Virtual Babysitting: Is It Worth It?

The coronavirus is continuously challenging every household in the world. Because of this pandemic, routines have changed. For parents and children, instead of leaving for work and school, plugging in the computer is slowly becoming the 'new normal.' 

As schools and daycares close, the weight of not just taking care of children, but also educating them falls on parents. Even childcare now could rely on computers with virtual babysitting. 

The childcare industry is also adapting to the changing needs of its market. Some babysitters and national platforms like Care.com and SitterCity have put on their creative hats. 

These sites are still offering their services but with an assurance that they are following social-distancing protocols. 

How Does Virtual Babysitting Work?

Virtual babysitting could be the most-awaited peace-and-quiet that parents have been longing to have. Here's how it works. 

It's Hands-Off

Compared to traditional babysitting, where someone comes over to a house to physically take care of a child, virtual babysitting uses a video platform. In this platform, the babysitter entertains the child. The number of hours that they will do this is determined at the onset of the session.

Different Activities

Depending on the child's age or preference, virtual babysitters offer different activities. Some of these are singing, crafting projects, doing puppet shows, or just chatting.

Who are the virtual babysitters?

One of the affected industries by the pandemic is the performing arts, like theater. Performers and artists who needed to change their careers because of the pandemic opted to become virtual babysitters. Thus singing, dancing, or doing arts and crafts can be an easy task for these virtual babysitters.

What could still be lacking?

Children might be engaged with the activities or are pre-occupied for a good hour or so with the virtual babysitter. Still, unlike the traditional one, virtual babysitting means some aspects will not be covered like preparing meals or setting up and cleaning up after sessions.

If a child is too young, keeping their attention fixed on the screen could be difficult. Four-year-olds, for example, tend to wander away from the screen.

Will paying a virtual babysitter going to be worth it?

For some, paying a stranger to talk to their children online can be a weird thing, but for some parents, it can be their only gateway to relieve stress. Also, the amount of time children spent with virtual babysitters could be enough for parents to accomplish tasks like creating an email, or a videoconference. This setup will especially work out for children who love interacting with other people.

However, for other families, this could be a waste of money, especially if a child would not engage or participate in the activities prepared by the virtual babysitter. Parents might end up paying for an hour of a session in which their child would only stay for only a couple of minutes.

Chances are, this concept may work for some and be an absurd idea for others. Still, virtual babysitting is an option available for parents to explore.