Family Matters
Family Matters is a free monthly newsletter of parenting information for ages birth to eight years. Family Matters is distributed in both English and Spanish. Email your request for this publication with your name, mailing address, and English or Spanish publication to glenda.wentworth@eaglecounty.us.

Babysitter Basics Training Program
Fifth through seventh graders love being around babies and young children. Their willingness to learn about this topic, coupled with insufficient affordable child care in our county, makes this a great opportunity to provide youth with information about child behavior and development in a fun atmosphere. The Babysitter Basics Training Program is a seven and a half hour training session designed for fifth through seventh graders who want to develop care giving knowledge and skills to make them feel comfortable and happy around children while projecting a professional image.

The Babysitter Basics Training Program is taught in an after school enrichment session five times a month. Classes are one and a half hours long. The first session teaches babysitting responsibilities and how a person should behave on the job. The second session addresses infant care including how to properly diaper a baby. The third session covers care of toddlers and preschoolers, including developmental expectations and appropriate discipline techniques. Games and activities are part of the learning process for babysitters. Painting a canvas bag that will become their personal babysitting bag is one activity the youth enjoy. They'll fill the bag with props, activities, puppets and books to take to a babysitting job. The theory being that young children love new things, and this will help a babysitter spend quality time with the child. First aid and safety are the topics for another session. An EMT/paramedic, guest speaker attends the class to demonstrate basic first aid and CPR. The last class reviews guidance techniques. Certificates of participation are awarded when the participant completes two hours of community service taking care of a child.

For their participation each program graduate will receive monthly for one year, the Good Times with Kids newsletter. The newsletter contains child development information and activities that will help babysitters learn about child behavior.