Several teens spent the late morning of Saturday, October 5 learning how to babysit from an Introduction to Babysitting Course held at C.H. Booth Library.

Taught by first grade teacher Amanda Lisk, the course outlined the “dos and don’ts” of babysitting for ages 12-17. They learned general safety and first aid tips, what to ask parents before taking on a babysitting job, how children act at different stages of development, and more.

With how busy life can get for parents or guardians, they often turn to babysitters to take care of their child. Being a babysitter and taking care of a child for any amount of time requires a lot of responsibility.

That is part of why Lisk, who is a mom herself and has also taught kindergarten and second grade, wanted to build off her own babysitting experience and use that to help teach others.

“Teaching them how to take care of others, setting the foundation for them, I love it,” Lisk said with a bright smile. “I love what I do.”

The attendees diligently took notes throughout Lisk’s slideshow presentation and were free to ask her questions if they had any. Lisk stressed to them important general rules any babysitter should know, such as always being attentive, never leaving kids unattended, and how to be a good communicator with children.

She also encouraged the attendees to advocate for themselves and be unafraid to ask questions when taking on a babysitting job, whether it is about their pay or the needs and expectations for a child they will babysit.

Little interactive activities were set up throughout the course. Participants had to draft their own interview questions and think of solutions to common babysitting problems, such as a child refusing to eat dinner or go to bed.

Lisk even brought out a lifelike baby doll at the end of the course and used it to show everyone how to properly hold an infant. After a brief demonstration on how to change a baby’s diaper, Lisk passed the baby doll around and had everyone change the doll’s diaper themselves. It was new territory for the participants since none of them had changed a baby’s diaper before, so some laughs were had as they passed it around from one another and did it for the first time.

Everyone then took a 15-question multiple choice quiz and got their own certificate of participation once they finished to celebrate having completed the course.

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Reporter Jenna Visca can be reached at jenna@thebee.com.