I joke that most of the neighborhood teenagers are on my payroll, but it’s almost true. I received referrals from friends, approached them on the street and asked the school teachers for names of responsible students.

In a family with two working parents, we need support. I am self-employed, so my childcare needs are less traditional than the daycare we had when they were younger. Local teens and young adults are available, flexible, willing, and more affordable than traditional child care options. Many have also become meaningful and important role models for my children.

Filling the gaps in child care

The flexibility and easy-going nature of teenagers is priceless. A teenager walks the children home from school twice a week. We text on a Sunday night to determine which days work for both of us. Then, on those days, after school, my kids play in the park, go out with friends, or go to the local library under the watchful eye of someone I trust. At 4:30 p.m. he takes them to the door and walks home. This costs me less than $15 an hour and she has reliable weekly pocket money.

Another older boy usually entertains my kids while I hide in the house with my laptop. This is wonderful when school is closed, there is early dismissal, or I have late meetings. I’m home to take care of any meals or emergencies, and the kids have a dedicated playmate who is much more willing than I am to paint and play with Play-Doh.

These older children live nearby and can walk home alone at the end of their shift. They’re happy with 90 minutes of paid work if that’s all I need. The downsides are that some have forgotten to show up, or that a track meet takes priority over babysitting, but they are generally right on time and full of energy, as long as you don’t leave them out too late (teenagers have curfews, even for babysitting).

Each arrangement depends on the age and maturity of the babysitter, as well as the level of responsibility, meals or bedtime. Someone who entertains my kids while I’m home is different than a trusted older teenager who watches my kids and keeps tabs on bedtime.

I’m helping boost the hyperlocal economy.

Without taxes and overhead, hiring teenagers is big business financially. I pay less than I would at a daycare, community camp, or through an agency, and the babysitters I use are happy to come home with money to spend.

Work teaches them responsibility, accountability and trust. I invite conversations about availability, rate increases or vacation bonuses. As an entrepreneur, I love having these conversations with a younger generation and admire those who are clear about their boundaries, even the teenager who took a week off to celebrate her birthday.

teenagers are fun

My son wants to spend summer afternoons searching for geocaches or sitting on the sidewalk selling warm, smooth lemonade. I don’t love any of these activities, but I know teenagers who are very happy to put tables on the street and paint the signs with my son to earn a few extra dollars.

I love watching my kids connect with teenagers. They play a unique role in that they are not adults, but they are not children either. They are old enough for children to feel safe and respect, but they are also young enough to play, make jokes, and not enforce rules about sugar. Watching these trusting relationships develop feels very special. When we are in the community and see a babysitter, my children run over each other and the bond between them is evident.

We have created our own town.

People talk about wanting a village, but many don’t consider the teenagers around them. Some parents are nervous, some don’t know where to find it, and some have formal child care and are already paying. For us, having a babysitting roster is not just about childcare, it’s also about building a community.

Hiring local teenagers has helped me cope with parenting, work, and jogging regularly, but it has also given my kids meaningful relationships with older kids who are part of their neighborhood, building our own little village.