how to advertise for a teenage local babysitter?

[vannah]

We've just moved in to a new area and are desperate for a regular babysitter - pref a teenage girl ~(our dc are missing the one in our old area)

Ive knocked our immediate few neighbours doors and asked but theyre all old-ish and dont know of any families with teenagers as such.

Do I print out a whole load of little notes requesting 'a local teenage girl' which Im not sure how to phrase without it sounding dodgy.. and post through letter boxes in my street?
Or do I ask sixth form girls that I see on my street if they live locally (there is a secondary school at the top of my rd, which wont let me advertise on the sixth form notice board)...

thankyou

Try putting an advert in local church (if it has an active youth club)? Netmums might be worth a try?

You could ask the sixth formers you see locally or else perhaps contact a local Guide/Scout troop and ask if they'd be happy to hand out a flyer.

yes there is a church nearby... thankyou for replying!

Do you have a local college - one that offers a childcare course? If so, you may find they are more willing to have an ad up on their notice board.

The other advantage of advertising through a church/Guide troop etc. is that the youth leaders should be in a good position to provide a reference/confirm suitability. Our teenaged babysitter is someone from the church youth group (and much younger sister of a friend of ours) and should she not be able to make an evening I'd trust her to introduce us to one of her friends to look after our daughters.

My local church runs a Babysitting course for local teenagers in conjunction with the Red Cross. You may find that such courses are run in your area by various youth groups.
When I was a teenager, I used to keep an eye on the local newsagents window where postcard ads were places... that could work.
Don't limit yourself to teenage girls - some boys can be great at childcare
Other places to ask would be anywhere that your children attend, so playgroup/nursery, school.

thankyou again! forgot about local shop window...