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| Babysitting Co-operative
All members of WAM are eligible to join the babysitting co-op. Families must be WAM members to participate.
How it works
Each co-op member starts with a total of 20 hours. The hours can be used in whole-hour or half-hour increments and you "pay" for babysitting to another co-op member using these hours. The person REQUESTING the babysitting is then responsible to enter the name of the person who babysat for them and the number of hours into the online form. (More information on how to enter this information is provided once you become a co-op member.)
The co-op coordinator maintains a roster of babysitting co-op members. This roster includes the following information for each family: names and contact info, kids' ages, home characteristics potentially related to safety (fenced yard, a pool, guns in the home, etc.).
When you would like a sitter, contact any or all parents in the co-op with a babysitting request, by e-mail, phone, or in person. The other members will let you know if they are available or not. Typically, a daytime "sit" is done at the sitter's home, with her kids present too, and an evening "sit" is at the child's house, without the sitter’s kids. But this is negotiable; you and the other parent can work out the details.
Babysitters are "paid" per half hour or hour irrespective of the number of children present. However, you may choose to pay double time to sweeten the deal if your babysitting request is particularly challenging (for example, an inconvenient time of day).
Each parent decides if s/he is available for a specific co-op request, so co-op membership is no guarantee that a sitter will be available at a specific time for you. But it does provide you with a pool of other parents for potential babysitting.
Group babysitting
The Babysitting Co-op Coordinator will organize group babysitting times throughout the year when a few co-op members will be available to sit a small group of children at one location during a specified time. Co-op members are also welcome to organize group babysitting dates at their convenience.
Babysitting co-op play dates
Any WAM member can host a babysitting co-op play date. These play dates give co-op families an opportunity to get better acquainted, so co-op members can feel comfortable asking other members to look after their children. The Babysitting Co-op Coordinator will organize play dates throughout the year as well.
Joining the co-op
For WAM members wishing to join the co-op, please e-mail the Babysitting Co-op Coordinator directly for more information. If you are unsure who the coordinator is, please e-mail the main WAM contact at wheatonareamoms@gmail.com. | |
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