• Creative projects such as painting, macaroni art, or coloring with crayons work well to pass the time.
• Boston babysitters can take kids to the library. There is a fantastic kids section.
• Go through the house and get all the old magazines. Then have the children cut out the pictures of everything they would buy if they were rich, and make a collage.
• Have a scavenger hunt inside the house.
• Board and card games are perfect for lazy afternoons. Make it more interesting by playing for pennies.
• Have them go through their toy box and sort out all the old toys they no longer play with to give to charity. They might not actually give anything away, but the toys will seem much more interesting, and the process should have them occupied for quite some time.
• If you are a babysitter who is bored and needs additional work, register with an online babysitting service such as Babysitters4Hire.com. Parents can view your profile, and you will find additional work.

• If a child has an unusually high fever, take him or her to the emergency room. High fevers are dangerous.
• If a child has been stung by a bee, wasp, or other insect and is experiencing severe swelling or shortness of breathe, call 911.
• Accidents happen frequently with children, but if a fall is causing extreme swelling, or if the child is having difficulty moving the effected limb, a trip to the emergency room is in order.
• If a child has consumed poison in any form call the poison control hotline at 1-800-222-1222 first. They will instruct you with immediate actions to take, and then call 911.
• If a wound is bleeding severely, call 911. If there is a deep cut that needs attention, take the child to the emergency room. If it is just a cut, but not too deep, and stops bleeding after a few minutes, apply a good bandage and some anti-bacterial ointment

• Children under five or who are inexperienced swimmers should wear life jackets. Do not take a chance with another person's child.
• Reapply sunblock regularly when children are playing in the water.
• Make sure to take water, and remind the kids to take a drink at least every 30-45 minutes.
• Do not leave children under five unattended at any time at a pool or swimming area.
• Take a water safety course at your local Red Cross. It will help you get more babysitting jobs, and could save a child's life.
• Sometimes kids don't know their limits. If you see a child getting tired, make him or her take a break.
• When you take kids to the pool, read the rules with them every time.

Make sure you have a clear understanding of what is expected of you. It’s better to ask questions, than to struggle through a misunderstanding. You should have a clear idea of what the family ground rules are, how much you are going to be paid, and what to do in case of emergencies. Make sure you have parent and emergency contact information.

Of course the best cure for inexperience is to take more babysitting jobs. Registering with an online babysitting service such as Babysitters4Hire.com will make that happen.

Appropriate discipline is never physical. This is extremely important when you are a babysitter. No matter what the family’s view on corporeal punishment may be, never strike a child. Effective punishments include denying privileges and sending to the time out chair.

Rewards for good behavior are just as important as consequences. Good behavior should have rewards. Different things motivate children. Some live for verbal praise, some enjoy privileges like additional computer time, others like cupcakes. Follow the parent’s direction on what type of rewards are allowed, as well as what types of discipline are usually enforced.

If you are able to work with behavior disturbed children, this will be a definite advantage on your babysitter profile at Babysitters4Hire.com.

• Remember the sunblock. Sunburns are no fun.
• Keep plenty of cool water on hand when the weather is hot.
• If the children you are babysitting are younger than five, avoid parks or areas with unfenced bodies of water.
• Helmets and kneepads are a must when riding bicycles or skateboarding.
• Don't allow children to misuse equipment.
• If a play area has rusty equipment, or pieces of debris in the grass, go to a different area.
• Trampolines are a bad idea when you are responsible for someone else's child. Avoid them altogether.

Summers are a great time to pick up extra babysitting jobs at special events. Registering with an online service like babysitters4Hire.com, will keep a New York sitter busy all summer.

• Use the back burners of the stove when cooking to reduce the chance of a child reaching out and burning their hand, or pulling a pan off the stove.
• If you are cleaning, do not leave cleaning supplies on a table or counter where a toddler could grab them. Return all cleaning supplies to a locked cabinet when you are done using them.
• In the kitchen, keep electrical cords attached to appliances out of reach.
• Do not leave cups or glasses of extremely hot liquids sitting unguarded on tables or counters.
• Dispose of all plastic grocery bags immediately.
• Always check bathwater temperature before putting a child in the tub.
• Never leave a toddler unattended in the bathtub.

A great way for Los Angeles babysitters to get more experience is to register with Babysitters4Hire.com. Post your profile for Los Angeles parents to review when they need a babysitter.

• The Lincoln Park Zoo is Free. You will have to take the bus, but if you get a visitor's pass you're covered. Features the Penguin House, Great Ape House, and a Sea Lion's Pool.
  

• Forget high gas prices and the stress of driving, get a visitor's pass and ride the bus/trains. It's a fun way to see Chicago, and you get a better feel for the city. A three day pass is only $12.
  

• The Chicago Children's Museum is an interactive museum designed to help children learn. Admission is about $7.
  

• The Chicago Playworks (originally the Goodman's Children's Theater), features family oriented productions.
  

• Wendella Boats offers cruises on the Chicago River. Children are $10, Adults $19.
  

• Map out your days adventure in advance. If you use Google maps, direction searches include instructions on available public transit routes, and travel times.
  

• You can find Chicago babysitters by using Babysitters4Hire.com. Use your zip code to search for local sitters.

If you have a child with special needs, whether it be physical, mental, or behavioral, your Los Angeles babysitter must be not only briefed about your child's condition, but must be given the opportunity to ask questions and study up on the condition, as well as make the decision as to whether or not she feels ready to take on the extra responsibility. This may limit your number of options of good babysitters, but would you seriously place your child in the arms of someone who did not want that responsibility or was unwilling to learn how to care for your special needs child? Take extra consideration in these details if you have an older child who is unable to walk or use the restroom by himself as these are extra liabilities for you as a parent as well as your babysitter. You want someone who is both excited and looking forward to the challenge and joy of working with a special needs child like yours.

Babysitters4Hire.com has a special search feature that will tell you whether a babysitter is willing to work with special-needs children.