As a parent of a young child, I know how important it is for children to have encouraging teachers who inspire their students to try hard and do their best inside and outside the classroom.

Babysitting is a great way for students of late-elementary and middle-school age to earn money while positively affecting the lives of young children. Caring for younger children teaches kids responsibility, reinforces empathy for others, boosts self-reliance and self-esteem, and encourages them to learn the basics of running a business.

If you’d like to encourage your students to broaden their skill set and sense of personal responsibility, the Red Cross offers two options for children ages 9 years through 15 years:

• Babysitter’s Training. This class is six hours in length and costs $85. It includes instruction and hands-on practice in the care and safety of infants and children.
• Babysitter’s Training plus Pediatric First Aid/CPR/AED. This course covers all the topics of the basic course and provides two-year certification in First Aid/CPR/AED.  It is nine and one half hours long and costs $140.

Young participants in both of these Red Cross babysitting classes get to take home class materials that are useful on the job, including a handbook packed with information, a compact emergency reference guide, and an interactive CD-ROM featuring an activity booklet with games, songs, recipes and other activities, and an electronic babysitting client organizer.

Teachers can make a difference in so many ways. Encouraging students to take on meaningful extracurricular activities such as babysitting can bring a positive impact to your students and their communities.

Grant Hansen is a Director, Workplace Safety (First Aid/CPR/AED & Babysitting) for the American Red Cross.

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