What's a Kid-Kit?

In the BSC books, Kristy invents Kid-Kits. It's a box full of toys and books and stuff that you bring with you when you sit, so the kids are excited when you come over and nobody gets bored. Kids LOVE them because the stuff is new to them even if it's old to you. It totally works. Matthew and Stefan's mom says they ask "is the sitter bringing the box?" before they even ask who's coming.

Our Kid-Kits are shoe boxes (Karina's mom saved them from the shoe store where she works) covered with wrapping paper and stickers and our names in puffy paint. Each of us has her own, and we buy new stuff with the dues money.

What's in Our Kid-Kits:

(We switch the books around every month so the kids don't get tired of them. Our favorites right now are the Arthur books and Dr. Seuss, and Where the Wild Things Are is good for any age.)

Our Safety List

We learned most of these at our babysitting class. Some we learned the hard way (see the bathtub story on our main page). We go over this list at a club meeting once a month.

1. Before the parents leave, write down where they'll be and how to reach them, plus a neighbor's number and the doctor's number. Ask where the first aid kit and the flashlight are.
2. Ask about allergies and if the kids take any medicine. Never give medicine unless the parents told you to.
3. Never open the door to anyone you don't know. Not even if they say they know the parents.
4. If somebody calls, never say the parents aren't home. Say "they can't come to the phone right now, can I take a message?"
5. Never leave the bathtub while kids are in it or while it's running. Not even for one second. Bring the pajamas BEFORE you start the water.
6. Never leave a baby on a changing table, a bed or a couch, even for a second.
7. Keep little kids away from the stove. We don't cook anything except the microwave, and only if the parents said OK.
8. Cleaning stuff and medicine stay up high or locked. If a kid gets into something, call the parents and poison control right away.
9. Check on sleeping kids every fifteen minutes.
10. Call 911 if there's a fire, or someone can't breathe, or someone is badly hurt. Get the kids out first if there's a fire. Then call the parents.
11. When in doubt, call the parents. Or your mom. Our moms all said that's what they're there for.

Sitting Tips

Do bedtime the parents' way. If they say 8:00, it's 8:00, even if the kids say "Mom always lets us stay up." (She doesn't.)
Get down on the floor. Little kids like it when you play at their level.
If a kid is sad the parents left, start something fun right away. The Kid-Kit is perfect for that.
Don't let them watch anything scary, even if they beg. They're not the ones who have to get them to sleep after.
Tell the parents the truth about what happened, even the bad stuff. They always find out anyway.
Leave it neater than you found it. Parents remember that and call you back!