How to get the best babysitter for your child

Set your own boundaries
''Teens tend to be pleasers, although not always with their own parents,'' says Scully. ''They can easily be taken advantage of.'' While the majority of parents who hire your child to babysit will be fair, there are always exceptions. ''We get a lot of complaints about housecleaning,'' says Scully. ''A sitter shouldn’t be asked to mop floors or clean the bathroom.'' And younger teens shouldn’t prepare an entire meal or bathe young charges either.

Talk to your tween about how to handle uncomfortable situations, and empower her with the right to say no. Marryn once accepted a drive home from a parent who she knew had been drinking. ''I was a little bit scared, but I didn’t want to say anything,'' she says.

Start spreading the word
Help your tween market herself through friends, relatives and the parents of children at her school. ''Never let her place an ad or post a notice in a public place such as a recreation centre,'' warns Wilson. While it's fun to use a computer to print up professional-looking business cards with her name, phone number and any special qualifications (Red Cross–certified in first aid, babysitting experience), make sure she hands them out selectively.

Wannabe sitters should look out for opportunities to promote their babysitting potential. Connie's 13-year-old daughter, Danielle, wants to break into babysitting but her older sister, Nicole, gets all the jobs. ''She has started playing with some little kids up the street, entertaining them while their mom is busy,'' says Connie. ''She takes them to the park and plays games with them, trying to work her way in. I think her time is coming pretty soon.''

Never underestimate the fun factor
The best babysitters understand and enjoy children, says Douglas. ''Your kids look forward to them coming because they always bring something fun to do. It could be as simple as a batch of homemade Play-Doh, but it's exciting for the kids because the sitter made it.'' When Nicole babysits three-year-old Brooke, she takes along a little tutu so they can dance together. ''Brooke just adores her,'' says her mother.

Bottom line: ''Make sure it's a memorable experience for the kids and that they have fun,'' says an older and wiser Graeme Mahar. ''Then they'll tell their parents and you'll be invited back.''

Page 4 of 5