What do you think?
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URL: https://www.ohbaby.co.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=34632
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Topic: What do you think?
Posted By: arohanui
Subject: What do you think?
Date Posted: 11 July 2010 at 1:35pm
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So to help make ends meet, I'm gonna start doing after school care in my home. Will offer to the local intermediate first, then the primary school. I'm figuring out what to put in their newsletter.... this is what I've got at the moment:
AFTER SCHOOL CARE - in a comfortable family home - 2 mins walk from school - experienced year 7/8 teacher available to help with homework - healthy afternoon tea provided - supervised computer/internet access for homework - large backyard, board games, wii sport, crafts, limited screen time, baking etc - places strictly limited (4 students maximum) - from $10 an hour Phone Liz – 7654321 / 0271234567 What do you think? Would you change the order of any of the points? Do you think $10 an hour is appropriate? (or should I charge more/less.... the big group afterschool care places charge about $5-$6 an hour, but to be honest they're not that great) Anything I should add or remove? Anything I should re-word? Or would you write the ad differently? If you had to send your kid/s to afterschool care, would you send them to something like this? TIA 
edited to add/change some stuff ------------- Mama to DS1 (5 years), DS2 (3 years) and... http://alterna-tickers.com" rel="nofollow"> 
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Replies:
Posted By: susieq
Date Posted: 11 July 2010 at 1:50pm
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i think brilliant ------------- susie |
Posted By: tishy
Date Posted: 11 July 2010 at 1:51pm
I would! It's a great idea Liz!  I'd use it.
Some parents might not like the Wii advertised , personally I wouldn't have a problem. |
Posted By: arohanui
Date Posted: 11 July 2010 at 2:02pm
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yeah i thought that about the wii..... we just have wii fit and sports, so maybe i should be specific? it's not just random video games iykwim.
but then i also thought the wii would be a draw card for the kids to want to come here and convince their parents  ------------- Mama to DS1 (5 years), DS2 (3 years) and... http://alterna-tickers.com" rel="nofollow">
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Posted By: jazzy
Date Posted: 11 July 2010 at 2:07pm
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I think its a great idea.
About the pricing you could charge more for assisted learning & less for just after school care...or maybe a set rate for several hours. I would think it would be from 3-6pm so that is 3 hrs care & snacks & supervision of homework & more if you are helping in certain areas. After hrs care at our school but that primary is approx $18 & that is several kids so they make there money in numbers. See if you can advertise in the school news letter if pos or hand out flyers at the gate...I think you will have a lot of takers. As a parent I would be really happy for my child to go to someone that will help with homework. Maybe have different plans available then you are not in a fixed $ contract & plans that suit different family would be attractive. You could also have a child 3 days & another 2 days so you don't have empty spaces. Go for it & good luck 
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Posted By: sally belly
Date Posted: 11 July 2010 at 2:09pm
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What a great idea Liz
What about mentioning the time you will be available for looking after the kids? Will you pick them up from school? -------------    
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Posted By: _SMS_
Date Posted: 11 July 2010 at 3:39pm
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I think $10 is far to dare TBH. I think perhaps $7 an hr, but it still adds up alot if someone has 2 kids they could be looking at 40 a day if not more.
I look after 2 school kids after school & before & get $5 an hr. But i dont have all the things you are offering. Good Luck! Its a great way to earn extra cash.  -------------  
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Posted By: Bizzy
Date Posted: 11 July 2010 at 3:45pm
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i wouldnt mention the internet or wii at all - if it was me looking for somewhere for my kid that wouldnt attract me at all. or the line about the back yard etc... ------------- http://www.myfitnesspal.com/weight-loss-ticker"> 
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Posted By: arohanui
Date Posted: 11 July 2010 at 3:56pm
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Thanks for the feedback everyone.
Peanut, I'd be available 3-6pm I think and would expect the kids to walk from school (they'd be 11/12 years old and it's literally out the back gate and down out street... both quiet with not much traffic and no crossing the road). That's interesting Bizzy, I thought parents would want to know what their kids would get up to during the afternoon IYKWIM. The internet thing was cos I know that intermediate aged kids often need to use it for homework. Perhaps it's more applicable for older kids? ------------- Mama to DS1 (5 years), DS2 (3 years) and... http://alterna-tickers.com" rel="nofollow">
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Posted By: freckle
Date Posted: 11 July 2010 at 4:00pm
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I would put supervised internet access... also will parents be able to claim a subsidy through WINZ? do you have to be going through an agency for this... I'm not sure... but if they can maybe put something about that... ------------- mum to 3 lovely girls :D |
Posted By: arohanui
Date Posted: 11 July 2010 at 4:03pm
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Ah yes Freckle, great idea about supervised.
I've emailed OSCAR to see if parents can get the subsidy through me.. ------------- Mama to DS1 (5 years), DS2 (3 years) and... http://alterna-tickers.com" rel="nofollow">
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Posted By: Bizzy
Date Posted: 11 July 2010 at 5:06pm
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to me that is the sort of stuff you could discuss later. do you really want the general public kowing you have a wii and internet and goodness knows what else?. I think once a parent decided they liked the sound of you then you could let them know more. sometimes in advertising less is best! ------------- http://www.myfitnesspal.com/weight-loss-ticker">
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Posted By: Nutella
Date Posted: 11 July 2010 at 6:36pm
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That is a really good point Bizzy....from your own safety point of view, best not to advertise that sort of thing!
Sounds like a great idea and if I was a working mum with school age kids I would def prefer my kids going to smaller after school care than the big groups. ------------- 
 Oct 11
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Posted By: pikelets
Date Posted: 11 July 2010 at 7:38pm
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Oh I like it!!
If my kids were that age, I would call you!
------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
3 Angels - Dec10 / Mar11 / Dec11
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Posted By: bun_in_the_oven
Date Posted: 11 July 2010 at 8:02pm
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$10 sounds like heaps to me... you can aim high and be open to negotiation. I think you would have to give recipt of payments for parents to claim back on their taxes. if it was a cash arrangement i would think about $5-$6 an hour....
If i needed someone everyday thats $150 a week.. not many people have $600 in their monthly budget these days.. Let us know how you get on... its a great idea GOOD LUCK
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Posted By: MummyFreckle
Date Posted: 11 July 2010 at 8:35pm
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Will you be able to offer targetted specialist tuition to kids if required? Might be worth mentioning if its something that you think you could manage? Otherwise I think its sounds great...good luck!
------------- http://lilypie.com">  http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: Kellz
Date Posted: 11 July 2010 at 9:28pm
| Yeah I wouldnt mention the Wii, but I would put the bit about supervised computer/internet use for homework. |
Posted By: LittleBug
Date Posted: 11 July 2010 at 9:43pm
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I think the whole thing sounds brilliant Liz - good luck!! ------------- Chloe (4 years) and Oliver (3 years). |
Posted By: Mrs_B
Date Posted: 12 July 2010 at 9:41am
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Sounds great but I do think $10 an hour is a bit steep given that they are older kids and require less supervision IYKWIM. Homebased carers only charge around $5-7/hr here.
I would also leave out the TV, Wii stuff. -------------  
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Posted By: mummy_becks
Date Posted: 12 July 2010 at 9:54am
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That is brillant Liz. I would drop the price too. $6-8/hr would be enough to cover your expenses. I don't mind the Wii and internet thing because I have them and I think Wii Sports is great for Andrew to play. Also did you teach at that school the kids are coming from? Cos you could include that in there somewhere. ------------- I was a puree feeder, forward facing, cot sleeping, pram pushing kind of Mum... and my kids survived! |
Posted By: arohanui
Date Posted: 12 July 2010 at 11:29am
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thanks all, i really appreciate your input and encouragement
i don't think i'll be able to offer more specialised tutoring, as it's a matter of then needing someone to watch my boys so i can do so properly - and also sourcing resources etc. though if the parents ask we may be able to work something out. i want to charge more cos i'm a professional and can offer that insight and help with homework iykwim. will probably change it to $9 an hour as it sounds lots cheaper but will still be worth my while. it will be an actual business, not under the table, so will pay tax etc. will be good though cos i can take our house expenses and claim a lot of that back. i still can't believe ppl get only $5 an hour for preschool at home care, to me it just wouldn't be worth it. so yeah i'll be able to give receipts, and i'm inquiring about being eligable for the parents to use the OSCAR subsidy. K, revised ad: AFTER SCHOOL CARE - in a comfortable family home - 2 mins walk from school - experienced year 7/8 teacher available to help with homework - healthy afternoon tea provided - supervised computer/internet access for homework - places strictly limited (4 students maximum) - $9 an hour Phone Liz: 7654321 / 0271234567 ------------- Mama to DS1 (5 years), DS2 (3 years) and... http://alterna-tickers.com" rel="nofollow">
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Posted By: kabe
Date Posted: 12 July 2010 at 11:58am
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What a great idea! I think your revised ad is great and the price is fine. I'm sure you won't have any problem getting takers.
Good luck! ------------- http://alterna-tickers.com"> 
http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: Nutella
Date Posted: 12 July 2010 at 12:42pm
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I guess if you had 3-4 kids each at $5 an hour then that is $15-20 which is a decent wage esp for older kids... -------------
Oct 11
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Posted By: Babe
Date Posted: 12 July 2010 at 3:05pm
I do think that its abit expensive - if you have 4 kids for 3 hours thats $36/hr or $108/day  surely thats worth your time AND abit!! You'd be getting what some people earn for a whole week!!
If you charged $7/hr thats still $28/hr or $84/day if you have 4 kids. I paid less than $6/hour for Jakes daycare and that included morning and afternoon tea, structured playtimes and teaching plus toileting/nappy changing. Surely older kids wouldn't require that much effort 
Do families with more than 1 kid get a discount?? Or did someone ask that? I think its a great idea though hope you get lots of interest and some really nice kids!!
-------------   
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Posted By: AandCsmum
Date Posted: 12 July 2010 at 3:19pm
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Also you could offer before school care as well.
I know a caregiver who lived right next to the school & she did this. Not sure how much she charged though. ------------- Kel http://lilypie.com"> 
A = 01.02.04 & C = 16.01.09 & G = 30.03.12 |
Posted By: HoneybunsMa
Date Posted: 12 July 2010 at 3:42pm
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I still think its abit expensive, I understand your qualified, but so are ECE teachers at daycare (well from what I know) and they only earn $15-$20 I think? and they have 4kids to supervise under their care.
The way inhome care works is that you get paid $5-$7 per child per hour so therefore if you have 2-3 you get your $15p/hr which is the same as if you were to be working in a job/daycare etc. I think its a great idea! I wouldn't pay that much for afterschool care myself especially since I know what you pay for inhome care, and if I'm right then I'm in the same area as you. ------------- http://www.myfitnesspal.com/weight-loss-ticker"> 
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Posted By: arohanui
Date Posted: 12 July 2010 at 5:29pm
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Totally agree - I wouldn't spend that much $$ on afterschool care (just cos we don't have that kind of money, if we did I would). But then I also wouldn't spend $40 - $50 an hour on private tutoring, which I know a fair few parents do!
Thanks for your thoughts on this. I figure i'll advertise at this rate and if I don't get any takers, will drop it lower. My area is quite varied, so there are the more wealthy families as well as others. I've also contacted OSCAR to see if parents can use that subsidy with my services. Just to clarify my thinking - there'll be expenses, so $36 an hour which is the maximum I could get, would not be what I'm paid - out of that will come tax, food, drink, paper, internet usage, any new games/activities I get, groceries for baking, craft supplies, power, water etc. ------------- Mama to DS1 (5 years), DS2 (3 years) and... http://alterna-tickers.com" rel="nofollow">
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Posted By: anon
Date Posted: 12 July 2010 at 11:12pm
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I don't think it's necessarily expensive. I think you need to compare prices with the cost of after school care programmes and also nannies. Obviously you're not offering the same deal as a nanny (the benefit of having children in their own home, picking up/dropping off to school and taking to after school activities, making them dinner etc.)... but you are having that 1:1 time with them. A nanny will get $15-20/hr for however many children that family has. I'm not sure what after school programmes cost... but I think you should consider these prices and make up your mind what you will charge.
By the way - it's a fantastic idea!!! Parents are desperate for after school care and it's hard to find nannies out there able to give this time so the price may not be too high. After researching it - all you can do is give it a go and see what happens. ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: Peanut
Date Posted: 13 July 2010 at 7:25am
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I like it! I personally would use someone like you esp if I was only needing care for 1-2 days a week. Much easier to run with a service like yours than muck around finding someone etc.
Also my thinking is I am currently paying $68 a week for DS to go to DC 2 days a week. When he starts school I will have that money free but he will still need 2 days of afterschool care so 4 hours all up so would only be paying $40 for his care so saving myself $28 and he is being looked after by a primary trained teacher who understands the system. Win, Win for me! Fingers crossed. -------------  
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Posted By: MummyFreckle
Date Posted: 13 July 2010 at 12:56pm
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I DONT think its too expensive for Auckland .... I think for a qualified teacher I would be happy to pay a bit extra too. ------------- http://lilypie.com"> http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: emz
Date Posted: 13 July 2010 at 1:32pm
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I don't think it's expensive either. Our local OSCAR programmes are $12-15 for 2.5 hours (so $6 an hour at the most) but there are a hell of a lot of kids there, it's not structured and they don't have any computers for the kids to do their homework (which at Year 7/8 is pretty important). For only $3 an hour more, I would be pretty happy to do that, and to have a trained teacher on the spot too.
and like you say Liz, you're not going to get all that money yourself, once your outgoings are covered. Good on you! I had planned to do the same thing (before I had kids and realised I didn't want to be a SAHM). |
Posted By: lizzle
Date Posted: 13 July 2010 at 8:04pm
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My two cents.
I would LOVE a service like yours (any plans to move to palmy???). Here are the things I would want to know. 1. fenced yard? 2. you are a teacher, so have been police vetted. others in your house? 3. pets?\ 4. I finish work at 4. can i just book in for one hour? (many places just do the whole afternoon - worked out expensive for me) 5. If I am running late, additional costs 6. plans in place for if my child doesn't turn up 7. before school care would be brilliant. seriously, come to palmy |