Trying to find a babysitter? If so, it is important to consider the dangers of teenage babysitters before you hire one to watch your children.
Many parents opt to hire baby sitters for their child because of their work and relatively tied up schedules. Some would hire baby sitters who can take care of their child at their own home rather than bringing their child to a daycare center or somewhere else.
Hiring a baby sitter could be considered a very good way of ensuring that the child is kept safe at all times and is monitored closely by someone older however, the process of choosing the baby sitter in itself could already be considered a very daunting task.
Some teenagers who want summer jobs or to work after school try out babysitting and more and more parents think there is actually nothing wrong with hiring a teenager to take care of their child. However, one of the things that should be weighed when it comes to hiring a teenage baby sitter is that baby-sitting in itself requires a certain level of maturity and teenagers may not be that well equipped yet to handle this type of responsibility.
Caring for a child requires more than just opening your physical self to the one you are taking care of. True, baby sitting may require that you interact and play with the child; however, it also requires that you are able to be in command and should be someone whom the child will follow and respect. If you hire a teenager as your child’s babysitter, chances are she is not yet that mature to handle the pressures of babysitting.
You may want to look at the scenario this way:
A teenage babysitter could probably spend the most fun time with your child because their age are not that very far from each other; all the more if your baby sitter happens to have her own younger siblings. However, what will happen if your child suddenly gets caught on an accident like excessive bleeding of a wound from falling off his bike, or sudden fever and extensive vomiting?
A teenage baby sitter may not necessarily be able to handle these types of pressures and scenarios and may not be able to know what should be done.
If on the other hand, you hire an adult baby sitter or someone who has more background and experience when it comes to taking care of children, that particular baby sitter would know what to do and would not necessarily panic and rely on calling 911 or doctor.
Also, some teenage baby sitters, especially those who still go to school and will be coming from the school might have assignments and projects they need to work on immediately to meet the deadline. It is possible for them to do their homework at your home while your child is peacefully watching television. However, children have a very short attention span and would most likely move from one place to another. When this happens, your child could be at great risk.
It is therefore much better to hire adult baby sitters and those who have enough experience so that while you are at work and earning money to support your family, you can be assured that your child is being taken cared for.
