Why College Students Should Babysit Part-Time

By Kylie Exline on September 6, 2016

As college students, we are always struggling. Whether it be in relation to GPA or relationships, it tends to happen.

Another way is financially. And by this I mean that it is a major struggle. (Sorry if you were trying to avoid that for a little while longer.)

There are various part-time jobs that exist in our college towns, but they are not always suitable for us. An easy solution to the no-money-in-account problem is to put money in said account. A way to do so is by babysitting. I know, this equals kids. But it may just be the answer (paycheck) you are looking for.

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To discover why us college students should take an interest in babysitting, feel free to read below. You may have a new career in your future.

Easy money

You may have babysat in middle or high school, and if this is the case, then you are aware of how nice the pay is. Most parents either pay by the hour or the number of children that are being left in your care. Plus, if they are babies, you may be paid a tad extra due to diaper duty. It is worth it depending on the cleanup, if you know what I mean.

With babysitting, there are no taxes being reported, no uniform, and no being nice to rude customers. Your “customers” are the kids and the minor encounter with the parents. Pretty easy considering your coworkers are toddlers or teenagers. Not so easy if they are teething or dealing with high school drama. But we cannot win with everything. Thanks, life.

Since you do not have one boss really, there is no need for a weekly work schedule. It is pretty simple to make your own hours, and you do not have to clear it with a supervisor. If you are in desperate need of a few extra bucks a certain week, then you can easily add some extra “shifts” into the week prior.

Having regulars can help because they will be willing to accommodate you and help you out. Lend a helping hand.

Networking

If there is one basic lesson we are taught throughout our college careers, it is to party hard. Okay, not really. But we are certainly taught that networking is vital and without a LinkedIn, we should not be expecting a job upon our very imminent graduation. (Sorry, quick reality check, but do not fret.)

You may not see how babysitting can be defined as building connections, but it is. For one, people talk. In this case, parents do. So if you are nice enough to them and their kids, then you may already have four more families ready to hire you. Everyone needs a date night and you are the perfect answer to that. So put a smile on and be willing to entertain.

Given you are babysitting for about 15-20 hours a week (remember it is part-time), then you still have plenty more time to do college things and build that resume of yours. You can post “hire me” signs on community billboards and offer discounts to your customer’s friends. Looks like you have a business ahead of you.

Preparation

When you babysit on the reg, you get a pretty good idea at what it would be like when you have kids. And what better birth control is there than having to play and be active with a few of them for a couple of hours straight? Exactly. There is none.

College has also taught us over the years how to procrastinate, and to do so to the best of our abilities. How kind. Babysitting allows us to plan ahead and accordingly, to keep up with engagements and responsibilities, and to widen our horizons. You never know how fast you are until you have to pack a diaper bag in 0.3 seconds in order to return the child home on time. Trust me, it is quite the impressive act. But hey, you may be paid for overtime.

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This job means that you can in some ways be a planner. In other words, become good or semi-decent at planning activities. You know, creating play dates, going on adventures in the park, playing games, and playing hide and seek in the backyard. Regardless, it is helping you stick to your plans, and if not, helping you go with impromptu change.

Babysitting can be tough, but that goes for any part-time job in college. We would rather not be working, but duty calls and tuition needs to be paid somehow. Plus, this allows you to create your own schedule and add some creativity to your life. It cannot hurt.

You should consider babysitting as your college job because it is super easy money modestly earned, a perfect networking opportunity, and it prepares you to plan ahead. If all else fails, at least you were able to remind yourself what being a kid feels like. That is always acceptable.

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