What to charge for after school care?

[ItsNotMuchofaTail]

I would pay $10/day until an agreed upon time, say 5:00. If its later, I would ask for a little more. I pay $17/day for afterschool care for my DD, whether its 5 minutes or 2 hours through the daycare.

I think some are assuming the worst of both the babysitter and the mom asking. As a parent, if I asked a sitter to stay until 5:00, I would come home at 5:00 unless something else was talked about ahead of time (I am a teacher, and once a month I have a faculty meeting, I would pay extra that day, but the sitter would know about it ahead of time). And as a babysitter (which I was starting at age 10-11), I would not be upset if someone promised to be home at 5:00 and came at 5:05, nor would I start angling for extra money.

It sounds like OP's family has thought about it, and is ready to commit to the job. In 6th grade, I would have been happy to have a steady job paying $50/week. $25 doesn't seem like quite enough.

 

[DLgal]

I am not asking for your salary but I will mention mine, at my last job I made $11 an hour. Maybe that's why I was more understanding and didn't charge exorbitant rates, because I know what the average worker makes. Luckily, when I needed care for my kids, people were sympathetic and didn't charge me through the nose. That also, obviously, plays into why I couldn't afford to pay $21 an hour (or $17 an hour) for childcare, it's not that I was trying to "bargain shop."

I left the workforce almost 9 years ago to become a SAHM. My job at that time paid me $12/hr. It didn't seem worthwhile to keep working and then have to pay almost that much for childcare, so we took the hit to our income and never looked back.

I've toyed with the idea of going back to work, but my earning potential just doesn't justify paying for childcare which we would still need to do for several more years.

 

[ptlohmysoul]

Our neighbor directly across the street has a son who will be in first grade this fall. They have asked if it would be possible for our 6th grade daughter to get him off the bus each day, 5 days a week and watch him for 45-60 minutes until the mom gets home. This will be around 4-5pm and would not involve dinner or anything. I will be home as well at this time, but it will totally be up to my daugther to watch him.

Any idea what we would be a fair rate to charge?

First, know your local laws. In Maryland, babysitting in your house over 20 hours a month requires certification (it's really not worth the hassle in Maryland). Secondly, minimum wage should be the minimum you charge. This will also teach your daughter to be knowledgeable about labor laws, etc. However, if I were in the same position in Maryland and was being friendly, I'd probably charge the neighbor for the first 4 hours a week, then volunteer the remaining hours (to avert the certification requirements).

 

[scrapquitler]

OP, honestly, if YOU can do it, just offer to do it yourself and ask for $50 a week. This seems like too much responsibility to put on a 12 year old, IMO. Maybe you can make your daughter be responsible for "entertaining" the kid for the hour at your house, and then split the money with her or something.

I like this idea, mostly because I would not want my 12 year old to have an every day long term commitment that essentially precludes her from participating in ANY after school activities or social events. What happens when she has a school project and needs to meet with someone after school, she wants to be in a play, or she wants to go to a birthday party, etc etc etc? I'd want her to have the flexibility to do things after school other than just babysit the neighbors kid.

 

[princesspiglet]

My next door neighbor- who is also a close friend- picks up my DD10 from school 3 days a week and watches her (along with her 4 kids) until my DH gets home at 5pm. I pay her $8 an hour and she is happy with that. I am thinking that is a low rate, but DD is self-sufficient and actually helps out my friend with her two younger boys (5 and 3). All the daycares in my town charge at least $100 a week no matter how many days you are there, so I am making out paying my friend only $36 a week!

 

[aprilgail2]

My next door neighbor- who is also a close friend- picks up my DD10 from school 3 days a week and watches her (along with her 4 kids) until my DH gets home at 5pm. I pay her $8 an hour and she is happy with that. I am thinking that is a low rate, but DD is self-sufficient and actually helps out my friend with her two younger boys (5 and 3). All the daycares in my town charge at least $100 a week no matter how many days you are there, so I am making out paying my friend only $36 a week!

At 10 here there isn't even an option of after school care- that ends in grade school and once you get to Jr. High they are considered old enough to be latch key. If you wanted to have child care after school it would have to be someone proate.

 

[DisneyCowgirl]

First, know your local laws. In Maryland, babysitting in your house over 20 hours a month requires certification (it's really not worth the hassle in Maryland). Secondly, minimum wage should be the minimum you charge. This will also teach your daughter to be knowledgeable about labor laws, etc. However, if I were in the same position in Maryland and was being friendly, I'd probably charge the neighbor for the first 4 hours a week, then volunteer the remaining hours (to avert the certification requirements).

If this is the stance you are going to take, better not forget to fill out your tax forms, withhold and also pay the employer's share of the taxes.

 

[clarkshel]

Comparing wages of child care across all of the US and/Canada is not a fair comparison. $25/week might be good in some areas whereas $100/week would be fair in some areas. I live in one of the highest cost of living cities in Canada. My sons elementary school charges $350/month for before and after care. Private before/after care places charge anywhere from $450 to $600/month. This is usually from 6:00 am to school start and from after school to 6:00pm. My sons after care will charge you $10/minute if you are past the 6:00pm pickup time.

If you want just after care, you would probably have to still pay over $400/month. They can charge this because there is a lack of child care in my city. For this grade 6 kid, she should get at least $10/hour for watching the child after school. With that being said, I wouldn't expect a grade 6 kid watching a child full time. This is way too big of a commitment. I would never go into an agreement for full time after care with a grade 6 student. I need someone reliably. I am sure this particular kid would be good, but would she still be reliable in 6 months? IMO, she might lose out in a lot of important after school activities committing to long term child care.

 

[ElizabethG]

This really would very by area. In my Minneapolis suburb, after school care (at the school where they have art projects, games, full use of the gym, etc) is $10.25/day for kids in K-3. That is from after school until 6pm (2 day minimum per week). For grades 4-5, it is $9.25.

 

[Kies99]

Thanks everyone for the replies.

We've decided on $8 per hour.

 

[ItsNotMuchofaTail]

Thanks everyone for the replies.

We've decided on $8 per hour.

Sounds fair. I hope your DD loves her new job!