Hospital offers child care lessons for teens

June 07--For teenagers on the hunt for summer jobs, a local hospital may be able to steer them in the right direction.

Citizens Medical Center is offering a summer series of Safesitter classes for students ages 11 to 14. The deadline for the first session is Thursday.

Organizers said classes better prepare students to take care of themselves and others in everyday situations.

Citizens has offered the classes for 18 years.

Staff educator Mary Simmons has taught the series for seven years and will again this summer.

While traditional topics such as child care and comfort are covered, there is also a focus on general safety and networking, she said.

Simmons emphasizes that the classes focus on "babysitting as a business," with fundamental but necessary lessons such as how to introduce oneself, make eye contact and talk on the phone. Students' favorite part tends to be the units on first aid and CPR.

The class spends about four hours learning first aid and CPR techniques on child and infant mannequins.

"It's hands-on and the kids really remember it," Simmons said.

Instead of a lecture-style approach to learning these skills, the instructors opt for a real-life approach.

"It's not like just watching a video," Simmons said.

The focus is about more than just babysitting, it's about preparedness. She teaches students to be aware of outdoor as well as indoor factors such as the weather or pets.

"Babysitting is rarely sitting with the kids," Simmons explained, "It's being aware of everything at all times."

Simmons sees the class as an important step toward independence for students, allowing them to anticipate "things that are most likely to happen," and act accordingly.

Staff and public safety educator Sheri Sklar, who has taught the course for the past four years, said the students learn not only about babysitting, but about parenting.

"It teaches them to be a better sitter, which carries over to them being a better parent," she said.

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