PRICING AND HOURS
My hybrid caregiving model - in which I use my home as the base for care while maintaining a small caregiver-to-child ratio - makes comparing my pricing to other options a bit tricky. It's best to view my service and pricing as a nanny share, whereby I provide highly personalized attention to a small group of three children. Unlike a traditional nanny, however, all of the costs associated with the care I provide are included as part of my set fee.
My all-inclusive rate is $150, per day, per child.
This includes a 10 hour window of care, beginning at 8:00am and ending at 6:00pm.
Over the years, I've determined the best way to provide a clear and concise cost to families is through an all-inclusive daily rate. This fee includes everything needed to provide excellent quality care, even diapers. From homemade purees for infants, homemade meals and healthy snacks, purchased meals while on-the-go, wet wipes, diaper cream, sunscreen and so forth, it's all included. It also includes all of the expenses related to our adventures; such as memberships to museums, zoos, galleries, amusement parks and conservation areas, plus visits to play-centers, special exhibitions and unique experiences. When outings keep us out late, this overtime is also included in the daily rate along with drop-off directly to your home.
In addition to drop-in classes, the daily rate also includes two professional off-site classes per spring, fall and winter term. I choose classes based on the ages and particular interests of the children in my care at that time. This will generally include a music class along with a dance, gymnastics, sensory or art class as possible additional options.
I purchase, manage and maintain all of the quality gear and accessories needed to provide my unique style of care. From strollers to carriers to bike trailers, scooters to balance bikes, ice skates to hiking equipment and any safety equipment needed such as helmets and life jackets. I have a vast array of toys for all ages and maintain a well stocked selection of art and craft supplies. A large, safe, SUV outfitted with excellent car seats is used for transportation on our many excursions.
Sibling rates are not available, nor does my rate reduce as children get older as my caregiver-to-child ratio remains unchanged and my expenses remain very much the same as they grow; albeit spent in different ways.
Ultimately my fee reflects the premium nature of my service which in turn offers a hands-off solution for my families. I manage everything needed for the children while they are in my care. Furthermore, the children are my entire focus during our time together and I provide significant value in the activities we undertake. I never hesitate to spend additional money on the children when it enriches our days with unique experiences, learning opportunities and memorable moments - it's part of the excellence and unique upbringing you pay for.
What children learn does not follow as an automatic result from what is taught. Rather, it is in large part due to the children's own doing as a consequence of their activities and our resources. The wider the range of possibilities we offer children the more intense will be their motivations and the richer their experiences.
Most striking, in many hunter-gatherer cultures, parents build a relationship with young children that is markedly different than the one we foster here in the U.S. – it's one that's built on cooperation instead of conflict, trust instead of fear, and personalized needs instead of standardized development milestones.