1. Arrive at the child's home, and immediately distract them so their parents can finish getting ready to leave (watching a movie, coloring, playing pretend and having a dance party are always good go-to activities).
2. Make sure that you know exactly what you need to do for the child until their parents return; if you need to feed them a meal, make sure you know how to prepare it, and ask about their nighttime routine if you will be putting them to bed. Don't be afraid to ask questions if you're unsure about something!
3. Try to keep the child busy while their parents are leaving. They may throw a temper tantrum; don't worry or get flustered, because they will probably calm down soon after their parents are out of sight.
4. Once the parents are gone, its time to have fun! Preschoolers are very opinionated, and want to do everything for themselves, so let them choose what activities you do (within reason).
5. If you need to prepare a meal, be sure to do it before the child complains about being hungry. Again, let them choose when to eat. If they say they aren't hungry, don't push it; they will let you know when they are ready to eat.
6. If the child is in the process of potty training, or can already use the toilet on their own, be sure to take frequent bathroom breaks. They may not tell you when they need to go, and you don't want them to have an accident.
7. Continue playing until the parents get home, or until bedtime. Be sure to give them plenty of warning before it's time to go to bed; start counting down about 10-15 minutes before their bedtime. Don't ask them if they are ready for bed, because they will probably say no. You are the authority figure, and they need to go to bed when you say it's time!
8. If you are putting them to bed, try to follow their normal bedtime routine as closely as possible. Preschoolers are smart, and may try to trick you into drawing out the preparations and letting them stay up later; they are less likely to do this if you get them ready for bed exactly like their parents do.
9. Once the child is asleep, enjoy your alone time until their parents get home.
10. Once their parents get back, be sure to be very thankful of whatever they decide to pay you; after all, you want them to offer you another babysitting job in the future!
11. Feel very proud of yourself for successfully taking care of a young child for a few hours.
excellent
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