Childcare Essentials

Every year millions of people become responsible for a small child with essentially no training. New parents, grandparents watching a grandchild for the weekend, babysitters, aunts and uncles, family friends — and the stakes are life-or-death in ways that most people don't fully appreciate until they're holding a baby for the first time. This skill covers the physical, practical knowledge that keeps children ages 0-5 alive and healthy. Not parenting philosophy. Not screen time debates. The hands-on, body-skills stuff: how to hold them, feed them, bathe them, recognize when something is wrong, and respond when an airway is blocked. These are skills that should be taught in high school and aren't.