Navigating Scheduling Challenges with College Student Babysitters

When you use college student babysitters, scheduling challenges are inevitable. College students aren’t on a regular or predictable nine-to-five work schedule, but they might have classes at weird times, hours of homework, and extracurriculars that make up an odd and difficult schedule. While it may be frustrating, there are always ways you can make it work by working together with your college student babysitter and a little bit of patience.

Whether you’re working with a long-time babysitter whose schedule just changed at the start of a new semester or you’re looking to hire someone new, we can help you navigate these scheduling challenges with college student babysitters.

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Shared Schedules

One of the best ways to navigate this challenge is to create a shared schedule with your babysitter. Your college student babysitter can put in all of their classes, clubs, as well as any other meetings that pop up, so you are aware of their schedule. Meanwhile, you can put in work or work events, date nights, or any other events you usually need your babysitter, as well as events your child has, such as sports, rehearsals, or tutoring. By using a shared calendar, everyone can look at a glance to see what lines up or what events they might need to shift, if possible,

I recommend using something electronic so everyone has access to it at all times and can make changes as soon as something changes. You can use something like Google Calendar by making a shared calendar. You can download this right to your phone and make a widget or view it on your desktop for ease.

Now, it is important that both parties keep this updated and as far in advance as possible. If you know there’s an event on Monday, don’t wait until the last minute to put it in your calendar! If someone slacks, you may not know that you have to rearrange something or find a substitute babysitter.

Stay Flexible

You should try and stay as flexible as possible when it comes to scheduling with your college student babysitter. While some events cannot be changed, such as tickets to a play or game, plans such as dinner can be moved. If date night is every Thursday because it works best for you, your partner, and your babysitter, but this week your babysitter has to work on an intense group project, you might consider postponing your date night. As disappointing as it may be, it’s an inevitable part of hiring college students.

Of course, flexibility goes both ways. Your babysitter should be open to moving around homework times to help take care of your children. They can always work on homework while at yours, so long as your children’s needs are being met! Ensure that you understand just how important class is, and don’t expect them to skip.

Flexibility also includes giving your babysitter a few extra minutes. Even if they are never late and punctuality is very important to you, if your babysitter is rushing over after class, be patient. Class may have run long, there might have been extra traffic, or any number of circumstances. They should keep you updated on when they leave class, so you know when to expect them and you’re not just sitting in the dark.

Set Boundaries

Both you and your babysitter should also set boundaries. Despite being flexible, maybe there are certain times that are off limits and they don’t want to be reached. Maybe they don’t want you to text them while in class so as not to lose their focus, unless it is an absolute emergency. Because of your shared schedule, you’ll know when that is! You may also set a rule of one specific day of the week or month that they always keep open for you, again, unless absolutely necessary, they must schedule something on that day. It is important that you respect the rules and boundaries set so that you can continue to work together in peace.

Communicate Effectively

As I’m sure you already know, communication is always key in any relationship, both personal and professional. Keeping each other updated on your schedules requires communication, as does asking or setting specific rules and boundaries. Both parties need to communicate their expectations for balancing these schedules and navigating these new challenges. Keep everyone apprised of any changes as soon as you know, so you don’t blindside anyone. By utilizing your open communication, you can ensure that everything continues to work for everyone involved, including children.

By following these steps, you can slowly but surely navigate these tough scheduling challenges with your college student babysitters. While schedules may not always align, you can work together by scheduling in advance, setting rules and boundaries, as well as keeping an open line of communication.