[villagirl999]

[/b]
Hi,
I am 12 years old and love children. I would like to become a social worker when I am older and want to start babysitting now. Any tips, facts or advice please????
Elli

[nannynick]

Unfortunately due to your age, it will be hard to do very much babysitting, as legally you are still a child yourself.

However, you can start building up experience of caring for children, by helping out neighbours who have young children. While a parent may still be at home (thus the parent is responsible for their children), you are there to help entertain the children. Once you have experience of caring for children alongside a parent, then those families may ask you to care for their children for a few hours in the evening, as you will be well known to both the children and the parents. As the families will be your neighbours, should anything go wrong, you can call on your own parents for help. So my advice is to start very local and build up experience.
Also, when you get older, you can become a volunteer helper at youth groups (rainbows, brownies, beavers, cubs, etc.) and thus build more experience of entertaining and caring for children of various ages.
Once you are 14 ish, then you will be choosing subjects to study at school, and you may find that you can do childcare/child development. Certainly once you are 16, you can often choose to study Child Care.

The Police Eg. Sussex Police say that there is no minimum age for babysitting, though parents need to use common sense. Also, if the babysitter is under 16, then they can not be prosecuted in the event of
a child being seriously injured in their care - the parents are still responsible.

[Raengel]

"The Police Eg. Sussex Police say that there is no minimum age for babysitting, though parents need to use common sense"

I never knew that. You learn something new everyday.

I think that's terrible, though, to be honest. What they police are, in effect saying, is that my friends 9 year old can be left as a babysitter to her 4 year old brother?

[Billperson]

make sure the baby is comfy before u sit on them hahahahahaahahahah

[john_tee_bone]

[green1706]

Take care of a child or more children is a pleasure. You can do many enjoyable activities with their children. They are nice and with a rich imagination. I have two children, 3 and 5 years, and one 12 years old babysitter hired for them. To be babysitter the age is important but, especially, mental and physical ability to do so. If your are 12 years old and if you are thinking more mature than other children the same age, you can be a babysitter, that if you help individuals, because a child must be lifted, carried, or otherwise. So everything depends on you. Good luck!

[Miss Understood]