What's the best way to find a regular afterschool sitter?

[Anonymous]

I went to Care.com, but looks like you have to pay for their account now. Lame.
Any other leads to find sitters that are legit (i.e., don't have predators lurking) and that don't charge a monthly fee forever and ever!?

[Anonymous]

I don't think care.com fees will be the biggest of your issues and I'm saying that kindly.

Finding a competent, reliable after school sitter that you can retain for more than a couple months is like hitting the lottery.

[Anonymous]

I wish I knew why it was so hard to find. I did this exact job in HS. I did 2x per week for a family, I walked to their house and let myself in, met the girls at the bus stop and hung out with them for 2 hours or so until mom came home. It was great! I made good money for a HS student... Blah blah activities sure, but not all kids are overloaded with activities.

[Anonymous]

The jackpot is an older sibling of a child's friend. In FFX, the middle schools get out SUPER early and the kids are home in time to walk over and pick up from the neighborhood elementary.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I wish I knew why it was so hard to find. I did this exact job in HS. I did 2x per week for a family, I walked to their house and let myself in, met the girls at the bus stop and hung out with them for 2 hours or so until mom came home. It was great! I made good money for a HS student... Blah blah activities sure, but not all kids are overloaded with activities.

Because parents want five times a week, not two, and they want someone to pick up the kids at school and take them to afterschool activities.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I wish I knew why it was so hard to find. I did this exact job in HS. I did 2x per week for a family, I walked to their house and let myself in, met the girls at the bus stop and hung out with them for 2 hours or so until mom came home. It was great! I made good money for a HS student... Blah blah activities sure, but not all kids are overloaded with activities.

Because parents want five times a week, not two, and they want someone to pick up the kids at school and take them to afterschool activities.

Add to this most kids are doing some kind of after school activity and less kids work during the school year

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I wish I knew why it was so hard to find. I did this exact job in HS. I did 2x per week for a family, I walked to their house and let myself in, met the girls at the bus stop and hung out with them for 2 hours or so until mom came home. It was great! I made good money for a HS student... Blah blah activities sure, but not all kids are overloaded with activities.

Because parents aren't looking for a high schooler to walk over and sit in the house. They want a 28 year old with a masters in child development or education to drive their SAFE (new and expensive) LARGE (can fit all their kids plus carpool kids) car and pick up the kids at school and shuttle them to various activities.

[Anonymous]

I tried looking for one. I posted on Nextdoor, a few mom's groups and came close but didn't find anyone. I think many older kids are busy with activities. I haven't given up totally but I think it will only happen if I get really lucky.

[Anonymous]

OP here - yeah, I definitely am NOT looking for some 28 year old with a MA who can drive my giant SUV (which I don't have). I only want a few days because I have a pretty flexible work schedule, working from home many days of the week, but I do need to go in at least once per week and sometimes more. My kid is old enough to just come home and do homework and chill before we go off to several activities later in the evening. I feel like this could definitely work for a HS student. I don't really need them to be able to drive, but that is sort of a "nice to have". I just don't get it, having a routine HS job is like another "activity" said high schooler can put on their college application while making some cash.

[Anonymous]

Some of us who would like to do that have the same problem as you, where to advertise. It has to be a very good fit like flexible and nearby.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here - yeah, I definitely am NOT looking for some 28 year old with a MA who can drive my giant SUV (which I don't have). I only want a few days because I have a pretty flexible work schedule, working from home many days of the week, but I do need to go in at least once per week and sometimes more. My kid is old enough to just come home and do homework and chill before we go off to several activities later in the evening. I feel like this could definitely work for a HS student. I don't really need them to be able to drive, but that is sort of a "nice to have". I just don't get it, having a routine HS job is like another "activity" said high schooler can put on their college application while making some cash.

Your last sentence makes no sense.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here - yeah, I definitely am NOT looking for some 28 year old with a MA who can drive my giant SUV (which I don't have). I only want a few days because I have a pretty flexible work schedule, working from home many days of the week, but I do need to go in at least once per week and sometimes more. My kid is old enough to just come home and do homework and chill before we go off to several activities later in the evening. I feel like this could definitely work for a HS student. I don't really need them to be able to drive, but that is sort of a "nice to have". I just don't get it, having a routine HS job is like another "activity" said high schooler can put on their college application while making some cash.

Your last sentence makes no sense.

Re-phrasing / explaining my point: Having a routine high school babysitting job is like (and just as good as) any other activity. The high schooler can put it on their college application just like they can put a sport, participation in music/drama, or other commercial job.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here - yeah, I definitely am NOT looking for some 28 year old with a MA who can drive my giant SUV (which I don't have). I only want a few days because I have a pretty flexible work schedule, working from home many days of the week, but I do need to go in at least once per week and sometimes more. My kid is old enough to just come home and do homework and chill before we go off to several activities later in the evening. I feel like this could definitely work for a HS student. I don't really need them to be able to drive, but that is sort of a "nice to have". I just don't get it, having a routine HS job is like another "activity" said high schooler can put on their college application while making some cash.

Your last sentence makes no sense.

Re-phrasing / explaining my point: Having a routine high school babysitting job is like (and just as good as) any other activity. The high schooler can put it on their college application just like they can put a sport, participation in music/drama, or other commercial job.

uhhh colleges do not care about babysitting experience.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here - yeah, I definitely am NOT looking for some 28 year old with a MA who can drive my giant SUV (which I don't have). I only want a few days because I have a pretty flexible work schedule, working from home many days of the week, but I do need to go in at least once per week and sometimes more. My kid is old enough to just come home and do homework and chill before we go off to several activities later in the evening. I feel like this could definitely work for a HS student. I don't really need them to be able to drive, but that is sort of a "nice to have". I just don't get it, having a routine HS job is like another "activity" said high schooler can put on their college application while making some cash.

Lol, no I meant the parents expect the part time sitter to have the huge new SUV/minivan...like the sitter can afford an $80k car on the $250/week they want to pay her.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here - yeah, I definitely am NOT looking for some 28 year old with a MA who can drive my giant SUV (which I don't have). I only want a few days because I have a pretty flexible work schedule, working from home many days of the week, but I do need to go in at least once per week and sometimes more. My kid is old enough to just come home and do homework and chill before we go off to several activities later in the evening. I feel like this could definitely work for a HS student. I don't really need them to be able to drive, but that is sort of a "nice to have". I just don't get it, having a routine HS job is like another "activity" said high schooler can put on their college application while making some cash.

Your last sentence makes no sense.

Re-phrasing / explaining my point: Having a routine high school babysitting job is like (and just as good as) any other activity. The high schooler can put it on their college application just like they can put a sport, participation in music/drama, or other commercial job.

Sports will potentially get a student a scholarship and/or entrance to a school they aren't otherwise academically qualified for.
Music and Drama are fun
Other commercial jobs likely are with other people their age so they can make new friends. Plus, if money is the goal, can probably offer more hours.