How to Start a Babysitting Co-op

Transcription

1 Webinar Series: How to Start a Babysitting Co-op June 5, :00pm EDT

2 Our Mission The Center for a New American Dream helps Americans to reduce and shift their consumption to improve quality of life, protect the environment, and promote social justice. Program Areas: Redefining the Dream Beyond Consumerism Collaborative Communities

3 What is a Babysitting Co-op? A group of parents who agree to share babysitting without the exchange of money Photo: New York Times

4 Today s Speakers Renai Gallagher (Albuquerque, NM) Julie Holland (Berkeley, CA)

5 Let s Begin! Presentations Renai Gallagher Julie Holland More Resources Questions for Speakers Please chat questions privately to Leaders & Assistants during webinar Slides and recording will be available online starting next week

6 Renai Gallagher Renai and son Rowan Albuquerque, NM

7 Babysitting Co-ops Who needs a co-op? Single parents Partnered parents Stay-at-home parents Working parents Why a co-op? Community connection Support network It's always a fair trade Playdates with parental oversight Free childcare!

8 Getting Started My primary resource Smart Mom's Babysitting Co-op Handbook by Gary Myers First steps Identify interested families mom's groups, neighbors, preschools Research & outline bylaws use mine or pull resources from internet Set up a meeting

9 Joining Sponsoring Creating a network of trusted parents with similar parenting philosophies All families must be recommended by others families Phone interview to assess interest/appropriateness Considerations Geography Home safety Dues Creating opportunities to meet other participants Monthly meetings

10 How It Works The Players 3-15 families with children of similar ages/gender balance Coordinator(s) Rotating Secretary Point System Request a sit/offer to sit Earn 4 pts/hr for 1 child & 6 pts/hr for 2 children Report points to secretary Secretary logs points into book Coordinator balances book at EOM

11 Successes & Challenges Success/Staying connected Website/Listserv Contact list Usage/Participation Challenges Canceling Late pickups Moving on

12 Words of Advice Network...Start small...watch it grow 6+ years of success It works! (with minimal effort) Amazing community support/lifelong friends Contact info Renai Gallagher

13 Julie Holland Julie and daughter Margeaux Berkeley, CA

14 The Idea There are all types of co-ops. What is best for your family? Imagine the plan. (Don t research too much.) Start simple.

15 Getting Started 1. Think it through. (And pray, if you re so inclined!) 2. Ask 1 or 2 starter people; make sure they re in. 3. Then, on your own or with the others, start developing the plan. 4. Start babysitting!

16 How It Works Who Either base the co-op on: a set group (e.g., YMCA moms group, church group) OR friends with similar-aged kids (easier if all know each other already) What Make it very clear what you re asking for. When Once a month? Two mornings a week? Saturday nights? Or flexible, depending on work schedules? Where Families homes, or a central location?

17 How It Works Why Decide what is most important to you: community-building saving money convenience trustworthiness of caregivers Be ready to sell it!

18 How It Works How Figure out in advance how you will handle: keeping track of the work (e.g., points, hours, no records, detailed records) multiple kids vs. only children new co-op members when members want or need to leave the co-op a late policy rides given overnights/when kids are asleep

19 Successes & Challenges Success means needs of all are being met. There is no picture-perfect situation. Decide what s most important; make changes based on that. Not everyone will participate on the same level (or at all). The unexpected will happen (e.g., kids not getting along, families moving away).

20 Words of Advice This is your co-op: Make it as big or small, as simple or complex as you want. Be friends first, co-op members second. Only do what works. Online tools such as Google Docs and Doodle Poll can be helpful. Keep contact and medical/allergy info updated.

21 Words of Advice Be open to change and new ideas. Communicate, communicate, communicate. Have a great time! Contact info Julie Holland [email protected]

22 More Resources New Dream s Community Action Kit Guide to Sharing: guidetosharing.org

23 More Resources TIPS Smart Mom's Baby-Sitting Co-Op Handbook by Gary Myers Carrie s Portfolio: carrietom.com/babycoop.html Mommy Lessons 101: mommylessons101.com Julie s guest blog post on Frugal Mama: frugal-mama.com

24 More Resources TOOLS SittingAround: sittingaround.com BabysitterExchange: babysitterexchange.com BabysittingCoop: babysittercoop.com usit isit phone app: usitisit.com

25 More Resources Renai s babysitting co-op bylaws (available for download)

26 Questions?

27 Thank You! Next Steps Webinar survey Watch for it! Recording and resources available online next week Join New Dream s future events & projects Go forth and start your babysitting co-op! (and tell us about it) Contact New Dream Wen Lee: [email protected]