After experiencing a series of different jobs I can confidently say that babysitting and nannying is the best “high school-aged” job ever. I’ve babysat for over 50 kids in high school and as crazy some of them might be I wouldn’t trade it for the world. Here’s why babysitting is the best job ever.
You can play with kids and not have to keep them. Lucky for you, they aren’t yours. Essentially, you can love on them and chase them around without having the title of mom.
Tax-free. Need I say more?
Listening to what they have to say. When little kids talk about the world how they see it, it’s completely adorable. They refer to airplanes as spaceships and mac and cheese as "cheesy monster guys." How cute and naïve is that.
Kids are so honest, it's refreshing. Children are filled with so much happiness and joy that is almost impossible to find in somebody above the age of 12. They haven't seen the messy parts of the world but are just living through the good stuff, isn't that something great to surround yourself with?
You don’t have to deal with coworkers. There’s no such thing as “work drama.” What a beautiful thing.
It’s never the same. One day the cute newly potty trained baby will poop all over his crib and the next day you're kicking the soccer ball for the 10 year old who has a game next week. The day after that the little baby gets to take a nap for two hours...and so do you. (Win win)
When they ask about you when you’re not around. I babysit for a little girl that asks for me by saying “Jaaya” and I die every time.
Kids are cute as heck. Don’t trust anyone that despises kids. They are honest, funny, cute and sincere. They are so brand new to the world and almost every part of them is full of love.
Networking. Babysitting is a great way to meet adults in the "working world". My dad always told me, it’s not what you know it’s who you know.
Develops communication and discipline skills. You haven’t truly understood communication and discipline until the four year baby you’re watching refuses to sleep in his own bed, two hours after bed time...
Excuse to watch disney movies all day long. Nothing beats a babysitting gig where they want to sit down and watch a good disney classic. Talk about a good throwback Thursday, plus you’re getting paid!
Flexible hours. In some way you’re your own boss, you schedule the “shifts.” High School is busy so being able to decide when you work is amazing.
That bond you have with a child is pretty irreplaceable. If you don’t love kids, this isn’t the job for you. There is nothing really as special when nannying as that bond you have with a child. They look up to you, respect you and want to be just like you. Don’t take that for granted.
