Great article! I think what’s really interesting about it is how it encourages parents to get to know their kids before they decide if they can do this job. It’s not the actual babysitting you have to consider, it’s the responsibility. I would definitely enroll my twin 12-year-olds in a babysitting course first.
Jim Jefferson 07/12/07
I am worried about my son staying out late or sitting for people who might come home intoxicated or high. We live in a neighborhood that’s kind of dicey, and I’m not always going to be free to pick up my son after he’s finished with babysitting. I would welcome his getting some responsibility with children, but I read too many stories about bad things happening. Not everyone is fortunate enough to live in a safe suburban community.
Mary Baxter 07/11/07
The article doesn’t mention pet-sitting as a starter-job, but I think it’s a great idea. Before my daughter started sitting for children, she fed and walked people’s dogs and actually gave a neighborhood cat insulin injections (cat had diabetes). By the time she was ready to be a babysitter, she felt very confident about her skills.
Joan Anderson 07/13/07
Jim Jefferson 07/12/07
Mary Baxter 07/11/07