My Articles | About Us | Contact Us | Advertise With Us | Search   
 
News, Tips & Offers delivered to your inbox

ABOUT US | VIEW ALL FEATURED ARTICLES | VIEW ALL TOPICS | VIEW ALL REGIONS | DM MOBILE | DM BLOG

Creative Childcare on a Budget Georgia

Parents need timeout from parental duties to keep the spark between husband and wife ablaze.

Local Companies

San4Kids Quality Home Learning Center
478-737-2601
7516 Goodall Mill Road
Macon, GA
Real Kids Academy
(770) 969-7307
291 Jenkins Rd
Tyrone, GA
Lauras In Home Daycare
(229) 226-2473
2025 E Pinetree Blvd
Thomasville, GA
Harris Bruce Enterprise
(706) 582-2651
Waverly Hall, GA
Lillie's Lil' Lamb Day Care & Learning Center Inc
(404) 328-0410
3375 Linecrest Rd
Ellenwood, GA
Kids of Innocence
(404) 328-1446
3811 Flat Shoals Pkwy
Decatur, GA
St Patrick's Licensed Child Development Center
(770) 242-7542
2140 Beaver Ruin Rd
Norcross, GA
Tendercare Preschool and Daycare Academy
(706) 453-1200
803 S Main St
Greensboro, GA
Ptl Early Learning Center
(770) 907-6670
6475 Church St
Riverdale, GA
Stage One Acadeny
(404) 696-1546
195 Fairburn Rd NW
Atlanta, GA

By Beth D. Stevens

Parents need timeout from parental duties to keep the spark between husband and wife ablaze. Whether it's a table for two, a concert, movie, or even a sleep over (empty nest or at an inn), quality time as a couple is important to a marriage and family.

If you don't think you can afford these dates without worrying about your kids' happiness and safety, and childcare costs, you're not alone. For this reason, consider a child-swapping network with other couples. It's a convenient, inexpensive, reliable and rewarding alternative to a babysitter.

How to Initiate Child-swapping

  • Casting call. Choose a couple you know well from your neighborhood, church, or social group.
  • Seek similar ages. It's nice to choose friends who have children the same ages as your kids.
  • Make a good deal. Offer to take care of the couple's children in exchange.

    The Rules

  • Pick a date. Select one weekend night a month as a regular date night. Agree on a reasonable time frame -- 5-10pm once a month, with a longer night or sleep over every three or four months.
  • Put it in ink. Record the dates on a calendar and make a copy of that calendar to distribute to your child swapping pals. Suggest placing it in a noticeable spot (e.g., on the refrigerator).
  • Backup plan. Discuss a cancellation policy. (In case of an illness or emergency, will you reschedule or cancel?) As Lynda Hannan points out, small kids often get sick.
  • Personal preferences. Create a list of your kids' food preferences, bedtime routines, or favorite activities. Ditto for special needs like medicines and allergies.
  • Trial play dates. To make sure everyone gets along, schedule a few group play dates.
  • Game plan. Be prepared to entertain the kids when they arrive. Try games, cooking activities, crafts, or movies.

    The Perks for Parents

  • No interruptions. Parents benefit from time alone. "The time out together was wonderful -- time to talk without having to get up to take care of someone," say Paul and Betsy Bissmeyer.
  • Cost efficient. Lynda Hannan says, "It is fantastic to get away and not have to worry about paying for a sitter. A night out definitely gets expensive when you add twenty or thirty dollars for a sitter."
  • Support system. You can share parenting, medical, and discipline tips. And you know who to call in case of an emergency.
  • Rejuvenating. As the Bissmeyers attest, "We were always refreshed and ready for snuggles again when we got home."

    The Perks for Kids

  • Friends forever.Sometimes the friendships become deep and long lasting.
  • Surrogate parents. Kids bond with other caring adults, providing someone else to turn to when Mom and Dad can't be there.
  • Improves social skills. One mother found it especially helpful to leave her baby with a close friend for short time at an early age. "My husband often traveled and my daughter became very attached to me. Once I started leaving my girl with others, even for short time periods, it did us both a world of good."

    For more information, go to Realfamiliesrealfun.com.

    • Featured Local Company

    San4Kids Quality Home Learning Center

    478-737-2601
    7516 Goodall Mill Road
    Macon, GA
    Read more about Creative Childcare on a Budget

    Related Articles
    - Childcare Security Georgia
    If you're planning to hire a nanny or other in-home child-care provider or are considering placing your child in a family day care, you should insist on reference checks and background checks.
    - The babysitter Georgia
    - Choosing A Child Carrier Georgia
    - Leaving your child with a babysitter Georgia
    - How to Assemble a Kitchen Gift Basket Georgia
    - Childcare: Nanny Taxes Georgia
    - Grandparents for Childcare Needs Georgia
    - Easing Your Child into Childcare Georgia
    - Using Au Pair For Child Care Georgia
    - Childcare When Working from Home Georgia
    Regional Articles
    - Creative Childcare on a Budget Acworth GA
    - Creative Childcare on a Budget Albany GA
    - Creative Childcare on a Budget Alpharetta GA
    - Creative Childcare on a Budget Americus GA
    - Creative Childcare on a Budget Athens GA
    - Creative Childcare on a Budget Atlanta GA
    - Creative Childcare on a Budget Augusta GA
    - Creative Childcare on a Budget Austell GA
    - Creative Childcare on a Budget Baxley GA
    - Creative Childcare on a Budget Blairsville GA
    - Creative Childcare on a Budget Brunswick GA
    - Creative Childcare on a Budget Buford GA
    - Creative Childcare on a Budget Calhoun GA
    - Creative Childcare on a Budget Canton GA
    - Creative Childcare on a Budget Carrollton GA
    - Creative Childcare on a Budget Cartersville GA
    - Creative Childcare on a Budget Cedartown GA
    - Creative Childcare on a Budget Chatsworth GA
    - Creative Childcare on a Budget Columbus GA
    - Creative Childcare on a Budget Conyers GA
    - Creative Childcare on a Budget Cordele GA
    - Creative Childcare on a Budget Covington GA
    - Creative Childcare on a Budget Cumming GA
    - Creative Childcare on a Budget Dacula GA
    - Creative Childcare on a Budget Dahlonega GA
    - Creative Childcare on a Budget Dallas GA
    - Creative Childcare on a Budget Dalton GA
    - Creative Childcare on a Budget Dawsonville GA
    - Creative Childcare on a Budget Decatur GA
    - Creative Childcare on a Budget Douglas GA
    - Creative Childcare on a Budget Douglasville GA
    - Creative Childcare on a Budget Dublin GA
    - Creative Childcare on a Budget Duluth GA
    - Creative Childcare on a Budget Eatonton GA
    - Creative Childcare on a Budget Elberton GA
    - Creative Childcare on a Budget Ellenwood GA
    - Creative Childcare on a Budget Ellijay GA
    - Creative Childcare on a Budget Evans GA
    - Creative Childcare on a Budget Fairburn GA
    - Creative Childcare on a Budget Fayetteville GA
    - Creative Childcare on a Budget Fitzgerald GA
    - Creative Childcare on a Budget Flowery Branch GA
    - Creative Childcare on a Budget Forest Park GA
    - Creative Childcare on a Budget Fort Benning GA
    - Creative Childcare on a Budget Fort Valley GA
    - Creative Childcare on a Budget Gainesville GA
    - Creative Childcare on a Budget Griffin GA
    - Creative Childcare on a Budget Grovetown GA
    - Creative Childcare on a Budget Hartwell GA
    - Creative Childcare on a Budget Hephzibah GA
    - Creative Childcare on a Budget Hinesville GA
    - Creative Childcare on a Budget Jesup GA
    - Creative Childcare on a Budget Jonesboro GA
    - Creative Childcare on a Budget Kennesaw GA
    - Creative Childcare on a Budget Kingsland GA
    - Creative Childcare on a Budget La Fayette GA
    - Creative Childcare on a Budget Lagrange GA
    - Creative Childcare on a Budget Lawrenceville GA
    - Creative Childcare on a Budget Lilburn GA
    - Creative Childcare on a Budget Lithia Springs GA
    - Creative Childcare on a Budget Lithonia GA
    - Creative Childcare on a Budget Loganville GA
    - Creative Childcare on a Budget Mableton GA
    - Creative Childcare on a Budget Macon GA
    - Creative Childcare on a Budget Marietta GA
    - Creative Childcare on a Budget Mcdonough GA
    - Creative Childcare on a Budget Milledgeville GA
    - Creative Childcare on a Budget Monroe GA
    - Creative Childcare on a Budget Morrow GA
    - Creative Childcare on a Budget Moultrie GA
    - Creative Childcare on a Budget Newnan GA
    - Creative Childcare on a Budget Norcross GA
    - Creative Childcare on a Budget Peachtree City GA
    - Creative Childcare on a Budget Powder Springs GA
    - Creative Childcare on a Budget Ringgold GA
    - Creative Childcare on a Budget Riverdale GA
    - Creative Childcare on a Budget Rockmart GA
    - Creative Childcare on a Budget Rome GA
    - Creative Childcare on a Budget Rossville GA
    - Creative Childcare on a Budget Roswell GA
    - Creative Childcare on a Budget Saint Simons Island GA
    - Creative Childcare on a Budget Savannah GA
    - Creative Childcare on a Budget Sharpsburg GA
    - Creative Childcare on a Budget Smyrna GA
    - Creative Childcare on a Budget Snellville GA
    - Creative Childcare on a Budget Statesboro GA
    - Creative Childcare on a Budget Stockbridge GA
    - Creative Childcare on a Budget Stone Mountain GA
    - Creative Childcare on a Budget Suwanee GA
    - Creative Childcare on a Budget Thomaston GA
    - Creative Childcare on a Budget Thomasville GA
    - Creative Childcare on a Budget Thomson GA
    - Creative Childcare on a Budget Tifton GA
    - Creative Childcare on a Budget Toccoa GA
    - Creative Childcare on a Budget Tucker GA
    - Creative Childcare on a Budget Valdosta GA
    - Creative Childcare on a Budget Vidalia GA
    - Creative Childcare on a Budget Villa Rica GA
    - Creative Childcare on a Budget Warner Robins GA
    - Creative Childcare on a Budget Waycross GA
    - Creative Childcare on a Budget Winder GA
    - Creative Childcare on a Budget Woodstock GA
    Rss   Delicious   Digg   Add To My Yahoo   Add To My Google   Bookmark   Search Plugin
    Topics:
    Advertising Family Home Services Real Estate Resources
    Business Services Fashion Industrial Goods & Services Retail & Consumer Services
    Career Financial Services Insurance Software
    Cars Food & Beverage Internet Technology
    Computer Hardware Franchise Legal Telecommunications
    Construction Health Miscellaneous Trade Shows
    Education Holidays Nightlife Travel
    Entertainment Home Appliances Online Database Weddings
    Environmental Home Electronics Pets World History
    Articles.DirectoryM.com | Search | About Us | Contact Us | Mobile | Blog | En Español
    Copyright © BET Information Systems, Inc. All rights reserved.