It can be difficult for parents—especially first time parents—to trust a babysitter with the care and keeping of their children. While they know they should have a date night, they never seem to make it a priority. If you are one of the many parents desperate for a date night, but unsure of which sitter to trust, here are six attributes you should look for in a potential babysitter.

 Trustworthy

The most important attribute a babysitter should have is trustworthiness. You should be able to trust your sitter to show up on time, take excellent care of your children and make wise decisions while they are in her care. Asking for references and recommendations is one great way to see if a potential sitter has this trait. Then you can leave your children or child with them and have total ease that they are mature enough to handle the situation and know what to do.

 Friendly

While no sitter can ever compare with the love of a parent, a great sitter should be warm, caring, inviting and friendly. She should genuinely love your children and enjoy spending time with them, and your children should enjoy her company as well.

 Playful

A great sitter will not simply set your children in front of the television the entire time she is there. Instead, a great sitter will play fun games with the kids to keep them engaged and entertained until you return. Being with a sitter should be a fun experience that your children look forward to. It is a time when they get to interact closely to a new individual and experience different types of play.

 Educational

A truly great babysitter will not just keep your children entertained, but she will also teach them while she is there too. In addition to helping them learn their manners and social skills, she might also help them with their homework or share interesting facts she knows.

 Safety Conscious

While your kids probably will not have any major accidents while the sitter is there, you want to know that the sitter will be able to handle any emergencies that do arise. Look for a sitter that has taken the CPR classes Chicago parents insist upon.

 Supportive

Lastly, you want your sitter to be supportive of the way you do things in your family. Even when you are gone for the night, you should be able to expect the sitter to uphold your rules and do things pretty much the same way that you would if you were there. You want it to be a fun experience for your children, but you still want them to understand that the rules and guidelines you have in place in your home are still the rules and they need to learn to guide their lives with them.

Choosing a sitter may be difficult, but it will be worth it when you find the right one. You will be able to go out and enjoy a long-anticipated date night while knowing that your kids are having fun and being well taken care of at home.

Author Bio:

Brionna Kennedy is native to the Pacific Northwest, growing up in Washington, then moving down to Oregon for college. She enjoys writing on fashion and business, but any subject will do, she loves to learn about new topics. When she isn’t writing, she lives for the outdoors. Oregon has been the perfect setting to indulge her love of kayaking, rock climbing, and hiking.