North Shore Youth Council's Babysitting Safety Skills Workshop

(ROCKY POINT, NY) On Friday, January 11th, 2019, North Shore Youth Council hosted its first ever Babysitting Safety Skills workshop for youth in its Rocky Point Middle School Drop-In program after school. 19 youth participated in the hour-long seminar, which was facilitated by Miriam Viaud, NSYC trustee and Registered Nurse with over two decades of experience. The purpose of the special workshop was to teach the young adults essential skills in becoming capable babysitters and learning how to be responsible for themselves and others.

The participants learned many important emergency and safety measures, such as: interviewing with a potential family, becoming oriented with a babysitting location and being proactive to potential dangers and distractions in and around a household, making sure an emergency plan is in place with their parents and having key numbers and contact information written down by a phone, knowing in advance any special conditions like allergies, and having familiarity with first-aid/and or CPR procedures.

At the end of the seminar, the youth participated in a lively group discussion with Viaud and NSYC’s Rocky Point Middle School Program Supervisor, Geri Morgenstern, in which they shared their own babysitting experiences and imparted common sense tips and advice to their peers. Each participant received a Certificate of Completion to confirm their partaking in the workshop.

NSYC’s Middle School Drop-In program is an after school recreation program available in the Mt. Sinai and Rocky Point School Districts from dismissal until 6:00pm. The program provides a safe, positive, and stimulating environment where students can engage in homework, informal intramural sports, arts and crafts, and video game play, as well as participate in other age-appropriate activities and special events.

For more information on NSYC's programs and services, visit www.nsyc.com.