do the best I can... I read a few of the other answers & YES - duck, duck goose works really well for almost any age. Hide & seek is another good one, but only if they're old enough to understand (the dryer is NOT a good place to hide, don't go outside, etc). Building blocks make excellent road & towns for Matchbox cars; older kids love coloring salt (regular household morton's salt) with chalk (like sidewalk chalk) to make colored sand jars (do this one outside) :-)
If you can get packaging paper or rolls of paper (like they have in schools) that's fun to masking tape to the kitchen floor, or on a large wall for coloring. I usually give my kids a bucket of crayons and 10 feet or so of paper taped to the hallway wall and it keeps them busy for HOURS. They have been warned that if I see anything other than white on the actual wall, the paper comes down and will never go back up. It works well, keeps them busy & makes for a great conversation piece for company!
As for the cleaning; I always tell my babysitters that while they are not maids - I do expect them to clean up after themselves (at least rinse the dishes they use, etc). I had one sitter who insisted on doing all of my dishes everytime she came over - which was nice, but not expected.
She also made a game out of getting the kids to clean up thier own toys - they would turn the tv off and out on some good music and dance while they cleaned; made it fun for the kids & when I came home, the house looked just as it did when I left.
I pay my sitters, depending on thier ages. Obviously, I'm not going to pay a 15 year old who watches the kids for 2 the same as I'd pay my full time day care provider. But I'm always fair. It's best to compromise on that... don't settle for less than you feel you're worth but don't expect too much.
That being said, if you feel a family is expecting too much out of you for the money they're paying, decline the job in the future. Only you know what you're worth... but be honest.
Before the parents leave make sure you have a list of emergency numbers. What time is bedtime? What are the nightly routines? Etc.
If you don't take charge of play time, that 4-year-old might decide drawing on the wall with permanent marker is a fun activity. Kids always get tired of their own toys, so bring a private stash. Fill a plastic tote box with construction paper, glitter, glue, markers, fruit snacks and DVDs, and the kids will think you rate right up there with the Easter Bunny. And if you've got a special project you know a kid will like--say, building a house out of popsicle sticks--bring the necessary supplies with you.
Finger-painting, freeze tag, riding bikes, stroller walks and dress-up are all great options that beat TV trances. Dance around the house. Read books in a growly voice. Build tents out of sheets and blankets. The more active the kids are, the more pooped they'll be when bedtime rolls around. Once you think they're well worn-out, pop in a fun flick to wind them down.
A good babysitter is fun and responsible. Kids can get into trouble in the blink of an eye, so don't get preoccupied with talking to friends or watching reruns while the kids are outside on the swingset. You must be supervising them at all times! Always know where they are and what they're into.
It's also up to you to take charge so a kid doesn't walk all over you. Don't tolerate tantrums, disrespect or bossiness. Know the types of discipline procedures they're used to (timeout, early bedtime, no snacks) etc..
Parents appreciate coming home to neat-and-tidy, so pick up the toys and put away the "tent" supplies.
Parents probably have a few rules that apply to you, so respect that. First comes food. Unless the parents have specified that the fridge is free game, assume it's off limits. Eating before a babysitting gig is a good idea, since you might be running around for hours unable to catch a bite. If you're worried you'll starve, pack your own snacks (bring enough to share with the kids).
As for the phone, stay off of it. (Oh, and steer clear of the computer, too). Ask if you should answer the phone and take messages, or leave it alone unless you see that it's the parents on the caller ID. Never invite friends or boyfriends over.
Babysitters everywhere get paid varying rates, but the pay usually ranges from $5 to $8 an hour. If they don't ask how much you charge, find out what they are used to paying and negotiate an amount everyone is comfortable with. Most states have a minimum wage of $5.15, so you shouldn't expect much less than that. You can also increase your rate depending on how many kids are in your care--say, $6 dollars an hour for one kid, plus $2 for each extra kid.
if they are young kids like 2-5 make a game out of cleaning up have them get an empty box and the one who pickes up the most gets something not something big but something like they get to pick the bedtime snack or they get to pick the next movie it works great
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