Are Females the Best Babysitters?

Females are supposed to have a maternal instinct, which makes them naturally caring and nurturing. Thus many families prefer to hire females when hiring a babysitter. So are females really the best babysitters?  That is what this poll is designed to find out. This poll is for those who had a female babysitter other than their sisters.
 

What is your gender? Male Female

What is your age?

What country are you from?

If you are from the United States, what state are you from?

How many female babysitters have you had? Sisters do not count. If you have had more than one female babysitter, complete this poll for each one.

Had did your family find the female babysitter? She was my aunt. She was my cousin. She was my neighbor. She lived in my neighborhood. She was a friend of the family. My parents knew her or her family from their work. My parents knew her or her family from church. My parents found her through an advertisement.

How well did you know the the her before she began babysitting you? Knew very well Knew fairly well Knew somewhat Knew slightly Had never met

How old were you when your female babysitter began sitting you?

How old were you when your female babysitter stopped sitting you? If she still sits, put your current age.

If your female babysitter no longer sits you, why did she stop?

How old was your female babysitter when she first started sitting you?

Did your female babysitter play games or sports with you? Yes, she volunteered to play with me. Yes, when I asked her and she was happy to do it. Yes, when I asked her but she was not happy about it. No, but I wished she had. No, and I did not want her to.

Was your female babysitter responsible for fixing meals or snacks? Yes, and they were always healthy. Yes, and they were usually healthy. Yes, and they were sometimes healthy. Yes, and they were rarely healthy. Yes, and they were never healthy. She never fixed meals or snacks.

Was your female babysitter responsible for picking you up from school? Yes, and she was always on time. Yes, and she was usually on time. Yes, and she was on time sometimes. Yes, and she was rarely on time. Yes, and she was never on time. She never picked me up from school.

Did your female babysitter help you with schoolwork? Yes, she volunteered to help me. Yes, when I asked her and she was happy to do it. Yes, when I asked her but she was not happy about it. No, but I wished she had. No, and I did not want her to.

Did your female babysitter read to you? Yes, she volunteered to read to me. Yes, when I asked her and she was happy to do it. Yes, when I asked her but she was not happy about it. No, but I wished she had. No, and I did not want her to.

Did you look on your female babysitter more like a sister or a mother? Sister Mother

How did your female babysitter typically respond when you misbehaved? She never disciplined me when I misbehaved but she always told my parents. She never disciplined me when I misbehaved and she only told my parents about the big stuff. She never disciplined me when I misbehaved and she never told my parents. She disciplined me when I misbehaved and always told my parents. She disciplined me when I misbehaved but only told my parents about the big stuff. She disciplined me when I misbehaved but did not tell my parents if I begged her not to. She disciplined me when I misbehaved and never told my parents.

Do you think your female babysitter was too strict? She was too strict. She was  just strict enough. She was not strict enough.

Was your female babysitter as strict as your mother? She was much more strict than my mother. She was somewhat more strict than my mother. She was as strict as my mother. She was somewhat less strict than my mother. She was much less strict than my mother.

Was your female babysitter as strict as your father? She was much more strict than my father. She was somewhat more strict than my father. She was as strict as my father. She was somewhat less strict than my father. She was much less strict than my father.

Listed below are several ways to discipline a child. For each, say approximately how many times your female babysitter used that way of discipline and the age or age range when she used it. If you can not estimate how many times she used a way of discipline you may use a range such as 5-10. Or you can use words such as "a lot" "many times" "several times"  If she used other methods please identify them.   NUMBER OF TIMES USED. AGE OR AGE RANGE USED. Early Bedtime Sent you to your room Spanking Time out sitting in a chair Time out standing in a corner Took away computer or phone Took away toy or game Took away TV time Other Other Other Other

Why did you female babysitter have to discipline you? Lying to her. Fighting with brother or sister. Throwing a tantrum. Doing something I was told not to do. Making a mess. Talking back to her. Not going to bed. Using foul language.

How did your parents discipline you? Check all that apply. Early bedtime Extra chores Grounding Scolding Sent me to my room Spanking Time out sitting in a chair Time out standing in a corner Took away computer or phone Took away toy or game Took away TV time

Did your female babysitter allow you to sit on her lap? Check all that apply. Yes, when I was afraid or upset. Yes, when I was crying. Yes, when we were watching TV or playing a game. Yes, when I was in trouble and she was scolding me. Yes, sometimes when we were just  talking. Yes, when she read to me. Yes, when I was tired or sleepy. No, but I wanted to. No, and I did not want to.

Did she put you on her lap? She always put me on. She usually put me on but sometimes I climbed on. Sometimes she put me on and sometimes I climbed on. I usually climbed on but sometimes she put me on. I always climbed on.

How old were you when you sat on your female babysitter's lap?

How would you rate your female babysitter on a scale of 1 to 10? 1 meaning Terrible and 10 meaning Great.

If you have any final comments or would like to elaborate on any answers, please do so here.