The Cochrane Babysitting Co-op is looking for residents to join their unique babysitting club. With 20 families currently participating, the club maxes out at 25 families.
The Cochrane Babysitting Co-op is looking for residents to join their unique babysitting club.
With 20 families currently participating, the club maxes out at 25 families.
“A lot of us in modern day society have families that are disconnected and might live in different provinces or even countries, ” said Maria Withey, Cochrane Babysitting Co-op co-chair.
“Children and moms get to know each other as friends - it’s like trading play dates. ”
The co-op is designed for parents who are at home with young children during the day and need that little help throughout the day to occasionally volunteer at school, go to appointments, run errands, clean the house, have lunch with a friend or “just take a well deserved break without little helpers. ”
Members said the organization is not a result of the economic downturn as the Cochrane chapter has been up and running for over three decades and has not seen an increase in recent years.
“People do come and go, most of the time they stay because the families are connected and have become friends who have formed meaningful relationships, ” Withey explained.
“Usually members leave when their kids are all in school, they go back to work and have daycare or they move away - most parents would not join if they only have an evening teenager babysitter so the co-op functions mostly during the daytime so people can have a break. ”
New members must complete a criminal record check and all homes are given a safety check by two current co-op members, then the prospects must attend two meetings and be voted in before joining the program.
Once accepted, members must attend monthly meetings and are also invited to attend optional monthly meet-ups that range from paint night to hiking.
“When you first move to a new community it is important for moms to rely on each other, ” Withey said. “It really feels like it takes a village and our group really facilitates and collaborates to work well together. ”
The club is seeking families with children ranging from newborns to 8-year-olds. One hour of ‘babysitting time’ costs a token, which would be bought upon joining the club and traded once accepted.
For more information, contact organizers by email at [email protected] or go to the website cochranechildcare.com/babysitting-co-op.
