Can Males be Good 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. But can males be good babysitters? Are some male babysitters even better than female babysitters? That is what this poll is designed to find out. This poll is for those who had a male babysitter other than their brothers.
 

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 male babysitters have you had? Brothers do not count. If you have had more than one male babysitter, complete this poll for each one.

Had did your family find the male babysitter? He was my uncle. He was my cousin. He was my neighbor. He lived in my neighborhood. He was a friend of the family. My parents knew him or his family from their work. My parents knew him or his family from church. My parents found him through an advertisement.

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

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

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

If your male babysitter no longer sits you, why did he stop?

How old was your male babysitter when he first started sitting you?

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

Was your male 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. He never fixed meals or snacks.

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

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

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

Did you look on your male babysitter more like a brother or like a father? Brother Father

How did your male babysitter typically respond when you misbehaved? He never disciplined me when I misbehaved but he always told my parents. He never disciplined me when I misbehaved and he only told my parents about the big stuff. He never disciplined me when I misbehaved and he never told my parents. He disciplined me when I misbehaved and always told my parents. He disciplined me when I misbehaved but only told my parents about the big stuff. He disciplined me when I misbehaved but did not tell my parents if I begged him not to. He disciplined me when I misbehaved and never told my parents.

Do you think your male babysitter was too strict? He was too strict. He was  just strict enough. He was not strict enough.

Was your male babysitter as strict as your mother? He was much more strict than my mother. He was somewhat more strict than my mother. He was as strict as my mother. He was somewhat less strict than my mother. He was much less strict than my mother.

Was your male babysitter as strict as your father? He was much more strict than my father. He was somewhat more strict than my father. He was as strict as my father. He was somewhat less strict than my father. He was much less strict than my father.

Listed below are several ways to discipline a child. For each, say approximately how many times your male babysitter used that way of discipline and the age or age range when he used it. If you can not estimate how many times he 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 he 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 male babysitter have to discipline you? Lying to him. Fighting with brother or sister. Throwing a tantrum. Doing something I was told not to do. Making a mess. Talking back to him. 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 male babysitter allow you to sit on his 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 he was scolding me. Yes, sometimes when we were just  talking. Yes, when he read to me. Yes, when I was tired or sleepy. No, but I wanted to. No, and I did not want to.

Did he put you on his lap? He always put me on. He usually put me on but sometimes I climbed on. Sometimes he put me on and sometimes I climbed on. I usually climbed on but sometimes he put me on. I always climbed on.

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

How would you rate your male 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.