Finding a new babysitter can be an incredibly stressful process. Of course, you want to make sure you find someone of the highest moral character to take care of your kids, but it's more than that. A good babysitter can be the difference between helping your kids learn how to be independent and them being afraid whenever you leave the house. The process of finding a good babysitter is important. So, how should you go about it? Here are a few tips to help you find a great babysitter.
Treat It Like the Job It Is
Yes, an interview for a babysitter might appear to be more casual than a standard job interview, but it is still a job, and it's important that you treat it as such. Ask the prospective individual to come in for an interview. Hold the interview in at least a semi-formal setting or perhaps at your home, where they can get to know the environment. Ask them standard job interview questions: What experience do they have? Do they have references they can share with you? Make sure you treat the responsibility with the seriousness it deserves.
Look Beyond the Interview
For something as personal and important as babysitting, an interview may not be enough. Introduce your kids to the new babysitter, and give them a controlled environment to get to know each other. Consider setting up a couple of quick outings to get each of them comfortable with each other. If you are particularly concerned about a new babysitter, you can set a nanny cam up in your home with some limitations, so feel free to set one up.
Check References
It's essential to check a babysitter's references. This enables you to get a much better idea of the potential babysitter's experience, expertise, and overall personality. Remember, these don't necessarily have to be references for their experience with babysitting, although that is certainly a positive. Instead, you are looking for overall character references. How does this person behave when stressed? Can they manage an emergency? How are they with children? Those sorts of questions are helpful to be able to get answers to.
Finding the perfect babysitter is more than just luck and knowing the right people. It is very possible to find the perfect person for the role, but you have to be willing to put in some work. Follow the steps above, and you'll be well on your way to finding a perfect babysitter who can responsibly care for your children.
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