Hi ladies, I have been working on a mobile app/ website idea with another mum friend, which I'd love your thoughts on. We'd like to connect mums/parents with other mums/parents in the neighbourhood/ in your school networks, so that you as mums can help each other with childcare. You could get or give childcare help before or after school or during school holidays or share "child ferrying" burden for school runs and to various activity classes. You would raise 'requests" and others can accept the "invite" so it automatically comes in to the calendar. Anyone helping would earn "credits" which they can use towards their own childcare needs. So everyone does their fair share and there is no money involved. (we are in touch with OFSTED on the concept and rules around childcare swaps)
Our objective is simple - we want to support mums and dads in getting time back from parenting - they can then choose to focus on the siblings or find time for the gym or a course, or even go back to work. Childcare today is only getting more expensive, and is a huge issue for a lot of families (including for us!).
I'd love to hear your thoughts on whether this is something you'd use (why or why not) and what particularly would be useful.