BABYSITTING BASICS

Chris Cordes carefully diapered the baby doll during his Super Sitter class. But as he lifted the doll, the diaper slipped off.

He re-diapered the doll, making sure the diaper was snugly fastened at the waist and passed what students called one of the toughest parts of a Super Sitter babysitting seminar last week.

The course, for boys and girls 11 to 16 years of age, is offered by Southeast Missouri Hospital.

Cordes, 11, said babysitting seems like a good way to make some extra money something he's interested in.

"I wanted to learn something about babysitting before I start. We have learned a lot of things to do if there is a problem," he said. "We have learned a few things about having fun too."

The six-hour seminar covers basic elements of child development and care, first aid and safety.

Sherry Halemeyer, a pediatrics nurse who has taught the babysitting course for seven years, said the seminar provides children with basic, practical information.

"A lot of what we are teaching is stuff their parents have already told them," she said. "We just present it a little differently and it comes from someone besides their parents."

Students learned the difference between the toys an infant might enjoy and those a four-year-old might like. They learn how to treat a cut or an insect sting, and ways to tell if the child they are caring for might be sick.

They also learn about changing diapers.

"Be sure to put a towel on the floor first," Halemeyer said, as she showed the students how to use both disposable and cloth diapers.

The students use dolls to learn diaper changing and other care-giving skills.

"We used to have real babies come in for the class, but we didn't feel it was safe for the babies," Halemeyer said.

"With the dolls, I am able to show the kids some things that I've seen happen to babies (like) falling off the table or out of the pumpkin seat and how they might be able to prevent these accidents."

During a lunch break, Chrissi Glastetter, 11, said she believes the course will help her become a better sitter.

"I want to be a babysitter," she said. "I love little kids, and I would like to earn some extra money. I came to learn what to do if something would happen."

Brittney McDowell, 11, said, "I wanted to become a better babysitter. I babysit for my sister and my cousin. There's a lot of things that we have learned, like how to treat certain sicknesses and what to do in an emergency."

Tara Stamp, 12, already has a job babysitting a three year old. "I learned some things, like what to do if your clothes catch on fire, or if she is running a fever, or if she gets a scrape."

Bethani Vandeven, 11, just started a job babysitting for her eight-month-old niece. "I wanted to learn more about what to do if an emergency happens. I like earning the money, and I like my niece."

Halemeyer said many parents who have hired the baby sitters are paying for them to attend the seminar.

Firefighters and police officers from Cape Girardeau and Jackson participate in the class.

"They talk about things like prank phone calls and prowlers, anything that makes them nervous inside the home," Halemeyer said. "Part of the course is to let them know they are not invincible. Things might go wrong."

"We want them to know expected outcomes to help keep them from being in a state of panic, and we want them to understand there is nothing wrong with calling the police or fire department.

"I won't guarantee these are the best babysitters out there," she said. "But I feel they have more understanding of what to do in an emergency situation.

"We want them to have an understanding of why parents ask them to do things."

The babysitters also learned some personal safety tips. Halemeyer said the students are taught to babysit only for people they know, and that if they were recommended by someone, to call the person who recommended them and find out more about the family.

The six-hour course costs $25 and will be offered three more times this summer: July 16, July 30, and Aug. 10. For information, call 651-5833.