Should My Family Provide Childcare?

by Christa March

In the last 20 years, some of the teen moms we worked with were told by family members that they would provide childcare once the young mothers returned to school. However, after a few weeks, the family members began realizing how much responsibility it was to watch a child every day, 5 days a week, and soon they started making excuses as to why they couldn't provide childcare. These often last minute cancelations would leave the teen moms with no childcare forcing them to miss school.

However, there have been several times when family members proved to be very trustworthy childcare providers. There was one big difference between the two family types and that difference was COMMUNICATION!

The teen moms who sat down with the family members who offered to provide childcare and put together a contract with them, found their childcare reliable and stable. What would such a contract look like? Below you'll find a sample of a childcare contract you might want to work through if someone in your family offers to provide childcare when you return to school.

Sample Family Member Childcare Contract

TEEN MOM'S RESPONISIBILITIES

Promises to have the baby dressed and ready for the day before she leaves for school.
Will make sure the baby has all the things he/she needs for the day. (Diapers, formula, car seat, etc.)
Promises to return home right after school. If there is a reason why she needs to stay after school she must inform the childcare provider as soon as she knows about the delay.
If for some reason the childcare provider cannot provide childcare services for on any particular day, she will need to find a replacement childcare provider.

CHILDCARE PROVIDER"S RESPONISIBILITIES

Promises to be ready to provide services as soon as the mom is ready to leave for school.
Promises to provide safe and reliable childcare
Promises to let the mom know at least 24 hours in advance of any day when he/she can not provide childcare, giving the mom time to find a substitute childcare provider

After you've created a contract make sure you and the childcare provider sign the contract and date it. We suggest you review the contract together after the first week or two to communicate any changes or additions might be needed to be made to the contract.

We believe the best childcare you can provide for your child is through a state licensed childcare center. But, if you are seriously considering using a family member to provide childcare for your child while you attend school, we highly recommend you create a contract and be willing to stick with that contract.