Save Money on Child Care by Starting a Child Care Co-Op
The cost of childcare has changed dramatically since I was a child. We recently hired a nanny to watch our two boys so we could go out for my birthday, and her hourly rate was in line with other parents in our area. When all was said and done, the woman we hired cost almost as much as the dinner and movie we enjoyed without the kids. We were happy to have a few hours alone, but it highlighted the fact that babysitting is no longer worth the $20-$25 a night I used to charge as a teenager. (Hurray, inflation.)
For parents on a tight budget, there is another option. A neighborhood childcare co-op, a free alternative to expensive babysitters, is exactly what it sounds like: families in a community work together to share child-rearing responsibilities. This arrangement gives parents much-needed peace of mind knowing their children are in the safe care of someone they trust, while still getting free time with their partner (or themselves).
There are many benefits to starting a childcare co-op, from socializing opportunities for you and your children to providing emergency care. It’s a win-win situation, but starting a co-op requires careful planning. To help you, we’ve put together some tips on how to get started with other parents.
Set some ground rules
Once you find parents running a child care co-op in your area, you’ll want to determine how it will work in the real world so there are no misunderstandings later on. Here are some topics you should discuss:
Size
Parents love free, reliable child care, so once word of the co-op’s existence gets around the neighborhood, you may end up with more members than you originally thought. To keep your group manageable, limit the number of members in your co-op so everyone knows who will care for their children.
You will also want to decide whether the co-op will be open to everyone or only to a select few parents that you and your friends trust with their children. Feelings may get hurt, but the co-op won’t work if everyone is worried about your kids while you’re away.
Who will participate?
Tweens and teens who need childcare experience can help parents by helping with caregiving or other responsibilities, such as keeping a group book (more on this below). However, your co-op must decide whether to delegate this responsibility to a non-parent.
Other questions for discussion
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How often will you meet together?
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How will responsibilities change in the co-op and how often?
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Creating a fair system (see below)
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Is it possible/needed to punish a child?
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How will weekend childcare work be distributed?
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Can a participant refuse services?
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What to do if a sick child needs a nanny?
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How will you communicate with each other?
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Will there be fees (for incidentals and events)?
Create a system that works for everyone
The idea of any co-op is to help each other, not to take advantage of anyone, so you and your colleagues should develop a system that allows everyone to take advantage of the benefits your group offers. Yes we can! A project created by the W. K. Kellogg Foundation has shared three examples that can help your co-op develop a system.
30 point starting scorer system
Whoever is appointed as the secretary will award each member of the cooperative a 30-point base. Points will be deducted for each hour of child care provided and awarded when participants complete child care duties.
Secretary start system with zero point
As in the previous system, points are awarded when participants babysit and deducted by the secretary when using a babysitter. However, everyone starts from scratch, not from a base number. There must be a scale on which members will earn or redeem points. The number of points will depend on the time of day and duration of care.
In both point systems, the secretary position changes every few months. They will be called when members need childcare and keep records. They will be rewarded with points for their service.
30 card system
Instead of a point system, each participant is given 30 cards, which are made by a volunteer. The cards represent increments of time and are used as currency whenever childcare is needed. However, if a contestant has 15 cards, it’s probably time to keep an eye on him. Those with 60 or more cards must find others to share child care. In this system, the parents, rather than the secretary, monitor how the cards are distributed.
You can also use spreadsheets and apps to help keep your co-op organized.
Host a neighborhood event
To help you get to know the parents and children you may be caring for in a co-op, consider holding a meeting that allows you and your fellow caregivers (and their children) to get to know each other. Your event can be something as simple as a luncheon or as complex as a party. It could even be an optional play date every few months. You can even get people in the area involved to spread the word and attract new members.
Spread the word
There are many ways to let the community know about your co-op. You can try the old-fashioned way with flyers and word of mouth. However, thanks to social media and apps like Nextdoor, there are many ways to increase awareness of your group online. You can also host a party (see above) or work with your HOA (if you have one in your area) to spread the word.
Child care costs aren’t going down anytime soon, so don’t expect your co-op to remain a secret for long.