To be a successful babysitter, parents will have to be able to trust you. You can help improve your reputation by taking certain courses related to childcare and first aid to make yourself stand out from the crowd. Keep reading to see three courses you can take to prove that you’re a trustworthy babysitter and give parents peace of mind.
Babysitting Basics
The American Red Cross has an online course where you can learn how to handle a variety of situations related to babysitting. You’ll learn skills like how to calm an upset baby, how to spoon-feed, and what to do if a child burns their finger on the stove.
The program is for people aged 11 and older and is packed full of information on how to safely and responsibly watch over infants and children up to 10 years of age. There are also tips for running your babysitting business and additional management skills.
The course consists of fun graphics and activities, as well as a final exam. With the successful completion of the course, you’ll receive a diploma that you can print out. The course is 25 USD and worth every penny to equip you with the skills you need to handle any surprise babysitting scenario.
First aid course
If you haven’t already taken any first aid classes, it would probably be a good decision to enroll in one. Parents want to ensure their children are in capable hands, so letting them know you have certifications in safety skills will help you attract more families to work with.
There are tons of options for online first aid and safety courses, as well as in-person workshops you can attend. Try to find a comprehensive course where you can cover the basics like dealing with cuts and burns. You don’t necessarily have to concern yourself with learning advanced first aid skills, but you should know what to do in the event of an extreme situation.
Once you have your basic first aid skills covered, make sure you go over safety procedures for emergencies. You should know which numbers to call if a child ingests poison or needs emergency medical care. You may also want to discuss ambulance cover costs with the families you work with to determine if they have a preferred way of handling emergency transportation. If you’re unsure where to find pricing, you can always compare ambulance cover with iSelect.
Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) Course
If you want to go beyond learning basic first aid skills, consider showing your commitment to child safety by getting your PALS certification. Parents will be more likely to trust you with their children if you can prove that you have advanced training for emergency situations.
By taking a PALS online course, you’ll give the families you work for a reason to trust in your ability to handle an emergency. In the event of extreme situations like respiratory distress or cardiac arrest, you’ll be able to respond appropriately, whether that means performing CPR or providing basic life support until the emergency ambulance service arrives. Taking a course for PALS will also give you real-time decision-making skills appropriate to handle situations with infants and older children.
You can take an online self-paced PALS course for 119 USD and earn your certification as soon as you would like. Tests are typically available 24/7, so you can take it whenever it’s most convenient for you. Once you pass the PALS exam, you won’t have to take it again for at least two years.
As a babysitter, you may find yourself in situations that you’ve never been in before, wondering what you should do next. By enrolling in certain courses, you can prevent disasters and make your babysitting experience easier. Plus, the more childcare knowledge you have, the more likely you’ll be to find babysitting jobs.
Content Provided By Scholarship Media
