Subscribe to RSS8 Cheap to Free Childcare Options When You Need a Little “me time”
We have all been there as parents when you’ve just had enough and just need to get away even just for a moment. After the birth of my daughter I remember spending lots of time at the grocery store going down each and every aisle enjoying the silence and freedom of being there alone. We shouldn’t feel guilty for wanting some alone time or adult time with our spouse and friends. It’s natural and frankly healthy. You will be a better mommy and wife if you make sure your needs are being met. Here are my 8 cheap to free childcare options when you need a little “me time”.
1. FREE - Friends and Family – This should be your first option if you have any family or friends that live close. Ask for a weekly or monthly appointment where they can take your kid(s) for a couple of hours. You will be surprise how accommodating and sympathetic your loved ones will be for a favor like this.
2. FREE - Parent co-op or Kid(s) swap – Find another mom or group of moms in your situation willing to take turns watching each others kid(s). craigslist.org usually has listings for parent co-op’s in your area.
3. CHEAP - Join a gym – Most gyms offer childcare so this is a great way for you to get some exercise in and get a break. Don’t feel like exercising? Relax in the sauna, sit in the hot-tub or just pretend to exercise and do some people watching or read a book. Also, I have even seen some gyms offer “date night” where they will watch your kid(s) for a couple of hours while you and your spouse have a date.
4. FREE - Join a church – Most churches offer free childcare during their service or bible study. A ladies bible study is a great way to meet other moms, grow your support system and faith.
5. FREE - Freddy’s Playland at Fred Meyer - Fred Meyers is a regional grocery store and they have a great little service called “Freddy’s Playland.” It’s a place where kids, between the ages of 2 and 5, can go for one hour while their parents do their grocery shopping. There are a couple really great things about this: 1) it’s free 2) the store is huge, along the lines of a Super Target with all your shopping needs 3) it has a Starbucks inside 4) My daughter loved going there. 5) Even if you don’t have shopping to do, you can have a 1 hour break of all parenting obligations.
6. FREE - Public Library service – Most public library’s offer fun free activities for kids off all ages. You do have to stay onsite but this is a great way for someone else to entertain your kid(s) or an hour and you can take a mental break.
7. CHEAP - Teen babysitter or mommy helper - There are a lot of qualified teenagers available after 3pm on week days that have taken classes on babysitting including safety, emergency training and are experienced. You can post or read ads out on craigslist.org or check out a babysitting service that can find someone for you. Have the sitter come over for an interview to see how comfortable you are with them and they are with your child. This is a cheap childcare option and a great way to schedule some regular “me time”.
8. CHEAP - Timeshare a nanny - Find another parent wanting or willing to share a nanny on a part-time basis.
5 People have left comments on this post
Jun 7, 2008 - 01:06:00Most churches offer VBS in the summer. Some are 9-12 every day for a whole week!
My mom is a librarian in a public library. A child was recently taken from her library when the parent was using the computer and not watching the child. Please remember that libraries are public spaces and librarians are not babysitters. They are too busy doing their jobs to watch out for your children. If a special drop-off program for children is offered, that’s one thing, but in general a library is not a safe place to leave children unsupervised.
These are some excellent tips. My one comment about some of the low cost hired help (mothers helpers, teenagers, etc…) is that you often get what you paid for. I wish more grocery stores would have an equivelent to Freddy’s Playland.
James
blog.jvf.com
I was surprised to see you recommend joining a church for free babysitting. Who do you think pays the bills there? Joining a church should be a serious commitment of time and money, not a meet and greet social club.
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