Red Cross class certifies babysitters - Atlanta News, Weather, Traffic, and Sports | FOX 5

With children soon to be out of school and summer approaching, parents in the metro area will be looking for babysitters. Most babysitters think the job entails watching the kids and playing some games. But it doesn't take long for something to happen to turn the job into a nightmare.

"Well, I like children so it's fun for me. And I wanted money," said certified babysitter Isabelle.

FOX 5 spoke with three teens who found out that babysitting is more than just keeping an eye on a child. They say it was a babysitting course taught at the Red Cross that opened their eyes.

"Well, I didn't think there was like a specific way how to pick up a baby and a toddler," said Caroline, a certified babysitter.

"There's so many things to learn that you can't just go down the street and ask somebody. You have to have somebody who already experienced it and used to teaching our age," said Lauren, also a certified babysitter.

The class teaches how to diaper infants, communicate with parents, recognize hygiene issues and most importantly, how to handle emergencies.

"We know that kids can get into trouble at the drop of a hat. They can get into medication. They can suffer from breathing emergencies. They can have cardiac emergencies. It's very important that if you're going to have someone taking care of your kids, that they have the skills and the knowledge to take care of those emergencies if they arise," said Ruben Brown of the American Red Cross.

After taking and passing the babysitter course at the Red Cross, you will be a certified babysitter. The teens who took the course say the most valuable tool they gained was confidence.

"I'm more excited because I understand everything now rather than just going over and watching somebody. I understand what to look out for," said Caroline.

Red Cross officials say the class is also good for older siblings who will be looking after their younger relatives this summer. For more information on how you can sign up for the babysitter course, click here!