State law requires that anyone caring for an unrelated child for more than 10 hours per week must be a licensed day-care provider. Many private family homes are licensed day-care homes. For additional information, contact the Child Care Resource Service, 333-3252. Some University students who want to baby-sit leave their names at the Student Employment Office. Call 333-0600 for information about costs.
Young students can earn money by baby-sitting.
It is a good idea to get a recommendation from someone else to insure that the sitter is reliable. There are also exchange groups called baby-sitting pools in many housing areas such as Orchard Downs. In these groups, parents take turns caring for each other s children. Many people would be surprised to learn that Illinois State law stipulates that parents must never leave a child under twelve years old unattended, even for a short period of time. If you need to go to the laundry, take an exam, attend a class, etc., and you cannot take your child with you, it is your responsibility to make sure that your child is supervised by a responsible person at least twelve years old.