Q: My name's Julia and im twelve years old. I love kids and animals and I eatheir want to babysit of walkdogs. There is one problem with each though. Babysitting, I know it sounds dumb but im terrified that some creep going to like tell me to babysit and then kill me or something! And dogwalking sounds good except for im scared of big dogs every sence I was attacted alittle while ago. I want your opinion on what I should chose and details of how I should get started! Please help me and wish me luck!
A: Go with babysitting, but only babysit for people you know and trust, like friends of your parents or their friends, etc. Always have a way out, you are not being dumb, you are being smart! Ask for a cell phone, even a pay as you go one, to take when you babysit, just in case. Don't ignore your gut instincts, if you feel weird around someone, don't babysit for them. Be sure your parents always know where you are (phone number, address etc) and what time to expect you. Do not open the door to anyone unless the parents tell you to expect them. To get started ask your parents and their friends if you can help with smaller kids while they are present and tell them you want to start earning money babysitting, so to think of you when they need a sitter. Start out helping with the parents there, so you get to know the children and the parents way of doing things. Once you start watching the kids, be sure to follow the parents rules, clean up after yourself and the kids (if they make a mess while you are watching them, you don't have to clean their rooms and do their laundry) and tell the parents to think of you when they have friends who need a sitter. Good luck!