South Dakota, like most states, does not have a minimum age requirement for babysitters or for leaving children home alone. However, one of the most popular babysitting classes — the American Red Cross babysitting course — only accepts students older than 11 years of age.
If you’re looking to take classes to learn how to be a babysitter, these organizations offer babysitting, first aid, and CPR classes. Please note: this is not an all-inclusive list, and offerings may change. Please check with your local resources for the latest information.
Belle Fourche:
- The Belle Fourche Rec Center offers CPR and first aid training.
Box Elder:
- The Box Elder Fire Department offers CPR and first aid training.
Hot Springs:
- The Hot Springs Ambulance Service offers CPR and first aid training.
Rapid City:
- Rapid City Aquatics offers the American Red Cross babysitting course.
- Early Childhood Connections, the YMCA, and Western Dakota Tech offer CPR and first aid training.
Spearfish:
- Black Hills CPR offers a babysitting boot camp class in addition to CPR and first aid training. They also travel to neighboring communities like Lead and Deadwood to host classes.
- The Spearfish Rec & Aquatics Center offers the American Red Cross babysitting course.
- The Spearfish Ambulance Service offers CPR and first aid training.
Sturgis:
- The Sturgis Ambulance Service offers CPR classes.
The American Red Cross also offers online babysitting, CPR, and first aid courses.