The chances are pretty good that in view of the recent downturn in economy, both you and your spouse are now working outside the home. Many families that once subsisted on one income are now finding that both parents need to work to meet financial needs. This raises the question of what to do about your kids when no one is home for them after school. Do you just hand them a key and remind them to be careful? Unfortunately, that is what is happening in a lot of families. They either don’t know anyone who can help them out, or they can’t afford to pay someone to come to their home for a few hours.
Leaving your children home alone is definitely not a good idea, no matter how much you trust them, or how “grown up” they appear to be. Accidents can happen through no fault of their own, and then what would you do? If you have teenagers, this might be an acceptable situation, but if your children are under the age of twelve, they should have proper after school childcare. No matter how much they may protest, ignore this, and look for someone who can help you out. There are a few options available that may be a solution to this problem.
Do you live close by to a relative who would be willing to assist you? You can either have them meet the bus and take your children to their home until you get there, or they may be willing to stay at yours. Instead of paying them, you could exchange services. For example, you might be able to baby sit for them on occasion, or have their children over to your house for an afternoon on the weekends. Your friends may be willing to accommodate you this way, also. Your next door neighbor might have the time to do this for you, and you could offer some type of service to help them out. Mowing their lawn, walking their dog, even picking up a few groceries when you are out might be big help.
Money, or lack of it, doesn’t have to be an issue when it comes to after school child care options. Just figure out what it is you have to offer in exchange, and then approach your friends, relatives, or your neighbors. You will be surprised at how many of them will be willing to lend a hand. Even a car wash once or twice a month might be appreciated! Do whatever you have to do to ensure that your kids are not left alone for any length of time. They are the most important issue at hand, and if you are determined, you can find a viable solution if you think about it.
If you do have the money to spare, hire a sitter who is able to come to your house and meet the kids when they get off the bus. It won’t cost very much, and will put your mind at ease knowing someone is there with them. You can even arrange for the children to be dropped off at the sitters house if that is more convenient to them. Make sure you notify the school before you do this, however, so that the kids get on the correct bus and get to where they should be. Again, another sound solution.
If you have children who are sixteen or seventeen and kids younger than that, also, you might want to consider leaving the older one in charge until you get home. If you are absolutely sure that they can be relied upon to act in a mature way, this might work for you. Make sure all the rules and regulations are clear before you allow this to happen. You, as the parent, will know how far you can trust your teenagers, and as long as they do not allow the younger ones to roam freely through the neighborhood, this could work out to your advantage. Your teens will learn responsibility by doing this, as well as life lessons that will serve them well as they get older. Being able to take care of their siblings this way will help prepare them for the time that they have children of their own. At least they will have a general idea of what to expect later on. Who knows? They may just decide that children are not in their future!
College Nannies, the nation's largest nanny resource, Builds Stronger Families ® by offering a complete set of nanny placement, on-call nannies and professional babysitting services that lead to happy children and successful students. Contact them if you are looking for On Call Nanny or Childcare services in Lawrenceville .
Post new comment
Please Register or Login to post new comment.