Things You'll Need:
- 5-8 families that know each other fairly well
- email or phone list
- kids
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Step 1
Talk to your friends and acquaintances and see if there's anyone interested in starting a co-op/time-share babysitting group with you. It's better if you already have a basic relationship with them. Some good places to find people are your church, your playgroup, your child's preschool, your hobby groups, etc.
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Step 2
Set up a meeting time for those interested. Depending on the people involved you can include both parents or just moms in the meeting. At the meeting you can discuss possible scenarios and rules.
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Step 3
Decide on some ground rules for the group. Here is a list of sample rules:
Here are some basic co-op rules (FYI), and we'll go over more details at the meeting.
1. Hours are recorded in 15 minute increments and one co-op member keeps track of everyone's hours (though each member should keep a record of her own hours).
2. Hours are credited/debited at the rate of real minutes for the first child and half minutes for each additional child (there's got to be an easier way to say that, but I hope you get the idea).
3. Each member starts with 10 hours. You cannot go below 0 hours or accumulate more than 25 hours. Accumulated hours not used for 6 months will be redistributed to the group.
4. You may call anyone on the list and anyone may call you. You are ALWAYS free to say "no" to watching someone's children-no explanation is required.
5. The co-op may be used for daytime or evening hours.
More Topics:
A. We will compile a contact list consisting of name, address, location, home and mobile phone numbers, and emergency contacts. It would be a good idea to print this email and the list out so you have a hard copy as well as an email version. I will also put it on our googlegroup page.
B. It is always okay to say no. Just because you are in the group and free for a particular time does not mean you need to feel obligated to say yes to someone or to give an excuse.
C. After someone has watched your children, please email the moderator (right now that's me) and tell me how many hours you are transferring to them. It is courteous to copy them on the email so that they know they've been credited. Every month or so I will send out an update of how many hours each person has, and you can always ask me for your personal total if you need to know.
D. If someone is babysitting for you and you are running late please call and ask the person if they have anywhere they need to be, or if it's okay for them to watch your kids longer than you first talked about. The babysitter has the right to say no and ask you to send your husband or someone else to pick up your kids. This does not happen very often but needs to be said. -
Step 4
Decide on a timekeeper for the group. This person will be notified when any babysitting has been done and keep track of everyone's hours. Here is an example of how to keep hours:
How do the co-op hours really work?
The hours are like money. Everyone starts out with 10 hours.
A. Sarah sends out an email (or calls people) saying "I need a sitter on Friday from 10 to noon for two kids."
B. Heather replies and says "I can do it."
C. Sarah drops off her kids at Heather's house.
D. Afterwards Sarah sends an email to Heather and the moderator saying "Please give Heather 3 hours (2 hours for 1st kid, 1 hour for 2nd kid)."
E. Moderator transfers 3 hours from Sarah's account to Heather's account. Heather now has 13 hours and Sarah has 7.
F. You send out an email that says "I need a sitter on Wednesday from 9-10 am for 5 kids.
G. Nicole replies and says she can do it.
H. Afterwards Heather sends an email to moderator saying "please give Nicole 3 hours (1 hour for 1st kid, 1/2 hour for each additional kid)."
I. Moderator transfers 3 hours from Sarah to Nicole. Heather now has 10 hours and Nicole has 13 hours.
For Heather, if she is leaving all her kids, for each hour she spends in real time, she pays 3 hours. If Heather is gone for 2 hours, she pays 6 hours. This compensates for leaving 5 kids instead of 1 or 2.
Sarah pays 1.5 hours for every hour she is gone in real time. 1 hour for the first kid and 1/2 hour for 2nd kid.
You do not have to give the same hours back to the same person or the same number. You can use as many or as few as you like and they're just like real dollars in that they can go to anyone. -
Step 5
Start babysitting! This is a great way to keep track so that people feel comfortable with asking for a babysitter, but money doesn't have to be involved. I have made some great friends through this method, and had some great dates with my husband.
