That's a good question. Babysitting is a great way to earn some extra money! Well, one of the first places to start to figure this one out is to find out what most people are willing to pay. If you have friends who tend kids, ask them what they are paid. Also, maybe your parents can help you by finding out what they and their friends typically pay babysitters. Usually when you start tending kids, you need to be paid about what everyone else is getting paid in your neighborhood.

The best thing to do is to become the best babysitter around so people will want to hire you. Here are some ideas on how to do that.

• Make sure you follow the parents' instructions! All of them!
• Give the kids all your attention, don't just sit and watch TV all the time or talk on the phone to your friends.
• Sometimes you can put the toys away that the kids played with. That way the parents come home to a house that isn't a mess.
• Make sure you know how to phone the parents in case there are any problems or emergencies with the kids.
• Some sitters have a "babysitting kit" they take with them. It has toys, coloring books, crayons and fun things. The little kids look forward to playing with new toys when you go to their house, so they will look forward to seeing you!

In fact, Rosie, this is a good thing --- to learn all about any kind of job for when you get older, and how to do a job well. Always be the best babysitter you can be, give your full attention to tending the kids and always look for extra things you can do to make parents want to have you tend their kids again. The better babysitter you are, more people will want to hire you and they will pay you more too!

Did You Know?

You will increase your chances of being called back by asking for all the parents' expectations of the kids you are tending. Be sure you measure up. You'll get lots of referrals!