There is no denying that modern life can get hectic. For parents, this is especially true. Alone, childcare and work present enormous strains on their time and energy. It is no wonder that many resort to hiring babysitters to make room for their social life.
Babysitting itself is a challenging and demanding task. It requires crisis management skills, dedication and — should worst come to worst — first-aid knowledge. Beyond ensuring the safety of children and managing behavior, a large part of babysitting lies in the parent’s trust that the babysitter can be a good model for their child and meet their needs. Although parents and children rely on babysitting services, they are far from being customers. It is widely established that babysitting is a job that cultivates over time; sitters build bonds with their families and grow alongside them. These factors distinguish babysitting from other entry-level jobs, like fast-food or retail, as the stakes are far higher and the skillset is more comprehensive.
Although the importance of babysitting is commonly agreed upon, babysitting wages often fail to reflect the level of service offered by sitters, and it makes sense why: childcare is expensive enough as is. Because babysitting requires such a specialized skill set it is important to ensure sitters are compensated appropriately. As is, the pay grade for babysitting varies wildly. It is as possible for a sitter to be paid $2.50 an hour as it is for the one next door to get $15 hourly. While cultural perceptions, experience and even geography are large determiners of babysitting rates, this variability reveals the broader issue that sitters are frequently underpaid.
Babysitting rates can often be a barrier to families, but this perspective focuses on the immediate cost rather than the outcome. Babysitting is an investment. Although babysitters do not spend every second with their families, they can still play a huge role in the development of children. Just as kids can get attached to people they have recently met, the short hours sitters spend with children can teach them valuable and enduring lessons.
By compensating sitters fairly, parents can ensure their child receives adequate care from sitters who feel appreciated and value their responsibilities. This compensation also incentivizes sitters to stay with their families, eventually allowing for personalized care. Investing in time away from one’s child can mean investing in something equally distant and important — their future. Who knows? It might end up paying for itself later on.
