Babysitting Etiquette For the Babysitter
If you have started out in the world of employment by babysitting, you should know that some of the principles that apply even to huge corporations are also important to understand for smaller operations, even babysitting. In terms of keeping up a good and reliable cash flow, the most important rule is to maintain long-term relationships with a number of clients. As with any business, one of the main areas to focus on in your babysitting endeavor is to follow some basic rules of etiquette. These simple rules will ensure that your clients are very happy and have no cause to ever complain about your services, and they are fairly simple to remember.
The most important rule is to never back out on a commitment unless it is an absolute emergency. When people are looking for a reliable babysitter, they are first and foremost looking for someone who is responsible enough to leave with their most precious gifts. Anyone who backs out of a prior commitment without a real emergency will send the signal that they are not capable of handling the responsibility of babysitting in a manner that reflects the gravity of the situation. You may be tempted to lie when you are canceling the job, it is really best not to do so. Many babysitting jobs take place on nights when it might be more fun to go out with friends, but the fact is that if you cancel for this reason or lie about it, your client might find out. The odds are that you will not be called back to help them out again, and you may even get a reputation that could affect your future client market. If you have to turn down a job, tell your client why- this is different than backing out. Most parents will understand if you want to go out with your friends or have a date for that night, and will just try and get hold of you earlier the next time.
When you are working for a client, at their house or somewhere else, it is important to remember that you are the person they hired to do the job. If it is a job that is on a Saturday and you would like to hang out with a friend as well, ask the parents of the child you are babysitting if it is okay if your friend comes over too. Most of the time, this won’t be a problem- just remember that your friend should not distract you from your job, and don’t ask for more than one person. Respect your client’s wishes in this- if they say no, then make sure that your friend is clear.
Try to stay off the phone as long as your charges are awake. You are there to look after the kids, and you should pay attention to them as part of the job. If you have a cell phone, don’t talk on it while you are working, unless the kids have gone to bed. If you do not have a cell phone, you should try not to call anyone at all outside of an emergency. This may be hard, but your clients do not want their phone tied up all night in case of an emergency on their end. Save your calls for when you get home.
You have been hired as a babysitter, but if you answer the phone it is proper courtesy to take a message. Make sure you get all the relevant information and that you explain to the person on the phone that you are babysitting and will give all the information to the parents when they get home.
Try to keep the house tidy by cleaning up any toys you and the kids got out, and wiping up any messes they have made or that come with dinner. Following some easy etiquette rules will ensure that you keep getting calls to baby-sit, and repeat clients are always the best ones!
 |
