Two summers ago, I was catching up over coffee with a couple of mom friends when one of them threw out an intriguing idea. “What if we tried a kid swap this summer?” she suggested. “Each of us could take care of all the kids one day a week—whether it’s a fun outing to the park or just a playdate at home—and in return, we’d each get two kid-free days. What do you think?”
With each of us having three kids aged between 3 and 14, that meant one day a week we’d be managing a total of nine children. However, the prospect of two days completely free was too enticing to resist.
So, we put our parenting partnership into action. Before the week kicked off, we coordinated our work schedules (all of us juggle multiple part-time jobs) and determined which days we could handle. One mom worked outside the home and had a schedule from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., while the rest of us were flexible. We decided on a kid-swap timeframe of 10:45 a.m. to 3:15 p.m. Lunches, snacks, water bottles, and sunscreen were all packed for our little ones.
As any parent knows, motherhood isn’t a walk in the park! Our ebook can help you navigate its challenges—grab it here for free!
Initially, we were apprehensive. Would the kids exhaust each other? Would the reward of two free days outweigh the potential chaos of a day with nine kids?
It turns out, our worries were completely unfounded. We’ve just wrapped up our second summer of kid swapping, and honestly, the only thing we’d change about our arrangement would be to add a 12-passenger van to our logistics. Our swap days have been filled with fun at parks, movie theaters, pools, and backyards. The kids engage in games and run around, sometimes together and sometimes in smaller groups. The older kids even pitch in to help with the younger ones, making it a win-win situation.
Having done this for two years, I can confidently say that three-way kid swapping is one of the best ideas out there. Managing nine kids for just half a day is surprisingly manageable, as they each have companions to play with. Plus, most of the time, they’re outside, which means we moms don’t have to hover constantly.
The kids have shown incredible creativity, coming up with their own games. Just the other day, most of the little ones spent hours immersed in a game of Spirit Animals in our entryway. Our collection of board games and cards has seen plenty of action, and they come up with unique versions of hide-and-seek or challenges like who can hold a squat the longest. It’s the unstructured play that many lament is missing in today’s childhood.
Of course, occasionally one of us might introduce a fun science experiment, art project, or sports activity, but we’ve found that the kids do just fine on their own. Nine kids, a cupboard full of games, and a backyard gives them plenty of resources to thrive.
On rainy days or when things get a bit unruly (which does happen occasionally), we’ll put on a show or let them dive into video games for a bit. But more often than not, they’re perfectly content without screens. These kid-swap days have proven to be fantastic for their social skills and imaginative play.
And let’s not forget the perks for us moms—two days a week of free childcare while knowing the kids are in safe hands with good friends. Nine hours of uninterrupted work time and a house that stays clean for at least a little while? It’s a dream come true.
Cooperative parenting truly addresses so many challenges we face. I highly recommend teaming up with two or three other like-minded families to establish a kid swap system that works for you. It’s absolutely worth it. For more parenting insights, check out this blog post, which explores the benefits of cooperative parenting.
In summary, kid swapping is an innovative solution that not only enriches children’s social interactions but also provides much-needed relief for parents. If you’re looking for a way to make parenting more manageable, consider giving this arrangement a try.
Leave a Reply