Some of you may know that I used to provide childcare in our home off and on since Parker was born. I loved it but decided after Payton was born some things were going to have to change in my childcare business. I no longer could provide full time care for kiddos due to the increasing responsibility of our new little guy. Not to mention, Parker is now enrolled in preschool for this fall and other programs which requires me to have the flexibility to take him to his various commitments. I have wrestled with the idea of starting "something" back up but hadn't quite figured out what that was yet. I have prayed about it and prayed some more and finally I think God is pointing me in a specific direction. Over the last few months I have encountered several stay at home mom's who take their children to a "parents day out program" I thought since I no longer had any kiddo's for Parker to play with he needed to get out of the house WITHOUT ME and have some socialization. What to do? I started researching places I could take Parker to do a mothers day out program (or parents day out). And this is what I found: A lot of churches have a parents day out program and also some daycares. I started calling around to churches and even looked at some home preschools in our area. I obviously had a budget in mind I did not want to spend over $80/month. All the home preschools and daycares I looked into forced me to pay for an entire day which would cost me somewhere between $200-$250 per month just for one day out. Really??? No half day programs were offered and frankly we could not afford to pay $250 a month just so we could have a mothers day out. Moving on.....next churches, sweet they offer half day programs that are affordable somewhere in the $65-$100 which does not include registration fee $50 and equipment fee $25.....and not to mention lunch is not provided that will cost you extra or you are forced to pack a lunch. This half day typically gets you 3 1/2 hours. Enough time to grocery shop, come home unload groceries, eat lunch, and then its time to pick up your kiddo. Unfortunately, these programs only last like a typical school year leaving the stay at home parent wondering what they are going to do without there day out. So, I started realizing the HUGE need for something in my area that was more affordable, gave parents more time, and was all year round. So today it finally hit me like a pound of bricks what God wants me to do....drum roll please...Start a Parents Day Out Program that again
is more affordable, gives you more time, and is all year round. Here are some of the logistics I have been brainstorming...
Every Thursday: Morning Session: 7:00am-12:00am
Afternoon Session: 12:00pm-5:00pm
Tuition: $80/month for one session
$120/month for both sessions ($40/month is applied as a discount if you sign up for the full day)
$75/month for 2nd child ($5 discount)
*No registration fee, no equipment fee, NO hidden costs.
Breakfast: 7:30am- I provide if on table food.
Lunch: 12:30pm - I provide if on table food.
*Lunch is provided for afternoon session.
Snacks: Will be provided one in the morning and one in the afternoon.
Age: No age requirement
Activities: Depending on the ages that sign up will depend on the type of activity I will have planned. I can guarantee age appropriate activities will be provided.
Blog: I will have an updated blog of our weekly activities, pictures, and whats going on at Ashley's Parents Day Out.
I think this is a GREAT idea and I'm really excited about it, I can't wait to get the ad's in order and see what kind of responses I get from families...
What do you all think?
Cheers,
Ashley
