By Sarah Mahan

The Selma Times-Journal

 

Finding babysitters can be difficult, and finding certified babysitters can be even more of a challenge. Selma’s YMCA is offering classes to increase the number of certified babysitters in the community. The YMCA’s Safe Sitter classes aim to teach 11 to 14- year-olds how to properly care for children while babysitting. 

“We teach the basics of CPR, how to properly sit different age groups, including discipline principles, and safety for the sitters, like deciding who to take as a client and not giving your phone number to just anyone,” Casey Burton, YMCA fitness and programs director and instructor of the Safe Sitter course, said. “We also discuss what qualifies as an emergency and when to call another adult.”

The two-day program will be offered twice — the first course beginning Thursday, May 30 and the second beginning Thursday, June 6.

The program trains babysitters to handle many of the situations they could face while on the job.

“[The Safe Sitter Course] lets people looking for sitters know that this child has been properly trained and are aware of certain situations that can occur, like guns being in the house, what to do when you hear strange noises, or when a child falls and scrapes their knee,” Burton said.

The classes, held from 12-3 p.m. daily, cost $45 and include the Safe Sitter Kit, which contains an instructional book, a flashlight, and a notepad for emergency numbers. For more information or to register please call the Selma YMCA at 874-9622.