GMZ 2

Babysitting: Do I need to entertain the older kids too?

Tonight I am babysitting from 6-9pm for 3 boys, ages 4, 10, and 13. I have babysat a lot for them before, but I always just end up playing with the youngest because it seems like the older boys like to do their own thing (watch TV and play games on computer…). And the youngest is always really excited when I come, and he runs me right upstairs to play Lego Star Wars. But I always wonder later if I should do something different and do some kind of activity with the older kids too. But then again I don’t know if they’d want to–they always seem kind of quiet and nervous-ish when I’m there, and that makes me feel like I’m an awkward grown-up (I’m only 17!). I check in on them and stuff of course though. I dunno—am I doing things alright this way or should I do something different?

Talk to the parents and ask them what their expectations are. Frankly, I’m a little surprised that, with a 13 year old in the house, that they even NEED a babysitter, unless the kids just don’t get along. Probably the parents just want to make sure that they don’t kill each other, bedtimes are semi-observed, and that if there’s an emergency, there’s someone with a little maturity around who can call 911.