Babysitting basics course graduates 21

A Babysitting Basics Training Course was offered the week of June 17-21, 2019, to help youth become responsible babysitters. Twenty-one students participated in this weeklong course.

Special guests filled the week with their expertise. On the first day Joey Wallace discussed fire safety and gave each youth the opportunity to use a fire extinguisher and Washington County Sheriff Deputies Nolan Burke and Tyler Kleese discussed home safety and how to make a call to dispatch during an emergency. On the second day Heather Perez and her seven-week-old daughter, Kalina, came and talked with the youth about caring for an infant. Amy Slaughter and her two-year-old son, Abner, came on the third day to talk about caring for a toddler. On Thursday Chris Glosser with Parents as Teachers came and talked to the youth about caring for and playing with preschool-aged kids.

On the last day the Washington County Ambulance spoke with the group about basic first aid procedures and helping a choking victim. Tess Berdo, a former student of this course, came and talked with the class about her 4-H project titled 'What Parents Want.” She surveyed parents and created a project about parent expectations, wages, and responsibilities.

Twenty-one students completed this five day course sponsored by ISU Extension & Outreach of Washington County. This course is available again in August for youth who have completed fifth grade and above. Contact the Washington County Extension office on how to get registered at 319-653-2811.