Babysitting
Babysitting
Babysitting (/ˈbeɪbɪsɪtɪŋ/) is a temporary care or supervision of children by someone other than their parents or legal guardians. The term originated from the action of the caregiver "sitting on" the baby in one room, while the parents were entertaining or busy in another.
Etymology
The term "babysitting" is derived from the action of the caregiver "sitting" with the baby. The term "sit" in "babysitting" is from Middle English "sitten", which means to occupy a seat or place, or to have one's residence or domicile.
Related Terms
- Childcare: A broad term that covers all types of care provided for children, including babysitting, daycare, and others.
- Nanny: A person who provides child care within the children's family setting. Traditionally, nannies were servants in large households and reported directly to the lady of the house.
- Au pair: A domestic assistant from a foreign country working for, and living as part of, a host family.
- Daycare: A service that supervises and cares for children too young to be left alone during periods when parents or guardians are unavailable, due to work or other commitments.
Responsibilities
Babysitting can be a paid job for all ages; however, it is best known as a temporary activity for young teenagers who are too young to be eligible for employment in the general economy. It provides autonomy from parental control, and spending money, as well as an introduction to the techniques of child care. It emerged as a social role for teenagers in the 1920s, and became especially important in suburban America in the 1950s and 1960s, when there was an abundance of small children.
See Also
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Babysitting
- Wikipedia's article - Babysitting
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