Watch neighbors child over the summer?

[trip]

More things for you to consider. Do either your son or neighbor boy go to any summer camps? Would you be taking them to a pool or on field trips? Will you be taking any vacations? What if your son is invited to play at another friends house? How does your son feel about this?

 

[MickeyHereWeCome!]

I definitely think she should pay. You might also want to make up some sort of contract to avoid any issues. It could include basic things like what time he would arrive and be picked up, permission to transport him if you go places. This way, everyone is on the same page from the beginning.

I think $100/week is reasonable. $200 seems really high for only 3 days. Let me ask, though...are the days the same each week or are you stuck having to reserve every day for a new schedule each week? If that were the case, I would charge a higher amount per week. You want to be able to plan some family activities over the summer, and need to know what you are commiting to.

It sounds like a good way to make some extra money and helps your friend. Plus, your son gets a playmate!

 

[stsomewhere]

I watched my son's friend one summer. i felt funny at first taking money. We agreed on $75 a week. They were paying $150 a week for camps.

By the end of the summer, I felt that i was underpaid. By the time I took the kids to the pools or movies, there was not a lot of money left.

Once in a while was fine, but I have never kept another child for an entire summer again.

It got to the point were the boys were fighting constantly.


ETA: It was 4-5 days a week.

 

[Darcy03231]

I think $25/day is way to cheap! I paid more than that 15 years ago. I would say $50/day which is still less than what the niece charged.

 

[Julia M]

OP,, you are geetting lots of conflictinng advice about cost, whicch seems to be making you uncormfortable (IMO)

Question: was the $200 per week your neighbor previously paid for 3 days, or 5 days/ if it was for 3, here`s a suggestion. charge $150 per week, which is $40 per day equaling $120 and then use the other $30 per weekk for a "summer fun fee". That could include excursions like the movies, or fun summer stuff like 2 super soakers, a slip and slide, etc.

Your friend is getting a cheaper price, you aren`t taking quite so much and there is money for extras.

Julia

 

[nicolet]

We have a pool so that wouldn't be a problem. If I had to go somewhere that's also not a problem I would just take him with. She would give him money for extra stuff movies etc. when he is at my house for some occasional times I don't even know that him and my son are here. I guess this is why I didn't think about breaking the time down hourly. Now that someone mentioned camp that's 2 weeks I need off because my duh and I run a cub scout group. Glad I posted my question.

 

[mjkacmom]

Why would you charge only $25 for a full day when she is paying someone else almost 3x that? This would be an obligation for you, she is going to depend on you to not flake out on her. $25, and you may as well not even do it and just leave your summer FREE to do whatever you want with your child. You mentioned that it is a neighbor, so she doesn't have to go far to drop her kid off or pick him up. You would be providing a service to her and piece of mind, since she knows and trusts you.

There is a huge pay difference between having a sitter come to your home, and devote her entire day to your child/children, vs. dropping a child off at someone's home, especially if that person has children of her own, where she is still able to do laundry, pay bills, cook dinner, etc. It usually costs at least $12 an hour to have a sitter come to you, while most home care here is between $25 - $40 per day, per child (depending on circumstances, like the child's age - you'll pay less for a school aged child than a toddler). Licensed daycare centers cost more - $400 a week.

Do you use childcare?

 

[mjkacmom]

Sorry to continue to disagree, but $25.00-$30.00 a day is downright cheap. When is the last time you checked out "top-notch" "one-on-one" childcare? The kid would not be stuck in a building all day with structured activities, would have a trusted friend to care for him, have a playmate he knows and likes, lives right down the street I know a lot of parents who would not only pay the going rate, but would pay dearly for that peace of mind This is a part-time JOB folks, not an occasional "night or day out" situation which is so different. I, personally would not take advantage of someone that I thought a lot of when they clearly didn't realize the value of what they were doing for me - but some people get taken advantage of (and I know some) and it becomes their problem

Do you even have kids?

 

[squirrel]

OP,, you are geetting lots of conflictinng advice about cost, whicch seems to be making you uncormfortable (IMO)

Question: was the $200 per week your neighbor previously paid for 3 days, or 5 days/ if it was for 3, here`s a suggestion. charge $150 per week, which is $40 per day equaling $120 and then use the other $30 per weekk for a "summer fun fee". That could include excursions like the movies, or fun summer stuff like 2 super soakers, a slip and slide, etc.

Your friend is getting a cheaper price, you aren`t taking quite so much and there is money for extras.

Julia

This is what I would do. It's summer time. You know you will be going out to do fun things and the activities always cost something even if it's free-kid's want a drink, food, etc.

 

[Kellydelly]

There is a huge pay difference between having a sitter come to your home, and devote her entire day to your child/children, vs. dropping a child off at someone's home, especially if that person has children of her own, where she is still able to do laundry, pay bills, cook dinner, etc. It usually costs at least $12 an hour to have a sitter come to you, while most home care here is between $25 - $40 per day, per child (depending on circumstances, like the child's age - you'll pay less for a school aged child than a toddler). Licensed daycare centers cost more - $400 a week.

Do you use childcare?

I used to be a nanny, have watched a friend's child in my home, and have also utilized in-home daycare myself for my own children. Any more questions ?

She may be "dropping off" a kid at the OP's home, but do you think she's not responsible for his wellbeing while he is there ? People pay what they can afford for daycare . I paid a small fee when my two youngest were in a home daycare situation and got what I paid for, and what I could afford at the time (unfortunately kids planted in front of television all day). If her neighbor can afford close to $200 a week and is offering it, why not take it? The OP hasn't stated what fee she was offered, I don't think that conversation has happened yet. (It is only January, and both parties' circumstances could change before summer anyway and all this would be moot) If the OP offers to watch this kid for only $25 a day she may end up resenting the committment she made after she realizes how much it takes away her freedom.

 

[mjkacmom]

I used to be a nanny, have watched a friend's child in my home, and have also utilized in-home daycare myself for my own children. Any more questions ?

She may be "dropping off" a kid at the OP's home, but do you think she's not responsible for his wellbeing while he is there ? People pay what they can afford for daycare . I paid a small fee when my two youngest were in a home daycare situation and got what I paid for, and what I could afford at the time (unfortunately kids planted in front of television all day). If her neighbor can afford close to $200 a week and is offering it, why not take it? The OP hasn't stated what fee she was offered, I don't think that conversation has happened yet. (It is only January, and both parties' circumstances could change before summer anyway and all this would be moot) If the OP offers to watch this kid for only $25 a day she may end up resenting the committment she made after she realizes how much it takes away her freedom.

And the OP's friend might resent paying the same amount to the OP that she paid her niece, when I am assuming the niece came to the child's home, which usually costs more than twice than drop off care. I've had several friends watch children of friends and family, and all have charged $25 a day. If I took in a child, I'd probably charge $40 per day, unless it was a friend or family.

I think the OP would benefit from a built-in playmate for her child, as well. It seems like all of my kids' friends who are only children are constantly inviting kids over. Dd10 is over her friend's house right now, for about the 3rd time this week. It's rare we don't have extra kids here, so getting $ is an added bonus.

 

[luvthemouse71]

I also think $25 a day is way too low. I see nothing wrong with $150 a week. For home child are, that's a steal.

You may be friends but you're taking on a certain amount of liability as well by watching someone else's kid in your home.

 

[VAfamily1998]

I think $150 a week, with you providing food (unless the boy has excessive food restrictions and wouldn't be able to eat the foods you normally keep) and also any fees associated with activities you do--like if you take the kids to the movies, you cover that.

 

[lilpig]

You may be friends but you're taking on a certain amount of liability as well by watching someone else's kid in your home.

Absolutely, I babysat my nephew (year long, from an infant until school age) and a little girl (summers only). My insurance agent came to my house one day, for our garage or something. She seen the extra children and told me the possible situation I could be in if someone got hurt while I was babysitting them, for payment, no matter how little I was making (and trust me it was not much at all) . I didnt need a daycare providers licence, but I did add an insurance policy to my homeowners, just in case. Once I stopped babysitting I canceled it, nothing happened,as far as a child getting hurt. But when you take in children and get paid,(no matter how much) you do open yourself up for liabilities, so make sure you are aware of what all it could cost you. (including the possibility of your disability money?)

 

[bpesch]

I used to be the only stay-at-home mom on my block, and if the schools closed early for snow or something - I was the one that they all walked home to until their parents returned from work. I didn't mind helping out every once in a while for my neighbors...but one winter we were pelted with a blizzard right after a blizzard and had an unusual amount of time off from school....everyone just assumed that it was no problem for me to watch their kids, since I was home anyway. It drove me CRAZY! I was not able to enjoy the time off with my kids. The kids expected me to entertain them daily with trips to go sledding etc. I didn't feel like it every day. And the thing that really got me was all of their parents were out MAKING MONEY. I kept thinking - I could get a job and be out making money, but I don't because I want to be home with my kids...(not the neighborhoods kids) MY kids. It burned me up.

I'm very fond of a saying that goes "you can't be taken advantage of unless you allow it to happen". At some point you need to speak up.

 

[roadtripper]

I would be worried about supplementing disability, too, unless that is ending soon? (You wrote that you survived leukemia--yay!) Can you have a job when on disability?

 

[dimimi]

I would also take the money. If not $200, at least $150. BUT I would make sure I planned fun things for them to do. I would make sure I treated it as a "job." I would spend at least $50 of the "pay" for going to movies or a water park, etc.

I guess there is a difference between letting him come and play...which I get because it also helps you out if the 2 boys are friends...but you also have to be ready if your son has other plans and you just have the neighbor at your house.

I would probably spend a little time jotting down some ideas of fun things you would plan on them doing. The kids could help you with the list.

For example, the library, waterpark, movie, bowling (it can be free) a park, etc.

 

[jackie101]

My thought always was if you want me to keep your kids so you can go out to eat, have fun, run errands, bring them over. If you want me to watch your kids while you work and earn money, then you pay me. It always seemed reasonable. Why would you take on a "job" for free when your friend is earning money?

 

[Pumbaa_]

Make sure you charge enough to cover your increased expenses as well as make some money.

There is nothing wrong with making money by the way. I kow you feel funny charging her, but it is piece of mind for her and no reason you can't make some money also

good luck!!

 

[North of Mouse]

mjkacmom, yes, I have 3 children. Does that make a difference? Does having 5 children make you the childcare expert? Would you like to pole all who post here and see if they have children? I still would not take advantage of someone who would be looking after my child on a regular basis - plus, I'd expect to be respected as well if it were reversed. Taking care of others children is a big responsibility.