Feb 26, 2021

Ellinwood Rec Department offers babysitting class to area youth

Posted Feb 26, 2021 11:15 PM

By AMY RICKER
Great Bend Post

Being a good babysitter is more than just entertaining children. To help youths gain the skills to be a caring, reliable and responsible babysitter, the Ellinwood Recreation Department is offering a Babysitting 101 class.    

Cottonwood Extension Agent Michelle Beran says the class will give participants the knowledge and confidence to take care of toddlers through school-aged children.    

“We cover high-level safety issues, different ages of development, nutrition, and some basic business sense. We talk about how to let family and friends know they are babysitting, took a safety course, and how to keep records,” explained Beran.    

Beran says the class is limited to the first ten participants that sign up, and they will make a kit to take to their babysitting jobs.     

“One of the fun things we do, but it’s a tool for them to use is making their Babysitter’s Magic Bag,” says Beran. “They decorate the bag how they want, and then we talk about what paperwork to keep in there, so they know who the kids are, how to get ahold of parents, and some extra things like books.”  

Babysitting 101 is scheduled for April 7 from 1:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. The cost is $10, and kids can sign up at ellinwoodrec.com.