Bell Ringer n On your worksheet list at least 5 characteristics you think a responsible caregiver should have. Put a star next to the traits you have!

Bell RingerBell Ringer

On your worksheet list at On your worksheet list at least 5 characteristics you least 5 characteristics you think a responsible think a responsible caregiver should have. caregiver should have.

***Put a star next to the ***Put a star next to the traits you have!***traits you have!***

6.01 Discuss Characteristics of 6.01 Discuss Characteristics of Responsible CaregivingResponsible Caregiving

Teen LivingTeen Living

What Do Kids Need?What Do Kids Need?

““It takes a village to raise a child.”It takes a village to raise a child.” - African - African ProverbProverb

NurtureNurture – to help grow and develop; – to help grow and develop; to provide support.to provide support.

What Can I Do?What Can I Do?

““Children will not remember you Children will not remember you for the material things you for the material things you provided but for the feeling that provided but for the feeling that you cherished them.”you cherished them.”

– Richard L. EvansRichard L. Evans

Who Does What?Who Does What?

Here are some responsibilities Here are some responsibilities of a caregiver:of a caregiver:– Make arrangements for your own Make arrangements for your own

transportation.transportation.– Arrive at the job on times.Arrive at the job on times.– Record information provided by the Record information provided by the

parents.parents.– Make sure you have contact Make sure you have contact

information for parents.information for parents.

Who Does What?Who Does What?– Have emergency numbers handy.Have emergency numbers handy.– Put the child’s needs and safety first.Put the child’s needs and safety first.– Be ethical.Be ethical.– Follow household rules and routines.Follow household rules and routines.– Treat the home where you are working Treat the home where you are working

with care.with care.– Entertain children with appropriate Entertain children with appropriate

activities.activities.– Caring for the children is your Caring for the children is your

responsibility.responsibility.– Inform parents on issues with children Inform parents on issues with children

and any phone messages upon their and any phone messages upon their return.return.


While caring for children:While caring for children:– Be ethicalBe ethical

Do not snoop in the home.Do not snoop in the home. Do not gossip about the Do not gossip about the family/children.family/children.

You should NOT entertain friends You should NOT entertain friends while you are caring for children.while you are caring for children.

Follow the rules that you would Follow the rules that you would be expected to follow in any be expected to follow in any paid job !paid job !


– Entertaining ChildrenEntertaining Children Remember that the parent is paying you Remember that the parent is paying you

to watch and entertain their child or to watch and entertain their child or children.children.

If you are allowed to watch television or If you are allowed to watch television or spend time on the computer while sitting, spend time on the computer while sitting, make sure what you are watching is make sure what you are watching is appropriate for both you and the children.appropriate for both you and the children.


–PrioritiesPriorities Remember that the Remember that the children are your first children are your first priority. Their needs and priority. Their needs and safety come first.safety come first.

– ResponsibilitiesResponsibilities Most parents will inform you what duties Most parents will inform you what duties

they expect.they expect.

The child’s routine for naps and bedtime The child’s routine for naps and bedtime is very important as children tend to be is very important as children tend to be better behaved if they have adequate rest better behaved if they have adequate rest and sleep.and sleep.

It is important to follow the parents’ It is important to follow the parents’ instructions as they will probably instructions as they will probably determine if you get another job at this determine if you get another job at this home or if they recommend you to other home or if they recommend you to other parents.parents.


– FacilitiesFacilities Take care of the furniture and Take care of the furniture and

possessions at the children’s home.possessions at the children’s home.

How Do I Meet Their How Do I Meet Their Needs?Needs?

Medical careMedical care– Only give medication if instructed to Only give medication if instructed to

do so.do so.

– Ask parent to write down medication, Ask parent to write down medication, the correct dosage, the time to give the correct dosage, the time to give it, as well as food/drink requirements it, as well as food/drink requirements that are needed with the medicine.that are needed with the medicine.


SafetySafety– Never leave a child alone.Never leave a child alone.

– Always keep poison and household Always keep poison and household products out of the reach of children.products out of the reach of children.

– Make sure that electrical plugs are Make sure that electrical plugs are covered.covered.

– Remove broken toys or inappropriate Remove broken toys or inappropriate toys from the reach of young children.toys from the reach of young children.


ShelterShelter– Keep doors and windows locked.Keep doors and windows locked.

SleepSleep– Younger children need naps during Younger children need naps during

the day.the day.– Children need a routine for bedtime Children need a routine for bedtime

that is set by the parents.that is set by the parents.


ClothingClothing– Make sure the clothing worn by the Make sure the clothing worn by the

child is appropriate for the weather.child is appropriate for the weather.

ExerciseExercise– Children should get exercise and be Children should get exercise and be

physically active each day.physically active each day.

– Limit exercise and activity before Limit exercise and activity before bedtime as it can keep the child from bedtime as it can keep the child from being able to sleep.being able to sleep.


BottlesBottles– Check the formula Check the formula

temperature by shaking a temperature by shaking a drop of formula inside the drop of formula inside the caregiver’s wrist to make caregiver’s wrist to make sure it isn’t too hot.sure it isn’t too hot.

– Never warm a bottle in the Never warm a bottle in the microwave.microwave.


FoodFood– Always check with the parent before Always check with the parent before

giving an infant or child food.giving an infant or child food.– Be aware that some children have Be aware that some children have

food allergies.food allergies.– Remember that some foods can Remember that some foods can

create choking situations.create choking situations.


HygieneHygiene– Children need a bath daily.Children need a bath daily.

– Never leave young children Never leave young children alone in a bathtub with water alone in a bathtub with water as they could turn on the hot as they could turn on the hot water or drown in the water.water or drown in the water.


“ “Food is the most common cause Food is the most common cause of non-fatal choking accidents. of non-fatal choking accidents. Toys are the most common cause Toys are the most common cause of choking deaths.”of choking deaths.” - - www.safety.com

http://www.safety.com/

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Bell Ringer n On your worksheet list at least 5 characteristics you think a responsible caregiver should have. ***Put a star next to the traits you have!***

Bell Ringer n On your worksheet list at least 5 characteristics you think a responsible caregiver should have. Put a star next to the traits you have!