What is a babysitter?
A babysitter provides temporary custodial care of young children when the parents are not at home. The care typically is on a part-time or an as-needed basis. No special training or background is required; however, the babysitter should possess the ability to respond to a crisis situation, communicate effectively with parents, and have some basic first aid skills. This job, by definition, is different from that of a nanny as the babysitter is generally not involved in an ongoing basis in the emotional, physical and intellectual development of their charge. While some parents use this term interchangeably with nanny, child care professionals make a solid distinction between the terms. Primary Functions: Custodial care means that the babysitter insures the safety of the children in their care. They may entertain or play with the children, feed them a snack or a previously prepared meal, clean the children up and put them to bed or down for a nap. Secondary Functions: A babysitter rarely
