When you leave your children with a babysitter, you have to trust they are in good hands. Throughout the summer months and Christmas break, Avera McKennan offers day long classes to teach pre-teens those essential skills.  Here's more on the making of a "super-sitter".

The art and safety of changing a dirty diaper is just one of the things soon-to-be-11 year old Clara Hoffman is learning in Avera McKennan's Super Sitter Class. Avera McKennan Family Life Educators Betty Barto-Smith and Doniese Wilcox spend a day with boys and girls ages 10 to 13 going over the basics for babysitting. But they say it has to start with being able to take care of them selves first.

Betty Barto-Smith says, "We teach them things that babysitters need to know like how do they contact the parents, if the child has allergies and what special foods the child may need, what time is bedtime, what rules the parents have for TV watching, those sorts of things. We want to make sure they ask those questions before the parents leave the house."

 Clara's 6 older siblings all took this class when they were 11 too. A "must" from mom Debbie Hoffman.

 Debbie Hoffman says, "That's the point that kids start staying at home alone more often. Even if they are taking the babysitting class for self-care I think it's worth it. I know what to do in an emergency, if someone comes to the door what do I do. That way they can practice on themselves before they get into a situation what they are taking care of other kids."

Betty Barto-Smith says, "It's important to understand different stages of children what they are capable of doing, capable of understanding and capable of enjoying. We also encourage them to bring something from home to share, but we have to make sure it's safe like one of the toys they liked to play with or their favorite book or a craft item."

At the end of the class Barto-Smith hopes, at the very least, the tweens know who to call if they find themselves in need of help. Really, at the end of the day we all need to know that.

There are 2 more classes coming up on July 15th and 16th. The cost is $25 dollars and you need call ahead to register.

Call Doniese Wilcox at 605-322-3663.
You may also email at: doniese.wilcox@mckennan.org