Arlington Community Education

The excellent 4-H Babysitters’ Program is designed to better prepare you to become a capable, caring, and responsible babysitter. Understand the responsibilities and skills needed to become a good babysitter and develop confidence in handling situations you may encounter when caring for young children. You will receive a Babysitter’s ID card and a certificate of completion. Ages 12+ Please Note: Tuition includes a student manual that will be available for pickup at an Arlington location prior to the first class.

Play the role of young entrepreneurs as we start with the germ of an idea for a business and product and take it through the entire entrepreneurial process. Develop prototypes, formulate a business plan and devise a marketing strategy. Using a Minecraft-type program, create a storefront to sell your products. Meanwhile, practice public speaking skills as we create and record “TV commercials,” and create a video version of an “elevator pitch” for the “Sharks.” Please note: This program requires the students to create two videos at home with a tablet or smartphone. Editing software is helpful but not required. We also use a Minecraft-type program called Minetest (for which we send download instructions) in which they create a storefront model. Alternatively, the students can build their storefront with legos at home and take photos for the teacher and class to see.

Knowing when your child is ready to stay home alone is a difficult decision, and preparation can make the transition much easier for you and your child. Home Alone Safety is a readiness program that helps prepare your child to safely be home alone before and after school, and learn to take care of themselves while parents work from home. This program is a stepping stone for younger grades as they explore and become comfortable with the idea of being unsupervised at home, and for older grades to better understand and gain confidence with being home alone. This course will teach basic safety rules and help build self-confidence, sense of responsibility and decision-making abilities through a variety of fun, interactive activities and discussions. Note: This is for students with or without family members. Pamphlets, handouts, and training videos will be provided prior to the course. Topics include: - Confidence & Readiness Strategies - Securing Your Home & Key Safety - Checking-In with Parents - Basic First Aid & Injury Prevention - Creating a Safe and Positive Environment - Safe Snacks & Activities - When Someone is at the Door - Taking Care of Siblings & Pets - Dangers of Strangers, Bullies, & Friends - Creating an Emergency Contact List - Handling Real-Life Situations and Emergencies - Creating Action Plans - Being Aware of Your Surroundings - Trust, Communication, & Good Decision Making - 10 Golden Rules of Being Home Alone

Try something fun and new in this 5-part class on “how to adult.” Focus will be on first impressions, Zoom etiquette, basic manners, projecting confidence & understanding social cues, conversation skills, table manners (European and American style), private school/job interview and cell phone etiquette. Through role playing and group discussion, learn tangible skills of being a successful adult, socially and at school or work. Walk away able to practice your newly learned manners right after class—at the dinner table or in your next social media interaction.