Ten Great Jobs When You Don't Want to Pay for Child Care

You've been a stay at home parent for a while and want to dip your toes back into the workforce waters. Unless you are working full-time, you'll probably only need child care for a few hours a week, possibly on varying days and with a varying schedule. It's difficult to find part-time child care that is reasonably priced. Many babysitters and most day care centers charge a flat daily or weekly rate versus an hourly rate, making your per hour cost pretty steep. It takes a bit of creativity and some organization and planning, but it is possible to work without paying for child care, regardless of the age of your child.

Day Care Teacher/Assistant

Many day care centers offer free child care as a benefit to their workers while they are on the clock. You are probably more likely to make this work if you have a toddler or pre-school aged child as infant spots fill up pretty quickly, but it's worth checking in to. Often benefits may be available if you work as few as 30 hours per week, and sometimes free meals are provided. Even if you only want to work half days or to work as a substitute, free child care is good deal any way to calculate it.
Pros: Salary plus free child care. Your child has other kids to play with while you're working.
Cons: If your plan was to get back into the workforce, you're still basically be spending the day with children rather than adults.

School Cafeteria Monitor or Kitchen Worker

Elementary schools always seem to need cafeteria monitors or kitchen workers. If your child is school aged, this option seems ideal. These positions generally require three or four hours of work per day, in the middle of the day. If a school offers subsidized or free breakfast, early morning hours could be an alternative, or in addition to the mid-day option. Student half-days and holidays are holidays for you to, so there's no need to worry about child care when school is closed.
Pros: No need for back-up child care when school is out, because you are off when the kids are off. Sometimes free meals are provided to workers.
Cons: You'll still be spending most of your time interacting with children, so if your plan was to return to work for the adult contact, keep looking.

Substitute Teacher

Most school systems don't require you to have a four-year degree in order to substitute teach (though degree-holders generally receive the prime assignments, first pick of assignments, and more pay). If you have a school-age child, this option is great because you will not be called to work when school is out.
Pros: You have the option of accepting assignments or not, depending upon your other commitments or family needs. You won't be called to work when
school is out so you won't need child care arrangements while you work
Cons: Difficult to plan ahead unless the position is long-term. After you turn down a certain number of assignments in a row, you could move to the bottom of the substitute list.

Educational Aide

Many schools have a need for aides in the classroom to provide extra assistance to the teacher, when special needs children are mainstreamed, where children are in a self-contained or more personalized and structured setting, or to work one-on-one with special needs students.
Pros: Working in the school system assures you'll be off when your child is out for holidays, etc.
Cons: This work can be very challenging and physically and emotionally demanding.

Substitute Clerical Worker in the school system

Every school system of any size has a need for substitute office help from time to time. The clerical positions that support the public schools include everything from answering the phone, filing, greeting parents or directing students, supervising volunteers, interacting with PTA and other organizations, and more.
Pros: You have the option of accepting assignments or not, depending upon your other commitments or family needs, just like substitute teaching. You won't be called to work when school is out so you won't need child care arrangements while you work.
Cons: Difficult to plan ahead unless the position is long-term. After you turn down a certain number of assignments in a row, you could move to the bottom of the substitute list.

Teach Night Classes

Teach evening classes through adult education programs - talk about what you know, like how to make the transition from a full-time employee to a full-time, stay-at-home parent; how to decorate a nursery that looks great and is practical and well-organized, or a business topic you are knowledgeable about from your "past life."
Pros: You get out of the house and your spouse takes care of the kids. You are using your knowledge and life experiences to help others. This type of work is a great resume-builder and would allow you to easily transition into full-time consulting when your children are older.
Cons: You need to plan in advance, develop an outline to submit for approval, then plan curriculum. Income is based upon number of class participants. This may not be a good option if your spouse is required to work late evenings or travels out of town frequently.

Entrepreneur

Turn your hobby into a business. If you enjoy arts and crafts, sewing, knitting or crocheting or other creative outlets offer your finished products for sale on-line on e-bay, etsy or craigslist, or another forum. Find out about local craft shows and church bazaars to display and sell your items. Take samples to local small retailers and ask for display space in return for percentage of the sales (consignment).

Pros: Enjoy your work! Work as much and only when you want to. All expenses related to your business are tax-deductible, including a portion of your mortgage
or rent, utilities, etc.
Cons: Most localities require you to obtain a business license. Zoning laws may restrict the type of business you can run from your home. Start-up costs could be pretty hefty. You will need to keep meticulous records of all sales, including sales taxes, etc.

Provide Childcare/Nanny Service

Baby sit for one or two children in your home or nanny for a family that will allow you to bring your own child.
Pros: You earn money, spend time with your child, and your child has ready-made playmates. In-home care providers can claim part of their routine household expenses (mortgage, electricity, etc.) as business-related.
Cons: Lack of adult contact. For in-home care providers, your home will undergo heavier than normal wear and tear. You will need to have more toys, sleeping areas, etc. in your home, which take up space.

Tutor

This is a great way to share what you know. Tutoring allows you the flexibility to work the hours that are convenient for you. Most schools even maintain a list of available tutors to give to parents who request that information. You can meet the students at the library, go to their home, or have them come to you. You can also pick and choose which topics on which you want to tutor.
Pros: Work only when you want to, by scheduling sessions at times convenient to your schedule. Hourly rates can be substantial.
Cons: Services must be offered when students are not at school, such as weekends and afternoons and evenings. Your spouse will need to be available to watch the children while you're with clients.

Freelance Writing

Write how-to or informational articles to sell to on-line and other publishers. Commission someone to design a web site for you and start a blog. You know about a lot things in the business world, and the stay-at-home world. Write about them. Sell your articles to on-line or print publications. Be sure to buy copies of the print publications, or check issues out of the library so you know what their editorial style is. You could even contact your former business contacts and ask them if they have a need for information or instructional articles which are industry specific.
Pros: Turn your knowledge into profit by writing about what you already know. Work when you want to, around your family's schedule.
Cons: It can be hard to break into the writing business. You will need to do lots of research and be willing to accept rejection.

No one job is going to be a good fit for everyone. Like anything else, it will take planning, research, discussion with your family, thought and prayer to decide what is best for you and your family. Take into account the wardrobe requirements, the wear and tear on your car and gas costs, not to mention the travel time to and from work when you're calculating the break-even point for working vs. not working in a role beyond stay at home parent.

Of course, there is absolutely nothing wrong with being "just" a full-time, stay-at-home parent, either. Our children grow up so quickly and those who are able to afford it, or who are willing to make the lifestyle changes required to live on one income, will have many wonderful memories of time spent with their children and the satisfaction of knowing they've made the right choice for themselves and their families.