Abstract

The Western Sussex Boys & Girls Club of Delaware offers free on-site babysitting to parents with infants so the parents can attend activities with their other young children. Trained teenage members of the Boys & Girls Club, who are supervised by an adult staff member, provide the babysitting. As a result, the number of parents attending Family Night has increased.

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Issue

It is common for parents of young children to also have infants they must care for. Lacking the resources to obtain additional child care for their infants, many parents are prevented from participating fully in the activities of their other children.

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Action

After being trained in child care skills, teenaged Boys & Girls Club members offer free babysitting for parents who wish to attend Family Night activities. The babysitting service is provided on-site and is supervised by a staff member.

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Context

The Western Sussex Boys & Girls Club holds Family Night activities 7-9 p.m. every Friday.The Boys & Girls Clubs of Delaware is part of a nationwide movement whose mission is to inspire and enable all young people, especially those from disadvantaged circumstances, to realize their full potential as productive, responsible, and caring citizens.

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Outcome

Parents were free to spend the evening focusing on their young children without being distracted by their infants.Adolescent members felt valued and needed by the parents and infants, and they gained marketable babysitting skills and references.

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Evidence

The free babysitting service resulted in increased parent participation at Family Nights by over fifty percent.

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Posted On

December 10, 2001

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For More Information

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Related Practices

• Engaging parents and adults in educational activities at school

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Related sites

Topic Areas

• Community building
• Event planning
• Nonprofit management
• Community-Based Organizations
• Schools
• Human needs

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