Across southeastern Colorado, childcare remains one of the biggest challenges facing working families.
In communities where licensed childcare options are limited and many families rely on grandparents, relatives, neighbors, and friends for support, local organizations are looking for creative ways to strengthen the network of caregivers families depend on every day.
One of those efforts is taking place through the Cheyenne-Kiowa-Lincoln Early Childhood Council (CKLECC), which recently hosted Safe Sitter babysitting classes in Kit Carson and Limon for area youth ages 11 to 15.
Fifteen students attended the Kit Carson class, while eleven students participated in Limon.
The classes were designed to teach young people the skills and confidence needed to safely care for children while also helping meet a growing community need.
During the course, participants learned about caring for children of different ages, from infants to school-aged youth. Instruction focused on safe bedtime and naptime routines, age-appropriate activities and entertainment, snack and meal safety, and toileting and diapering practices.
Students also received basic instruction in first aid, CPR, and choking response from local emergency service volunteers. CKLECC extended special thanks to Limon Ambulance and Teresa Echols with Kit Carson Ambulance for helping provide this portion of the training.
One of the most popular activities involved hands-on practice with life-like infant dolls provided by Kiowa County Social Services. Students were able to practice holding infants and changing diapers in a realistic setting.
“This portion of the course is always a big hit,” organizers noted. “We are very grateful to Kiowa County Social Services for their generous donation.”
Each participant received a Safe Sitter manual, a certificate of participation, and a backpack filled with supplies and resources designed to help prepare them for future babysitting opportunities.
According to CKLECC, the primary goal of the program is to teach youth ages 11 to 15 basic safety skills related to caring for themselves and others.
The organization believes the classes are especially important in rural communities where childcare shortages continue to affect families.
“These courses continue to be important with the shortage of childcare providers in our rural communities,” organizers explained. “Many youths are caring for siblings and families in the communities during the summer months.”
While the classes provide immediate benefits for families seeking responsible babysitters, CKLECC also sees them as part of a broader effort to strengthen the future childcare workforce across Cheyenne, Kiowa, and Lincoln Counties.
“In addition to youth helping families in the summer, we are hoping a few that attend will become interested in the Early Childhood Education field as they become older,” organizers said.
The organization serves Cheyenne, Kiowa, and Lincoln Counties and works to improve access to childcare and early childhood services throughout the region. Along with helping recruit and train licensed childcare providers, CKLECC offers educational opportunities, professional development, family support programs, and resources for both formal and informal caregivers.
For many rural communities, programs like these may also help address a larger issue.
According to regional childcare advocates, much of the childcare taking place across the Eastern Plains occurs through family, friend, and neighbor networks. In areas where licensed childcare options are limited, trusted local caregivers often become an essential part of daily life for working families.
Students interested in continuing to build their skills are encouraged to visit SafeSitter.org for additional educational resources and training opportunities.
CKLECC plans to continue offering two to three babysitting courses each June, typically holding one class in Lincoln County and another that serves participants from both Cheyenne and Kiowa Counties. Organizers also hope to expand future programming by incorporating additional Safe at Home training alongside the Safe Sitter curriculum.
As southeastern Colorado continues searching for solutions to childcare shortages, workforce challenges, and family support needs, organizations like CKLECC are taking a long-term approach by investing in future caregivers today.
What begins as a babysitting class may eventually inspire some participants to pursue careers in education, childcare, healthcare, or early childhood development. Others may simply become trusted babysitters who provide a valuable service to families within their communities.
Either way, the impact reaches beyond the classroom.
In rural Colorado, where communities have long relied on neighbors helping neighbors, programs like these continue a tradition that has always been part of small-town life.
The faces may change from one generation to the next, but the principle remains the same.
When communities invest in young people, they are also investing in families.
And in places where childcare remains one of the greatest challenges facing working parents, every new caregiver matters.
