Thinking about doing Parent's Night Out as a Fundraiser at Elem School, Experiences, ideas?

[Anonymous]

My DC elementary school is thinking about sponsoring a Parent's Night Out as a fundraiser. This has never been done at the school. I was wondering if anyone has done this at their school? If so, what have activities have you all done. We really need to keep cost down. Please provide details, any ideas or suggestions would be appreciated. Did high school kids help? Parents? How much did you charge? Please share the good, bad any experiences that you may have had. Thank you!

[Anonymous]

This sounds like a great idea!

We are not in VA, but the high schoolers who provide childcare at school meetings get volunteer credits. Perhaps yoir school can offer the same to help cut down on costs.

One suggestion I have is starting the parents night early in
the evening to accommodate families with small children who have early bedtimes.

Good luck!

[Anonymous]

Check your state/city regulations to see if this type of childcare is permitted, doesn't need a special license etc. and consider how sitters will be supervised, etc.

[Anonymous]

I would be concerned about liability.

[Anonymous]

My daughter's girl scout troop does this at times to raise money.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My DC elementary school is thinking about sponsoring a Parent's Night Out as a fundraiser. This has never been done at the school. I was wondering if anyone has done this at their school? If so, what have activities have you all done. We really need to keep cost down. Please provide details, any ideas or suggestions would be appreciated. Did high school kids help? Parents? How much did you charge? Please share the good, bad any experiences that you may have had. Thank you!

My school had a games night where kids could play board games, wii/kinect, basketball and also trivia about their school. It was a hit. I could see schools adapthing that for parents night out.

[Anonymous]

I would totally buy tix for that.

[Anonymous]

DD's scout troop has done this - offer babysitting during Back to School Night (a BIG HIT), and on a Saturday night during the holiday season so parents can go out to a holiday party or go shopping or whatever. They do it in a multi-purpose room and have crafts (coloring pages, very simple holiday ornaments - that kind of thing), board games, movies, snacks. I think they charge $25 for the first kid (for 3 hours or so), $40 for two and $50 for three - and they make a ton of money for their scouting activities. Requires lots of scouts and parents to keep things from getting overly chaotic but it's a great fundraiser and a service to parents at a time when babysitting is often needed (especially B2S Night).