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Even the best babysitters in your area may be at a loss for finding fun activities to do with your children. Your preferred babysitter may spend many long hours with your children in the months and years to come, and this is the time that should be fun and stimulating for them. If you want to encourage your babysitter to limit screen time and to engage your children while you are gone, suggest some of these thoughtful ideas.

Make Cookies

If your babysitter has basic baking skills, making cookies is a fun and delicious way to spend time. Frosted cut-out cookies take much more time to make than chocolate chip cookies, and they allow for more interaction with children. This is only one of many types of foods that children can participate in making. For example, they can make ice cream sundaes, cut-out shapes for their lunchtime sandwiches, a fruit salad with cutting help from the babysitter and more.

Build a Blanket Fort

Before you leave, pull out several blankets and sheets that can be used for the walls and ceiling of a living room or bedroom fort. The act of creating the fort can keep the kids and the babysitter busy for a while. Once the fort is created, they can play together, read books or even tell their own made-up stories in their shelter.

Create Works of Art

Many children love to draw, paint and work with clay. Other ideas include working on sand projects, making slime, creating snowflakes and more. Set aside several types of art supplies before leaving the house. The kids and babysitter can use the supplies in their own creative ways to produce beautiful or unique works of art.

Dance to Children's Songs

If your children love music, another excellent idea is to recommend a dance party. You can compile a mix of songs that your kids enjoy, or you can suggest that your babysitter stream music from an app on his or her smartphone. This is a fun way to get your children moving regardless of outdoor weather conditions.

Play Board Games

Many kids love to play games with their parents, but you may not pull the games out as frequently as they may like. Set out a stack of your children's favorite board games and card games. Regardless of your children's ages, board games provide interactive fun that can extend potentially for several hours.

Work on Puzzles

An alternative to board games is puzzles. Simple puzzles are ideal for young children, and there are numerous puzzles that are increasingly challenging for older children. Determine your children's skill level, attention span, and interests when picking out a puzzle.

You may go to great lengths to find the best babysitters in your area, but even these skilled, qualified professionals may not know what your children like to do or what activities are available in your home. Suggest or plan for some of these excellent activities so that your children truly enjoy spending time with their babysitter.

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Fun Activities for Kids and Babysitters: Ideas & Tips - UrbanSitter

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Even the best babysitters in your area may be at a loss for finding fun activities to do with your children. Your preferred babysitter may spend many long hours with your children in the months and years to come, and this is the time that should be fun and stimulating for them.

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It's only natural for some children to feel a bit leery of spending time with a babysitter while mom and dad are away - especially if it's their first time being left with the caregiver. One way sitters can help put the child at ease is by coming prepared with age-appropriate games and activities to play.

Engaging little ones with a creative craft or good old-fashioned round of hide-and-seek will help them focus on fun, rather than being sad that mom and dad aren't nearby. These games and activities can be especially helpful for first-time sitters, as well as those with years of experience. Parents can suggest them to a sitter ahead of time to help break the ice and ensure a smooth experience for all.

From educational to engaging, here are 25 fun babysitting games and activities to play with kids.

Traditional games

1. Hide-and-seek
Sometimes tried-and-true games are a big hit, so brainstorm a few spins on classics. For example, play hide-and-seek in the dark with older kids. For the little ones, even a quick round of peek-a-boo might be enough to bring them out of their shell.

2. Simon Says
Simon Says is likely a game that children have played with teachers and classmates at school, so what better way to kick off the babysitting adventure with some familiar fun? This is also an amusing learning activity to teach younger children about where their hands, feet, toes, shoulders and head are.

3. Puzzles
Bring over a few age-appropriate puzzles to do with the kids. While puzzles might not be the first babysitting activity you consider, it can definitely be one of the most educational, engaging and rewarding. Finishing a puzzle together will provide the children a sense of achievement, giving them the confidence to open up and bond with you while mom and dad are away.

Educational & brain-boosting games

4. Animal movement and sound activity dice
Bring out their personality with this activity. Write out an animal on each side of a small, square-shaped cardboard box. Have the child gently toss the box like they are rolling dice, and have them make the sound and movement of the animal listed or pictured on the side of the dice that's facing up.

5. I Spy
Have a shy little one on your hands? Encourage them to open up with a fun round of I Spy. Start out by playing the game in a room they are most comfortable in, like their bedroom or playroom, or take a walk outside and see what you can find together.

6. Giant Scrabble
If you're watching a budding wordsmith, then a game of Giant Scrabble is an excellent way to exercise their mind and let them show off their language skills. On printer or construction paper, take a marker and clearly write one large letter per sheet. You'll want to develop a list of basic words before writing out each letter to ensure you have enough. Think basic sight words that the child is currently learning like: is, the, dog, she, cat, him, mat, and other age-appropriate words.

Music & theatre games

7. Lip sync competition
The perfect game for Friday nights, lip sync competitions get all the kids in the house involved. Just put on kid-approved music and have them take turns rockin' out to their favorite tunes. You can even encourage them to play air guitar on a broom or break out the pots and pans to add to the fun!

8. Charades
Babysitting multiple children? This interactive game works best for teams of two. Grab a pen and paper and write down a few kid-friendly topics, like popular movies, cartoons and TV shows. Cut the paper into pieces and place in a bowl. Have one team member select a topic to act out while the other team member takes a few guesses. Ask one child be in charge of keeping the time (counting or using a stopwatch on a cell phone), and ask another child to keep score.

9. Storytelling
Kids young and old love to tell stories. They're so animated! A great way to engage children is to have them make up their own storyline and act it out. Pretend you are part of a large audience and watch as the children show off their creativity. Encourage them to dress up and use props to enhance the performance. If your little one is still feeling shy, reverse the roles and let them watch you tell a silly story and act it out. This will help them feel more at ease around a new person.

10. Freeze dance
Break the ice and get kids moving with a game of freeze dance! Play a kid-friendly song and stop the music. Each time the music stops, the child must stop or freeze in position until the music plays again.

Sports & outdoor games

11. Fun with chalk
Chalk offers endless playtime possibilities for all ages. While many kids have chalk at home, bring some with you just in case. For older children, fun chalk games include hopscotch, foursquare, sidewalk Twister and more. For the younger ones, just coloring alone might be enough to occupy them, or for an educational twist, write out a handful of numbers and letters and allow the children trace over each one.

12. Balloon tennis
It's just what it sounds like! Best of all? It requires only four supplies (paper plates, tape or glue, Popsicle sticks and balloons) that can easily be packed in your purse. Oh, and did we mention the easy cleanup? To make the racket, tape or glue popsicle sticks to the back of a paper plate. Blow up one or two balloons to use as the tennis balls, and voilà! This game is good for toddlers still developing and perfecting their fine motor skills or older children who love to compete.

13. Paper towel roll ring toss
At the end of the paper towel roll? Save it! Grab three or four paper plates, cut out the center of each plate so that it can be used as a saucer. Take the paper towel roll and make four, 1-in. cuts to the base of the paper towel roll. Fold the four flaps back and apply glue, secure it to piece of cardboard, cereal box, or another sturdy base. While you're building the ring toss, have the children color the paper plates different colors. Play a few rounds to determine the winner.

14. Pop the bubbles
Grab the bubbles and get to poppin'! Go outside with the kids in your charge and tell them whoever pops the most bubbles wins. Then, you blow bubbles into the air. They can all pop bubbles at once or take turns, it's up to you!

15. Bowling with plastic cups
Who says you have to leave the house to go bowling? Use plastic cups or bottles as bowling pins. Let each child take a turn to try and knock down all the cups using a regular-sized ball. For a fun twist, stack the cups in different ways or create side-by-side lanes. This game is great for kids of all ages.

Creative games

16. Drawing challenge
There are no winners or losers in this game. The drawing challenge allows kids to think creatively but also follow directions. Develop 10-15 cards that instruct children to draw pictures of specific things. Examples include: "Look out the window and draw what you see," "Draw a creature with six legs," or "Draw something red." Any topic that is relevant to kids will work. To add an extra element of fun for older children, set a timer for each topic and let them know they only have 60 seconds to draw each picture.

17. 100-cup challenge
This game will kickstart their engineering minds! Bring over 100 plastic cups and let the kids build a structure of their own creation. If babysitting just one child, make it a competition between the two of you. Whoever creates the tallest structure wins! Be sure to bring a measuring stick or tape.

18. Paper Tetris
Draw a table that is seven 1-inch squares across and nine 1-inch squares high. (You might be able to find a printable paper Tetris table online.) This will be the game board. Make several copies! Then, use construction paper - or other colored paper - to create the pieces. Each piece should be made up of four 1-inch squares, to match the paper Tetris puzzle, and in cut into the following configurations: S-shaped, Z-shape, T-shaped, L-shaped, line-shaped, mirrored L- shaped, and square-shaped. You could even ask the kids to help you cut out the shapes! This game can be played between sitter and child, multiple kids or even completed in teams! Set a timer to see who can clear four lines the fastest!

19. Make your own board game
Who needs to buy an expensive board game when you can make your own? Lee Silber, author of " Bored Games," says all you need is several sheets of paper, pens, tape and a dice to get started. Write down a different action on each piece of paper, like "hop on one foot" or "tell us a secret." Then, tape the paper to the floor in a line or square and each player takes turns rolling the dice and moving around the "board" as living game pieces.

Sensory development games

20. Build a fort
Take a peek in the linen closet and grab a few spare sheets and let the little ones have at it! Building a fort together not only encourages them to be creative, it also affords them team-building skills as they learn to work together and come up with a sturdy fort to call their own. Just make sure to clean up the mess before the parents get back!

21. Scavenger hunt
Grab a pen and paper and write a list of items from around the house that can be used in a scavenger hunt. The scavenger hunt can be played between the sitter and one child or between several children. Start by developing a list of nonbreakable items from around the home, such as something soft, an item of clothing, something small, something green and other easy-to-find items. See who can locate the most treasure the quickest!

22. Tape shape game
Parents, leave out a roll of painters tape the next time your sitter is over, because your kids will love this game! On a large, flat flooring surface, such as tile or wood, tape out a rectangle, triangle, circle and square. Instruct the kids to crawl to the circle or tiptoe to the triangle. You get the idea. Be sure to allow enough space between each shape to avoid any collisions because these kids will be moving fast!

23. Obstacle course
Get creative with soft, nonbreakable items, like couch pillows, boxes or chairs, to create a small obstacle course for the children to navigate. These can be a simple course for the little ones, or if you're babysitting older kids, throw in a few zigzags for even more fun! Be sure to do this in a large space where nothing can be broken.

Bedtime & cleanup games

24. Cleanup game
The sign of a good time is a big mess, right? There's nothing wrong with that, as long as you are sure to have the kids clean up before mom and dad arrive back home. Make it a competition to see who can put away the most toys in a certain amount of time, or whoever cleans up the fastest (and neatest) wins! Kids of all ages love a good game, and they likely won't even realize they are cleaning up their mess.

25. Silent count
The silent count game is the perfect way to calm everyone down for bedtime. To play, have the kids sit or lie down with their eyes closed. Then, take turns counting one number at a time. So, one child says "one" and the next says "two" and so on. Only, the order of who speaks next isn't predetermined. This game is best played with more than two kids, so the children need to pay attention and be patient in order to not talk over one another. If two kids say a number at the same time, the game starts over.

At the end of the day, the games you play won't matter all that much, but what does matter is that you are present and in the moment with the children. Doing so shows them that you enjoy spending time together and value them as a person. Plus, if they've had such a good time with you, they might even go out of their way to tell their parents how much fun they had and you'll be asked to babysit again in the future!

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25 Fun Babysitting Games To Play On The Job

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It's only natural for some children to feel a bit leery of spending time with a babysitter while mom and dad are away - especially if it's their first time being left with the caregiver. One way sitters can help put the child at ease is by coming prepared with age-appropriate games and activities ...

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Grandparents make great babysitters, but even they need a night off every now and then. Of course, finding an amazing babysitter who you and your kids adore can be easier said than done. Luckily for you, there's an app for that. (Naturally.) Whether you're in search of a weekly nanny or a pinch-hitter babysitter for date night, these babysitting apps and websites will help with the hard part. Here, we break down 10 top parent-trusted resources for finding superstar caregivers to help put your mind at ease.

Your next babysitter is at your fingertips. When you need someone to watch the kids but don't have time to sit down and do the research, pull up one of these convenient babysitting apps and let it do the heavy lifting for you. They're the best in the biz when it comes to vetting and scheduling a sitter that's right for you and your family.

If you don't have the luxury of hiring a babysitter you know personally, you can at least find a sitter who a friend in your circle can vouch for. UrbanSitter is one of the best babysitting apps around because it plugs into your social networks to find a caregiver mutual friends already know and love.

In your profile you can add preschools, elementary schools or daycares your kids attend, as well as parenting groups, churches, temples, sports teams and other groups and organizations you belong to. Each sitter's profile features parent reviews and badges to let you know which candidates are favorites. You can also view a potential caregiver's background checks and other certifications they may have, such as CPR training.

Even if you don't consider yourself tech-savvy, you'll still find the platform easy to navigate. The three-step process lets you post a job, book interviews and schedule appointments (it'll even send you reminders and contact information) and allows you to pay right from your phone. It's no wonder this babysitting app is a favorite among many parents, and is available in more than 60 cities in the US.

Price: Free basic membership; $35 for one month, $20 per month and $100 per year

Sittercity is a babysitting app that navigates like a social media site, letting you find out everything you need to know about potential sitters quickly and easily. Each babysitter's profile includes personal details, location, experience, skills and parent feedback. Before a caregiver can even join the Sittercity community, the company runs a background check using several databases to make sure an applicant has no reported problems. They then review the profiles again for identity verification and review. Parents also have the option to run their own background and identification checks within the app.

Another reason Sittercity is one of the best babysitting apps out there is because of the freedom and flexibility it offers. Whether you need an overnight job, an after-school cover or a regular weekend nanny, you can post your job requirements or search for someone who's available-just click into a profile to see a babysitter's calendar and hourly rates. You can even find a babysitter with specialized skills, like someone who will also clean the house (hooray!), a sitter with first aid training or someone who will tutor your kids. And if you end up in a tight squeeze and need a babysitter fast, you can alert sitters you've already pre-screened so they can respond to your emergency posts ASAP.

Pricing: Free basic membership; $35 per month

Bambino lets parents find a babysitter who lives nearby and who has already sat for people they know. To use the app, sitters need to sign up with their Facebook profile and have a recommendation from someone in the community. Perspective babysitters also need to agree to reviews of their profiles for quality and random checks on their social media accounts to identify any risks based on their posts.

Instead of creating a posting on Bambino, parents handpick who sees their babysitting requests. When parents search for a babysitter on the app, the caregivers are organized based on who you know, who your friends know and then by distance-so you're selecting from sitters that have already been tried and trusted by your friends and community.

Time is automatically tracked during the babysitter's stay; parents simply confirm the hours and pay straight through the app. Each sitter lists their hourly rates in their profiles, so you can see an estimated total before booking. And good news: Parents who use this babysitting app don't have to pay a monthly fee, but there is a small booking fee added to each payment: $2 for junior sitters and $3 for standard, advanced and elite level sitters.

Pricing: Free to download and create a profile

Like other babysitting apps, Sitter lets parents connect with friends and see the babysitters they use. There's also an option to set your location and see sitters near you. When you find someone you think would be a great fit, you can introduce yourself through the app's chat option. Once you get talking, you can work together to set up a time to meet in person for a formal interview.

When you find a group of babysitters you love, you can keep them near and dear by adding them to your go-to babysitter list. Once that's established, it'll be a breeze to lock in a babysitter when you're in desperate need. Just select the date and time you'll need a sitter, and an alert will go out to all your trusted caregivers. Pro tip: You can even mark a lucky few as your favorites, so they get the alert first. Your sitters don't even need to have the app. The message goes out via text; the first one to respond with a "y" books the gig and an alert is sent to the other sitters letting them know the job has been filled.

Pricing: Free basic membership; premium membership for $10 per month, $100 per year

Helpr is a babysitting app designed with working parents in mind, and provides high-quality, affordable backup childcare. Parents can review profiles of vetted sitters and request care in as little as three hours.

Helpr has it all figured out. Its pool of highly screened sitters with extensive experience and strong work ethic are on-call for when you need them most. They typically include graduate students, former nannies and kindergarten teachers. All Helprs must have at least two years of childcare experience and complete an in-person interview, background check, ID verification, CPR certification check, social media check and provide references.

You can browse photos, videos and profiles of potential caregivers through the app. If you'd like time together beforehand, you can book your Helpr for an interview or trial run while you're home. And if you end up loving your Helpr, you can save her in your account so she gets requested first the next time you need to hire a sitter in a pinch.

Plus, you only pay for the hours booked, meaning there are no monthly fees. Most hourly rates start at $25 (including tip).

Pricing: Free to download and use

Best Babysitting Websites

Top-notch childcare is only a click away. These best of the best babysitting websites provide all the resources you need to find a babysitter who meets your standards.

Used by more than 25 million users in 20 countries, Care.com is a leader when it comes to helping parents find a babysitter. The babysitting website (and app!) lets parents find, review, book and pay babysitters, whether you're looking for a nanny, special needs caregiver, date night or after-school sitter, tutor and more.

Care encourages parents to create a super-detailed job description, including information about your kids as well as the type of personality you look for in a sitter-and what type of sitter your little ones want (because they should have a say too!). The more detailed you make it, the better the chance you have to find a babysitter who works for you.

Rest easy knowing Care runs its own basic background checks and encourages members to complete additional standard background checks themselves. With a premium membership, families can purchase a background check on any caregiver they're considering. If you expect to run multiple background checks, you can also purchase an unlimited background check package for an extra monthly fee.

Pricing: Free basic membership; $37 per month, $24 per year

Last minute, full time, part time or one-time, SeekingSitters is a babysitting website designed to help you find a babysitter who suits your needs. When you set up a recurring babysitting gig, you have the option to book the same sitter.

SeekingSitters sets itself apart with its customized, in-depth background screenings performed on each referred babysitter by a licensed private investigator. It's responsible for thoroughly screening and running background checks for each of sitter, and it also personally interviews each applicant. If you don't like a caregiver you were matched with, you can request a different sitter.

Like with other competitors, parents pay directly through the site, avoiding the awkward shuffle of scrounging enough cash after a late night.

Pricing: $6 per month for unlimited requests (and a $30 one-time set-up fee)

If you don't have the luxury of a big, extended family who lives nearby to watch your kids, this is the next best thing. The babysitting website functions as a caregiver co-op where local parents swap childcare services, free of cost. Instead of exchanging cash, members simply exchange time spent babysitting.

There's a method to the madness. Babysitting co-ops make sure everyone plays fair by tracking points. You get points when you sit for someone else, and you spend points when others watch your kids. Because you're part of a group, you never have to worry about reciprocating with people specifically sitting for you; it all evens out. Search co-ops near you, then fill out a co-op request form for approval to join.

Not only do you get free babysitting, but you also tap into community support and get better acquainted with your neighbors.

Pricing: $5 per month or $15 annually

Meet your personal assistant to help find the perfect nanny for your family. You can search the babysitting website's roster of nannies, and enjoy the vetting tips and tools like the Nanny Success Kit and background checks to hire a nanny the same way a professional agency would.

Keep in mind, it's specifically for people who want to hire a nanny-you won't find one-time or occasional babysitters here. The site offers part-time nannies, live-in nannies, college educated nannies, nannies who specialize in infant care, and nannies who can double as housekeepers. The site constantly checks to make sure the caregivers it suggests are still available for work. Nanny profiles expire in 30 days if not renewed.

Once you become a member, create a profile to describes your family, job specifications and the ideal nanny. Then review resumes from professional nannies and au pairs who are interested in full-time, part-time, temporary, permanent, live-in and live-out positions.

Pricing: $25 per month for six months, $40 per month for three months and $50 per month for one month

With more than 20 years in the biz, this babysitting website is a staple. It's affiliated with Care4Hire and Nannies4Hire, and encourages parents to do as much digging as they need to lock in a trusted sitter. Where as some babysitting websites do most of the outreach, Babysitters4Hire believes families will be most at ease when they can be hands-on in the selection process.

Once you're a registered member, you gain access to babysitters via email and phone.There are a bunch of helpful tools available to help you find eligible candidates, including sample interview questions, reference forms and contracts.

Pricing: $20 per month (with an initial $30 fee for the first month) or $100 annually
Plus, more from The Bump:

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Grandparents make great babysitters, but even they need a night off every now and then. Of course, finding an amazing babysitter who you and your kids adore can be easier said than done. Luckily for you, there's an app for that. (Naturally.)

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Quickly find a babysitter

Looking for a babysitting job?

Together we make babysitting transparent and trustworthy

Current Babysits policy for the Coronavirus

Taking into account the guidelines, we try to give the best possible advice to our community. Read our current policy for the adapted guidelines.

How it works

Read reviews and detailed profiles. Look for occasional, last minute, part-time or full-time help or jobs.

Screen, interview and make your choice. Parents don't pay us until they contact a babysitter. Babysitters contact for free.

3. Request & pay bookings

Parents simply plan and pay bookings through Babysits and the babysitter receives the money after the babysitting appointment.

Looking for babysitting ideas, parenting tips or kid friendly activities? Check out our community resources!

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Babysitters and Babysitting Jobs | Babysits

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Quickly find a babysitter Looking for a babysitting job? Together we make babysitting transparent and trustworthy Taking into account the guidelines, we try to give the best possible advice to our community. Read our current policy for the adapted guidelines. Read reviews and detailed profiles.

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Good babysitters are always in demand so it's a great way to make money. However, even though there are lots of jobs, there can also be a lot of competition among teen sitters for those jobs. You may want to stand out in the crowd, but you never want to do anything that puts you in danger.

Always Follow These Rules:

Tell relatives and family friends that you can babysit. Make sure the people you know best are aware they have a responsible sitter to turn to whenever they need one!

Tell neighbors, teachers, and families in your religious group. It's natural to approach your teachers to let them know you're available to babysit because you have a level of trust with one another. Many parents also prefer to only hire sitters who live in their neighborhood or go to their same place of worship.

If you're a high schooler or college student, you have another safe option for advertising your babysitting services: Care.com. This is a trusted site that allows parents to find babysitters, so it can help babysitters safely look for work as well. High schoolers can use the site as a "Teen Provider" if they have their parent's consent and their parent becomes a "Parent Registered User."

What's the best thing you can do to let everyone know what a great babysitter you are? Find a babysitting training class like Safe Sitter®. You'll not only learn how to market yourself, but you'll gain valuable life and safety skills that show parents you're the best and most responsible person for the job!
If you liked this article, you might like: The 3 Best Babysitting Apps 4 Questions You Should Ask Before Taking a Babysitting Job

Latest posts by Jennifer Seward (see all)

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Advertising Babysitting Services Safely: Here's How

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Good babysitters are always in demand so it's a great way to make money. However, even though there are lots of jobs, there can also be a lot of competition among teen sitters for those jobs. You may want to stand out in the crowd, but you never want to do anything that puts you in danger.

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Let the parents in your neighborhood know you are in business and mean business with the best babysitting flyers on the block. Customize the free, printable templates or create your own unique marketing tool that will fill your pockets in no time!

Printable Babysitting Flyers

If you're in a hurry to get your babysitting business started, print off any one of these customizable templates. Click on the image of the flyer that best represents you as a caregiver. Hit the download icon then change the words to reflect your personal information. When you're happy with the flyer, print full-color copies. If you have any trouble using the templates, the Adobe Guide has lots of troubleshooting tips.

Related Articles

Responsible Girl Babysitting Flyer Template

Show potential clients that you are responsible with this professional and cute flyer. The cartoon babysitter holding a baby tells parents you are serious about your job, but also have a fun side. There's even a spot to list your website, professional social media page, or profile on a national babysitting site.

Bears and Balloons Babysitting Flyer Template

Let parents know you are all about love and comfort with this sweet flyer. The happy teddy bear and colorful balloons are sure to attract kids' attention too!

Fun Toys Babysitting Flyer Template

If you specialize in caring for babies, this flyer is perfect. It features soft colors and baby toys to show you understand this age group.

How to Make a Babysitting Flyer

You can make a babysitting flyer by hand or on the computer. The key is to make your poster legible, informative, personal, and professional. Using brightly colored paper and ink will help capture the interest of people walking by and boost your business.

Use a Word Processing Program

Basic programs like Microsoft Word or Google Docs are available at most libraries or on your home computer.

1. Start with a blank document then choose the font style, size, color, and placement of the words to make your own flyer.

2. You can add in fun child-friendly clip art or personal photographs to make the poster look better.

Make Standard Paper Posters

Purchase small sheets of poster board from any general merchandise store. They typically come in packs of three with several color choices.

1. Use letter stencils and poster paint markers to create the text in the center of your poster.

2. Glue on embellishments like border pieces or clip art images.

3. Make sure you use the same wording and colors on all your posters to create a recognizable brand.

Make a Tear-Away Flyer

A tear-away flyer features little strips at the bottom of the page parents can rip off and take home so they have your phone number. You can create one from any standard paper flyer.

1. Use a ruler to section off the bottom edge of your poster into several equal sections.

2. Write your name, the word "babysitter," and your phone number on each section.

3. Cut each section on the left and the right so the top of each section is still attached to the flyer.

Make a Postcard Flyer

Make your own business postcards by printing out 5 by 7 pictures of yourself.

1. Choose an image that shows off your babysitting skills like making crafts or one that is just a headshot of your smiling face.

2. Type or write your information on a piece of paper that is slightly smaller than the photo.

3. Use a glue stick to attach the paper to the back of the picture.

4. Be sure to add a caption to the front of the photo as well that includes your name and something about babysitting.

What to Include on a Babysitting Flyer

Your flyer should only provide necessary information. Clients can ask for more detailed information when they call you. Simple information includes:

Your first and last name

Your phone number

Your website address

Your rates

If you specialize in caring for a specific type of child (special needs, a specific age range, etc.)

Any certifications you hold like child CPR and First Aid or a babysitter's course

One or two quotes from past clients

Babysitting Catchphrases

Parents will be looking for specific qualities in a babysitter which you can capture in a relevant phrase such as:

Experienced Babysitter

Certified Babysitter

References Available

Experience Working With Kids Ages (list age range)

Own Transportation

Available Evenings and Weekends

Information to Leave Out

While it might be tempting to write paragraphs about yourself and your skills, there is some information that has no place on your flyer.

Your home address - Anyone in public can see these flyers, so it's important to keep yourself safe from unwanted strangers.

Your complete schedule - Again, you don't want to give any strangers the opportunity to know your every move. Parents can call and ask your availability.

Pleas for money - Parents want to hire you because you're a good worker, not because you need money.

Phrases like "loves kids" - If you want to be a babysitter, you obviously like kids. This makes it sound like you're trying too hard.

Specific kinds of kids you don't want to work with - Try to leave off any exclusions that might make you sound rude or unkind.

Where to Put Your Flyers

Since you'll either be hanging them in public places or handing them out, you don't necessarily need to cover your posters with plastic sleeves. If you plan to hang posters in open areas, you should definitely weatherproof them. Try to think in the mindset of a parent. Where do parents shop? Where do they take their children? Those are the places you want your flyers to be seen.

Ask your local businesses if you can hang flyers on their property either in a highly visible window or on a community bulletin board.

Give copies of your flyers to current clients and ask them to share with their friends who have kids.

Walk around one area of your town at a time and knock on doors to give flyers directly to people. Try to hit houses that obviously have children like those with kids' toys outside.

Show Professionalism With Flyers

When you have created professional looking flyers and have taken the time to post them in ideal locales, the next step is to remain patient and persistent in developing your client base. Remember that all small businesses, whether it is babysitting or a large corporate endeavor, take time and serious effort to be successful. The more time you invest, the better your chance of getting jobs and earning money for your pocket!

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Free Babysitting Flyer Templates and Ideas | LoveToKnow

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Let the parents in your neighborhood know you are in business and mean business with the best babysitting flyers on the block. Customize the free, printable templates or create your own unique marketing tool that will fill your pockets in no time!

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Get Help With Your Flyers

Kidsit can help you at every step in your babysitting venture. Click below to jump down to each help topic:

PDF Printing Tips

Are your flyers not printing to the edge? Select the 'fit to page' option in your print settings or adjust the size to be slightly less than 100%.

Is your text overlapping the tear-off tabs? Try using a smaller image, reduce your headline to one line, or shorten your text to the most important points.

Is the ink running on your flyers when they get wet? Some inkjet printers use ink that dissolves in water, to stop running ink, use a water-resistant ink cartridge.

Printed in black then colored with markers!

Alternatively, print your flyers on a black & white laser printer or take your PDF file to your local copy center and use their color laser printers.

Another great idea is to print black flyers then let kids color them for you! This is not only a fun babysitting activity for kids but it looks great and adds a lovely personal touch to your flyers that people will notice!

Tips For Managing PDF Files

How do I save my PDF file? Choose the save option from the PDF menu to save a copy to your computer or mobile phone. On mobile, you may have to tap the screen to make the menu overlay appear before you can see it.

How do I email my PDF file? First download the PDF file (see above) then open a new email, click the paperclip icon and select your file to attach it. You can now send your printable flyer to whoever you like!

Where Is The Best Place To Post Babysitting Flyers?

Get more job opportunities by posting flyers near places where local parents with kids are most likely to see them.

Here are the top locations that I recommend:

Places where kids play

Parents are never far away from their playing kids, particularly younger children. Try postering flyers near:

Playgrounds

Parks

Community centers

Local beaches & public waterways

Pools and waterparks

Sports centers

Places where families visit

The following locations are frequently visited by families with kids, poster your flyers nearby so they see them as they walk past:

Schools

Daycare centers

Toy shops

Kids clothing stores

Children's hospitals

Kid-friendly cafes and restaurants

Your local library

Art galleries and museums

Doctors surgeries and Chemists.

Shopping centers

Busy places with lots of foot traffic

Flyers in the busiest parts of town will get noticed by a lot more people including many parents. Give these places a try:

Along busy roads and thoroughfares

Train stations

Bus stops

Ferry wharves

Car parks

In shop windows

Around your local neighborhood

The best babysitting jobs are the ones just around the corner because they're easiest to travel to at a moments notice and they're safer to get home from at night.

You may already know some of the kids in your local area so that might improve your chances at landing a job too.

Do a letterbox drop to promote your babysitting services and be sure to include any families with children.

Post flyers along the streets in your local residential area.

This eye-catching flyer was printed in black and white then my three-year-old son colored it in for me. These hand-colored flyers can be very effective at catching parent's attention on the street!

Make Sure You Have Permission To Post Flyers

Most towns have great places where everyone has permission to post flyers such as on public notice boards and designated posting poles, but for everywhere else make sure you are allowed.

Visit your local council to learn what the postering laws are in your area.

Always ask establishment owners before posting in shop windows or on privately owned notice boards.

Never post on private property, including at schools, unless you have prior written authorization to do so.

You may find that posting on poles in the streets around schools (and other private locations) is more effective anyway.

Plan Your Postering Expedition

Postering works great when you can plan to dedicate a few hours to do a good job.

What to bring

An over-shoulder bag or backpack that you can easily carry with one arm (while opened) without things falling out.

Your printed flyers. Put them inside the bag in a place where they're easy to access. Print a variety of different templates and designs to test out.

A few rolls of clear sticky tape, you will almost definitely need more than you think!

A drink (if it's hot weather.)

Your mobile phone because you might start receiving calls while you're still postering!

Babysitting Flyers (Checklist)

Download and print out this checklist to take with you when posting flyers around your neighborhood.

Bonus pole postering instructions are also included.

Free Download
(babysitting-flyers-checklist.pdf 14kb)

Check out our other babysitting checklists too!

Plan your route

Look at a map of your local area and come up with a rough plan of where you want to go and in what order.

Make sure you have enough flyers for your route.

You can even prepare different flyers to match different locations that you plan to visit.

Bring a friend

If you're feeling a bit shy or if you'd just prefer a bit of company, invite a friend along and have fun postering together.

One person can hold the flyer while the other tapes it.

Or have a little competition and see who can poster the most in an hour. You can do both sides of the street at the same time!

How to Tape Pole Posters

There is both an art and a science to postering efficiently.

How to tape up a pole poster
This illustration demonstrates the four simple steps to tape a poster to a pole with one long strip of tape.

My recommended technique is to hold your flyer against the pole, then tape across the top of the paper, spiral behind-and-down the pole and tape across the bottom in one big 'swoop' of tape. I find this works much better (and faster) than using separate pieces of tape for each corner.

Give it a try:

Your first attempt will probably be a total disaster!

Your second attempt will be much better but it will take you forever!

By number 10 you will be twice as fast but probably a bit rough.

By number 100 you will have developed your special technique that looks something like karate!

However you do it, just don't tape over the rip-off tabs, otherwise, they become a bit difficult for people to use! :P

Stay Safe While Postering

Here are a few things that you can do to stay safe while postering flyers:

Always let someone know that you are postering, where you intend to be, and what time you expect to be back.

Never poster alone at night. Morning is probably the safest time plus you may meet more parents with kids who are often up early.

Always bring your mobile phone in case of emergencies.

Say hello to your neighbors and tell them what you're doing if they ask. The more neighbors who know you, the safer you can be in your local area.

Bring a friend along if you can and look out for each other.

If a situation or person seems suspicious leave the area straight away, it's just not worth the risk. You can always try postering there again on a different day.

See our safe babysitting guide for safety tips on the job too.

Monitor Your Posters

Keep an eye on your posters from time to time to see how they're going.

Have any tabs been torn off?

Have any been taken down or postered over?

You may find that flyers in busy areas don't last as long and you may need to redo those locations. In residential areas, they can last a lot longer.

If you're lucky, some of your flyers will last for months. Take note of these locations, you'll want to keep using them because they work so well!

When families contact you, always ask where they heard about your services so you know what areas are the most effective for flyer advertising.

What To Do When A Family Calls You!

Congratulations!

When families contact you, it means your babysitting services are in demand.

We have lots of useful guides to help you through the next steps on your babysitting venture.

How to ace your babysitting job interview

For a babysitting interview, you want to be well presented, have all your paperwork with you, and be prepared for the common questions that parents are likely to ask.

Read our interview guides so you can stand out from the competition!

Babysitting Tips

Read our guides on how to babysit children of different ages and how your general duties change depending on child maturity.

Learn how to babysit:

Child entertainment ideas

Looking for things to keep the kids occupied while you're babysitting? Check out our 200+ babysitting activities and filter by age or category to find the perfect games, fun crafts, and ideas that children love.

Beginner babysitter tips

These guides will be perfect for getting yourself started as a babysitter:

Other helpful tips

Babysitting requires a lot of different skills. Here are some of our most popular tips:

Good Luck And Have Fun!

Stay safe and enjoy your postering expeditions.

I hope you find the best local babysitting jobs with loving families!

As always, we value your feedback.

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Kidsit can help you at every step in your babysitting venture. Click below to jump down to each help topic: Are your flyers not printing to the edge? Select the 'fit to page' option in your print settings or adjust the size to be slightly less than 100%.

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Free babysitting flyers and templates, what information to include, and where and when to market

As the number of working parents continues to grow, so does the demand for quality babysitting services. This growth makes it an ideal time to begin or expand the marketing of your babysitting venture. And while websites and social media are certainly great ways to promote your services online, babysitting flyers offer a creative, cost-effective, and tangible way for you to reach potential clients directly and quickly.

If you're looking for an eye-catching and engaging advertisement flyer to spread the word about your babysitting services, we've put together a collection of templates to help you getting a babysitting job without breaking a bank.

Why Use Babysitting Flyers?

Marketing your babysitting services with flyers can help you:

Save money- Whether you're just starting babysitting or have been doing so for years, you're likely on a tight budget. Using flyers can help you reach a large audience without breaking the bank.

Find clients fast- Most of your babysitting customers will likely be located within a five to ten-mile radius of you. Handing out or placing babysitting flyers right in your community can help you find potential clients quickly.

Measure your success- By using social media or a unique website, and putting a QR code, a coupon, or a discount code on your flyers, you can easily assess the effectiveness of your flyers and adjust your marketing method accordingly.

What Info Should Your Babysitting Flyer Include?

Important information you'll want to include on your babysitting flyers:

Headline or Title- Your headline or title should grab the attention of your potential clients by including your name and a slogan or catchphrase.

Ages and Areas You Serve- Make sure you clearly identify the age range and locations you serve. Including specifics like names of subdivisions and streets can be a plus.

Services You Provide- Clearly list your services, including any special ones such as transportation provided, before and after school care, night time, overnight or weekend babysitting. If space allows, you can also include information regarding your insurance/bonding, certifications (e.g. CPR), years of experience.

Testimonials- Don't just toot your own horn, let your clients do it. Include a testimonial or two from some of your happy clients and their kiddos, with photos if possible.

Contact Information- Remember to include the best way(s) for you to be contacted. Add your phone number, email address, website, and social media accounts to make finding and employing you as easy as possible.

Designing Your Babysitter Flyer

With easy flyer maker programs like Microsoft Word, Canva, and Adobe Spark, you don't have to be a graphic designer to produce a babysitting flyer that looks professional and impressive. Software programs like these offer tips, tutorials, and free flyer templates that are ready to use, and you can even upload your own flyer. Whether you choose from one of our templates below or opt to create your own flyer design, a good babysitting flyer should have:

Quality graphics and images- Although you're marketing babysitting services you want to avoid a flyer that looks like a kids' project. Choose graphics and photos that are relevant and engaging, as well as parent and kid friendly. Including pictures of yourself, happy babies and children, animals, and nature are all very effective.

Clean fonts and engaging content- Use fonts that are easy to read and words that help convey trust, reliability, and maturity. You should also be clear on the steps you'd like your potential clients to take by using a call-to-action phrase such as: sign up today, contact me, visit my website, etc.

Extras to Consider- A few extra design options you may want to consider adding on your babysitting flyer include:

An incentive, like a coupon or a discount for first time customers and referrals

A QR code that can be scanned to go directly to your website or social media page

Tear-off tabs that include your contact information

Where and When to Market Your Babysitting Flyers

Here are six ways you can market using your babysitting flyers:

Libraries, community and recreation centers- Each of these neighborhood hubs typically have bulletin boards, free events, and kids' programs where you can leave your flyers for others to pick up at their convenience.

With your family and friends- Children's birthday parties, holiday gatherings, and celebrations are all great occasions to share your services with the people who know you best. Allow them to help you spread the word about your services.

Schools, local nurseries, and day cares- Some schools and care providers may be happy to share your babysitting flyers, particularly if you offer services during times that they do not (e.g. nights, weekends, holidays, etc.).

Social media- Social channels like Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter are great places to market your services to parents as well as local and community organizations. Most social sites will also allow you to upload your babysitting flyer.

Online message boards- Social networking services for neighborhoods, like Nextdoor.com and JustMyNeighbors.com, are prime places to reach stay-at-home moms, grandparents, and other caregivers in need of your services.

Distribution services- If you have an extensive budget, you may want to consider using a flyer distribution service. These companies can help you target, track, and deliver your flyers to reach customers who earn a specific income, live in certain neighborhoods, have children, and other demographics that you specify.

Free Babysitting Flyer Examples

Below are 15 printable flyer designs you could use for babysitting or daycare services. Whether you're looking for something cute and sassy or professional and classy, we've got a template for it. Each of the templates below can be edited in Microsoft Word. Our day care flyer examples can also be easily used to promote babysitting services.

Funny robot baby sitting flyer

Mother time off template

Baby sitter flyer with cute kids

Cute baby tear-off leaflet

Template design with funny creature

Pink princess cute baby sitting sample

Baby sitter flyer with animals

Baby sitter leaflet with Baby Carriage

Floral green design

Big block letters template sample

Baby sitter leaflet with puppy

Cartoon rabbit design sample

Purple flowers design

Monkey playing music baby sitter template

Simple tear-off babysitting flyer

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Babysitting Flyers and Ideas [16 Free Templates]

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Free babysitting flyers and templates, what information to include, and where and when to market As the number of working parents continues to grow, so does the demand for quality babysitting services. This growth makes it an ideal time to begin or expand the marketing of your babysitting venture.

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Free custom printable babysitting flyer templates | Canva

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Advertise your best care services that parents can trust with free babysitting flyers templates to customize and print.

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Taking a babysitting Class

The American Red Cross is the nation's leader in babysitting classes and child care training - and will prepare you to become one of the most capable, trusted and in-demand sitters in your neighborhood. In fact, 8 in 10 surveyed parents said they would pay more for a trained babysitter who holds Red Cross babysitting certifications. Start your babysitting business on the right foot and learn how to be a safe, professional and reliable sitter. You can also opt to get certified in First Aid and CPR/AED, and add even more value to your clients. With online and classroom options for all ages, The American Red Cross offers child care training that's not only convenient, but valuable to you and the families you care for.

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Babysitting & Child Care Training | Red Cross

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Taking a babysitting Class The American Red Cross is the nation's leader in babysitting classes and child care training - and will prepare you to become one of the most capable, trusted and in-demand sitters in your neighborhood. In fact, 8 in 10 surveyed parents said they would pay more for a trained babysitter who holds Red Cross babysitting certifications.

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Do you feel ready to stay home alone, watch your brothers and sisters while your parents are gone, or babysit for younger children? Then maybe it's time for Safe Sitter®. Safe Sitter® is for young teens in grades 6-8 who are ready to learn the skills they need to care for themselves and younger children.

In addition, Safe Sitter® teaches young teens life and business skills, so that they know how to be prepared, be responsible, and be considerate whether they are babysitting or doing odd jobs for family, friends, or neighbors.

You'll have fun. You'll learn a lot. And at the end of the day, you can proudly say, "I am a Safe Sitter®!"

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Should I Take Babysitting Classes with Safe Sitter®?

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Do you feel ready to stay home alone, watch your brothers and sisters while your parents are gone, or babysit for younger children? Then maybe it's time for Safe Sitter®. Safe Sitter® is for young teens in grades 6-8 who are ready to learn the skills they need to care for themselves and younger children.

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Babysitting offers a great way to make some money and gain working experience, but if you've never babysat before, it's a good idea to take a course that will prepare you for the serious responsibilities of caring for a child. Fortunately, there are a handful of online options that allow you to learn valuable babysitting skills.

Free Classes Online

Most babysitting online courses charge fees for their training, but there are some online, free, self-paced classes that will help you acquire additional skills to assist your babysitting career:

Although the Red Cross babysitting online course is not free, they publish the baby sitter's training manual online, so you can brush up on your knowledge before you take the course.

The Virginia Cooperative Extension has uploaded their Babysitting Basics course materials. While preteens and teens can earn certification only through course attendance, you can use the materials to learn techniques that will help make your work successful.

Babysitter database website UrbanSitter offers a resource section for babysitters and nannies offering advice on how to do a great job to encourage repeat customers. There are also informational articles about dealing with kids with food allergies and misbehaved children.

TeensHealth offers a comprehensive resource for babysitters that includes instructions for creating a business plan and ways to entertain children.

Related Articles

Courses for Babysitting Certification Online

You can find babysitting classes in most communities through Parks and Rec., your local American Red Cross chapter, and more. However, the following options are online and offer certification or continuing education credits.

American Red Cross Babysitter Training

The American Red Cross offers one of the most highly regarded babysitting classes for 11-year-olds and older. The course is available online although you can take the course in person at many local Red Cross locations. The course teaches skills in caring for infants and children up to 10 years of age.

You'll learn skills such as how to stay safe, playing with kids, handling emergencies, feeding and bedtime. The student must receive an 80 percent on the final exam to receive a printable diploma. The Red Cross has added some resources that are helpful, including starting and managing a babysitting business.

Babysitting 101

Universal Class offers a course for future sitters and nannies, and those who want to refresh their skills. The course covers safety aspects of babysitting as well as how to run your service as a business.

The material is broken into 10 lessons and 17 assignments that are self-paced. Review each chapter completely and take notes because you must pass a final exam at the end. The topics include everything from running a babysitting business to safety to appropriate forms of discipline.

You can earn continuing education credits (CEUs) for completing this course if you earn a final grade of 70 percent or higher and download a CEU certificate.

Babysitting Certification

Expert Rating offers a certification course geared toward college-aged students and adults who are interested in pursuing babysitting as a career.

The course is divided into seven sections that cover topics including activities and playtime, discipline, a plan to avoid problems, and your responsibilities as a sitter. You can take the certification exam once you've studied all the course materials, and you must take the exam within one year of purchasing the course.

Kidproof Babysitter Training Program

Kidproof Safety offers an online training course for ages 10 and up. The course covers babysitting basics, such as finding a babysitting job, how to care for kids of different ages, how to deal with a difficult situation and some safe and fun activities to do with the kids. Also, the future babysitter will learn what to do in a medical emergency and what to do if she suspects neglect or abuse.

With the purchase of the online course, you'll get all the same materials you'd receive for an in-class course. Included is the baby sitter's handbook (e-book), email access to a Kidproof certified personal instructor, access to the online learning portal on Kidproof and a certificate of completion (upon successful completion of the course).

Babysitting Is Serious Business

Babysitting and child care are major responsibilities and require hard work. Taking an online course is a convenient way to learn the skills you'll need to become a qualified sitter and decide if you're mature enough to meet the challenge. These are skills that will not only help you start and run a successful business, but can be applied throughout your life and future careers.

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Babysitting offers a great way to make some money and gain working experience, but if you've never babysat before, it's a good idea to take a course that will prepare you for the serious responsibilities of caring for a child. Fortunately, there are a handful of online options that allow you to learn valuable babysitting skills.

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If you're just getting started with babysitting, you might be wondering what kind of licensing is required and how to get it.

What is a babysitting license and how do I get one? There is no standard government-issued babysitting license available in most places and it's usually not mandatory to have a license to babysit. You may opt to take a babysitting course through a reputable organization like the Red Cross which issues you a certificate of completion.

By the time you're done reading this article, you will know what a babysitting license is, what different kinds of certification are available, how to get a babysitting license, and whether you can babysit without one.

What Is A Babysitting Licence?

Babysitting licenses are issued by a number of private and not-for-profit companies upon completing their babysitting course. Some of the most prominent organizations offering babysitting courses are the Red Cross and St. John Ambulance.

These babysitting courses are typically designed for younger babysitters, aged 11 to 15, with no prior experience. Completing the course and gaining a babysitting license can be a great way to show prospective babysitting clients that you're knowledgable and trustworthy enough to be left in charge of their children.

(Are you old enough to start babysitting? Check out my article - What Age Can You Start Babysitting? -- to find out!)

Most babysitting courses cover everything from being a leader, dealing with difficult behaviors in children, professional conduct, and first aid skills. Their aim is to get you prepared for any number of situations or emergencies that you could potentially face during your job as a babysitter.

In addition to a completion certificate or babysitting license at the end of the course, you will also typically receive a babysitter's manual which summarizes much of the important information you'll need to know for your job.

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Having a babysitting license shows you're competent in basic first aid. That includes things like calling 911 (or the emergency number in your country), handling choking, minor cuts and scrapes, nosebleeds, burns, and other medical issues.

It also shows that you know how to make good decisions and manage children with difficult behaviors. A babysitter who is licensed demonstrates leadership and responsibility.

To get your license, you'll also need to learn the basics about the developmental stages of children, how to feed, dress, and play with children, as well as how to change a diaper.

Plus you'll gain information about running a babysitting business that can help you to become successful whether you want to babysit as a part-time job or make it a career.

Types of Babysitting Licences and Certifications

Some places may offer several different types of babysitting courses.

Generally, a "babysitting basics" course covers the information listed above. You can take this course in person at your local YMCA, Red Cross, or other locations. Increasingly, it's also possible to entirely complete a babysitting course online to get your license.

Personally I recommend taking an in-person course, because some of the training and techniques are better physically practiced instead of simply watched on a computer screen. A babysitting basics course usually takes approximately 4 hours to complete, so it can be done in a single evening or weekend.

Some organizations may also offer an "advanced child care" course. This course often covers much of the same introductory material as a babysitting course, but may be aimed at older students. It typically covers a few advanced topics such as child behavior and discipline, holding and feeding infants, leadership, safety, and more.

(What does it take to be a leader? Read my article - Babysitting & Leadership Skills to find out!)

After you have completed a babysitting course, the next certification I'd recommend getting is First Aid and CPR/AED training. While a babysitting course may cover some basic first aid, you should really take a dedicated and more in-depth course on the topic to ensure you can properly treat all sorts of different injuries that you could come across.
As well as training we also recommended bringing a portable first aid kit (see the best kit for babysitters here).
How Do I Get My Babysitting Licence?

Most courses will print a certificate for you after you've successfully completed the necessary training. It will include your name, the date you completed the training, and other information.

Some organizations such as the Red Cross also provide digital certificates. You can access these certificates to print, download, or share them at any time through an online account. Each digital certificate has a unique QR code and ID to confirm your license is valid.

I recommend you print a few copies to include in your babysitting binder just in case parents want a copy.

Can I Babysit Without A Licence?

What licenses you need, if any, will vary from location to location.

Generally, if you're under 18 and just babysitting part-time in the homes of other families, you won't need a license to become a babysitter. Although it can help set you apart from other babysitters if you do have some formal certification and training.

If you're over 18 and babysitting, some places such as Australia and the UK may require you to complete a Working With Children Check (WWCC) or become a registered carer before you can babysit.

If you're babysitting out of your own home, the laws are generally more strict than if you travel to a client's home to babysit for them. You may need to register as a daycare if you're babysitting more than a few children out of your own home, or doing it on a regular basis. You may also need a business license. Some places will even send a government employee to inspect your home for safety and hygiene if you're running a home daycare.

These requirements will vary widely depending on what city, county, state, or country you live in. Each area has different rules. So be sure to find out what your local laws are to avoid any fines or penalties for not having the required licenses and certifications.

For a more detailed overview, check out my article - Can You Babysit Without Qualifications?

How To Get A Babysitting Licence

As mentioned earlier, the Red Cross is generally the most likely organization to offer a babysitting license where you live. They have centers across the United States, Canada, UK, Australia, and other countries which offer babysitting courses. The Red Cross is an internationally-recognized and respected organization, so it's a great choice for training courses if you don't know where else to look. Get in touch with your local Red Cross today to find out more about the courses they offer.

Most centers will offer a Babysitting Basics, Babysitting Training, and Advanced Child Care course, plus First Aid and CPR training as well. You may even be able to get a special price by combining a babysitting course and First Aid course together.

The standard babysitting training course is the best option for most new babysitters. It usually takes about 7 hours over 1 day to complete.

To enroll in a babysitting course, you'll need to pay the appropriate fee. You need to pay your fee at the time of registration, not during or after the course.

In most areas, the babysitting basics course costs approximately $29, the babysitting training course costs $85, and the advanced childcare course costs $49. (Or whatever the equivalent amount in your regional currency is.) First Aid or CPR courses typically take around 6 hours and cost approximately $110.

If you're taking an in-person course, you'll go to your local center at the time and date of your course. For the more comprehensive course, students are usually instructed to bring lunch, since you'll be in the classroom for most of the day.

If you register online, then you can log in and start working through your course material at your own pace. However, I recommend picking a time where you can dedicate at least a few hours to sit down and learn without interruptions.

Either way, you earn a babysitting certificate after you complete the course. Normally there is no final test or exam that you need to pass, you simply earn your certificate by completing the course material.

Once you have your license or certificates, they may be good for anywhere from 2 to 5 years, depending on the course you've completed and the organization offering it. After that time, you may need to complete a refresher course to keep your certifications valid.

If you don't have the money to pay for an official babysitting course, there are some free courses that you can take online. These generally don't provide you with a certificate or license at the end, but they can still provide valuable information.

Passing A Background Check

While it's not technically a license, many parents will want you to pass a background check before they will trust you to babysit their children.

The most common type of background check is a criminal background check, which can be requested through your local police station. You usually just need to pay a fee and agree to have a background check run, and they will provide the results to you within a few weeks.

Every state or country is a bit different. Some may only look at your criminal history, while others may look at your driving record, and other items such as if you've ever been convicted of child abuse or neglect.

Other Licences and Certifications Babysitters Should Get

In addition to taking a babysitting course and getting certified in First Aid and CPR, there are some other types of licenses and certifications that you should consider getting. These can help to make you a more attractive candidate for babysitting clients and can set you apart from other sitters.

Have A Valid Driver's Licence

Getting a driver's license and having a clean driving record opens up a lot more babysitting opportunities.

You can get yourself to babysitting jobs that are further away from home without having to rely on transportation.

You can also take on more tasks and duties as a babysitter. For example, picking up kids from school or taking them to piano or dance lessons while you babysit them. With more responsibility usually comes the ability to demand higher pay for your services.

You can run errands, as well as taking children to the zoo, museums, and amusement parks as a way to add some extra excitement into days that you babysit. It can make things more interesting both for the kids you're watching, as well as for yourself! Who wouldn't love to get paid to take the kids to go see a movie that you've been meaning to see anyway?

If you haven't got a driver's license yet, stop by your local Department of Motor Vehicles (the name may vary depending on where you live.) There you can get information on how to go about getting your driver's license, including getting a driver's handbook and learning the information you'll need. Plus you'll learn what exams you need to take, and how to go about booking them.

Even if you already have a driver's license, I'd recommend also signing up for a defensive driving course to improve your driving even further. It will help you to potentially avoid accidents while driving in the future, and in some places you might even get a discount on your car insurance for completing it.

Special Needs Care

If you will be in charge of one or more children with special needs, then it's worthwhile to take a course specifically designed to help you out in your role as a caregiver.

Depending on the needs of the different children that you plan to babysit, there may be specific medical information or needs when it comes to caring for a child that you should be aware of.

Where you'll need to take such courses will depend on where you live and the conditions you're dealing with. Local colleges in your area are usually a good place to start looking though. They may refer you to other related organizations in your area such as Easterseals.

Water Safety Certification

If you will be babysitting for a family with a swimming pool or that lives near the ocean or a beach, getting certified in water safety is a good idea. Your local YMCA or Red Cross will offer training in water safety education or becoming a certified lifeguard.

These courses will help ensure your own swimming skills are up to a high enough level that you could help to rescue a child in distress. You'll also learn the signs of drowning and how to handle any pool related emergencies such as spinal injuries, swallowing water, or other issues that can occur around large bodies of water.

Early Childhood Education (ECE)

If taking care of children is in your future and you plan to be a teacher, daycare worker, or some other kind of childcare provider, then taking an early childhood education course can be very helpful.

Not many babysitters will go this far above and beyond, so getting a formal post-secondary education in childcare can really help set you apart from other candidates. Not only does it show you're more knowledgable and experienced, but you'll be able to command a higher rate for your services and be seen more like a professional as well.

An early childhood education course will teach you all about the development of children and lots of other useful information. Taking an ECE course is also a step toward becoming a licensed caregiver at some point in the future.

(Read my article - Babysitting & Child Psychology - if you want to get a head-start on understanding the physical, cognitive, and social growth of children.)

If a full early childhood education program seems like too much, many community colleges offer more basic certifications in childcare education as well.

Take A Nanny Basic Skills Assessment

The International Nanny Association (INA) offers a basic skills assessment.

It's a test that can be taken online. There are 40 questions that must be completed within a specific time limit that cover a variety of topics such as safety, health, nutrition, child development, and professionalism.

The test costs $25 to take and requires a score of 70% or higher to pass.

Even if you don't plan to become a nanny, taking the basic skills assessment test can help give parents peace of mind when they're considering hiring you. It provides some credentials for you if you don't have a degree in a child-related field already.

You can take it even further and complete the INA Nanny Credential Exam if you wish. This is a 2 hour proctored test which is much more in-depth and challenging. It's recommended that you have a minimum of 2,000 hours, or 1 year of full-time childcare experience before attempting it. However if you successfully complete it, you'll be an INA Credentialed Nanny.

Positive Discipline Training

Positive discipline is the reinforcing of good, positive habits in children. This type of childcare focuses more on helping children and nurturing them without the use of scolding or punishment.

Parents appreciate a babysitter who can discipline their child in a more positive way. This leads to a happier babysitting experience for everyone involved.

You can visit positivediscipline.com to learn more about specific training and certification.

Conclusion

Babysitting courses are available both online and offline. They can provide you with a babysitting license and certification. Most of them only take a single day to complete.

Having your babysitting license is a way to show to parents that you know how to care for children of various ages, and you know how to deal with emergencies that may arise. They also provide valuable information for you as a babysitter about how to run your business.

Getting a babysitting license is really just the start though. There are other qualifications like CPR and First Aid training, getting a driver's license, and other education that you should consider looking into as well.

If childcare is something that you want to be your profession or career long-term, then it's worth investing in lifelong learning in the field and starting your education right away.

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Babysitting License (What is it & How do I Get One?)

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If you're just getting started with babysitting, you might be wondering what kind of licensing is required and how to get it. What is a babysitting license and how do I get one? There is no standard government-issued babysitting license available in most places and it's usually not mandatory to have a license to babysit.