Has anyone done this or heard of doing this... I would like to start holding morning and afternoon sessions for 2, 3 and 4year olds to meet maybe 3 times a week. Instead of just playing the usual, this would be structured things everyday like getting them out and about say library readings, museums, childrens concerts, a cooking class, pumpkin pickings etc. Have it be more of out and about, learning and fun and new activities. This probably would not be for working parents because of the part-timeness, but for moms who want a few mornings free a couple days of the week. It would not be expensive either perhaps $10 a day per child for a 9-12:30 or a 1:30 - 5:00. I would have an assistant and only 5 or 6 kids per session. I enjoy planning outings andk things especially for kids and I think it would be fun and something different. Didn't quite have the finals on how to advertise this, its not daycare, and not kids play, what do you think......

>Has anyone done this or heard of doing this... I would like
>to start holding morning and afternoon sessions for 2, 3 and
>4year olds to meet maybe 3 times a week. Instead of just
>playing the usual, this would be structured things everyday
>like getting them out and about say library readings, museums,
>childrens concerts, a cooking class, pumpkin pickings etc.
>Have it be more of out and about, learning and fun and new
>activities. This probably would not be for working parents
>because of the part-timeness, but for moms who want a few
>mornings free a couple days of the week. It would not be
>expensive either perhaps $10 a day per child for a 9-12:30 or
>a 1:30 - 5:00. I would have an assistant and only 5 or 6 kids
>per session. I enjoy planning outings andk things especially
>for kids and I think it would be fun and something different.
>Didn't quite have the finals on how to advertise this, its not
>daycare, and not kids play, what do you think......


Hello,
This sounds like a great idea, I wish someone in my area would offer this opportunity for moms who need just a few hours a day for either work or alone time. Most in-home day cares in my area only take children on a full time basis. Being a part-time professor I need someone who is flexible and part-time. As for the ages you may have to take children a little younger, most children at the ages of 3 and 4 are enrolled in pre-school, depending on the area in which you live, you may want to advertise it as an alternative to a pre-school.

Good luck it sounds like a great idea!

-Hillary

I think the idea has merit... but as a parent I'd have some concern related to how they get to where they are going. Loading up a group of kids in a bus or van always exposes them to additional dangers.

You might want to look at an activity based program that brings the activities to them.

There's a place around here called The MudPie Co. that offers paint it yourself ceramics. Over the summer they had weekly programs for kids that usually involved some sort of story and then painting ceramics.

If you could team up with something similar... you could offer half day activities where other businesses come in to lead the program.

Plus, the $10/ half day is cheap... go ahead and bump it up some. Remember, you could be offering a safe and educational place for kids to be while the parents did what they needed.

Marlin Creek - Idea Seeds
http://marlincreek.com