The summer your tween becomes someone other parents call first.
That's the whole idea behind Care Co. Babysitter Academy, a 4-week babysitter training course at Little Village Play Cafe in Wauwatosa, Wisconsin. We've been dying to launch this since before Little Village opened three years ago. It's officially here, and registration is open for summer 2026.
If you've got a middle schooler who keeps asking if they can babysit "for real," this program is built for them. Here's what Babysitter Academy is, who it's for, and exactly what your tween will walk away with.
What is Care Co. Babysitter Academy?
Care Co. Babysitter Academy is a 4-week babysitter training program for incoming grades 5 to 8, held at Little Village Play Cafe in Wauwatosa, just west of Milwaukee. Each session meets once a week for two hours and combines hands-on babysitter classes with real preparation for real families.
By the end of the four weeks, your tween will have:
- A certificate of completion in babysitter training
- Hands-on instruction in CPR awareness, basic first aid, and choking rescue
- A full babysitter starter kit with custom business cards and a tote
- An optional listing in the Little Village Babysitter Directory
- A meet-and-greet playdate with member families looking for sitters
Translation: they don't just learn the theory. They leave with the skills, the gear, and a foot in the door.
Why a Babysitter Course, and Why Now?
There's a real gap between "wants to babysit" and "is actually ready to babysit." Most tweens jump from begging their parents to let them stay home alone straight to taking care of a neighbor's toddler, with nothing in between.
A real babysitter training course closes that gap. It teaches the soft skills (how to redirect a meltdown, when to call for help, how to talk to a parent professionally) and the hard skills (CPR awareness, first aid, choking response) that turn a willing kid into a confident, capable sitter.
It also gives parents who are hiring sitters a layer of trust they can't get from a teen with no training.
The 4-Week Babysitter Training Curriculum
Each session of Babysitter Academy follows the same four-week curriculum, designed to build confidence week over week.
Week 1: Foundations of Childcare
Understanding child development, purposeful play, daily routines, feeding, and caring for babies and young children. Your tween learns what's actually happening in a 2-year-old's brain and how to meet them where they are.
Week 2: Health & Safety Skills
Basic first aid, CPR awareness, choking rescue, and fire safety. The week parents care most about, and the one that gives new sitters the most confidence walking into a new home.
Week 3: Leadership & Emergency Readiness
Communication skills and the practice of staying calm, leading, and responding in real-life situations. We role-play the moments that throw new sitters: the toddler who won't go to bed, the bloody nose, the parent running an hour late.
Week 4: Practice & Confidence Building
A skills check, a review of everything they've learned, and a meet-and-greet playdate where graduates connect with Little Village member families looking for sitters. They leave with a certificate, a starter kit, and contacts in the neighborhood.
Who Babysitter Academy Is For
Care Co. Babysitter Academy is built for incoming grades 5 to 8. That's roughly ages 10 to 14. If your kid is asking about babysitting, eager to earn their own money this summer, or just ready for a real responsibility, they're the right fit.
It's also a great option for:
- Middle schoolers looking for summer programs that aren't just camp
- Tweens who are aging out of traditional summer camps but not ready for a full job
- Kids who love younger siblings and want to turn that into a skill
- Wauwatosa, Tosa, and Milwaukee-area parents searching for "summer programs for tweens" or "summer programs for middle schoolers" with actual takeaway value
Summer 2026 Babysitter Academy Sessions
Babysitter Academy meets Mondays from 1:30 to 3:30 PM. Three sessions are running this summer, each one a four-week series:
- Session 1:Â June 15, 22, 29 + July 6
- Session 2:Â July 13, 20, 27 + August 3
- Session 3:Â August 10, 17, 24, 31
Pricing:Â $160 for Little Village members, $180 for non-members. Spots are limited and going fast, especially for Session 1.
Frequently Asked Questions
How old does my kid need to be for babysitter training?
Care Co. Babysitter Academy is open to incoming grades 5 to 8 (roughly ages 10 to 14). The program is designed specifically for the middle school age group.
Is this a CPR certification course?
We teach CPR awareness, choking rescue, and basic first aid as part of the curriculum. This is babysitter-focused training, not a formal CPR certification through the Red Cross or American Heart Association. Graduates leave with a Care Co. certificate of completion in babysitter training.
What's included in the babysitter starter kit?
Every grad walks away with a certificate of completion, custom business cards printed with their name, a tote bag, and the full babysitter starter kit. Everything they need to walk into their first job looking and feeling the part.
How does the babysitter directory work?
Graduates can opt into the Little Village Babysitter Directory, a list we share with member families looking to hire. The Week 4 meet-and-greet playdate is a built-in introduction to member families actively looking for sitters.
Where is Little Village Play Cafe located?
Babysitter Academy is held at Little Village Play Cafe, located at 6505 W North Ave, Wauwatosa, WI 53213. We're easy to reach from anywhere in the Milwaukee area, including Tosa, Brookfield, Elm Grove, Shorewood, and Whitefish Bay.
Can my child attend more than one session?
The 4-week curriculum is the same in each session, so most graduates only attend once. If your tween wants extra practice, reach out to us directly and we'll talk through options.
What if my tween misses a class?
Each week builds on the last, so we recommend committing to all four weeks of a single session before registering. If something comes up, contact us and we'll do our best to accommodate.
Register for Care Co. Babysitter Academy
If you've been Googling "summer plans for tweens," "babysitting classes Wauwatosa," "babysitter training Milwaukee," or "summer programs for middle schoolers," this is your sign. Babysitter Academy spots fill fast, especially for Session 1.
Reserve your tween's spot here.
Care Co. Babysitter Academy is a program of Little Village Play Cafe in Wauwatosa, Wisconsin, designed to give middle schoolers the real skills, real certification, and real community connections they need to become confident, capable babysitters. Real skills. Real certification. Real local families.
