Freeman Safe Sitter Class
By: Gretchen Bolander
Updated: July 2, 2010
It can be part of the transition to adulthood. But unlike learning to drive, there's no legal age to start babysitting. Freeman Nurse Fran Cloyd said, "When they accept a babysitting job, they're accepting resonsibility for a child's life. They need to know how to recognize an emergency situation and how to respond to that. If they can take care of it themselves or if they need to call 911."
Freeman Health System hosts a Safe Sitter class - a chance for future babysitters to learn about everything from learning about the children they'll watch to how to react when something goes wrong. Added Cloyd, "We do a lot of role playing - practice using the phone on how to accept jobs. Check references from people who might have suggested them. And we also do role playing in different situations of emergency situations. If a stranger comes to the door. If there's bad weather. Things like that."
Cloyd generally recommends kids start babysitting around 12 - 14 years old - but adds that decision should be made by parents who know their child's maturity level. "The Safe Sitter class we teach 11 - 13 year olds so they have trained before they asked to babysit."
Freeman will host the Safe Sitter Class on July 14 - 15 and again on August 4 - 5. Registration is required. For more information, call 417 - 347 - 4430.
Freeman Health System hosts a Safe Sitter class - a chance for future babysitters to learn about everything from learning about the children they'll watch to how to react when something goes wrong. Added Cloyd, "We do a lot of role playing - practice using the phone on how to accept jobs. Check references from people who might have suggested them. And we also do role playing in different situations of emergency situations. If a stranger comes to the door. If there's bad weather. Things like that."
Cloyd generally recommends kids start babysitting around 12 - 14 years old - but adds that decision should be made by parents who know their child's maturity level. "The Safe Sitter class we teach 11 - 13 year olds so they have trained before they asked to babysit."
Freeman will host the Safe Sitter Class on July 14 - 15 and again on August 4 - 5. Registration is required. For more information, call 417 - 347 - 4430.
