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  • Babysitting Classes & Child Care Courses

    American Red Cross babysitting classes are designed to work with your schedule. With select classes available online, and others available in person at a wide range of locations and times, it's easier than ever to learn new skills, gain valuable insights and information – and get your babysitting business started the right way.

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    Babysitting Courses

    • Online: Developed for those who need the flexibility to work at their own pace – and want the opportunity to learn in the comfort of their home – our online babysitting classes deliver the latest information in a convenient, simple-to-use way.
    • In-Person: Our in-person babysitter classes give you access to best-in-class instructors who will share the latest information on child care, offer tips, and can answer all of your questions so that you're ready to start your own babysitting business. With lecture and class activities, these courses are engaging, informative and fun.

    What You'll Learn

    Although every situation is unique, there are some universal babysitting skills and techniques that every babysitter should have. Our courses were designed with this principle in mind and can help you deliver the care that families need. Just a few of the things our babysitting classes cover include:

    • Basic Care for Infants and Children
    • Basic First Aid
    • Child Behavior
    • Age-Appropriate Activities
    • Emergency Protocols
    • Professionalism
    • Leadership
    • Growing Your Business

    Babysitting and Child Care Courses

    Designed for new babysitters and childcare professionals alike, our childcare training courses allow you to gain the skills necessary to care for kids of all ages. The courses currently available include:

    • Babysitting Basics: Created for those ages 11 and older, our online babysitting training course can help you learn how to provide care for infants and children, understand what to do in an emergency, choose age-appropriate activities, recognize and handle a range of behaviors, learn how to start your own babysitting business, and more.
    • Babysitter's Training: Recommended for those ages 11 to 15, this course is designed to help participants develop leadership skills, build their business, help keep themselves and others safe, help children learn how to behave, and learn basic child care and basic first aid.
    • Advanced Child Care: Gain the knowledge and skills necessary to care for children and infants inside and outside of the home. The course delivers leadership training, child behavior and discipline training, as well as information on professionalism, safety, basic childcare, and more. (Note: This course is not intended as certification for state-licensed childcare providers and does not meet all state requirements for such certification.)

    First Aid, CPR & AED Training

    Along with our industry-leading child care and babysitter classes, we also offer First Aid and CPR/AED certification courses. Also available online and in person, these classes allow you to gain additional skills that can help save a life. Successful completion of these courses gives you a two-year certification and access to refresher materials – so you can keep your skills sharp between certifications.

    Why Train With the Red Cross

    Red Cross CPR Training Saves Lives

    Reid Heiser, Life Saver
    One week after 17-year-old Reid completed his Red Cross CPR training, he needed to use it. In November 2011, Reid saved the life of Jim Hammer after he collapsed at the recreation center where Reid worked. Now friends, they share their story.

    Red Cross training matters
    For more than a century, we've prepared people to respond to emergencies of all sizes - from the everyday to the large disaster. Join the millions we train every year and learn the skills that can save a life.

    "Without my friend's training, I would not be here"
    - Watch Bre Dumke's Story

    "The first 7 minutes are critical"
    - Watch More

    Red Cross certification of completion on a tablet

    Certification Made Simple. Fast. Easy. Digital.

    The American Red Cross makes babysitting training and certification fast, simple and easy. And with Red Cross Digital Certificates you'll get anytime, anywhere access to your certificates; plus the ability to print, share, and download them wherever and whenever you like. Digital certificates can be viewed, printed or shared online and can be accessed anytime through your Red Cross Account. Each certificate includes a unique ID and a QR code which meets employment requirements and allows employers to easily confirm your certificate is valid. Class participants and employers can visit https://www.redcross.org/take-a-class/digital-certificate and enter the ID found on the digital certificate (or scan the QR code with a standard QR reader using a smart device) to access a copy of the valid certificate with student training information.

    Click here for instructions on accessing your certification online.



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