Looking for a high school child care helper after school

[Anonymous]

We have a full-time nanny, but with 4 kids, we could use help in the after school hours. Currently, the three older children are in three different schools. There would be no driving, but we would like to have this helper do one of the bus pick-ups (about a block from our house) in the afternoon, then help with homework, and play with the kids. The youngest child is an infant, and the nanny or I (WFH) would mostly tend to him. While we'd prefer the same person from 3:30 - 5:30 PM on weekdays, we could employ two, or possibly keep the schedule flexible. No cooking, diaper changes, or other household chores.

My question is how much to pay/hour and where to advertise. We are about a 15 minute walk from the high school. Do high schools have job boards? Neighborhood Facebook group?

[Anonymous]

minimum wage in Washington DC is 16$/hr so above that since you only want 2 hrs/day. I think the best thing would be to call your high school and ask if they have a job board (electronic or physical) and post your need on your neighborhood listserv/next door. BUT many high school kids will have after school activities/sports, so not sure how realistic this is, unless you live in an area with poorer kids who need the job.

[Anonymous]

We have a high school twice a week. She was a lifeguard at our pool this summer. Last year we employed her friend who we found the same way. Now friend is going to college so new sitter took over. They’ve both been great. We don’t pay per hour but pay for the max block of time which is 340-630. Sometimes we only need til 530 if it’s a day DD does her activity.

[Anonymous]

Has nothing to do with being "poor". Working fro young age builds character and helps learn value of money. What a silly comment. Lots of high schoolers in my middle class neighborhood work and volunteer.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We have a full-time nanny, but with 4 kids, we could use help in the after school hours. Currently, the three older children are in three different schools. There would be no driving, but we would like to have this helper do one of the bus pick-ups (about a block from our house) in the afternoon, then help with homework, and play with the kids. The youngest child is an infant, and the nanny or I (WFH) would mostly tend to him. While we'd prefer the same person from 3:30 - 5:30 PM on weekdays, we could employ two, or possibly keep the schedule flexible. No cooking, diaper changes, or other household chores.

My question is how much to pay/hour and where to advertise. We are about a 15 minute walk from the high school. Do high schools have job boards? Neighborhood Facebook group?

At least $15 an hour and you might have to split up the duties between two students. in your post you said you and your nanny would mostly be taking care of the infant? I would gently suggest you always take care of the infant and a high school student be in charge of the school age kids with no infant responsibilities. I think if you want infant responsibilities you will have to make it more like $20 an hour. Advertise on next-door and Facebook.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Has nothing to do with being "poor". Working fro young age builds character and helps learn value of money. What a silly comment. Lots of high schoolers in my middle class neighborhood work and volunteer.

In lieu of sports, school plays, and other clubs/activities? The high school kids I know that are in after school clubs/activities sometimes have jobs, but mostly summer only, or weekend only. It's hard to balance school, a sport, and a job at the same time.

My older kids went to a high school with many low income students (I think it was about 65-70% FARMS at the time.) Many of these students did NEED to work in order to help with family expenses. Unfortunately those kids were usually not able to participate in sports.
Since OP only needs 10 hours per week, I'm not sure if her job would work for a student that NEEDS the money--because the total weekly pay would not be enough.

It's also possible that OP could find someone that can do the job NOW, but then in November will want to try out for basketball or in the spring want to do track, etc. and will have to quit then.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We have a full-time nanny, but with 4 kids, we could use help in the after school hours. Currently, the three older children are in three different schools. There would be no driving, but we would like to have this helper do one of the bus pick-ups (about a block from our house) in the afternoon, then help with homework, and play with the kids. The youngest child is an infant, and the nanny or I (WFH) would mostly tend to him. While we'd prefer the same person from 3:30 - 5:30 PM on weekdays, we could employ two, or possibly keep the schedule flexible. No cooking, diaper changes, or other household chores.

My question is how much to pay/hour and where to advertise. We are about a 15 minute walk from the high school. Do high schools have job boards? Neighborhood Facebook group?

At least $15 an hour and you might have to split up the duties between two students. in your post you said you and your nanny would mostly be taking care of the infant? I would gently suggest you always take care of the infant and a high school student be in charge of the school age kids with no infant responsibilities. I think if you want infant responsibilities you will have to make it more like $20 an hour. Advertise on next-door and Facebook.

I'm not the OP, but when she said "nanny" she meant an actual full time nanny that she already employs. She was not referring to the high school student as "nanny." I'm pretty sure that's why she referred to the type of employee she's looking for as "helper" in her title--to make it clear that this position is different and separate from her nanny.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Has nothing to do with being "poor". Working fro young age builds character and helps learn value of money. What a silly comment. Lots of high schoolers in my middle class neighborhood work and volunteer.

In lieu of sports, school plays, and other clubs/activities? The high school kids I know that are in after school clubs/activities sometimes have jobs, but mostly summer only, or weekend only. It's hard to balance school, a sport, and a job at the same time.

My older kids went to a high school with many low income students (I think it was about 65-70% FARMS at the time.) Many of these students did NEED to work in order to help with family expenses. Unfortunately those kids were usually not able to participate in sports.
Since OP only needs 10 hours per week, I'm not sure if her job would work for a student that NEEDS the money--because the total weekly pay would not be enough.

It's also possible that OP could find someone that can do the job NOW, but then in November will want to try out for basketball or in the spring want to do track, etc. and will have to quit then.

This. Good luck finding a kid willing to abandon all of their ECs (which your schedule demands) for $150 a week.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We have a full-time nanny, but with 4 kids, we could use help in the after school hours. Currently, the three older children are in three different schools. There would be no driving, but we would like to have this helper do one of the bus pick-ups (about a block from our house) in the afternoon, then help with homework, and play with the kids. The youngest child is an infant, and the nanny or I (WFH) would mostly tend to him. While we'd prefer the same person from 3:30 - 5:30 PM on weekdays, we could employ two, or possibly keep the schedule flexible. No cooking, diaper changes, or other household chores.

My question is how much to pay/hour and where to advertise. We are about a 15 minute walk from the high school. Do high schools have job boards? Neighborhood Facebook group?

At least $15 an hour and you might have to split up the duties between two students. in your post you said you and your nanny would mostly be taking care of the infant? I would gently suggest you always take care of the infant and a high school student be in charge of the school age kids with no infant responsibilities. I think if you want infant responsibilities you will have to make it more like $20 an hour. Advertise on next-door and Facebook.

I'm not the OP, but when she said "nanny" she meant an actual full time nanny that she already employs. She was not referring to the high school student as "nanny." I'm pretty sure that's why she referred to the type of employee she's looking for as "helper" in her title--to make it clear that this position is different and separate from her nanny.

OP here. PP is correct in that the student helper would never be in sole charge of the youngest child. The closest they would come to being responsible for any of the kids is the aforementioned bus stop pick-up. The only circumstance in which I anticipate this person interacting with the baby would be if both the nanny and I are busy and he needs to be entertained for a few minutes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Has nothing to do with being "poor". Working fro young age builds character and helps learn value of money. What a silly comment. Lots of high schoolers in my middle class neighborhood work and volunteer.

In lieu of sports, school plays, and other clubs/activities? The high school kids I know that are in after school clubs/activities sometimes have jobs, but mostly summer only, or weekend only. It's hard to balance school, a sport, and a job at the same time.

My older kids went to a high school with many low income students (I think it was about 65-70% FARMS at the time.) Many of these students did NEED to work in order to help with family expenses. Unfortunately those kids were usually not able to participate in sports.
Since OP only needs 10 hours per week, I'm not sure if her job would work for a student that NEEDS the money--because the total weekly pay would not be enough.

It's also possible that OP could find someone that can do the job NOW, but then in November will want to try out for basketball or in the spring want to do track, etc. and will have to quit then.

This. Good luck finding a kid willing to abandon all of their ECs (which your schedule demands) for $150 a week.

Agree. Unless they have ABSOLUTELY no after school activities for the entire year. Finding someone like this is like finding a needed in a haystack. You may be better off with a college kid but then you'd have to pay more.

-Mom of 2 HS kids

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Has nothing to do with being "poor". Working fro young age builds character and helps learn value of money. What a silly comment. Lots of high schoolers in my middle class neighborhood work and volunteer.

In lieu of sports, school plays, and other clubs/activities? The high school kids I know that are in after school clubs/activities sometimes have jobs, but mostly summer only, or weekend only. It's hard to balance school, a sport, and a job at the same time.

My older kids went to a high school with many low income students (I think it was about 65-70% FARMS at the time.) Many of these students did NEED to work in order to help with family expenses. Unfortunately those kids were usually not able to participate in sports.
Since OP only needs 10 hours per week, I'm not sure if her job would work for a student that NEEDS the money--because the total weekly pay would not be enough.

It's also possible that OP could find someone that can do the job NOW, but then in November will want to try out for basketball or in the spring want to do track, etc. and will have to quit then.

This. Good luck finding a kid willing to abandon all of their ECs (which your schedule demands) for $150 a week.

OP again: We are open to more than one student filling this role, if ECs are an issue, plus some non-school activities could be early morning or post-dinner, rather than immediately after school. I think some students in the area might appreciate an opportunity to earn some pocket money. If not, we'll have to come up with a plan B.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We have a full-time nanny, but with 4 kids, we could use help in the after school hours. Currently, the three older children are in three different schools. There would be no driving, but we would like to have this helper do one of the bus pick-ups (about a block from our house) in the afternoon, then help with homework, and play with the kids. The youngest child is an infant, and the nanny or I (WFH) would mostly tend to him. While we'd prefer the same person from 3:30 - 5:30 PM on weekdays, we could employ two, or possibly keep the schedule flexible. No cooking, diaper changes, or other household chores.

My question is how much to pay/hour and where to advertise. We are about a 15 minute walk from the high school. Do high schools have job boards? Neighborhood Facebook group?

$20.00/hr.

[Anonymous]

Have you looked into what time the high school day ends?

I have a kid in high school and his school day ends at 2:10, but I know some school districts have switched and now high school kids get out around 4 pm.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Has nothing to do with being "poor". Working fro young age builds character and helps learn value of money. What a silly comment. Lots of high schoolers in my middle class neighborhood work and volunteer.

In lieu of sports, school plays, and other clubs/activities? The high school kids I know that are in after school clubs/activities sometimes have jobs, but mostly summer only, or weekend only. It's hard to balance school, a sport, and a job at the same time.

My older kids went to a high school with many low income students (I think it was about 65-70% FARMS at the time.) Many of these students did NEED to work in order to help with family expenses. Unfortunately those kids were usually not able to participate in sports.
Since OP only needs 10 hours per week, I'm not sure if her job would work for a student that NEEDS the money--because the total weekly pay would not be enough.

It's also possible that OP could find someone that can do the job NOW, but then in November will want to try out for basketball or in the spring want to do track, etc. and will have to quit then.

This. Good luck finding a kid willing to abandon all of their ECs (which your schedule demands) for $150 a week.

Agree. Unless they have ABSOLUTELY no after school activities for the entire year. Finding someone like this is like finding a needed in a haystack. You may be better off with a college kid but then you'd have to pay more.

-Mom of 2 HS kids

Agree-my teenagers wouldn’t do this for any amount of money.

[Anonymous]

Good luck to you. I found a really sweet high school junior who committed to 5 days/week. Like, she confirmed that would be “no problem!”

Week 1, she mentioned that she would need Mondays off for swim practice. Week 2 she needed two days off to decorate for Homecoming, plus her day off for swimming. Week 3 she needed 1 day off to help her boyfriend get a tux for homecoming, 1 day off to study for an exam, and Friday off to get ready for homecoming. We called it quits after 3 weeks.

I know you’re only looking at a few days per week but if you do this, you’re going to need to be super flexible.