Teen babysitters provide a lot more than inexpensive childcare for my kids

The author said that many of the teens in her neighborhood are on her payroll. She prefers them over traditional childcare solutions. Courtesy of Jenn Wint. Neighborhood teens offer flexible, affordable childcare that helps me fill the gaps in my family. The teens I employ have become role models for my kids and provide a sense of community. I have a roster of teens with different abilities that I call on for a variety of childcare tasks. I joke that most of the neighborhood's teenagers are on my payroll, but it's almost true. I've gotten referrals from friends, approached them on the street, and asked teachers at the school for names of responsible students. In a family with two working parents, we need support . I'm self-employed, so my childcare needs are less traditional than the daycare we had when they were younger.