BabysittingBabysitting Easiest kind of job for young people to find, and it provides a good experience.

Responsibilities that come with Babysitting Provide for a child ’ s physical needs. Provide for a child ’ s intellectual needs. Provide for a child ’ s emotional and social needs.

Physical Needs Healthy food Appropriate clothing Good hygiene Rest/sleep Safe and stimulating environment

Intellectual Needs Stimulating Environment Language activities Opportunities to explore

Emotional and Social Needs Hold, cuddle and comfort children Speak kindly Help them learn how to interact appropriately with others and their world Children respond better to positive statements than to negative ones.

Helping Children Feel Comfortable When talking to children, sit or kneel so that you are at their eye level. Be patient—don ’ t jump in to finish their sentences. Ask how you can join in their play. “ How about if I be the mailman who delivers mail to your store? ”

Provide Guidance You are helping children learn basic rules of behavior that can keep them safe and help them get along with others. Discipline: teaching which behavior is acceptable and which is not. Punishment: Discouraging inappropriate behavior. Redirect: What can I do, instead of what can ’ t I do.

Encourage Independence Encourage children to do things for themselves if you know they can. If they make mistakes, encourage them to keep trying. Praise their efforts, even when the results are not perfect.

Situation A Tonight Kim is babysitting nine-year-old Chase. When Kim and Chase sit down to watch some television, Chase turns the channel to a program that shows very violent scenes. Chase insists that his mother lets him watch the show, but Kim doesn ’ t think the show is appropriate for children and doesn ’ t feel comfortable letting Chase watch it.

If you were Kim... Identify the decision you must make List possible alternatives Identify the best alternative, using your values to guide you.

Situation B Marco, 13, is babysitting for his cousin Tanya, 2, for the first time. At about 9:00 p.m., Tanya wakes up crying. When Marco picks her up, she feels very hot. Marco ’ s aunt (Tanya ’ s mom) has told him to call her immediately if anything is wrong. Marco knows, however, that she is at her job at a factory. He doesn ’ t want to disturb her, but he ’ s worried about Tanya. The number for Tanya ’ s pediatrician is on the refrigerator. Also, Marco ’ s mother is at home, only 10 minutes away. Marco wants to follow his aunt ’ s instructions so that she will hire him again.

If you were Marco... Identify the decision you must make. List three possible alternatives. List the advantages and disadvantages of both alternatives. Identify the best alternative, using your values to guide you.