In America, babysitting has always been a respected job among young people; something near to home to make some extra money without the usual downfalls that come with a part-time job. Teenagers would often plan their strategies for summer break on how best to promote their services, getting as many good quality babysitting jobs as they could manage. But these days babysitting jobs are starting to fade.
As a youth worker, many hours of my week are spent with high school students, who, not long ago, were the CEO’s of the babysitting industry. But of the many I’ve spoken to, only a small amount even consider babysitting to be a viable option for a summer job, and none of them are actively trying to promote themselves and get jobs. It surprised me. It was less than fifteen years ago when babysitting seemed to be a bustling enterprise. My own sister was a babysitting entrepreneur who brought in a healthy $400 a month, all from babysitting work she had found.
Things have begun to change. Though babysitters seem to be needed more now than ever, the demand for them has seen a sharp decline. The only feasible explanation is the growing lack of trust and security in our neighborhoods. A decade and a half ago, when babysitting was still a thriving industry, kids would spend whole days with friends in parks, not an adult in sight, and still somehow safe. I myself can still hear the quintessential line called out from my mother as often I would sprint from my house: “Make sure you’re home by dinner.”
But these days, kids stay close to home, only going to parks with their parents. With the decay of perceived security in our neighborhoods, it looks as though babysitting jobs are dwindling as well. The crisis goes further. During the old days that some of us still remember, it was a common courtesy for neighbors to knock on the doors of newcomers to the neighborhood, welcoming them with cookies and getting to know them. But in today’s day and age, with documented lists of registered sex-offenders available to the public, scores of neighborhoods countrywide are being put on alert when dangerous persons move into town. Neighbors are often distrustful of those living near them, and wouldn’t jeopardize their children by hiring someone as a babysitter unless they know them very well.
Though caution is generally warranted, it’s hard to see the effect on babysitting jobs. Not long ago, babysitting was the ideal job for high school students on summer break, wanting just a little extra summer spending money without the downfalls of a real job.