Safe Sitter Essentials Course
Our Safe Sitter Essentials Course is a comprehensive, hands-on program for children that will be in grades 6-8 during the 2025-2026 school year. Participants develop skills and confidence to care for themselves and younger children safely. The course is offered by Kentucky Children’s Hospital.
Our training emphasizes overall emergency preparedness, first-aid and real-life problem-solving. Young caregivers gain knowledge and skills they can use both as babysitters and in their daily lives at home.
Participants will:
- Learn how to manage behavior to maintain a positive, safe environment.
- Understand child development milestones (infancy through school age) to provide age-appropriate care.
- Practice caregiving tasks, such as diapering and feeding, in a supervised setting.
- Receive guidance on basic first aid, recognize and respond to choking, and learn introductory CPR skills.
- Gain confidence in handling unexpected or emergency situations, including how to remain calm and get professional help when needed.
- Learn valuable business and communication skills, including making introductions and discussing payments with families professionally.
At the end of the course, students get a certificate of completion to recognize their new skills and knowledge.
This is an educational program, not a medical training course. Participants learn basic first aid and emergency response. However, it does not replace professional medical training or certification.
Class format
Our one-day Safe Sitter® Essentials course offers a fast-paced, engaging intro to the fundamentals of babysitting. Students learn to handle emergencies, manage behavior, care for children of different ages, and build a successful babysitting business. With hands-on activities, role-playing and expert instruction, students leave with essential skills in safety, first aid and child care. This format is ideal for students who want to gain critical knowledge in a single day while still enjoying interactive, practical learning opportunities. Students can also meet others their age and make new friends.
Our one-day course will be offered on Dec. 30, 2025, from 10:30 a.m. – 4 p.m.
We maintain low student-to-instructor ratios with a minimum and maximum number of participants. Each participant gets practice and supportive feedback from our experienced healthcare educators.
Participants should:
- Come prepared to engage in group activities.
- Bring a water bottle and snack.
- Wear comfortable clothing suitable for hands-on practice.
This is an in-person course that takes place at various locations throughout Lexington. We will send you the address when you register.
Who can participate?
We welcome children that will be in grades 6-8 during the 2025-2026 school year.
Our instructors
Our instructors are Safe Sitter-certified. They bring years of experience in child health and safety. They use the nationally recognized Safe Sitter curriculum, developed in partnership with healthcare professionals. This ensures every lesson is rooted in the most current pediatric safety and caregiving practices.
We also have access to a network of providers who can offer guidance on child development, safety and health topics. We sometimes bring in guest speakers to ensure well-rounded, comprehensive training.
Pricing
Our one-day, in-person training costs $65.
Registration
Please complete the interest form, and a member of our team will contact you with more information about registration.
Registration will close 30 days before the date of the class.
Training for your group
Would you like us to deliver training to your large group at an off-site location? Email us at KCHSafeSitters@uky.edu to learn more.
Contact us
Email KCHSafeSitters@uky.edu with any questions.