Digital Babysitting

@mom210 (9117)

United States

April 24, 2020 9:57am CST

I had never heard of digital babysitting until recently. Apparently you can actually hire a professional to engage your child or children digitally for a short period of time. They can help with homework, play a game, even teach your kid to cook. I guess it is one step better than handing the kid a device and saying be quiet or telling them to go watch a tv show. We live in a very rural area, when we go to the doctor, there are times the doctor has actually not been there in person, but was there by way of a computer. Of course I always feel a little like I should receive a discount for that service since the doctor could not even be bothered to show up. I prefer more personal service. In the end, To me, it is still leaving your kid alone, unattended. The person on the other side of the computer cannot really help your kid in an emergency, they cannot really keep your kid from being naughty. But to each their own. Whatever works for ya.

17 people like this

18 responses

Valerie J. Routhieaux

@just4him (317089)

• Green Bay, Wisconsin

29 Apr 20

Like you, I prefer hands-on. Babysitters need to be with the children.

3 people like this

@mom210 (9117)

• United States

5 Jun 20

very true, they need to know somebody would be there to stop them from causing hard or doing mischief

1 person likes this

Valerie J. Routhieaux

@just4him (317089)

• Green Bay, Wisconsin

7 Jun 20

@mom210 Yes, they do.

@JudyEv (340466)

• Rockingham, Australia

25 Apr 20

I don't this is a very good idea. As long as someone is in the house with the child I guess it's a short-term solution but not otherwise.

3 people like this

@mom210 (9117)

• United States

5 Jun 20

I agree this is pure craziness to me. I cannot even imagine what my twins would do once they figure out nobody is really there to stop them.

1 person likes this

@AmbiePam (92988)

• United States

24 Apr 20

I guess some parents are desperate. The preschool of my nephew sent videos of lessons to the parents to use for their kids, but it requires the parents involved. I would certainly be cautious about not watching what my kid was doing.

3 people like this

@mom210 (9117)

• United States

5 Jun 20

absolutely, seems like if they can get into trouble, they would

1 person likes this

@ScribbledAdNauseum (104628)

• United States

24 Apr 20

You can not be sure the kid is actually safe.. If you aren't monitoring what is being said, then how can you trust the person?

2 people like this

@mom210 (9117)

• United States

5 Jun 20

Very true, I would want to know what is being said for sure

1 person likes this

@ScribbledAdNauseum (104628)

• United States

5 Jun 20

@mom210 I believe most people can be trusted, but there is still a large percentage that can not be trusted. Even a person who took early childhood education / development and is certified needs to be monitored.

1 person likes this

@mom210 (9117)

• United States

6 Jun 20

@ScribbledAdNauseum yes, and not everybody agrees what is best for children and even if they did, each child is not the same.

1 person likes this

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Belle Starr (Iz)

@BelleStarr (61102)

• United States

29 Apr 20

I think my daughter could use this since Jack has been driving her crazy, she works from home and is a supervisor in a very stressful job and an antsy 8 years old makes it difficult to do what she needs to do.

2 people like this

@mom210 (9117)

• United States

5 Jun 20

This would be perfect for that type of situation.

@DianneN (247186)

• United States

29 Apr 20

I agree with you. There is no way I would ever subject any child to that. I would rather not see a doctor digitally unless it was for something simple like a rash. lol

2 people like this

@mom210 (9117)

• United States

5 Jun 20

I think I would still feel like they should give me a discount. He is not even in the room. What an easy way to make money though

1 person likes this

@snowy22315 (180979)

• United States

24 Apr 20

That is an interesting idea. People are very enterprising. I guess that is how this country got where it is, or where it was anyway. Now everything is screwed up.

2 people like this

@mom210 (9117)

• United States

5 Jun 20

we do come up with interesting ideas for sure, some, like this one, though are real misses while others are amazing.

1 person likes this

@bunnybon7 (50973)

• Holiday, Florida

30 Apr 20

that does sound quite dangerous and scary. My kids were 12 yrs old before I would even let them walk a couple blocks alone or stay a few minutes inside alone

1 person likes this

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@bunnybon7 (50973)

• Holiday, Florida

5 Jun 20

@mom210 even now they are grown I imagine all sorts of things happening to them guess I am just a worrier

1 person likes this

@mom210 (9117)

• United States

6 Jun 20

@bunnybon7 i am too, so is my mother. I think it runs in families

1 person likes this

@mom210 (9117)

• United States

5 Jun 20

very true, I still worry about them walking down to the store. The ones I allow to do it are 14 & 15 and I feel like my heart stops until they get back.

1 person likes this

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@marlina (154131)

• Canada

26 Apr 20

I have never heard of such a thing, do not like it much.

2 people like this

@mom210 (9117)

• United States

5 Jun 20

nope I definitely would not do this.

1 person likes this

Vicki, #1 Creek Girl

@1creekgirl (41459)

• United States

24 Apr 20

That's interesting. It might or might not be a good idea, depending on the situation.

2 people like this

@mom210 (9117)

• United States

5 Jun 20

I could see it being okay for preteens, or if a parent is working in another room from home bu not as the sole babysitter

1 person likes this

@paigea (36317)

• Canada

30 Apr 20

I can see it being useful to teach/ practice a particular skill with some physically distanced supervision. I agree, it is not really babysitting.

1 person likes this

@mom210 (9117)

• United States

5 Jun 20

Nope not babysitting, what an easy way to make a buck though. Don't even have to leave the hosue

1 person likes this

@mom210 (9117)

• United States

6 Jun 20

@paigea true. but no driving and traffic worries, no dressing for the "office" supper can be cooking n the back ground. Nice

1 person likes this

@paigea (36317)

• Canada

6 Jun 20

@mom210 I guess I am just not a work at home person. When I started mystery shopping I thought I would enjoy the time spent filling out the reports. I can have a coffee, start a meal, like you say. But the reality is, I get home and the reports are the last thing I want to do

At home I don't want to work.

1 person likes this

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@Courtlynn (67083)

• United States

8 Aug 20

well that's new. Never heard of it either til now.

1 person likes this

@mom210 (9117)

• United States

9 Aug 20

very strange isn't it?

1 person likes this

@Courtlynn (67083)

• United States

11 Aug 20

@mom210 yup. Never in my life would i do that unless my kids were talking to my mom lol

@anamika161088 (11866)

• India

24 Apr 20

Ot sounds tobe a good concept to me. Not for very small kids but for 6-12 years of age. They mostly know what’s harmful for thenand whats not. They can easily be attended this way and its far much better than switching TV on or giving them mobiles or i pads to play

2 people like this

@mom210 (9117)

• United States

5 Jun 20

I could see it for kids in the upper range of that age group. You can't really leave them alone yet, but they are close to the age they can be left. Especially girls, they are so much more mature.

@YrNemo (20255)

•

25 Apr 20

There are plenty of youtube clips which are free and do the same thing I think

.

2 people like this

@mom210 (9117)

• United States

5 Jun 20

true and they are free.

1 person likes this

@GreatMartin (23672)

• Ft. Lauderdale, Florida

29 Apr 20

Whatever happened to parents being responsible and bringing up THEIR kids??

1 person likes this

@mom210 (9117)

• United States

5 Jun 20

I do wonder about that. It is like they expect everybody else to fix their issues.

@DaddyEvil (137261)

• United States

11 Aug 20

Who came up with a stupid idea like that? I hope whoever it was gets fined!

@MarshaMusselman (38865)

• Midland, Michigan

1 May 20

It might be beneficial is a parent is in the house but tending to a baby with an ear to the other child otherwise I don't see how it could be legal unless the child was older and mainly needed a lot of interaction.

@mom210 (9117)

• United States

5 Jun 20

Yes, that would be a good idea or if they were working from home in the next room

1 person likes this

@cintol (11261)

• United States

30 Apr 20

I have never heard of this one either, I can only imagine how hard this would be over the a laptop and not in person. Its hard enough in person. I sure wouldn't teach a kid to cook over it either, what if they start a fire, yeah I wouldn't trust this method.

1 person likes this

@mom210 (9117)

• United States

5 Jun 20

Nope me either, I guess if it were some kind of situation like grandma is elderly and watching them. Maybe another person entertaining them would be good. I just am not really comfortable with it though

1 person likes this

@cintol (11261)

• United States

6 Jun 20

@mom210 Yeah, doesn't seem like such a safe way to have your kids watched.

1 person likes this