Whether you are a helpful older sister or a babysitter who makes house-calls, this guide to entertaining little children will give you ideas when you are fresh out! From babies to kids, this is full of my sitter secrets! Enjoy!

Matthew 19:14 “Jesus said, ‘Let the little Children come to me…’”

Visit our Arts and Crafts page for fun activities to do when babysitting.

A - Z Sitters' Rules-of-the-Thumb

A is for Age-Approprate Activites. No 10 year old is going to want to read a board book, nor should you sit a 4 year old in front of the TV with a World War II movie going.

B is for Be Prepared. Make sure you know what kind of job you are taking on!

C is for Caring. Care about each child's feelings-not what is convenient for you at the moment.

D is for Dinner. Know what is or is not OK to eat and what each child's food allergies are.

E is for Everyone. Make sure all the children you are watching are included in an activity and everyone is enjoying it.

F is for First Aid. Bring a first-aid kit and take a CPR course. Always be prepared for the worst.

G is for Great Sitter. Great sitters know what they are doing. Have your mom tell you all she knows about child-care and take a sitters class.

H is for Help! Trust me-you will be better off if you call your parents or the child's parents if something is wrong, such as a extremely misbehaving child.

I is for Immediately. If a child needs help, a baby cries, or a little one needs to go potty, act now!

J is for Just. Be fair! Resolve any issues. However you judge is truly right.

K is for Kitties, Puppies, and Other Pets. If there is a pet in the house, ask the parents if you should feed them or if the kids have to.

L is for Loving. Be loving to the kids. They love you-love them back and let them know it! A hug or a kind word speaks volumes to a child who looks up to you.

M is for Mom and Dad. The parents are trusting you to do a good job. Don't let them down! Make sure you do everything they tell you to do.

N is for NO! You are in charge. If you have said no already, don't give in.

O is for Optimistic. Keep your happy face! If someone spills water on the floor, clean it up and let them know it"s ok.

P is for Potty. Ask little kids often if they have to go, and check babies' diapers every once in a while.

Q is for Questions. Ask the parents as many questions as you need to. Ask about bed times, snacks, sweets, and movies, just to name a few.

R is for Roughhousing. Don't allow kids to play in a way they might get hurt.

S is for Simple. Keep activities simple and only change them when the kids are ready to.

T is for Tantrums. You may have to deal with a royal fit now and then, and the best way to deal with them is to call the parents and ask advice. Then follow it! If the tantrum is a small one, just try distracting the child.

U is for Understanding. Try to remember what it was like when you were little. How did you want to be treated by a baby sitter?

V is for Very Good! Congratulating a child who has been kind to a sibling or even colored in the lines is a great way to make them respect you.

W is for WIse Decisions. Make good decisions. Don't do something dangerous with the kids even if it will make you seem more fun to them.

X is for eXample. Set a good example for the children in everything you do.

Y is for You. Your feelings are important, too! Don't do anything you aren't comfortable with, even if the parents have allowed it.

Z is for Zzzzzzzz! Bedtime is a crucial point. Get the kids to bed on time, with their routine, and make sure they have a nightlight if they need one.