Babysitting Jobs on the Rise

Frisco mom runs online babysitter Web site

The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects an 18 percent increase in the number of child care workers between 2006 and 2016.

Jennifer Calyer, the Frisco mom who owns the Collin County and North Dallas franchises of a online babysitter site, said she sees the increase firsthand.

SeekingSitters.com pairs sitters with families. In two and a half years, the North Texas franchises have grown and now offer roughly 150 babysitters.

"I'm pretty picky, so anyone that ends up on our team -- they're good," Calyer said.

Calyer brought the franchise down after some friends of hers started the business in Tulsa, Okla.

Potential sitters have to pass an investigative background check. Calyer also checks out the families to make sure they're safe.

"This business was built around a background-check business first, then babysitting," she said. "We want to make sure everyone involved is safe."

More families are signing up, and more people are looking to become a sitter.

Morgan Ijames, 21, works severals hours a week with SeekingSitters.com. She also goes to school and works in retail.

"It keeps me plenty busy," she said. "Like right now -- during the week, 20 hours a week, and if I want to work on (the) weekend, I can."

Ijames said she enjoys the work.

"I get paid to hang out with kids and watch movies," she said. "We go to the movies, and we go swimming or to the park. It couldn't get any easier."

The Web site charges families a one-time $39.99 fee for the background check, and then sitters' hourly rates are posted.

For more information, visit www.seekingsitters.com.

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