Review: Babysitter's Backpack by Melissa Higgins

SUMMARY FROM NETGALLEY.COM:

Do you want to get started as a babysitter and be successful with kids and their parents? Everything you need to know is right here! You'll learn about basic childcare skills, staying safe while babysitting, and starting your own babysitting business. Also find out how to communicate with and be professional around parents, plan fun and safe activities for children of all ages, find where to go for first aid and CPR training, and market yourself as a great babysitter. Get the facts and skills you need to become a confident and responsible babysitter!

MY TAKE:
If your child has ever thought about babysitting, this is a good resource to have.

In Babysitter's Backpack, potential babysitters are briefed on the things they must know and consider before becoming babysitters or taking on the job. Aside from personality traits and childcare skills that they should have, it also includes tips on managing your schedule and money.

Obviously, being a great babysitter comes with experience and reading up on different subjects that you might need to know (like the best activities for children, etc.). However, for a book for beginner babysitter's, this is probably the most thorough book out there that speaks in a language that pre-teens and teens can understand and follow.

The thing I liked most about this book was the emphasis on safety. That is, taking basic CPR and first aid courses and such, as well as not taking on jobs that you're not sure you can handle. The tips on the things you should ask before the parents leave was pretty smart too. Some of the things that were mentioned were stuff that parents might forget when they're in a hurry, but are still pretty important to know. If a teen offered to babysit my son and he/she followed the different things mentioned in the book, I'd be pretty impressed and would probably hire him/her.

Some of the other things included in the book are: sleep safety tips, feeding tips for infants and toddlers, babysitter's checklist, sample schedule, marketing your babysitting business, different activities for the kids, and the importance of work-life balance.

Thanks to NetGalley and Capstone Young Readers for the e-ARC. Publication date of Babysitter's Backpack is on September 1, 2014.

THE GOOD:

1. It covers the most important things.
2. There are plenty of helpful tips.
3. It emphasizes the importance of safety. 

THE BAD:

1. It would be even better if there were blank templates or a resource website that babysitters can access and print templates from. 

FAVORITE QUOTE/S:

When you impress parents with your child care skills and professionalism, they are more likely to recommend you to others.

READ IT IF:

1. Your child wants to be a babysitter.
2. Your child wants to be a better babysitter.
3. Your child is thinking about starting a small business. 

RATING:


SOUNDS INTERESTING?