Who Can Watch Your Teen While You Go Out?

Considerations

• Your teen likely feels she̵7;s old enough to care for herself with no supervision while you go out, and might resent the idea of needing a babysitter. To keep the experience positive, find a way to explain your decision without belittling your teen or affecting her self-esteem. Discuss how hiring a babysitter could benefit you both. Radical Parenting.com, a parenting website that features advice from kids̵7; points of view, recommends telling your child to consider the babysitter more of a companion or mentor than a disciplinarian. If there are chores waiting around the house that your teen has been reluctant to accomplish, the fact that the ̶0;babysitter̶1; could pitch in and help could convince your teen that it̵7;s a good idea after all.

Candidates

• There are several points to consider when deciding who should watch your teen while you go out. Since your teen is older, you̵7;ll want someone who can possibly share her interests and relate to her experiences. Refrain from using older friends and relatives, as it might be difficult from them to view your teen for who she is -- a rapidly maturing individual trying to discover her own independence. Choose someone closer to your teen̵7;s age group who can relate to some of the challenges and growing pains your teen might be going through. Seek responsible college students looking for extra cash, or young parents/professionals looking to supplement their income. You might also consider asking one of your teen̵7;s friends parents if she can hang out over their house while you̵7;re gone, or coordinating the time you̵7;ll be gone with your teen̵7;s extracurricular activity schedule. That way she can have fun while under the supervision of a responsible adult.

Benefits

• There are several benefits to having someone watch your teen while you go out, despite the initial embarrassment the arrangement might cause. The person can act as a mentor who tutors your teen, gives advice about getting into and succeeding at college, and can talk to your teen about relationships, technology, fashion trends and music. The babysitter you choose can also help your teen understand some of your house rules from a more objective point of view. Hopefully, the person you hire will also become someone your teen feels comfortable opening up to without fear of judgement or reprimand.

Tips

• When choosing any babysitter, whether for a small child or a teen, check the references and work history of all candidates. Even if you have a ̶0;good feeling̶1; about someone, you should talk to people who know them well and can vouch for their ability to care for your loved ones. Also, follow your instincts. If a person you̵7;ve chosen seems perfect on paper but something doesn̵7;t feel right, listen to your intuition. Before the official ̶0;babysitting̶1; begins, spend time together with your teen and the candidate to observe whether the two interact comfortably.