Hi...my name is L. and I am considering starting a new business (or just adding to my current one I guess), but I want to see if there is even a need for a service like this. Right now I run a licensed home daycare but I've had the hardest time finding a good babysitter so my husband and I can go out once in awhile! So I started thinking other parents might be having similar problems so I'm considering starting some sort of Friday night date night thing at my house. I have invested TONS of time and money on making my house amazing for children since I run a home daycare during the day, so I know I can definitely keep kids happy and safe here! But now I'm just wondering if anyone would be interested in a service like this or if you think it's even a good idea. I'm worried that parents won't want to pick their kids up when they are sleeping here and have to move them to get them back home. What do you think? I would charge less than an under-qualified teenager and provide much better care (in my opinion at least!). Any ideas or thoughts you may have would be appreciated! Thanks!!
L.
Thank you all SOOO much for the great responses! Wow! Well I'm going to go ahead and try it and just see what happens! I posted an ad on this website as well as Craigslist and I will try the church website that was mentioned as well!! Again, I really appreciate the help and good wishes :)
Sounds like a good idea... the only thing I would say is that a lot of people may take more advantage of it if you offered it as overnight instead of they have to pick up when they are done... like maybe they pick up at nine in the morning or something!!!! Good Luck!
I think it sounds like a great idea if you keep cost low or at least offer a sibling discount. I know of other places that do this but they don't offer sibling discounts. For me it ends up being cheaper to hire a teen who will charge a flat hourly fee for the whole family rather than per child.
I wish there were a service like this in Wyoming!
L.-
Speaking for myself (and my husband!), we would definitely take advantage of the kind of childcare service you described.
We live in Erie and have a 4 yr. old daughter who is in a great in-home daycare situation when she's not in pre-school, but have had a VERY difficult time finding reliable sitters for the occasional night out. As far as I'm concerned, having to wake a sleeping child to take her home at the end of the evening is a small price to pay for having a qualified, responsible person watching her in their home! I have a feeling you would have plenty of interested parents should you decide to pursue your idea...Bon Chance! :)
C. K.
Sounds like a great idea and a great deal too. I too, have trouble finding a good safe place to leave the kids and go out. And the fact that your willing to make it a good deal sounds even better! But don't forget you, find someone else who has similar qualifications to swap Fridays with or something to that effect :)
Ummm- yes! So do you live in Colorado or Utah? :) Sign me up if you are in Utah :)
Hi L.,
A great idea! You might like to post this on our church website www.sechristian.org under "Resources" (community business and resource directory. Do you live in Franktown? If so, do you have room for an almost 5 year old (going to kindergarten in Nov;) amd a sweet 2.4 year old (both boys?) How much do you charge? My daughter will be needing a daycare when she starts college next month.
Thanks so much for your great idea to the community.
Best Regards!
C.
I hope you get many interested parents.
I think that is a great idea. I used to work in a daycare, and we did that a few times for parents. It was really fun--we charged a flat fee (I think 10$), and we started it at 5:00pm and ended it at 9:00pm. We did pizza, a movie, and had a craft activity for the kids, and they brought their jammies and bedtime toys. The parents seemed to really like it! And, because it wasn't super late, the kids were all still awake when the parents came for them. I think if you do it, you should set parameters for pick up times, because you might be stuck staying up LATE otherwise! I wish you lived near me--I'd take advantage of your service!!!
I would definitely use a service like that!
I think parents would love that Idea! I think if they wanted a night out the kids being asleep would be the least of their worries. I think myself included (which I wished you lived closer) would LOVE to have a place to take your child that was a big franchise place on a weekend night. I say even on Saturday nights!! :)
Sounds interesting- I'd probably look into something like that. I would just be sure to get good advertising out- all the main kid's news directories in your city- and then have a good website that goes over your qualifications really well. Sounds like a good idea!
Sounds like a great idea? Have you started anything like this? Where are you located? I am in Thornton, CO, do you know of anything like that here? Thanks R.
Love the idea. Where do you located? I wroked M-F and would really like to have a night out with my hubby or just sometimes on friday night to clean up the house.
Where are you located at? I would love something like this. I have the need to go out on fridays so that i can unwind before I get over whelmed and take it out on my kids.
I could really use this service but at my home that way im not picking up my kids after bed time. Or like you aid you have a great rate so sleep over would be nice and pick up in morning if you decide to do this let me know.
