Babysitting means looking after children while their parents are out. Childminding is the same idea on a regular schedule, like after-school care.
Three ways families book you
- Once-off evenings and weekends: parents going out, weddings, functions.
- Regular after-school care: collecting children, homework, supper, until a parent gets home.
- Holidays: day care while schools are closed.
- Who pays
working parents, parents going out, families on holiday, and grandparents who need help.
- The legal line
you can look after up to six children without registering. Under the Children's Act, caring for more than six children on behalf of their parents is "partial care", and the facility must be registered with the provincial Department of Social Development.
A good sign: a first paid booking from a family you know within two weeks.