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www.FredParent.NET 31 THE ONGOING BABYSITTING CO-OP Being new to town and having a husband who traveled frequently, Janie Werner feels blessed by the quality, affordable childcare she received during the years she participated in a babysitting co-op. In a co-op, parents earn points based on the hours they watch other members' children, and they redeem points when others babysit for them. Some groups appoint a secretary who keeps track of each member's hours while others trade co-op coupons or poker chips. Janie feels like geogra- phy is a key to success for co-ops: if members live within a well-defined area, they are more likely to use each other's services. She also suggests capping the babysitting hours that a person can use before working them off so that no one takes advantage of the system. If you are inter- ested in starting your own co-op, visit www.sittingaround.com, a website that helps parents set up and organize their own groups. THE THREE-WEEK GROUP EXCHANGE Stephanie Trenaman and her husband, Mason, orga- nized a three-week babysitting exchange for 15 young families at their church last summer. A co-op like the Trenamans' works best for large groups who prefer using a central location instead of individual homes. Each couple works one week as sitters and, in exchange, they can use the free babysitting the other two weeks. To organize a similar program, pick three dates and recruit families by e-mail or through an announcement in an organization newsletter. Divide the group into three and ask each committed couple to babysit one of the dates. If you choose to feed the chil- dren, get a head count and keep it simple with chicken nuggets or pizza, fruit, and a cookie. Break the time into 30-minute segments and pick fun activities for each block of time: games, free play, storybook time, music, dinner, a short movie, or a craft. Stephanie suggests beginning your evening with high-energy activities and moving into slower-paced activities as bedtime gets closer. A three-week exchange is a great way for a big group of parents to get to know each other and to enjoy some stress-free babysitting. Why not ask your friends if they're also looking for alternatives to traditional babysitting? When you swap babysitting with another parent, it's a win-win situation: your children get to play with their friends, you can have confidence that they are in good hands, and it's free. With these four types of exchanges in your toolbox, you are well on your way to finding truly reliable and affordable babysitters. it's hard to find a good, experienced babysitter who's old enough to trust and not too expensive." "