In light of COVID-19 and all the restraints it places on life as we knew it, adjustments must be made as we strive towards ensuring work-life integration.
Work practices are evolving in diverse ways and virtual work formulations are being embraced in geometric ways as school is currently conducted via the zoom app sessions, microsoft teams, google classrooms, what’s app video calls and the likes.
As the aforementioned are being juggled and precautions against the COVID19 curve must be upheld, the notion of virtual babysitting has found it’s way into our work-life integrating parlance.
The questions that begs to be asked is, is it a transient concept that would soon be swept away once the COVID19 frenzy is over? Can it serve the needs of all parent groups or just a select few?🤷♀️One can’t help but wonder…!
So…what is virtual babysitting?
This concept was introduced to us by Mrs Elizabeth Ajetumobi (Founder, @aymiestaffing) in one of her very insightful and interactive instalive sessions, where she shared postcovid19 lockdown strategies to consider and imbibe.
Now, we have gone ahead to garner more insights for us all to learn and to weigh its effectiveness or practicality in the world as we now know it.
According to https://www.womansday.com, it’s got a very straight cut meaning- exactly what it sounds like.
Instead of a babysitter or go-come househelp coming over to watch the kids in-person, they virtually visit via video chat over FaceTime, Zoom or Skype. During the video call, the babysitter can engage the kids by playing virtual games, like I-Spy and so on, or asking them about their day. The virtual babysitter or help can also lead them in simple art projects.
According to https://www.womansday.com, “to have a safe and successful virtual babysitting session, the child who’s being watched should be old enough to understand how video calls work and to engage with the sitter on the other end — probably around 5 years old.” 🤦🏾♀️So that eliminates under 5years olds (ofcourse, 0-3years olds are out of the question. )
More reference from https://www.womansday.com, “It’s also important to note that, because virtual babysitting involves keeping a child sitting still and engaged, the process works best in short sessions, rather than the longer multi-hour sessions babysitters usually do in person.”
Pheww…, doesn’t that disable tangible work productivity for parents who are working full hours virtually?? As a result, defeats the purpose of being able to work and ensure proper management of your child.
Also, what does the sitter or help do if internet connection goes haywire? With both parties on either sides of the screen, how will engagement be ensured in the face of an eccentric internet connection?
Ok…even when the internet connection is steady, how does the sitter or help ensure that they have an accurate virtual span of control. This just goes to show that a parent can’t leave the immediate confines of their home where the virtual babysitting or helping is taking place.
Also in this times of prevalent forms cybernet unsafety, there must be a way to ensure absolute checks and balances for the continued mental and emotional safety of the child or children.
Bearing in mind all the aforementioned, what say you… is this just COVID19 frenzy? Can it serve the needs of all parent groups or just a select few?🤷♀️
Share your thoughts please 
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