Children want to hang out with people who are bubbly and fun. They also like it when their babysitters can answer questions about why the sky is blue or what makes the grass green.
Parents should ask for and call references to evaluate the babysitter’s demeanor, professionalism, and connection with their child. In addition, they should request and conduct background checks.
Communication
A good nanny or a babysitter can communicate effectively with children and parents. They should be able to answer kids’ questions and teach them new things. They also need to be able to prioritize tasks to take care of everything at home without asking their parents for help.
Patience is another quality for a professional babysitter because sometimes kids can be pretty demanding. A patient babysitter can stay calm and focus on the task at hand despite the challenges of dealing with kids all day. They can even use their patience to be kind to the kids.
Finally, the best babysitters can keep records and update their clients regularly. They might use a digital journal or babysitter app to share photos of the children and send daily summaries to parents. They can also track milestones like potty training wins or misses, meals and snacks, sleep schedules, learning activities, injuries, and other relevant information.
Experience
Babysitting is a real job, and your experience with children should be treated as such on your resume. Babysitting can teach you many valuable skills that are fully transferable to other occupations. Examples of practical skills babysitters learn include creating a safe environment, cooking for kids, and administering first aid.
The best babysitters are organized and keep detailed records of their work, including activities the kids do, behavioral issues they encounter, meals, snacks, nap times, potty training wins or losses, and more. This information can significantly help parents if they need to go out for the day or leave their kids with a trusted friend for a while.
When listing your babysitting experience on your resume, you should start with the years of experience under the “Experience” section (or the “Work History” or “Education” sections). If you worked for multiple families over a few months or even several years, note this as well. This will save space and better represent your consistency and stability.
Reliability
Parents need to be able to trust the babysitter they hire. Babysitting services typically conduct thorough background checks, reference checks, and interviews to ensure they employ trustworthy and dependable caregivers. They also enforce strict safety protocols to provide peace of mind for parents.
A punctual babysitter shows up when they say they will and does so without any unnecessary delays or excuses. This quality gives parents confidence that their child’s care is in good hands and that they can leave the home without worrying about their babysitter being late or not showing up.
Professional babysitters are well organized and keep notes on children’s activities, meal times, nap times, potty training wins and misses, injuries, learning experiences, and more. Keeping these reports in an easy-to-read format helps maintain open communication with parents and provides them with the reassurance that their children are receiving high-quality care.
They also know how to handle emergencies by being equipped with the right first aid and CPR skills. They can also rely on professional babysitter training to help them stay calm and respond appropriately to unforeseen circumstances.
Attention to Detail
Attention to detail is a skill that many employers look for in job candidates. This is because this quality helps reduce project errors, which can be costly and time-consuming. It also helps to ensure that projects are completed accurately and within a given timeline.
When hiring babysitters or nannies, it’s important to consider whether they have this essential quality. For example, a child may have a tantrum or a sudden illness that requires immediate attention. A professional babysitting service that can pay close attention to these details can help you feel confident in their abilities.
While a degree or certification in first aid and CPR is necessary, looking for other qualities that demonstrate attentiveness is also required. These include experience looking after children, being a parent, or taking specialized babysitting courses for specific age groups.
In addition, those who make daily to-do lists or regularly track their work progress might be more proficient at paying attention to detail. These habits can be taught or encouraged as part of an employee’s training to improve their skills.
Flexibility
Regarding babysitting services, being flexible is one of the most essential qualities a sitter can possess. Parents are likely to be unpredictable in their needs and requirements, so a good babysitter can adjust quickly on the fly. This means knowing how to handle last-minute requests, unexpected events, and even impromptu play dates.
This also translates to being able to change up the routine to keep kids engaged. Children love to be challenged, and an intelligent babysitter can turn a mundane task into a fun activity. For example, making cleaning fun by playing mop-shoe moonwalking races with the kids or having a tidy-up race can make the chore feel much more fun.
Babysitting is a career that requires many different skills, but it’s worth taking the time to learn as much as you can. Getting better at these skills will help you become more confident in your job and build stronger relationships with the parents. To develop your babysitting service further, consider using a digital management tool to organize and improve your services.
