ReadySetMom

Need a preschool? Childcare? Use the ReadySetMom Preschool & Childcare Directory

The start of the new calendar year is the ideal time to start looking for a preschool or childcare program for your child. ReadySetMom has the most comprehensive and up-to-date preschool and childcare directory in the Portland Metro area. Many preschools hold open houses events in the new year, continuing into spring. Additionally, local moms clubs will host preschool informational events featuring nearby preschool and childcare providers (the Hillsdale Library is hosting a preschool fair on February 7).

Use the ReadySetMom Preschool & Childcare Directory to research the wealth of options offered in our area: cooperative, Montessori, Waldorf, language immersion, faith-based, and teacher-led, as well as for full-time, part-time and flex-time daycare.

We update the directory on a regular basis. If you know of a program that is not currently listed, we are glad to add it to our directory at any time. Any preschool or childcare facility in the Portland Metro area can be listed in the ReadySetMom Preschool & Childcare directory free of charge. For schools looking to share more information about their programs, we offer an expanded listing option for a one-time fee.

Free day camp: Wednesday mornings at Bridgeport Village

If you happen to run into me, and ask how my summer is going, I'll plaster a semi-hysterical looking smile on my face and say "Great! Great! Wow, time is really flying, isn't it? We're having so much fun. How about you??" In reality, it's both good and bad. Camp weeks = good. Non-camp weeks = bad. This is one of our non-camp weeks. I'm appalled at how much my kids are fighting and not sharing and just being outrageously monstrous.

So, if you would have asked me a week ago if I'd be interested in Camp Bridgeport, I'd probably say, "Camp? At a mall? Are you kidding?" Today, I'm like: "How wonderful! What a delightful community service. What time does it open? How much do I have to buy at the mall to qualify??" Here's the scoop (emailed from Portland Picks -- like manna from heaven -- today):

Bridgeport Village and Radio Disney host free morning camps every Wednesday through the end of August. Zany and educational activities are great for kids of all kinds, from science buffs to yoga enthusiasts! No registration necessary.

Starting this Wednesday, until Aug.. 27, 10 am–12:30 pm Meet at Borders

Should hospitals offer drop-in childcare?

Does this happen to you: you go for months with no check-ups, ear infections, or busted teeth? Then all of a sudden, it feels like you are living at the doctor's office? You beg for friends and relatives to watch your kids so you don't have to explain to them what exactly that doctor is doing during the pap smear. Or you beg with the doctor's scheduler to fit you in during that one tiny time window you have when all of your kids are at school? I don't know about you, but it happens to me like that all the time.

A pair of Portland moms are trying to make it easier on us. Here's the scoop:

We are two Portland moms working as volunteers to create drop-in childcare for families at the doctor, just like they have at many area gyms, Fred Meyer stores, churches, community centers and Ikea.  Here is a link to our blog that has background information about our project and a recent Beaverton Valley Times article.

We could really use your help spreading the word about a survey we’d like your readers to take. We have nearly 100 parents who’ve weighed in so far saying they would use drop-in child care at the hospital. The data we collect from this survey is how we’ll prove to local hospitals that this is a service Portland parents want. A link to the survey can be found on our web site splash page:  www.mylittlewaitingroom.org.

Amy Patterson, who sent us the email, is a breast cancer survivor. So the amount of appointments she has had to find childcare for makes mine pale in comparison. It's a short survey, so if you have a few minutes, please complete it so they can make this new option for childcare happen.

Recommendations on full-time preschools and daycare

Keegan, a Boston mom of three, is looking for some advice. Here's her story:

It looks like we might be moving to Portland this summer. I have three children and I'm in a mild state of panic at the thought of knowing NO one there and needing to figure everything out.  Whew! I would love to hear what your blog readers recommend about a full time preschool (and daycare center for my 1.5 year old!).

Keegan and I have been exchanging emails. Her husband is coming for a residency program at OHSU, and she'll be working outside the home. They're not sure what part of town yet. Their oldest child is in first grade. Now, ya'll know I have one in full-day kindergarten and one in a part-time morning preschool program. So I'm out of my league on this one. Keegan loved our discussion of great Portland neighborhoods. So what can you tell her about full-time preschool and daycare recommendations in Portland?

Announcing ReadySetMom Childcare & Preschool Directory

Heather and I are pleased to announce the debut of ReadySetMom.com's online directory of Preschools & Childcare providers in the Portland metro area. This directory will be the area's most comprehensive listing of preschools and childcare providers in the area. As moms of young children, we have both gone through the process of finding daycare and preschools for our children, and we know it's not easy. There is not one place where busy parents can find the information they need to begin the search, which is why ReadySetMom has created it!

A little history... Several months ago we published an online list of preschools in SW and SE Portland and discovered that our readers were absolutely thrilled to have this information so easily accessible. Since then, we've had numerous requests to expand the listing to cover other areas like Tigard, NE Portland and West Linn, so we've been working like busy little elves over the past months to create the directory we are publishing today. But we still need your help.

Are you a parent whose child is enrolled in a childcare center or preschool not listed here? If so, please contact ReadySetMom to tell us about it.

Do you run a childcare center or preschool that is not listed here? If so, please submit info about your childcare center or preschool so we can include it in the most comprehensive directory in Portland Metro.

Parents looking for preschools or childcare in Portland Metro can search the directory by city/area or type of program (i.e, NE Portland, Beaverton, full-time childcare, cooperative, language-immersion, etc.). The listings are categorized so that parents can easily identify potential programs for their children.

We're making it easy for Portland area parents to find great childcare and preschools! We hope you will help us in building this important service to Portland area parents. As more schools come online, and provide info on open houses and openings, this directory will grow to better serve you. Please check back often as many preschools will be holding open houses in the early months of 2008.

Babysitting: rates and co-ops

My brother, sister-in-law and 10-month old nephew were visiting from Seattle and mentioned that they'd asked a couple of people about the going rate for babysitters up there, and both said $15 an hour. $15 an hour! The most I've ever paid was $12, but I was desperate and she was a professional nanny who really didn't like to take evening jobs. Usually I pay my college students $9, and the 13-year old down the street charges $5. This seems reasonable to me. What are you paying for sitters?

My sis-in-law also mentioned that she'd been asked to join a babysitting co-op. I Googled 'babysitting co-ops in Seattle' and found a couple, the Smart Moms Babysitting Co-op and PEPS, but didn't find any in Portland. I'm sure there are some out there. Basically it sounds like groups of parents form a co-op and take turns babysitting one another's children. The idea is that "it takes a village" to raise children, and rather than hire random teenagers, children are better off being nurtured by and exposed to different families. Do you know of babysitting co-ops around Portland and have you ever been involved in one? Do they work? If so, how often did you babysit for other families? Personally -- while I appreciate the idea and send my kids to a co-op preschool -- I'm not terribly keen on babysitting other people's kids. Maybe my husband and I would go out more often if we were in a co-op and didn't have to worry about spending money on a sitter, but I also value my down time. What about you?

Summer camp: greatest hits of the Portland Metro area

As summer starts to wind down, my friends and I were recently comparing notes on great summer camp experiences.

Amy and Shannon's kids loved Grace Art Camp. They raved about how well organized the camp is, the varied art mediums and how it all worked around a unifying theme. This program is in high demand and registrations start in early spring and are selected via a lottery. 

Another favorite of Amy's son is Zenger Farm Camp, an urban farm near the Lents neighborhood.

I didn't sign my kids up for many camps this summer, but was ecstatic to have reached this "golden age" where both my kids could be in the same camp. We only spent two weeks in camp run by the wonderfully fun and energetic assistant teacher from our preschool. I really loved that they spent as much time outside as possible, and that we already knew the teacher so there were never any separation issues.

We opted not to do any camps at the South West Community Center (we've enjoyed them in the past), but finding a parking place there in the summer is ridiculous and I did not want to deal with that type of frustration each day.

What about you? What were the greatest hits in your kids' summer camp adventures around town? Any camps you'd not recommend (using constructive criticism only, please).

IKEA child care: what to expect

Renee and I and our friend, Jilly, made our virgin pilgrimage to the Swedish particleboard empire this morning, with kidlets in tow. The plan: deposit youngsters in Smaland, IKEA's child care center, and meander the store. The line to Smaland moves very slowly. We were about 5th in line and it took about 20 minutes to get to the front. Kids have to be between 37 and 54 inches tall, no more, no less (Renee's youngest didn't make the cut, but man, she was a great shopping companion). You fill out an information ticket, get your hands stamped with corresponding numbers and take the stub of your ticket as your child-redemption pass. They give you this monitor to carry around which alerts you if you need to return to Smaland (child is having a fit; child has disappeared in the ball pit; etc.) You get one hour. There is no charge.

The place seemed well-staffed with lots of teenagers overseeing the kids (no chance of getting lost in the ball pit). There are climbing structures, the ball pit and a television that was playing Toy Story. The kids had a blast. However, one hour is not even close to the amount of time you really need to shop IKEA. Four hours maybe, but not one. For our first visit it was fine, because we just wanted to get a few things and see the lay of the land. But next time, I'm hiring a sitter. Also, if you go with a couple of girlfriends, don't even expect to stick together. It's impossible. Someone sees something shiny and pretty over there, another spies the lamp of her dreams over here, it just doesn't work. Do, however, reconvene at the cafe for meatballs. Mmmm, meatballs.

Part-time childcare in SW?

Okay resourceful moms, we all know what it's like to look for caregivers. Jennifer N. could use some references or possibly start a childcare swap:

I have a 7 month old son and as of now my husband & I have been the sole babysitters since he was born.   We are looking for a babysitter around SW Portland, maybe a drop in daycare or someone that likes to watch kids at her house etc. We are looking for someone that is flexible during the week for one day a week or just ½ days.  I also thought about sharing daycare with another family that has a baby close to my son’ s age.  Thanks for any help!

How do you find a good babysitter?

Keeley has a common conundrum that we've all struggled with -- the search for a good sitter:

I was wondering if anyone could shed some light on how to find a good babysitter? For some reason, I'm having the hardest time finding one! I'm leery of responding to ads from 'unknown' folks via craigslist, etc., and was hoping that someone might know of a sitter (or nanny?) in need of some more hours? Or maybe there's a local babysitting service that I haven't heard about? I just need to be pointed in the right direction...Thanks so much!

I've found our sitters by getting to know the girls that work at Kid Central at the SW Community Center -- great, responsible girls -- who have then referred me to their friends when they aren't available. Where have you found your sitters? Have you ever used a service? Or if you know of a wonderful sitter or nanny looking to pick up some hours, please send Keeley an email.