It will likely be a busy New Year's Eve weekend for babysitters as parents head out to ring in the new year. In Brevard County, there's a first-time class aimed to help youth become better caregivers.

  • Brevard County providing babysitting class, first aid training
  • The next class is Jan. 3-6 and runs from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
  • Contact Debbie Bowling at 321-633-1874

Grace Richardson, 13, has a few years under her belt as a babysitter, and so she knows it's a big responsibility.

"Because you are dealing with someone's life," she said.

Grace currently watches kids ages 2, 5 and 9 on a regular basis. When Grace was 9 years old, she saw how quickly a 1-year-old can get into trouble while she was playing in a friend's backyard near the family pool.

"She fell in and we had to jump in and get her," Grace recalled.

Even with experience, Grace said she thought she needed to know more about caring for children. She signed up for a class put on by Brevard County Parks and Recreation through the American Red Cross.

Teenagers learn how to communicate with parents, bolster their resume and take care of children.

"Getting into feeding them, dressing them, changing diapers — because some first-time parents don't even know that stuff," said Debbie Bowling, who is teaching the course for the county.

Life-saving skills like first aid and CPR focused on infants are also taught in the class.

"If something happens with the baby, they will know how to take care of them," Bowling said, adding that the students also learn respect and how to help their parents with their younger siblings.

Grace said the experience is invaluable, especially because she eventually wants a career working with children.

"My dad always said if you have a job you love, it's like doing what you love every day — just with a paycheck," she said.

The next babysitting class is Jan. 3-6 at Kiwanis Island Park Community Center, 951 Kiwanis Island Park Road, in Merritt Island. The camp runs from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Training is open to both boys and girls ages 11 and older. Cost is $100 and covers books, material and American Red Cross certification in first aid and child/infant CPR/ Lunch isn't included.

For more information, contact Debbie Bowling at 321-633-1874 or via email at debbie.bowling@brevardparks.com.