Teaching Tips

Safe Sitter® Supplies Education and Inspiration

We know Safe Sitter® saves lives. Sometimes, it changes the course of them as well. Kimberly Foster readily admits she wouldn’t be where she is today if not for Safe Sitter®. A Safe Sitter® Instructor at Baxter Regional Medical Center since 2010, Kimberly took the class when she was 13 at the same hospital where she now works as a registered nurse.

This Hospital Has Its Own ‘Teen Scene’

As we all know, the teen years can be difficult ones. By offering a spectrum of classes just for adolescents, including Safe Sitter®, Bon Secours St. Francis Health System is doing what it can to help teens make the transition to responsible young adults.

Safe Sitter® Skills Go Beyond the Classroom

Teachers have the challenge of keeping up with societal trends that affect both students and families. One trend is the increasing number of young teens who are home alone, sibling sitting, or babysitting and who need to be taught the skills to stay safe in those situations. That's why FCS Teacher Lisa Trunk teaches Safe Sitter®.

From Obstacle to Opportunity

We’ve all heard the saying about turning obstacles into opportunities. Cathedral High School is a great example. It very creatively fit a structured program like Safe Sitter® into its school summer camp experience and, according to Anthony Ernst, its become one of their strongest programs.

13 Website Best Practices For Your Safe Sitter® Classes

Students want to take your class and parents want an easy registration process. The best way to do this is to create a dedicated landing page for your Safe Sitter® classes. When creating this page, we recommend following a few best practices.

Tips for Working with The Media

You get a call from local media about your Safe Sitter® program or life and safety training for teens in general. Great! Don’t worry. Take a deep breath. Check out these tips to help you when it's your time to shine.

The Unruly Student: Tips on Managing Difficult Behavior

Occasionally, you may come across unforeseen, problematic behavior when you’re teaching. How you react and deal with the situation is important. Your students are constantly watching you, and they’ll pick up on your reactions and apply them to situations that occur when they’re babysitting.

Filling Needs in Her Community and Beyond (Again and Again)

Safe Sitter® is not just a class; it’s a cause. It’s no wonder then that someone like Katie Maguire would choose to teach it. Katie is one of those inspiring people who sees a need and fills it. Find out why she felt so passionately about bring Safe Sitter® to her community.

Preparing for Spring and Summer Safe Sitter®Classes

Safe Sitter® classes are more popular during the warmer months. Kids are out of school, and parents want to keep their kids' summer brains active. They also want to make sure their kids can safely stay home alone or watch younger siblings while they’re at work. Plan ahead to take advantage of this golden time to teach! Here's what Site Coordinators must do to be ready.

An Instructor’s Job Is Never Done: Teaching in Spring and Summer

With summer approaching, most school teachers are getting ready to wind down. However, as a Safe Sitter® Instructor, you may be gearing up for your busiest time of the year: spring and summer! Make sure you know what you need to do to be ready

3 Things That Spell Disaster For Your Program

As Site Coordinator, you’re charged with making sure your Safe Sitter® program runs smoothly. You know the things you should be doing to make that happen, but are you aware of the things you shouldn’t? Here are three pitfalls you should avoid if you want your program to thrive.

Expanding Her Reach to Teach Safe Sitter®

Kristi Murphy used to teach Safe Sitter® at a Teaching Site but now she’s an Independent Instructor. She admits there are challenges to being her own Teaching Site, Site Coordinator, and Instructor all rolled into one, but says the challenges are well worth it.

Site Coordinator Changes: What You Need to Know

Teaching Sites are most vulnerable during a Site Coordinator transition. Here’s what new Site Coordinators need to know to take the helm and keep a Safe Sitter® program going in the right direction.

What You Need To Know About Teaching Young Teens

Young teens are going through emotional, social, and physical changes so it’s important to provide them with a supportive learning environment. That starts with understanding and remembering their special characteristics and how to manage them.

How to Recruit the Best Instructors

Just as coaches sustain athletes’ enthusiasm for the game, Site Coordinators work to keep Instructors motivated and their Safe Sitter® program going. Here’s what you should look for—and where you can look— when recruiting new members of your Safe Sitter® team!

Safe Sitter® Speaks a Universal Language

St. Clair Hospital teaches Safe Sitter® to Pittsburgh’s large refugee population. Vicki Fitzpatrick says she sees firsthand how the curriculum's key concepts are able to resonate so well across cultural lines.

Before School, After School, and For a Lifetime

July may be National Make a Difference to Children Month, but to youth organizations like AYS, Inc. every day offers the chance to impact children’s lives in meaningful ways.

She’s a Catalyst for Change

Phoebe Baquera of Life Fellowship Church lived in a community without Safe Sitter®. When she thought about what a difference it could make to her neighbors, she knew she had to act.

3 Things That Spell Disaster For Your Class

As an Instructor, you want to give your students the best learning experience possible. You also want to come away feeling that you did all you could to make the class a success. There’s no secret to having a successful class every time. It starts by avoiding three major pitfalls.

The Secret of This Park Site’s Success

Nancy Jagielski of Wauconda Park District in Illinois believes park employees have a special asset that makes teaching Safe Sitter® so natural for them. Find out what that is!

The How’s & Why’s of Using the Digital Presentation

Sure, it looks like a trendy silicone bracelet but it’s so much more. You requested it, so the Graphics Pack went digital. Here’s how you should use it, and why you’ll always want to!

Recruiting Students the Easy Way

Even when you’re super busy, you can make the student recruitment process much easier by trying a few simple things. A little effort can go a long way!

Our Best Instructors Share Their Secrets

Whether you’ve been teaching Safe Sitter® for two years or 20, you’re no doubt interested to hear how other Instructors run a successful class. Here are insights from a few of your fellow Instructors.

Ordering 101

Ordering materials is one of the most important jobs of a Site Coordinator. Find out all you need to know about ordering materials, including ways to submit your order, how far you should order in advance of a class, and more!

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Safe Sitter® Supplies Education and Inspiration

This Hospital Has Its Own ‘Teen Scene’

Safe Sitter® Skills Go Beyond the Classroom

From Obstacle to Opportunity

13 Website Best Practices For Your Safe Sitter® Classes

Tips for Working with The Media

The Unruly Student: Tips on Managing Difficult Behavior

Filling Needs in Her Community and Beyond (Again and Again)

Preparing for Spring and Summer Safe Sitter®Classes

An Instructor’s Job Is Never Done: Teaching in Spring and Summer

3 Things That Spell Disaster For Your Program

Expanding Her Reach to Teach Safe Sitter®

Site Coordinator Changes: What You Need to Know

What You Need To Know About Teaching Young Teens

How to Recruit the Best Instructors

Safe Sitter® Speaks a Universal Language

Before School, After School, and For a Lifetime

She’s a Catalyst for Change

3 Things That Spell Disaster For Your Class

The Secret of This Park Site’s Success

The How’s & Why’s of Using the Digital Presentation

Recruiting Students the Easy Way

Our Best Instructors Share Their Secrets

Ordering 101