by Pam Hilts

Created on: January 26, 2009   Last Updated: October 15, 2010

Whether a mid-teen or grandmother, your prospective babysitter needs to be the most capable individual you can find. Evaluating subjective qualities such as empathy, conscientiousness or resourcefulness can be a challenging endeavor. Objective criteria are much easier to gather. The lists I have provided below are designed to help you with both.

Here are some personal characteristics that you might want to consider:

1. Mature thinking

2. Logical thinking

3. General affect (outgoing - pessimistic - quiet?)

4. Moral values

5. Religious convictions

Finding a good match will require both you and the sitter to get to know one another. Spending time in a relaxed atmosphere, making small talk is a great way to start. Questions about their hobbies, school, siblings or children are all quite benign and should help each of you get comfortable.

While considering the personality characteristics you value, compose a list of questions you would like to ask. The list below is for you to choose from or help spur on your own ideas. Questions should be open-ended if at all possible. If you can, avoid or rephrase questions that can be answered with a yes or no response.

1. Have you babysat before?

For what age children?

For how long?

What did you like about that job?

What did you least like about caring for this family's children?

2. Have you taken any child education or child development classes?

If I paid the tuition, would you like to attend classes of this nature?

3. Do you hold a current CPR and/or First Aid Card?

Again, if I paid for the training, would you like to get these certifications?

4. Do you have a driver's license and up-to-date insurance?

If I reimbursed you for your mileage would you be willing to provide occasional

transportation?

5. May I have your permission to do a criminal background check? (adult applicants)

6. What type of things might interfere with your ability to babysit during the hours I need you?

7. How were you disciplined as a child?

8. What are your ideas about disciplining?

9. Do you smoke?

10. Do you enjoy text messaging as a pastime? (note: You might be concerned about teenagers and young adults that are almost addicted to this pastime. You want to feel comfortable knowing that your sitter will not spend their day texting while your children are left unsupervised. This note applies to questions 11 and 12 as well)

11. About how much time do you spend on the internet each day?

12. Do you talk to friends on the phone a great deal?

13. Do you

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