SitterTree Resources: Insights on Babysitting and Childcare

Summer is here, which means more time to play! When the weather is great? No problem. Park days, splash pads, lake trips and nature trails abound. But what about those rainy summer afternoons?

These budget-friendly rainy day activities are your solution! Surprise the kiddos with a little something special the next time those storm clouds roll in.

10 budget-friendly rainy day activities for kids

1.  Indoor Camping. Transform your living room into a cozy campsite. Set up a tent or create a fort using blankets and pillows. Encourage the kids to bring their stuffed animals and sleeping bags. Then, grab a flashlight and tell campfire stories, try s’mores in the microwave, and brew a big batch of cocoa for serving in favorite mugs.
2. DIY Board Games or Puzzles. Create your own board games using cardboard, markers, and small toys as game pieces. Let your kids unleash their creativity by designing the game board, rules, and challenges. This activity not only provides hours of entertainment, but also promotes strategic thinking and problem-solving skills.
3. Cooking/Baking. Rainy days are the perfect opportunity to involve your kids in the kitchen. Choose simple recipes that they can help with, such as making cookies or pizza. Let them measure ingredients, mix the batter, and decorate the finished product. Cooking together not only teaches valuable skills, but also strengthens your bond.
4. Movie Marathon. Set up a cozy movie marathon in your living room. Choose a theme or let your kids pick their favorite movies. Create a cinema-like atmosphere with popcorn, snacks, and blankets. You can even make handmade movie tickets for extra entertainment.
5. Indoor Obstacle Course. Design a fun and challenging obstacle course using pillows, furniture, and household items. Let your kids navigate through tunnels, climb over cushions, and jump through hula hoops. Then, make the final obstacle the clean-up! Keep the kiddos entertained and don’t stress about the mess.

6. Arts and Crafts. Gather art supplies such as paints, colored paper, glue, and scissors, and let your kids unleash their creativity. Encourage them to draw, paint, or create collages.

7. Indoor Treasure Hunt. Create a thrilling treasure hunt inside your home. Write clues on small pieces of paper leading to hidden treasures or treats. Use their favorite toys or books as prizes. This activity promotes problem-solving skills, boosts imagination, and adds an element of adventure to the day.

8. Science Experiments. Explore the wonders of science with simple experiments that can be done at home. Make a volcano using baking soda and vinegar, create a rainbow in a glass using food coloring, or conduct a sink-or-float experiment. 

9. DIY Puppet Show. Encourage your kids to create their own puppets using socks, paper bags, or even old gloves. Next, help them set up a puppet theater using a table or a cardboard box. Finally, put on a puppet show by telling stories or performing a play. This activity enhances storytelling skills, creativity, and imagination.

10. Building with Recyclables. Collect recyclable materials such as cardboard boxes, empty containers, and paper towel rolls. Challenge your kids to build structures, robots, or vehicles using these materials. This activity promotes problem-solving, engineering skills, and environmental awareness.

Rainy days don’t have to be boring or uneventful for kids. By incorporating these budget-friendly activities into your rainy day routine, you can create a world of fun and excitement right at home.

From indoor camping adventures and DIY board games to cooking together and exploring the wonders of science, these activities are sure to keep your kids entertained, engaged, and happy. Embrace the rain, unleash your creativity, and make the most of these precious moments.

And if you need a summertime babysitter for a quick outing or parent getaway, post your first job for free with SitterTree.

By Grant Glas, founder of Playlister

Spring is here at last, bringing with it countless opportunities for family fun. 

Children adore the vibrant atmosphere and excitement that comes with the season of renewal. 

However, finding engaging spring activities to do with kids while sticking to a budget can be a challenge for parents.

Keep reading for 20 incredible spring activities that cost almost nothing.

20 budget-friendly spring activities to do with kids

1. Paint Rocks

Arts and crafts don’t have to cost a dime. Head out into nature with your little ones and set them on a mission to find the flattest rock they can. Collect their chosen canvases, hand them the paints, and let their creativity shine.

2. Have a Games Day

When it comes to spring activities for kids, games are a must. Set an Easter theme with your activities or keep things seasonal and play a visual scavenger hunt. Notice the animals and plants that appear as the weather gets warmer using one of these free printable spring scavenger hunt PDFs.

3. Make a Bird Feeder

Creating a safe space for birds to rest in your garden is not as difficult a task as you might think. Get creative with the resources you have on hand and build a makeshift birdhouse from recycled materials. Check out this page for 23 ways to up-cycle a bird feeder, using anything from popsicle sticks to plates to wine bottles.

4. Water Balloon Fight

When the spring heat arrives, there’s only one thing to do-have a water fight! Prepare the water balloons, fill up any water bottles, load up the water guns, and head into your garden or the local park to cool down while having some fun.

5. Go Camping

One of our favorite activities for spring is camping, whether at home in the backyard or on a mini vacation. Set up the tent and teach your little ones some campfire songs while enabling them to connect with nature.

6. Visit a Museum

We often take museums in our hometown for granted, but they often have zones designed especially for kids. Check the schedules for your local museums and see if anywhere has a day that’s free to visit or has a special installment for kids.

7. Host a Family Potluck

Spring activities for families revolve around spending quality time together, and what better way to bond than over a shared potluck dinner? Get the whole family (including kids!) to help prepare a few dishes and enjoy the experience of breaking bread together.

8. Read at the Library

Inspire a love of books in your children by taking a trip to the local library. If they haven’t already got a library card, now is the time to sign them up! After reading in the kids’ zone, let them check out three books to start a reading log at home.

9. Play Sidewalk Chalk

Did you know that for the cost of a box of chalk, you could entertain your children for hours, if not days? Introducing Sidewalk Chalk, the no-mess art competition for kids that washes away whenever it rains.

10. Bake a Tasty Treat

Spring break activities for families don’t have to be difficult to arrange. Simply making sweet snacks together as a family can provide fun for the entire day. Get creative with your choices and let your little ones play a part in choosing, from brownies and muffins to cakes and cornflake nests.

11. Craft a DIY Wind Chime

Gather materials like beads, shells, small bells, and string to create a unique wind chime together. Hang it in your garden or on your porch, and enjoy the soothing sounds it makes as the spring breeze passes through. This activity encourages creativity and adds a personal touch to your outdoor space.

12. Plant a Garden

Teach your children about gardening and the joy of watching something grow by planting flowers, herbs, or vegetables together. This activity helps them learn about the importance of nurturing and patience.

13. Have a Picnic

Pack a simple lunch and head to the park or even your backyard for a family picnic. Enjoy the outdoors and the time together while sharing a meal.

14. Create Homemade Puppets

Use old socks, buttons, and fabric scraps to create homemade puppets. Then, have your kids put on a puppet show for the family to enjoy.

15. Make a Family Scrapbook

Collect photos, ticket stubs, and other memorabilia to create a family scrapbook. This activity will help your children learn the value of memories and preserving special moments.

16. Explore a Nature Trail

Take a walk on a nature trail or through a local park, observing the signs of spring and appreciating the beauty of nature together.

17. Have a Movie Night

Choose a family-friendly movie, make some popcorn, and enjoy a cozy movie night at home.

18. Fly a Kite

Find an open space on a windy day and teach your kids the joy of flying a kite. This activity is a classic springtime favorite.

19. Create a Family Cookbook

Have each family member choose their favorite recipes and create a personalized family cookbook. This activity not only helps your children learn about cooking but also preserves your family’s culinary traditions.

20. Organize a Neighborhood Cleanup

Encourage your kids to be good citizens by organizing a neighborhood cleanup day. Invite neighbors to join in and help beautify the area.

These 20 budget-friendly spring activities will provide fun for the whole family while creating lasting memories. Enjoy the warmer weather and quality time with your loved ones this spring season.

And if you need a springtime babysitter for a quick outing or parent getaway, post your first job for free with SitterTree.

Self-Select gives you full control to choose the best fit child care providers for your group.

What does it mean to self-select child care providers?

Self-Select allows groups on SitterTree to select child care providers from a qualified, vetted pool of applicants-instead of the app automatically booking providers.

SitterTree will continue to source, vet and manage payments for providers, but when it comes to selecting the fit for your group, the choice is yours!

Self-Select is our most-requested feature for groups, and we’re so excited to make your booking experience even easier.

Ready to learn how to use the Self-Select feature? Check out this demo!

 How does Self-Select work?

1. Post your job as usual. As always, posting in advance and at a competitive rate-especially on holidays like Easter-will result in more applicants.
2. Favorite providers will be notified to apply. Other providers will also be able to view and apply.
3. View job applicants at any time. Favorite providers will always be listed first when they apply.
4. Select your provider! View provider profiles to learn more about their child care experience and read reviews.
5. Use Chat to easily communicate. Download the app (for iPhone or Android) to try it out.

How will I know when I can select a provider?

We’ll email you each time a provider applies, including when Favorite providers apply. Then, you can begin the Self-Select process.

Choose the best fit provider for your group by following the steps above.

Look for Sitter Badges, specific experience, reviews and ratings to help make your decision.

Want fewer emails? Adjust your email notifications in Notification Settings.

Tips for Using Self-Select

• Select providers with enough notice. We recommend booking a provider at least 5 hours before the start of your job.  
• Turn on Auto-Select. With Auto-Select turned on, we’ll automatically book your highest-ranked Favorite provider, if they applied. If no Favorite providers applied, you’ll self-select from the applicant pool…and maybe even find your next favorite provider.
• Rank Favorite providers. If you have multiple Favorite providers, rank them by dragging and dropping within your Favorites list. Then, turn on Auto-Select under Instructions for ultimate ease! 
• Cancellations. In the case of a cancellation, your job will be reposted and you will receive a text and email notification to select a new provider.  
• Last-minute cancellations. In the case of a last-minute cancellation (within 12 hours of the start time of a job), you will receive a text and email notification to select a new provider. In addition, SitterTree Support will be available to assist you.

Ready to get started? Check out this demo!

When you need quality, consistent child care for your group, use the SitterTree app to connect with an experienced provider to meets your unique needs.

Or get started with an introductory phone call.

Book more jobs by perfecting your child care profile.

You’ve downloaded the SitterTree app (oh hey, Android users!) and your profile has been successfully vetted. Congratulations! We’re so happy to have you. 

Now, learn how your sitter profile can help you book more jobs.

One of the best parts of using SitterTree to find and book child care jobs is that you work for yourself. You essentially run your own business now-go you! You have the freedom to set your own schedule and pick up jobs that are best suited for you.

But, like every good businessperson knows, marketing is crucial to your success.

As a sitter, your best marketing tool is your profile.

Your profile is your chance to present yourself as the qualified child care provider that you are.

There are two key components to making your SitterTree sitter profile shine.

The winning sitter profile formula is:

Professional photo

+ Thoughtful bio

= More money in your pocket

Properly caring for your own sitter profile shows parents the level of care and detail you’ll put in when sitting for their kiddos

With a knockout profile, you’re more likely to:

• Book MORE jobs
• Book higher-paying jobs
• Book recurring jobs as a Favorite sitter

Here’s how to crush the profile game and book more jobs than ever.

1. Perfect your photo

Your profile photo is your first impression.

We love a good selfie for Instagram, but think of your SitterTree profile as more like LinkedIn. Your goal is to present yourself as the professional, friendly babysitter that you are.

We suggest grabbing a friend and stepping outside for a quick photoshoot.

If you have an iPhone, set it to Portrait or Natural Light mode. Have your friend photograph you from the shoulders up.

Smile bright and radiate warmth! Ask your friend to take multiple photos-you should feel confident and qualified! We know you’ve got that new sitter glow.

Whether you’re taking a new photo or using one you already have, here are our top tips:

• Solo is best. You should be the only person in the photo. Don’t leave parents wondering who’s showing up to sit for their kids! Leave any kiddos out-protecting their privacy is important.
• Stay away from selfies. That means selfies of all kinds-car selfies, mirror selfies, etc. Steer clear of filters (sorry not sorry, puppy face filters), and photos of photos (like a picture of your ID card).  
• Show your beautiful face! Make sure you’re not wearing sunglasses, a hat, or a mask for the shot. When your face is clearly visible, it helps build trust with parents. 
• Wear a ‘sitter casual’ outfit. Dress in something you’d wear to lunch with your aunt-not on a bachelorette trip.
• Stand the proper distance from the camera. A shoulders-up shot is ideal! Full body photos are usually too far away. If needed, you can always crop and zoom in on your face.
• And of course, smile! It goes a long way in showing parents how friendly, warm and fun you are. 

2. Make your sitter bio sing

Your bio is your opportunity to show parents what makes you uniquely qualified. 

When writing your bio, think about your experience.

Then, try to answer answer some of these questions:

• What age children are you experienced with? Are there age ranges you prefer? If you have a knack for getting infants to nap, say so! If you’re a math tutor on the side, parents definitely want to know. 
• How did you get started babysitting, and how many years have you been doing so? You don’t have to write a novel, but getting specific shows parents you’re the real deal.
• What do you enjoy most about babysitting? Maybe it’s helping with homework, creating fun activities, or (gasp!) taking over bedtime duties. Showing a little personality goes a long way. 

Once you’ve got pen to paper, we recommend:

• Limiting your bio to a short paragraph. Three to five sentences is the sweet spot. Beyond that, you start to lose folks-no matter how interesting your story is.
• Double checking spelling and grammar. Errors make perfectly qualified sitters come off as unprofessional. Download an app like Grammarly, or have that friend with the journalism degree give it a read-through!
• Avoiding list formats (like a resume) and leaving personal information (like your age and contact info) off. 

Here are some examples of stellar sitter profiles, with great photos and bios.

Et voilà! Now that you have a bangin’ bio and a proper photo, you’re on your way to making more money babysitting than ever. 

So: who’s ready for a photoshoot and a free-write sesh?

Time to show off what makes you amazing-you deserve it!

You’re on a roll.

Now is a great time to start earning Sitter Badges.

Earn Sitter Badges for skills you already have, or take the opportunity to learn something new-boosting your value as a babysitter. Sitter Badges include CPR certification, Sexual Abuse Prevention Training, special needs certifications, and more.

Many Badges are quick and easy to earn-they’re the cherry on top of your newly minted sitter profile.

If you have any questions, we’re more than happy to help. Our team of specialists is on-hand 24/7. 

Not to brag, but we’re pretty good with names. As in, we’re on a first name basis with every sitter on the app. We’d absolutely love to learn yours and get to know you better.

Call SitterTree Support with questions.

Mindfulness may seem like a buzzword, but this centuries-old practice can bring joy to your parenting journey. 

Practicing mindfulness has scientifically proven benefits to enhance our relationships-with others, with ourselves, and with the world around us. 

UC Berkeley author Jeremy Adam Smith writes, ‘Mindfulness is linked to better relationships with our kids. Studies have found that mindfulness practices can lessen stress, depression, and anxiety in parents of preschoolers and children with disabilities. Mindful parenting is also linked to more positive behavior in kids.

So, what does ‘mindfulness’ mean in practice, and how can you get started parenting mindfully?

As professor, scientist and zen student Jon Kabat-Zinn defines it, mindfulness is ‘the awareness that arises through paying attention on purpose, in the present moment, and non-judgmentally.‘ It’s about noticing the moment we’re in, so we can then appreciate that moment.

As adults in our modern society, we’re increasingly focused on reaching goals and milestones-often missing the messy, magical moments right in front of us…happening here and now.

The old parenting adage ‘the days are long, but the years are short’ may be true, but when we practice mindfulness, we can slow time down just a tad. 

Practicing mindfulness as parents can help us recapture the magic of our youth, while connecting with our children in soothing, soul-satisfying ways.

Here are a few easy tips to get started on your mindful parenting journey. 

1. Reduce reactivity

We’re parents, but we’re also people. It’s biologically normal for your body to elicit a stress response in frustrating situations. When you’re already running late, are rushing to get out the door, and your kid is on the floor refusing to be clothed, acknowledge that it is a stressful situation. Accept what you’re feeling is not only OK, but normal. Don’t be so hard on yourself!

Once you’ve accepted your own emotions, you can try to de-escalate. When you feel your body’s stress cues (heart racing, jaw clenching), try to model how you’d like your kids to behave when they’re stressed.

You can try saying ‘I need a minute to calm down because I’m feeling stressed’, or ‘I’m going to step into the other room and take some deep breaths.’ After you take a minute, you can try explaining to your child why you were feeling frustrated or stressed.

Of course, a little meditation never hurts, either.

As Hunter Clarke-Fields says in her book ‘Raising Good Humans’, the best thing you can do is lay a foundation of mindfulness with a quick, 5-minute meditation practice each day. If you can’t find the time, try meditating during a daily activity.

2. Slow down

Welcome to a day in your life: errands need running, chores need completing, you’ve got to catch up on bills and, heck, maybe even vacation planning. But you also have a child vying for your attention.

What would happen if you put all those ‘must do’ items on hold, just for a few minutes?

As cliche as it may sound, all we really ever have is right now. When we’re wrapped up in what’s to come, it’s easy to forget that the current moment is one we used to pray for and dream about.

Try putting your responsibilities on pause. Slow things down for a second. Spend five minutes experiencing the ‘mundane’ with your child. You can try employing all of your senses, and watch as the ordinary turns into extraordinary.

What do you see? Can you notice the details of a dragonfly’s iridescent wings? What do you smell? Is someone frying bacon next door? Continue with this exercise for your other senses-noticing what you can taste, hear and touch.

Noticing and naming your sensory experience helps you connect with the present moment, with your child…and even with your own inner child.

3. Share your calm

It can be tricky and overwhelming when our toddlers are having a meltdown to a) know how to respond and b) not melt down ourselves.

The next time your toddler is having a tantrum, try these tips from an LMFT at Big Little Feelings.

• Crouch down. Getting on their level and seeing them eye-to-eye increases feelings of safety and security, helping them to calm down faster.
• Show and communicate empathy. Let them know you’re there for them and that big feelings are OK. If you can’t think of what to say, showing empathy on your face is often enough to let them know they’re not alone.

4. Recharge

Remember that first step to mindful parenting-the one about acknowledging yourself as a human being with basic needs?

An effective way to honor your own needs is taking time to reset.

Having a quality child care team at your fingertips goes a long way in getting your family the support they need.

Then, you can return to your kids refreshed, energized, and ready to parent with intention.

To help you on your mindful parenting journey, we’re offering your first sitter booking for free.* 

Use Code TREEHOUSE1FREE.

As you can see, mindfulness isn’t just for monks, CEOs or professional athletes. It’s also for moms, caregivers, and even kids. 

We’d love to hear how we can support you on your parenting journey. Leave a comment below and tell us what mindfulness practice you’re trying out.

*Terms apply. Valid for one free booking. New users only. No booking fees. Sitter wages not included in promotion.

Have questions?

Check out our Frequently Asked Questions or set up a call with one of our friendly support team members (who, by the way, all started as sitters!)

The Best Places for Photos with Santa in Atlanta, Christmas 2022

We’ve rounded up the best Atlanta locations to take family photos with Santa.

Check out these photos with Santa events across Atlanta for Christmas 2022. 

Don’t forget: Any photo with Santa is a win! If you’ve got a screaming, beet-red kid-consider it a classic shot! It may be difficult to laugh off in the moment, but don’t worry, you will later. 

Here’s our 2022 list of the best places to take photos with Santa in Atlanta, based on your family’s unique style.

Classic Photos With Santa

• Santa Stops By at City of Smyrna. (Nov. 30, Dec. 1, 6-8 ,13-15) Santa will visit your family at your front door or porch.  He will spend time with your family for approximately 10 minutes. This event will be for Smyrna residents only.
• Photos with Santa at Georgia Aquarium. (Select dates, Dec. 2-Dec. 24, 2022) During your Aquarium visit, capture a photograph with Georgia Aquarium’s own seaside St. Nick. 
• Visits with Santa at The Avenue West Cobb. (Nov. 30 and Dec. 7, 14 and 21) Make a lifelong memory taking a selfie with Santa; kids can enjoy playing in a life size snow globe.
• Decatur Christmas Tree Lighting in Decatur Square. (Dec. 1) Enjoy holiday carols, hot cocoa, “snow,” and Santa lighting the tree. 
• Santa at Marietta Square. (Dec. 2-24)You’ll find Santa in front of a beautiful Christmas backdrop at the Marietta Museum of History this season, with the beloved Hadley’s Photography team ready to capture your family’s memories.
• A Day With Santa in Kennesaw. (Dec. 3) Usher in the holiday season with a parade, scavenger hunt, performances, vendor market, a tree lighting and photos with Santa.
• Deck the Hall in Duluth. (Dec. 3) This event features live entertainment, crafts for the kids, a real snow playground and snow slide, photo ops with Santa and holiday light installations.

Atlanta Favorite Photos With Santa

• Cookies with Santa at Zoo Atlanta. (Dec. 3-4) Bring the little ones for a personal visit with Santa and a professional photo. In addition to a photo with Santa, you’ll take a To-Go Kit to enjoy warm cocoa, cookies, and crafts at home!
• Winter Wonderland at Monday Night Garage. (Dec. 11) Photo ops with Santa, a holiday train choo-chooing through the brewery, seasonal stouts, face painting, and hot cocoa.
• Santa’s Post Office at The Battery Atlanta. (Nov. 25-Dec. 24) Bring handwritten letters to Santa at his Atlanta outpost. Truist will have additional activities, photo ops and giveaways. This free opportunity allows parents and guardians to take their own photos.
• Botanical St. Nick at Atlanta Botanical Garden. (Dec. 3, 10 and 17) Meet Botanical Saint Nick! Bring your camera and come tell all of your holiday wishes to the big guy clad in green.
• Selfies With Santa at Ponce City Market. (Dec. 3, 10 and 17) Dash over to The Yard at Ponce City Market for a selfie with the jolly man in the red suit! Guests are invited to bring their own cameras to snap a photo with Santa in his sleigh and enjoy yard games.
• Mommie and Me Winter Wonderland at Underground Atlanta. (Dec 18) Enjoy performances, giveaways, photos with Santa, gingerbread house building, a hot chocolate station and more. A portion of the proceeds from ticket sales will assist local at-risk youth and underprivileged families in the city of Atlanta.

Prim & Proper Photos With Santa

• Tea with Santa at St. Regis Atlanta. (Nov. 25-Dec. 24)The whole family will enjoy an unforgettable afternoon of tea and a visit from Santa, Mrs. Claus and a mischievous hotel elf, along with live music set against the impeccable backdrop of the luxury hotel’s Astor Court. 
• Toys and Tea at The Ritz-Carlton. (Nov. 27 and Dec. 4, 10-11, 17-18 and 20-21) Have tea, hot chocolate, and enjoy cookie decorating while Santa and Mrs. Claus stop by for a visit. Children of all ages are encouraged to bring an unwrapped toy to donate to support a local charity.
• Cocoa with Santa at A Queen’s Tea Party, Atlantic Station. (Dec. 17) Enjoy cocoa and snacks with Santa.
• Photos with Santa at Bellyard Hotel. (Dec. 4) Head to Drawbar for photos with Santa and stay to enjoy brunch. There will be a complimentary coloring station, hot cocoa bar, and more.

Outdoorsy Photos With Santa

• Stone Mountain Christmas at Stone Mountain Park. (Nov. 12-Jan. 1) Become immersed in holiday magic with evenings full of festive music, millions of dazzling lights, spectacular shows and visits from some of your favorite holiday characters!
• Santa’s Wonderland at Bass Pro Shops.(Nov. 5-Dec. 24) Experience the magic of Christmas at Santa’s Wonderland at your local Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s with a free photo with Santa.

Church Photos With Santa

• Christmas at Piedmont Church Arts and Crafts Show at Piedmont Church. (Dec. 9-10) Experience over 40 unique handmade arts & crafts booths, along with a play area, interactive crafts, entertainment and free photos with Santa.

If you need extra support for your other holiday gatherings, SitterTree is here to connect you with vetted, available sitters. Take some time for yourself this season and book your first babysitter free.*

Use Code TREEHOUSE1FREE at checkout.

*Terms apply. Valid for one free booking. New users only. No booking fees. Sitter wages not included in promotion.

Have more questions?

Check out our Frequently Asked Questions or set up a call with one of our friendly support team members (who, by the way, all started as sitters!)

Discover the benefits of Sitter Pass

Sitter Pass is SitterTree‘s monthly babysitting subscription. If you book more than one sitter each month, it saves you money. 

A Sitter Pass subscription allows families to book unlimited sitters for a flat rate of just $30/month. With a standard SitterTree membership, booking fees are $20/sitter.

That means after just two babysitter bookings, your Sitter Pass has already paid for itself. 

Sitter Pass is perfect for families who:

• Book recurring sitters. If your family could use a little extra support for date nights, after school care, or some self-care time, Sitter Pass is for you. Remember: it takes a village, and you deserve to fill your own cup. You don’t need to ‘earn’ you time.  
• Need last-minute bookings. Maybe your little one woke up six times last night instead of their usual two-you need an impromptu self-care day, or at least a solo coffee date. Maybe-after several weeks of Instacart grocery orders-your heart needs to pick avocados to your preferred ripeness. Go ahead and book a sitter for whatever your needs are…without worrying about extra fees. 
• Like saving money! Even if you don’t plan to need a sitter more than once a month, life happens. When you upgrade to Sitter Pass, you save money after booking just two babysitters per month. 

Let’s be real: you spend all day tending to the needs of your little ones. 

Whether you work from home, work in the office, or wear the many hats of a stay-at-home mom, the mental load of motherhood never takes a break. 

Sitter Pass gives you the freedom to take a breather as often as you need-without the fuss of additional fees…and with the confidence you’re booking an experienced, quality sitter. 

USE CODE TREEHOUSE AT CHECKOUT

TO GET YOUR FIRST MONTH OF SITTER PASS FREE

Still wondering if Sitter Pass is right for you?

Chat with our Support team and we’ll help you determine which plan makes sense for your family. 

Curious why booking fees exist? Learn more.

TLDR: They ensure you have access to verified sitters and quality customer support.

We sat down with Ashley Grandchamp, Director of Nursery Ministry at Peachtree Church, to discuss best practices in church child care.

Providing child care at your church is a commitment, and there are simple and effective ways to make it a smooth, memorable experience.

Watch the video of our live conversation with Ashley, where she shares her tips, or read on to learn more.

#1: Plan Ahead

Post your job as soon as you know you need a child care provider. For example, if your church needs child care every Sunday, post a recurring job in advance for an entire month, or even quarter.

This will help:

• Ensure your jobs get filled. Highly organized providers often plan their schedule in advance. Posting early gives you the security of knowing you’ll have the extra support to provide the best care possible, especially around holidays. It also gives providers peace of mind knowing they have job security with your church.
• Establish consistency with providers. The more repeat providers at church, the more seamless the experience will be for everyone involved- including providers! Once a provider has learned your unique protocols and practices, has met your team, and has made an impression on the children you serve, it’s a win/win when you’re able to rebook them.
• Develop alignment internally. Outlining a clear schedule in advance will create cohesion across your church’s departments, like Finance and Education. Getting everyone on the same page is key to a stress-free experience.

#2 Get Organized

Ashley recommends using the resources on the SitterTree app to make the best room placements for providers. Read profiles and reviews, and check provider Badges in advance of each job. 

For instance, if you offer care for children with special needs, placing a provider with a Special Needs Badge in that classroom would be ideal. If you have a repeat provider, consider placing them in the same classroom they previously served for consistency.

This quick and easy preparation goes a long way in showing your providers they are valued and seen, while ensuring children receive the best possible care. 

 #3 Treat Providers Like Your Team

One of the best ways to set up your church’s child care program for success is to efficiently and compassionately integrate providers into your operation. Ashley shares some practical ways Peachtree Church does this. 

• Provide informative resources. When providers arrive at Peachtree Church, they watch a short video that tells them everything they need to know to have a great experience. The video covers important topics like safety protocols, church expectations, and where to find items like smocks and kitchen supplies. Content like this provides clarity and establishes expectations upfront. 

• Ask for feedback. At the end of each job, Ashley asks providers to fill out a quick questionnaire to rank their experience and classroom. By doing so, she can then place returning providers back in classrooms that were a great fit, or move providers to a new opportunity if they didn’t quite mesh with their previous placement. Asking for honest feedback makes booking repeat providers even easier.

• Learn their names. Providers bring valuable, quality care for your children. Make them feel seen and appreciated with the simplest of acts-learning their name. Ask for clarity if you need help with the pronunciation, and ask again if you forget it. It goes a long way.  

When you need quality, consistent child care for your church, use the SitterTree app to connect with an experienced provider to meets your unique needs.

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How to Budget for Child Care

Is the high cost of child care holding you back from living your best life? 

Are you hesitating to go back to work, grab tickets to a concert, or make reservations for a date night because you can’t stomach the budget for child care? You’re not the only one. 

Child care costs increased by 41 percent nationwide due to the pandemic. 

“It’s been a pretty amazing increase nationwide,” Chief Credit Analyst at LendingTree Matt Schulz said. “But Georgia, in particular, has seen a really big increase.”

The problem is that child care is a necessity (and often a much-needed luxury). Since it is something every parent needs, either regularly or just from time to time, we must budget for it.

The good news is that it is totally doable! Use these ten tips to help you budget for child care and get back to living your life kid-free (on occasion).

1. Track Your Spending

Let’s start at the very beginning. First, you need to know where you are financially and how your spending habits look. 

Do you eat (or drink) your money? Use a budgeting app like Personal Capital to track your spending and investments, and stay on top of them. You’ll be surprised by how quickly those trips to Starbucks and Target add up. 

2. Create a Budget and Stick to It

Once you have an idea of where you stand financially and how you spend your money, set a savings goal. How much money do you need for child care?

On the SitterTree app, for example, families offer rates starting around $17/hour plus a $20 booking fee (if you pay per booking versus purchasing a $30 Sitter Pass subscription). 

Take these numbers into consideration and estimate how much money you need for child care. Then, create a budget that allows you to meet your savings goal.

3. Cut the Extras

If you are like most people, you may discover your budget doesn’t add up. You bring in less money than your budget seems to require. This is why it is essential to make cuts.

Child care is a must-have, so it’s time to cut some of the unnecessary spending. For example, do you really need to subscribe to five different streaming services? (No judgment!) Are you overspending on food delivery? Is the gym membership going unused?

Minor cuts like these add up to significant cost savings, which you can put towards your child care savings goal. 

4. Ask for Child Care as a Gift

There is zero shame in asking for gift cards for child care – especially if you live far from family.

Most everyone understands that parents need a break now and then, and they are more than willing to help parents by providing child care if and when they can.

Apps like SitterTree make it easy for friends and family to purchase a gift card so you can easily book reliable, professional child care.

5. Make Saving for Child Care a Priority

There is a saying in the financial world that goes, “Pay yourself first.” This saying refers to putting money away for yourself first, such as for retirement, before you pay for anything else.

Use this same mentality to prioritize saving for child care. You can put child care in your budget, but you won’t necessarily meet your savings goal if you don’t prioritize it.

If you think you may be tempted to avoid saving for child care, set up your account to transfer money to savings automatically.

Consider using a banking app such as Chime.

Forbes Financial Advisor explains, “The app’s […] automated savings program, Save When I Get Paid, allows members using direct deposit to automatically transfer up to 10% of every paycheck directly into their savings account.” 

6. Save Your Coins

Did you know you can digitally save your coins? App’s like Chime’s Round Up feature are the new way to search the sofa.

Forbes Financial Advisor explains, “When the Round Up feature is enabled, Chime automatically rounds up purchases made on your Chime debit card to the nearest dollar and then transfers the difference from your spending account into your savings account.”

Note – There are plenty of other banking apps that provide round up and automatic transfers, so find the one that works best for you. 

7. Eat Out Less

This one hurts. I love the experience of someone else preparing dinner for my family – and doing the dishes!

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, “The average annual expenditure on groceries in the U.S. is $4,464 per person, while dining out runs Americans an average of $3,459.” $3,459 can cover a lot of child care for date nights.

Plus, restaurants mark food up around 60%. So it is significantly cheaper to eat at home. 

8. Take Advantage of Free Activities

There are so many fun things to do with kids, but that doesn’t mean you have to spend money every weekend. In addition to the pricey tourist traps, there are tons of free places to take kids and events to enjoy. 

9. Refer Friends – Get Rewarded

Don’t under estimate the rewards game. You get rewards at Chick-Fil-A and AMEX. Apps like SitterTree offer users the opportunity to earn mega rewards for referring friends. 

If you’ve enjoyed the service, take 5-10 minutes each week to share your referral link and earn enough rewards for your next night out!