Teen babysitters provide a lot more than inexpensive childcare for my kids

• Neighborhood teens offer flexible, affordable childcare that helps me fill the gaps in my family.
• The teens I employ have become role models for my kids and provide a sense of community.
• I have a roster of teens with different abilities that I call on for a variety of childcare tasks.

I joke that most of the neighborhood’s teenagers are on my payroll, but it’s almost true. I’ve gotten referrals from friends, approached them on the street, and asked teachers at the school for names of responsible students.

In a family with two working parents, we need support. I’m self-employed, so my childcare needs are less traditional than the daycare we had when they were younger. Local teens and young adults are available, flexible, keen for cash, and more affordable than traditional childcare options. Many have also become meaningful and important peer role models for my kids.

Filling the in-between childcare gaps

The flexibility and easy-going nature of teenagers is priceless. One teen walks the kids home from school twice a week. We text on a Sunday evening to determine which days work for both of us. Then after school on those days, my kids play in the park, hang around with friends, or go to the local library under the watchful eye of someone I trust. At 4.30 p.m. she brings them to the door and walks herself home. This costs me less than $15 an hour, and she has reliable weekly pocket money.

Another older kid will often entertain my kids while I hide in the house on my laptop. This is wonderful when school is closed, there is an early dismissal, or I have late meetings. I’m home to manage any meals or emergencies, and the kids have a playmate who is dedicated to their enjoyment and far more willing to get into the paint and Play-Doh than I am.

These older kids live nearby and can walk themselves home at the end of a shift. They’re happy with 90 minutes of paid work if that’s all I need. The downsides are that some have forgotten to show up, or a track meet takes priority over babysitting, but generally they’re right on time and full of energy, as long as I don’t keep them out too late (teens have curfews, even for babysitting).

Each arrangement depends on the babysitter’s age and maturity, as well as the level of responsibility, meals, or bedtime involved. Someone entertaining my kids while I’m home is different from a trusted older teenager babysitting managing bedtimes.

I’m helping to fuel the hyperlocal economy

Without the taxes and overhead, hiring teens is a great deal financially. I’m paying less than I would at a daycare, community camp, or through an agency, and the babysitters I use are thrilled to go home with spending money.

The job teaches them responsibility, accountability, and confidence. I invite conversations about availability, rate increase, or holiday bonuses. As an entrepreneur myself, I love having these conversations with a younger generation and admire those who are clear about their boundaries, even the teen who took a full week off to celebrate her birthday.

Teenagers are fun

My son wants to spend summer afternoons hunting for geocaches or sitting out on the sidewalk selling weak, warm lemonade. I don’t love either of these activities, but I know teenage boys who are quite happy to haul tables out to the street and paint the signs with my son to earn a few extra dollars.

I love watching my kids connect with teenagers. They play a unique role as they’re not grown-ups, but they’re not children. They’re old enough that the kids feel safe and respect them, but young enough to play, make jokes, and not enforce sugar rules. Seeing these trusted relationships develop feels so special. When we’re out in the community and see a babysitter, my kids run over, and the bond between them is evident.

We’ve created our own village

People talk about wanting a village, but many don’t consider the teens around them. Some parents feel nervous, some don’t know where to find them, and others have formal childcare they’re already paying for. For us, having a roster of babysitters is not only about childcare, but it’s also about building community.

Hiring local teenagers has helped me navigate parenting, working, and jogging periodically, but it’s also given my kids meaningful relationships with older kids who are part of their neighborhood, building our own little village.