Care Shared
"It takes a village to raise a child" - African Proverb
Care Shared
Care Shared: Childcare Exchange for Modern Families
Care Shared was a community-driven initiative set up in 2022 designed to help families exchange childcare with one another in a flexible, zero-cost way. The idea originated when two mums separately in Clare and Cork began swapping childcare for mutual support. It soon spread to families in other areas, as they recognised the benefits of having a dependable network to help navigate the challenges of parenting.
What is Care Shared?
Care Shared allows families to connect based on location and the ages of their children to arrange reciprocal childcare. This could involve swapping a few hours during the week, helping with weekend playdates, or covering evening babysitting duties. By participating, parents have the chance to share the joys and responsibilities of parenting while forming lasting connections with other families in their community.
Why Care Shared?
Modern life often leads to isolated and unsupported parents, especially those without family nearby. Parenting without tangible help can feel overwhelming, leading to stress, burnout, and loneliness. Care Shared was designed to rebuild the supportive village that modern families need, offering both practical childcare solutions and emotional support. By taking turns caring for one another’s children, parents not only find more time for themselves but also create a more enriching environment for their kids.
Benefits for Families
1. Build a Community: Families come together, creating a trusted network that supports each other in raising happy, healthy children.
2. Flexible Childcare: Care Shared offers an adaptable alternative to traditional childcare, tailored to the specific needs and schedules of participating families.
3. Work-Life Balance: This exchange enables parents to better balance work, family life, and personal time, offering relief from the pressures of full-time caregiving.
Benefits for Children
1. Fun and Learning: Kids benefit from playdates where they can engage socially and emotionally with peers.
2. Friendship Building: They learn cooperation, sharing, and communication through their interactions.
3. Broadened Perspectives: Exposure to different families provides children with new ways of thinking and engaging with the world around them.
How Care Shared Works
- Families connect with one another in their community.
- They express an interest in childcare swapping with each other. Perhaps even sharing this webpage to share the concept.
- Families meet for a few playdates to ensure it’s a good fit.
- Optional Create a Family Charter: If both sides feel comfortable, they create a Family Charter outlining the expectations for childcare. This agreement includes commitments to safety, respect, and child-centred care, offering guidance on maintaining a positive exchange relationship.
Practical Considerations
Care Shared is about fostering trust and community. Families should feel empowered to make informed decisions about their childcare matches. Parents are encouraged to engage in background checks, including reference checks, to ensure they are confident in their match.
By working together, parents can create the supportive network they need to thrive. Care Shared isn't just about childcare—it's about building a legacy of love and support that benefits parents, children, and communities.
Child Protection Training is available here: Child Protection Training Tusla 1.5 hours - https://www.tusla.ie/children-first/children-first-e-learning-programme/
First Aid Course online €29 or Face-to-face €90 https://nbts.ie/courses/first-aid/paediatric-first-aid
Regular Check-in’s
It can be helpful to have a regular check-in after child-care exchanges to pick up on any challenges that may emerge and address them pro-actively.
Why the Care Shared Model Didn’t Take Off
Care Shared began with a team of four passionate individuals who envisioned expanding the concept into a dating-style app, allowing parents to connect online and exchange childcare with ease. However, several challenges arose that ultimately prevented the idea from scaling as hoped.
One major issue was the geographical dispersal of families across Ireland. This made matching families by location and child age a highly labour-intensive process. The logistics of coordinating playdates, especially for parents with young children, proved too complex for many to commit to regularly.
Additionally, trust and safety concerns were significant barriers. Many parents were understandably hesitant to leave their children with people they didn’t know well. Despite the team's efforts, Care Shared could not become a Garda Vetted agency, as these arrangements were deemed more like personal, informal agreements rather than regulated childcare services. This left parents relying solely on personal judgments about potential matches, which added another layer of difficulty.
In theory, the concept seemed perfectly suited for a digital age where parents are familiar with dating-style apps for convenience and connection. But in practice, the emotional, logistical, and safety hurdles were too high for most families to overcome.
While the original app vision didn’t come to fruition, the Care Shared concept still has immense value. It may be best suited as a grassroots, community-driven initiative, where parents can organically connect through créches, pre-schools, or schools. By providing a framework through leaflets or guides, families can build their own trusted networks in a more natural and comfortable way.
At its core, Care Shared remains a brilliant idea—one that thrives on the strength of personal connections, trust, and shared support. We hope this model will continue to inspire parents to find their tribe and support each other on their parenting journey.
Wishing you nourishing connections and a fulfilling parenting adventure!
The Care Shared Team
Dr. Sue Redmond, Emma Dwyer, Evelyn Richardson & Nadia Taylor
Care Shared in the Media
Ireland AM:
https://www.virginmediatelevision.ie/player/show/809/212986/0/
Irish Times:
Newstalk with Sean Moncrieff https://www.newstalk.com/podcasts/highlights-from-moncrieff/new-initiative-shares-babysitting-duties-with-other-parents
Radio 1 Drive Time
Galway bay Fm (1st segment 28.30 mins in)
https://galwaybayfm.ie/listen_back/galway-talks-with-keith-finnegan-30/
Cork’s 96Fm
Mummy Pages
Magic Mum