I want my 12 1/2 year old son to take a babysitting class at the local rec center. I think there are 6 classes, they will learn basics as well as cpr. My husband and myself think it will be good for him, expecially since he has 2 younger sisters. We do not ask him to babysit now. Although he is excellent with Faith, we never leave him at home with the 2 younger girls. Sometimes he stays with Faith while I take my 7 yr old to school . That is only a rountrip of like 5-7 minutees .He is afraid he will be the only boy in class.I told him if he was, its no big deal. He is shy when it comes to meeting girls, this actually may be good for him in more then one way.
He is really unhappy about going. Although, we have discussed with him about babysitting when he is a little older. My son is fine with that. We do not go out very often at all, maybe 1-2 times a year without the kids. So it wouldnt be like it would be an every week thing. We just think this would be a good class for him.

By Kate on Tuesday, January 23, 2007 - 08:45 am:

Wellll, personally I don't blame him. He probably WILL be the only boy there and when you're twelve that's a very big deal. It's also SIX classes that he doesn't want to take...it's not like it will be over with quickly. I would find regular CPR classes for him to take thru your fire dept. or ask the school nurse about them. Other than that, you could easily teach him what you want him to know yourself. And he'll always be able to reach you, right? And there's always 911. Around here the Red Cross babysitting course at the rec center is from nine AM to four PM and it's boring as can be. It's way too long to sit there and listen to someone drone on and on about first aid and such. I wish ours was broken into a few classes like yours! At any rate, I have an almost eleven year old and don't even plan to ever put her in the class (unless she, herself, wants to be in it). I wouldn't push your son.

By Mommyof5 on Tuesday, January 23, 2007 - 09:16 am:

My oldest daughter took a babysitting class this summer and it was almost half boys. My 5th grader's teacher gave out information to her class this year on a babysitting course and all but a few boys expressed interest in going.

By Jackie on Tuesday, January 23, 2007 - 09:19 am:

Tammie-thats encouraging that there were boys in the babysitting class. My son has no problem with the class contents, just worried about being the only boy.

By Heaventree on Tuesday, January 23, 2007 - 09:28 am:

So he's not happy, oh well. We all have to do things in life that don't always make us happy. There's a lesson here for him. I wouldn't worry about it too much, I really don't think its the end of the world. DH hates taking the garbage out on Tuesday nights especially in the winter, he's not entirely happy about having to do it but he does. I hated calculas and algebra. It's only a few classes, he'll get over it. I doubt that it will damage his self esteem, he might even enjoy it.

By Kaye on Tuesday, January 23, 2007 - 09:48 am:

I wouldn't make my son take an all girl class. I would see if there is a way a friend could go with him, or at least double check the list to see if any boys signed up. The red cross babysitting class is a one day class, my guess is you are doing the same thing, but in 6 sessions. So another option is to find another location that does it all in one day.

By Jackie on Tuesday, January 23, 2007 - 09:50 am:

He was just telling me this morning, he wished the girls in his school liked him. I told him this would be a perfect opportunity to meet new girls. LOL..
I know he will get over it.I keep reminding him it is not a bad thing we want him to do. He will come out of it more knowledgable(Sp?). He has learned some first aid at boyscouts as well. So this should be a snap for him.

By Unschoolmom on Tuesday, January 23, 2007 - 10:55 am:

Heaventree - I agree with you up to a point. Where I differ is when it's about pushing kids into social situations they don't feel secure in. Chores are one thing and we should expect a child to try something new once but to continue to insist they attend something that they may dread is another. How much is he going to take out of the course (and it's on an important subject) if he's uncomfortable?

Besides, learning that there are things we have to do even if we don't like them is a lesson kids get ALL the time. Everytime they take out the garbage or clean their room or go to algebra.

So what if Jackie took Kate's approach? If he was actively involved in it he could learn how to gather resources for learning outside school and classes, initiative for self directed learning, some organization and self-discipline in putting together and studying what's he's found and theaccomplishment that comes not just from having completed a course but from having put his own 'course' together himself.

I think the process Kate proposed, with active involvement from a child, could be a whole lot more beneficial.

By Truestori on Tuesday, January 23, 2007 - 10:59 am:

I'm not sure I would force him to go. Honestly, my daughter went and doesn't remember what she learned..lol
I would take him to a CPR class with mom or dad because that is what they emphasize.
If you still think he needs the class, then you could call and ask how many boys signed up, I'm sure they would tell you. Goodluck

By Tarable on Tuesday, January 23, 2007 - 11:16 am:

If he is in boyscouts maybe you could help the den parent to set up the CPR training for a badge (or whatever they earn in boyscouts) and kinda teach him everything else yourself. My sister wants my 12 year old DD to take these classes too but we opted for the CPR class because of schedule conflicts. We are also her letting my DD act as if she is babysitting and my sister or I just hide in the other room and pretend to be gone to see if she has any questions and can handle the responsibility.

Also maybe you could get the den parent to make a badge and have some of his boyscout friends take the class with him.

Good luck.

By Heaventree on Tuesday, January 23, 2007 - 11:22 am:

I don't want to turn this into a debate, however, sometimes when we are pushed into social situations that we are not comfortable with we find out that it really wasn't as bad as we thought it was going to be, that goes for kids and adults. Listen if the kid was distraught (sp?) about going then perhaps it wouldn't be a good idea, but sometimes we surprise ourselves by taking part in things that challenge us in ways we are not always comfortable with. It's not like she's forcing him to particapte in a princess party. It's a class that will teach him some skills that may be useful to him someday. It may even help him with his social skills around girls of his age. I agree we need to protect our kids self esteem but c'mon really it's just a babysitting class. What about all that non-gender specific stuff we try to teach our little boys about playing with dolls and girls playing with trucks, boys need to learn to cook, fold laundry and clean toilets, the world is changing, just as it wouldn't hurt girls to learn how to fix cars and do a little welding once in awhile.

By Colette on Tuesday, January 23, 2007 - 11:35 am:

I would not make a 12 yr old boy take a class if it is all girls. I would sign him up for a cpr/first aid class instead.

By Bobbie~moderatr on Tuesday, January 23, 2007 - 11:54 am:

Heaven, I agree to the point that he won't be forever damaged because of this class. I also think that pushing your boundries/comfort zone is not a bad thing and teaching them young to do it is the best time to start. But....

Jackie, what about seeing if you or DH can take the class with him, as in sit in on it, offer to help the class? I would call ahead, find out what he is in for. Boys vrs girls? what exactly they cover. Maybe ask to do a sit in before you commit? But I would not rule this out on the unknown. It is a good class to take but I would want to know more before "pushing" this with him. You can get books from the library and have him practice with Faith if it turns into a situation where he is going to end up way overwhelmed with it... As in 24 girls and him as the only boy. He can learn proper care and CPR through another avenue.. But I wouldn't let him rule it out, as I already stated, because you never know what he might get out of the experience. And it sounds like a good boost of confidence could go along way in his life. Him being shy and all.

By Jackie on Tuesday, January 23, 2007 - 12:16 pm:

I am going to go to the rec center later and see who has signed up(If any).
He is not opposed to the class, just about the girls LOL....

By Vicki on Tuesday, January 23, 2007 - 01:21 pm:

I can't say I blame him about being weirded out about taking that class with all girls either. I KNOW dd wouldn't want to take a class that was full of nothing but boys.


He was just telling me this morning, he wished the girls in his school liked him.


My dd is also 12 and I think this is an age where boys and girls start changing. I think there are many girls/boys that start to get crushes etc on boys/girls, but there are also girls/boys that aren't interested in ANY boys/girls just yet. It is uncomfortable enough to be around kids of the opposite sex that you have been going to school with for years, never mind meeting a room full of girls in a babysitting class!! I just couldn't make him go if he was the only boy....

By Dandjmom on Tuesday, January 23, 2007 - 02:38 pm:

Exactly, I sa see if there is a way if you can see if any boys ave signed up for the class, hopefully they have adnm you son will takw the class als , and I think that he will find it more beneficial then he knows , I mean ladies we all liek a man that we have soemthign in commen that we can talk about ( not all females are into spoorts) and I think your son willstart to feel that he isnt' as shy as he thought because he will find a common ground to communicate with girls in the class on and mayeb this will help him in school as well whenit coems to openign up dn speaking to the young ladies. Dare I say it, he may jsut even think yu for enrolling him in this class. ( well we are talking abotu a pre-teen) so stratch that. But I think it would be good for him. I will be looking into somethign liek this for my daughter in the next year or two.

By Cybermommyx4 on Tuesday, January 23, 2007 - 05:52 pm:

My son took this class the summer before he started 6th grade. He is the oldest of four, and wanted to be able to babysit. He took the class with a friend, and they were the only two boys, but they loved it and got their certificates! The girls will not make fun of him....more likely, he will be applauded for wanting to take the course. Does he have a friend that might want to go, too?

By Tripletmom on Tuesday, January 23, 2007 - 06:45 pm:

Ditto Colette-Taking First Aid/CPR in a class would be ideal.He'll learn more if he's comfortable.Most babysitting is common sense and maturity.It's the First Aid/CPR that is most important.

By Pamt on Tuesday, January 23, 2007 - 07:16 pm:

I would not make my son (same age) take this class if he were the only boy. As others have said, I would sign him up for CPR and take it with him at the Red Cross or American Heart Assoc.

By Dana on Tuesday, January 23, 2007 - 08:31 pm:

I would encourage him to take the class. I would also check to see if other boys were there. Since he is interested in the topic, that's half the battle. Perhaps your husband can explain to your so that being the only boy in a room full of girls is not a bad place to be Besides, he just may find out he fits in just fine and he will be able to toss his fears out the door.