If you’ve never babysat before, you’ll want to take a course that will prepare you for the serious responsibilities of caring for a child. Babysitting is a great way to earn some money and gain experience as well. The good news is that you can learn valuable babysitting skills online.
Free Classes Online
There are some free, self-paced babysitting online courses that can help you gain additional skills to assist your career as a babysitter:
- You can brush up on your knowledge before taking the Red Cross babysitting online course, although it is not free.
- Virginia Cooperative Extension has uploaded Babysitting Basics course materials. While preteens and teens can only earn certification through course attendance, you can use the materials to learn successful techniques.
- A resource section on the babysitter database website UrbanSitter provides advice on how to do a great job to encourage repeat customers. In addition, there are articles about dealing with kids with food allergies and misbehaving children.
- A comprehensive resource from TeensHealth includes information on creating a business plan and entertaining children.
Courses for Babysitting Certification Online
Parks and Recreation, the American Red Cross, and other organizations offer babysitting classes in most communities. You can, however, earn certifications or continuing education credits online with the following options.
American Red Cross Babysitter Training
One of the most popular babysitting classes for 11-year-olds and older is offered by the American Red Cross. Several local Red Cross locations offer the course in person as well as online. During the course, students learn how to care for infants and children up to ten years old.
Learning how to stay safe, play with kids, handle emergencies, and feed and bedtime are just some of the skills you’ll learn. To receive a printable diploma, the student must score 80 percent on the final exam. In addition to starting and managing a babysitting business, the Red Cross has added some helpful resources.
- The cost of the complete online course is currently $85.00. Prices may vary by location.
- 24/7 availability
- The course should take four hours to complete.
- Since the lessons are in video format, you’ll need high-speed internet to stream them.
Babysitting 101
For future sitters and nannies, as well as those who wish to refresh their skills, Universal Class offers a course. Safety aspects of babysitting as well as business management are covered in the course.
It consists of 10 lessons and 17 assignments that can be completed at your own pace. Take notes and review each chapter thoroughly because there will be a final exam at the end. Among the topics covered are everything from running a babysitting business to safety.
If you earn a final grade of 70 percent or higher and download a certificate of completion for this course, you can earn continuing education credits (CEUs).
- The cost is currently listed as $50.00 without a certificate or $75.00 with a certificate for continuing education credits.
- 24/7 availability
- You have six months to complete the course, which may take up to 15 hours.
- PC or Mac, Android, iOS required
Babysitting Certification
Students and adults interested in pursuing babysitting as a career can enroll in Expert Rating’s certification course.
Seven sections of the course cover topics such as activities and playtime, discipline, a plan to avoid problems, and your responsibilities as a sitter. It is possible to take the certification exam once you have studied all the course materials, but you must do so within one year of purchasing the course.
- The current price is $19.99.
- 24/7 availability
- Completion time: One week to one month, depending on your pace
- An email account and Microsoft Internet Explorer or Mozilla Firefox are required
Kidproof Babysitter Training Program
Kidproof Safety offers an online training course for children ages 10 and up. It covers babysitting basics, including finding a babysitting job, caring for kids of different ages, handling difficult situations, and safe and fun activities to do with the kids. In addition, the future babysitter will learn what to do in case of a medical emergency and if she suspects neglect or abuse.
If you purchase an online course, you’ll receive all the materials you’d receive for an in-class course. The course includes the baby sitter’s handbook (e-book), email access to a Kidproof certified personal instructor, access to the Kidproof online learning portal, and a certificate of completion (upon successful completion).
- Currently, the cost is $40.
- 24/7 availability
- Time estimate: seven hours
- High-speed internet, speakers, and Adobe PDF Reader are required
Babysitting Is Serious Business
Child care and babysitting are hard work and major responsibilities. Online courses are an easy way to learn the skills you’ll need to become a qualified sitter and decide if you’re mature enough to meet the challenge. As a result, these skills will not only help you start and run a successful business, but also throughout your life and career.