BABY SITTERS' CLUB: FUTURE CHILD CARE EXPERTS TAKE SUPER SITTER COURSE

Laura Muir, right, read the story, "The Big Surprise," to Claire Herbst, left, and Shannon Ledbetter while Katie Jenkins listened too.

Shannon Ledbetter called out orders for the babysitters during a game of "Simon Says."

Since July 1985, more than 1,000 teens and not-quite teens have spent a day boning up on babysitting in a Southeast Missouri Hospital Super Sitter course. Many, like 11-year-old Kelly Loos, discovered that tykes are high-maintenance beings.

"I didn't know that there were so many things to learn about babies," Kelly said. "I thought all it was was just watching them, but it is a lot more than that."

Kelly was one of 20 girls ages 11 to 14 (no boys this time, but a class in June had five) who gathered last month in Southeast's Generations Resource Center to become versed in children's behavior and growth patterns, proper toys and safety, cardiopulmonary resuscitation and first aid.

This summer's fifth and final class will be Friday from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. A $25 enrollment fee covers an information packet, lunch and snacks, a badge and a certificate.

LaDonna Wills, a registered nurse who teaches the course with Maddie Swanner and Sandy Schnicker, said Southeast does not refer babysitters. But parents may feel safer knowing their babysitter has attended a class.

"We would like for (students) to have an understanding of the responsibilities they have and what an important job it is," Wills said. "We want them to be aware of safety issues and so forth so that they are educated about these things that might happen and be able to respond to them."

Before lunch, the girls covered some do's and don'ts of babysitting and how to respond to choking, poisoning and other scenarios.

A few of the "do's":

* If it is a first engagement, ask to come 15 minutes early (on your time) to acquaint yourself with the home and the children.

* Wash and dry dishes used by you or the children.

* Obtain necessary information about how each child goes to the bathroom, such as whether the child is still wearing diapers, is toilet trained, uses a toilet seat attachment, or needs help wiping.

Some "don'ts":

* Don't accept a job when you have a cold.

* Don't count on completing studies while babysitting.

* Don't fall asleep on the job.

The group later listened to addresses from a police officer and a fireman.

Cape Girardeau police Cpl. Kevin Orr told the group "how you have to keep away from certain people like robbers if they're following you," Kelly said. "The police officer told us to either go across the street or to the other neighbor's house and call 911. And he said even if you hear something that is really scary you should still call 911."

Samantha Bueter, 11, said a babysitter must "make sure that you're watching (the children) at every minute of the day, and to play with them and keep them happy, because if they get mad at you, they'll probably just stomp off and do something crazy."

Kelsey Seyer, also 11, said she learned how to bandage wounds. She said children should be kept away from matches, fingernail polish, dishwasher detergent, electric cords and irons.

After lunch, the girls in the group put to practice what they had learned. In one station, encircled by 10 girls, was 5-month-old Kyra Christiansen. In the other station, encircled by the 10 other girls, were 3-year-old Claire Herbst and 4-year-old Shannon Ledbetter.

A few girls changed Kyra's diaper and clothes with nary a fuss and tried to wrest her attention with a yellow and blue Sesame Street faux TV.

Across the room, the others read "The Tale of Peter Rabbit" to Claire and Shannon. After challenging the two girls to count and assemble a puzzle, they played a game of Simon says.

By day's end, Kelly decided that although she hasn't done much babysitting yet, she wants to look after moppets often when she's a little older. "I just like how they're so ... . It reminds me of me," she said through giggles.