This article was published more than 12 years ago. Some information may no longer be current. Brown is a child with special needs who Ms. Howson looks after. Brett Gundlock. Nancy Howson's first babysitting job literally came walking to her front door. The youngest of six girls, she was 14 years old when a new neighbour approached her parents and asked if any of their children wanted to babysit.
There was nothing of that," says Ms. Howson, an early-childhood educator in Toronto who, more than 30 years later, continues to babysit on the side. But today's parents have different expectations. Since creating an online caregiver directory 10 years ago, Martha Scully has seen the quality of babysitters increase along with the rising expectations of parents.
Scully, the president of CanadianNanny. But now parents "want to leave their child with someone more mature, more experienced. And they're willing to pay more for peace of mind. Scully says, adding that those earning in the upper range usually have specific qualifications, like an ECE background, a pediatric nursing degree or certain language skills. Her site caters to parents looking for that more mature sitter, only offering candidates who are over 18 years old.
Anne Godbout and her husband have been desperate to find a French-speaking babysitter for their two girls, who are 7 and 9 years old. Godbout, who lives in Toronto. To ramp up their search, Ms. Godbout says. These kinds of "hybrid" babysitters โ ones who can also tutor, cook or entertain โ are becoming a sought-after commodity, says Ms. Howson, who has noticed a higher demand for caregivers with an educational background. The benefits of hiring a sitter who has teaching experience is that the children are engaged, she says.
They will cook with the kids, do crafts or take them outside to play โ whatever the child is interested in. Some parents with younger children want a babysitter with a specialized degree, like pediatric nursing.
