MMS PTO Babysitting Swap
Great NEWS for Parents, the PTO has decided to sponsor a babysitting swap! One common thread Mariposa parents have shared is the need and desire to get out for a little adult time every once in a while. Because we have such a great community of parents that share a common need, we also share a common solution. We are modeling this Babysitting Swap after other established clubs that some of our parents have particpated in.
To Join Fill out the Family Information Sheet & Return to Contact Person Listed!
What is a Babysitting Swap?
A Babysitting Swap is a group of parents who trade babysitting for each other's children. Once a member, whether its for a solo shopping trip, morning dental appointment, or a night out on the town with your spouse, if you need a babysitter, you call someone on the list. If the person is not able to sit for you, you simply call someone else.
The person babysitting would receive babysitting bucks that could then be used for a time when they need babysitting. The babysitting bucks are transferrable to any member in the community so you are not relying on one person to be available when you need them.
We will have monthly get-togethers so we can all get to know each other better.
MMS PTO Babysitting Swap Guidelines
1. All members of the Babysitting Swap are expected to contribute time to running the Group. Members shall be part of the Group for at least 6 months before being part of the rotation.
2. The Contact Person will be selected, on a rotational basis, so that all members serve equal time in this role. The Contact Person shall serve for a period of 3 months. The Contact Person's duties include: facilitating the admission of prospective members, the coordination of co-op business, officially representing the Co-op for interested Mariposa Parents, and identifying the next on rotation Contact Person and Meeting Coordinator. The Contact Person will receive 3 babysitting bucks for their service at the end of their term.
3. Get-togethers are held so that the members and children become acquainted with each other. Each member may take a turn hosting the get-together, if desired. The get-togethers can be in a member's home or in another location, such as a park or playground. The Meeting Coordinator will schedule these dates among the members and will notify members of the dates and locations for the get-togethers. Depending on the ages of the children in the group, there may be different get-togethers, for younger and older children, and for parents only. The Meeting Coordinator position will be a 3-month rotational position. The Meeting Coordinator will receive 4 babysitting bucks for their service at the end of their term.
4. Meetings are held at our monthly get-togethers. The purpose of the meetings are to discuss old and new business, to inform members of problems, and to discuss any new ideas or guidelines needed for the Froup. Business may also be conducted between meetings, via email.
5. Except for babysitting requests and Meeting Coordinator, all business should be cleared through the Contact Person.
6. If a member wishes to leave the Group, they are expected to inform the Contact Person as soon as possible. The member is expected to leave with no negative babysitting bucks.
7. Members start with 10 babysitting bucks to spend. Negative points are allowed, but are to be used only in emergencies rather than being part of the norm, for example, if one has multiple unexpected medical tests. Each member is expected to keep track of their own babysitting bucks. NO additional Babysitting Bucks will be issued for lost or misplaced bucks. Replacement Bucks will be made available on an exchange basis for damaged bucks due to normal wear and tear, inquire with the Contact Person.
8. Any revisions, suggestions, and/or changes are welcome to these guidelines and are subject to the agreement of the majority of the membership.
9.
When scheduling a start time with a sitter, the member is expected to arrive at the designated time. If the member is not on time, the sitter will still receive bucks based on the agreed starting time. Please respect the agreement you make with the sitter, as tardiness will cost babysitting bucks.
10. Should a sitter commit to a sitting and a sittee cancels for reasons other than an emergency or family illness, a discussion to determine whether any babysitting bucks need to be exchanged would be between the two parties involved.
11. The sittee should leave a phone number with the sitter whenever possible. If a phone number cannot be left, and the Contact Person is not available when a doctor is needed, then the sitter should call the doctor's office should there be an emergency. The sitter would then be told whether to bring the child to the hospital via 911 dispatch. Usually the hospital would still need to contact the child's parents for permission to treat, unless the sittee leaves the sitter an emergency medical treatment consent form. Please inform the members if you wish a different procedure and advise the sitter.
12. Although a child is never supposed to be left alone during a sit, basic safety guidelines have been developed for those wishing to babysit children younger than 3 years old in their homes, to ensure that everyone is comfortable leaving their young children in a house they may not know well. If a member does not wish to babysit a child under 3 years old in her house, but is willing to sit for them in their houses (or not at all), they may indicate so on the membership form.
13. Each member arranges his or her own sits, giving as much notice as possible.
14. As it may be counted against you, try not to cancel unless it is an emergency or illness.
15. Members should not hesitate to refuse to take children who are ill. Also, if anyone in the sitter's household is ill, the sittee should be informed as soon as possible, and will be free to make other arrangements.
16. Allergies should be made known to the sitter at each sit.
17. A phone number should be left as to where the parent can be contacted. If not able to be reached, the parent should notify the sitter of an alternate contact person.
18. The procedure for introducing prospective members to the Group is:
a. The prospective member must have email in order to join, and MUST be a parent of a student currently enrolled at Mariposa Montessori School.
b. They will be given a copy of the guidelines/record-keeping info. sheet, a safety checklist, and a membership form.
c. The prospective member can be invited to the next get-together and/or business meeting to meet other members, ask any pertinent questions, and make a decision about joining the Group.
d. Once the new member officially joins, by sending in the completed membership form, they will receive their initial 10 Babysitting Bucks and the Membership List. This list will NEVER be given to any person outside the Babysitting Group!
e. Before sitting for children under 3 years old in the new member's home, the member should go through the safety checklist to ensure that basic safety standards are being followed.
MMS PTO Babysitting Swap Payment System
Babysitting Bucks will be used as the currency for the Group. These are physical "monopoly type" money that will be issued upon joining the group. Each member will start with 10 Babysitting bucks and can spend and accumulate their bucks however they see fit.
1. For every hour of babysitting, the sitter earns 1 babysitting buck for the first child and 0.5 bucks for each additional child. (2 hours for 2 children= 3 bucks.)
2. Rounding up for time and bucks. (example: 3 hours for 2 children= 4.5 Bucks, so you would pay 5 babysitting bucks)
3. The minimum for any sitting is one hour.
4. If there is a house guest at the member's home who also needs sitting, it shall be at the same rate as for the children of the member. Obviously this should be discussed with the sitter before the babysitting arrangement is made.
5. Extra bucks earned:
a. If a sitter goes to a member's home to sit, one extra buck is given.
b. If a sitter picks up a child for sitting, or delivers a child back to their home from sitting, the sitter shall receive 0.5 bucks for each way.
c. If a sitter sits for 6 hours or more, one extra buck is given.
d. If sitting past midnight, 1.5 extra bucks are given.
e. An additional 0.5 bucks will be awarded for providing a meal (more than just snacks) and/or early morning sits, but this is negotiable between the two members involved.
f. An additional 1 buck will be awarded if the sit is on a National Holiday, or a National Holiday Weekend (may be defined as if the banks are closed and no mail is delivered).
6. It is the responsibility of the one who sits to calculate the appropriate babysitting buck payment and to collect that payment from the sittee at the end of the sit.
7. Each member is responsible for his or her own babysitting bucks.
MMS PTO Babysitting Swap Family Information Sheet
All New members must fill out the following form and submit it to the Contact Person.
MMS PTO Babysitting Swap Safety Checklist
Note: This checklist is designed to serve as a guide and is not a complete list of all potential dangers to a small child. Please review this checklist periodically to ensure that basic safety standards are followed. It is very easy to forget to put an outlet cover back in the socket after vacuuming!
___ Electrical outlets in children’s area are covered.
___ Wires and/or cords in children’s area are up or covered.
___ Child-safe locks are installed on cabinets containing harmful materials.
___ Smoke alarms are installed and working on each level.
___ Bathroom doors can be closed and toilet seats can be put down.
___ Gates or doors are placed at top and bottom of stairs in areas accessible to children.
___ Pet area is separate from children’s area, or covered, especially food and litter box.
___ Wood stoves and other heaters are safety guarded, are not in use when children come for a sit, or are inaccessible.
___ A changing area is accessible to the play area.
___ Child equipment is in good repair, includes abdomen and crotch straps, and is
developmentally appropriate.
___ All toxic and potentially toxic materials are not only out of reach, but guarded from
child’s accessibility. This includes medication.
___ The Poison Control Number (1-800-682-9211) is readily available.
___ Pools should be fenced in if children are to play outdoors.
___ Weapons and tools are securely stored, away from children's areas.
Examples include: guns, knives, screwdrivers, etc....
___ Potential dangers for specific age groups are temporarily relocated for the duration
of the sit. (i.e. tablecloths are removed when 18 month old visits, etc.).