This is not
your grandmother’s babysitting class…
In
the good old days, babysitters worried about how to get Johnny
fed and into bed on time. Safety meant keeping the doors locked
and a phone close at hand. But times have changed. Over 200
babysitters convened on www.agirlsworld.com to discuss the challenges
babysitters are facing today. The result is a list of serious
safety and security issues that would daunt a sitter of any
age.
It is
common for today’s babysitter to sit for families embroiled
in custody battles, or who are dealing with an emotional crisis
such as separation, divorce, layoffs or serious illness. Teens
are babysitting in houses where kids have access to weapons.
Both parents work and don’t have time to "safety proof'"
their houses. Many times, parents aren’t aware of poisoning,
drowning and other hazards their children face at home.
After
listening to over 200 babysitter’s problems, stories and
solutions, the Girl’s World girlcrew of teens and tweens
have created a six hour online class that gives sitters of today
the information they need to handle the challenge of babysitting.
Endorsed by parents and reviewed by nurses, E.M.T.'s and Public
Safety Educators, www.babysittingclass.com trains sitters
to prevent emergencies through proper planning, and to give
thoughtful, loving care to their charges.
Class
Background
Our
AGW Girlcrew worked with an Interactive Instructional designer
to open the first online e-learning Babysitter's Certificate
Class for youth and adults. Our course, the first "leg"
of our "Smart Sitter" program, opened on A Girl's
World on August 6, 2001, and was praised by students, parents
and safety and health professionals alike. Emails, cards and
letters poured in from students around the world, asking us
to open the class up to anyone who wanted to learn more about
childcare.
After
four years of babysitting chats and test classes, May 21, 2002,
our class opened to all Babysitters on www.babysittingclass.com.
We would like to dedicate this class to all hard working parents
for whom it is a difficult task to find a great sitter and knowledgeable
childcare for their children.
We hope
you enjoy the course, and appreciate your committment to making
the world safer, nicer and smarter for children and sitters.
Warmest
regards from the AGW Girlcrew:
Angela,
Brigid, Christine, Gina, Lauren, Meaghan, Mindee, Sarada
