Community Corner
Students Learn Babysitting Skills at Chalk Hill
The Red Cross course certifies them as capable and trained- what every parent wants in a babysitter.
A dozen Monroe students 10 to 15-years old spent their Saturday at Chalk Hill School going through American Red Cross training to become capable and certified babysitters.
“There’s a definite need for people to have competent babysitters,” said Acting Director of Parks & Recreation Frank Bendt. “We have the space and the resources to produce them. And the desire is there.”
The class which accepted only 12 participants quickly filled up. Consequently, a second class is already scheduled for Oct. 22 by demand.
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“I wanted to take the class,” said 11-year old Lauren Welch when asked whose idea it was as her dad dropped her off.
“Yeh,” he said driving away grinning, “but I get 10 percent.”
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“Daaaad!” Still she couldn't stop smiling. She has a four-year-old brother.
Emily Steffers, 10, has a seven-year-old brother but really likes babysitting little ones. She wanted to learn how to be a good babysitter.
Kaitlyn Reagen, also 10, has a two-year-old cousin, she wanted to take the course now so she can babysit when she’s older.
Olivia Tortora, 15, who has a nine-year-old sister and already volunteers at Monroe’s Animal Control Center, thought it was about time she learned to babysit, was certified and made some money.
And so they straggled in, 11 girls and one boy, who was really happy to see the instructor was a guy.
Twelve-year-old Sarah Grabowski’s mom stayed just long enough to meet the instructor.
“I’m so much more comfortable knowing she’s getting training,” she said. “There are lots of opportunities (to babysit) in Monroe.”
Red Cross Instructor Joe Lodge, a Connecticut native who has trained hundreds of sitters in sessions all over the United States, broke the curriculum into five lessons.
- Taking care of infants and children.
- How to monitor and feed infants and children.
- Making decisions and solving problems.
- Handling emergencies and accidents.
- Becoming a good role model.
Students wishing to enroll in the Oct 22 class must be 10 to 15- years old. There is a $95 fee for residents and $105 for non-residents. To enroll or for more details call Jennifer at Parks and Recreation 203-452-2806, Ext. 4.
