Urhm, it depends on the age, doesnt it?
When kids are like pre-5, then most babysitting you'll do will be after they're in bed. Parent with young children tend to only go out for a few hours, and the child will already be in bed. You just have to sit and check on them occassionally, maybe read them a story and give them a hug if they wake up and want their mummy.
Once they reach 5 or around that age, the parents will likely start going out for longer, or you'll get asked in during the day on weekends, because the parents feel they can leave their child for a bit longer without being pined for, and also because this is the age that children stop being classed as babies, and so aren't welcome for adult gatherings. You need to start occupying them, playing games with them.
It's also really important to find out the usual bedtime routine, and stick to it, or else they'll try to take advantage of you. Most children are really canny by this age. It also helps to be aware of house rules, and to stick to them yourself.
After children reach 11/12 most of them want to play outside (weather permitting) or go to a friends house, or have a friend over. Check beforehand if this is allowed/normally happens. If it does then just let them. A lot of children around this age, or a little younger enjoy putting on plays and suchlike, so suggest to them something they could do if they complain about being bored, then give them some sacks or props to make costumes with. Of course, this give you a good hour to read or watch TV, *and* you get the treat of watching the play
And then they turn into moody teenagers and they start to babysit themselves. And of course because they've had such a wonderful babysitter as you, they in turn will be awesome babysitters, which will result in generation after generation of well turned out individuals.
