Chenango County youth aged 11 to 16 can learn about babysitting, first aid and CPR, resume writing, and job interviewing at a free American Red Cross Babysitter Training Class offered by The Place. The class will be held from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Friday, February 21 at the Afton Public Library, located at 105A Main Street in Afton. (Sun file photo)

AFTON — The Place is offering a free American Red Cross Babysitter Training Class for Chenango County youth aged 11 to 16 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Friday, February 21 at the Afton Public Library, located at 105A Main Street in Afton.

The class will teach youth who are planning to babysit how to safely and responsibly care for children.

"I am teaching the kids how to start a babysitting business, how to continue running it, how to branch out, how to safely get clients, and then we go over the skills, what you’ll need to be a babysitter. Then we do the first aid and CPR piece," explained The Place EPIC Program Coordinator Elizabeth Hathaway.

She said youth will learn how to start and run a babysitting business, how to safely find clients, how to network with other babysitters, how to handle emergencies, first aid and CPR, how to write a resume, and etiquette for job interviews. They'll also learn about behavior management and how to care for children of varying ages.