Almost anybody who takes care of kids can tell you that one of the most important parts of the process is damage control. Even the most diligent caretaker is not going to avoid every scenario where they get themselves into trouble, or get upset over something that seems totally inconsequential and dumb to most adults. While preventing these things might be the best course of action, it is only realistic to expect that you have to respond to problems rather than avoid them quite a lot of the time.

The real test comes in how any issues that arise are responded to. Some things just aren’t going to be as effective, or are straight-up not good in terms of a child’s development. Choosing the right option every single time can feel like a minefield, and sometimes even more so when babysitting for children that aren’t yours. Parents can get opinionated on how other caretakers treat their kids.