Why Take Safe Sitter®

Safe Sitter® is a medically accurate, competency-based, highly structured babysitting preparation course designed for young adolescents (no younger than 11). The curriculum is written by
pediatrician Patricia A. Keener, M.D.

cpr
  • Safe Sitter® Basic is a 6 ½-hour essential curriculum designed for busy schedules. It includes Babysitting as a Business, Success on the Job, Child Care Essentials, Safety for the Sitter, Injury Management, Preventing Problem Behavior, Care of Choking Infant, and Care of Choking Child. It introduces Preventing Injuries and Behavior Management.
  • Safe Sitter® is a 12 ½-hour expanded curriculum designed for comprehensive coverage. It includes all topics covered in Safe Sitter® Basic plus infant and child CPR, a toddler or preschool guest, more in-class practice time, and expanded information on Preventing Injuries and Behavior Management.

All teaching sites utilize only trained Instructors - with a low ratio of students to Instructors - thus ensuring a quality educational experience for each student.

Prior to course completion, students must demonstrate acceptable skills in the care of choking infant and child and pass a written exam proving mastery of key concepts.

  • Care of Choking Infant/Child - Students learn what to do if an infant or child chokes.  Each student is individually tested in these procedures, using CPR manikins.
  • Infant and Child CPR - Students in the 12 ½-hour course learn CPR techniques.
  • Injury Prevention and Injury Management - Students learn a system to enable them to evaluate the severity of a problem and to determine how to get help. Administering basic first aid for minor problems is also included in this section. Students learn how, why, and where injuries can occur for prevention.
  • Safety for the Sitter - All aspects of staying safe are discussed for babysitters and the children in their care. Students learn how to react to a variety of threatening situations from power failures to prowlers. For personal safety, they are taught strategies to use if they need to be picked up immediately from a babysitting job.
  • Child Care Essentials - Students learn the basics of child development from infants to school age children. Practice is included for such skills as feeding and diapering. Nurturing child care techniques are emphasized.
  • Behavior Management - Students learn how to prevent problem behavior in addition to a system which classifies problem behavior by the risk of harm. They also learn how and when to call for help when managing problem behavior situations.
  • Babysitting as a Business - The responsibilities of running a business - from setting fees to ethical considerations are discussed. Students learn how to screen jobs for safety, how to judge their own babysitting abilities, what information to leave with their own parents, and what information to get from their employers.