Arts, Dining & Entertainment

Free babysitting course offered for Middle School students

Being a good babysitter involves more than just knowing how to keep kids entertained. To help middle school youths learn the skills needed to be a responsible, caring and capable babysitter, University of Vermont (UVM) Extension 4-H is offering a free six-hour babysitting course via Zoom. Anyone in grades 5-8 may register for one of three separate course offerings: Feb. 23 and 25, 9 a.m.-noon; March 16, 23 and 30, 3-5 p.m.; or April 13 and 15, 9 a.m.-noon. Neither enrollment in 4-H nor residency in Vermont is required.

To register, go to uvm.edu/extension/youth/announcements. A Zoom link will be emailed to all registered participants no later than one day prior to the start of their first session.

The course will prepare teens to handle any real-life babysitting situation from supervising children and choosing age-appropriate activities to preparing simple snacks, administering basic first aid and dealing with emergencies. It also will cover safety and good decision-making as well as the business of babysitting and what to information to ask parents.

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