Cohousing-L Mailing List: RE: Problems attracting families with kids

[Jerry Callen (jcallen]

Rob Sandelin writes:

   So if you want to attract families with kids your number 1 concern
   should be HIGH quality childcare at meetings.

This is so important that it bears repeating. It is IMPOSSIBLE for
parents to concentrate on a meeting if they think their kids are
unhappy.

For most groups, this is likely to imply shelling out money for
childcare. In the group I was associated with, this was one of our
major ongoing expenses. Commiting to this expense is a very early way
of expressing a group commitment to taking care of kids; EVERYONE pays
for child care, not just parents.

High quality childcare is always important, but even more so at
outreach events.

-- Jerry Callen
   jcallen [at] world.std.com

   "The best lack conviction, given some time to think,
    and the worst are full of passion without mercy."
        -- Joni Mitchell (borrowing from W.B. Yeats)