Published: July 30, 2008 09:22 am      

Baby-sitting course to be offered

By VANESSA WELCH

vanessa.welch@register-news.com

MT. VERNON — The American Red Cross and YMCA are teaming up to offer youth ages 11-15 a baby-sitting workshop from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Aug. 9 at the YMCA.

The ARC Baby-Sitting Training Course gives pre-teens and teens the skills and confidence to safely and responsibly care for children and infants.

Girl Scouts Membership Services Manager Lesa Vaughn has led this workshop for over five years, and is excited to enlighten current and future baby-sitters about issues they may not have considered yet, she said.

“This course teaches participants about interviewing a family, supervising infants and older children, appropriate toys and games, bottle feeding, diapering skills and how to handle emergencies and sudden illnesses,” Vaughn said. “While taking care of brothers and sisters there are still things you take for granted.”

Students will also learn how to take preventative measures during this hands-on course. Vaughn mentioned how it is important for baby-sitters to take a survey of the house to make sure the infants and children don’t have access to chemicals, cords or other potential hazards.

Students will receive materials including a user-friendly handbook, an emergency reference guide and an interactive CD-ROM. By taking this workshop, students will also gain experience in other areas.

“One of the reasons it’s important for pre-teens and teens to take this course is it also prepares them for when they interview for a job or write a resume,” Vaughn said. “It will help them to run and manage their own business and create entrepreneur skills.”

In addition, students will gain CPR skills and receive a card that they are ARC certified upon completion.

The course fee is $30 per person for materials and instruction. If you would like more information, contact Cindy May at 244-2083, or call the YMCA at 242-5345 to register. The deadline to sign up is Monday, Aug. 4.