Are you interested in starting a babysitting co-op?
They can be a great alternative to spending money on babysitters. A group of friends or acquaintances can form a cooperative where parents trade child care. Various systems can be used to track the hours spent and earned; coupons are the most common.
I started a babysitting co-op when my children were small. We had member agreements, laminated coupons that we exchanged, and an open system where we used the phone and email to let people know we were in need of a sitter or were available to care for someone's children.
It worked remarkably well, but it died off as our children got older and were involved in more activities. Now my children are old enough to babysit for others!
Time Trader can be a part of a babysitting co-op; you can join the timebank along with one or several friends. We do a background check, and if you choose, you can exchange child care only with friends you already know. The beauty of Time Trader is that we already have all of the framework in place; you don't have to come up with member rules or agreements, or create coupons or another system for tracking those hours; Community Weaver does it all for you!
A bonus of timebanking is that it is open to people of all ages. Now that my kids are older I would love the opportunity to care for small kids again, and give parents a break. Within the timebank, as you get more comfortable, meet more people, and develop trusting relationships, your options for childcare expand.
Many of us live far from family members, and a timebank can help you weave a community that can offer support and care -- having a "grandma" nearby can be a wonderful thing for a child, and for that "grandma."
For additional information on Time Trader or on babysitting cooperatives, contact the Time Trader Coordinator. We would love to help you give what you want, get what you need!
No comments:
Post a Comment