Young people in Mikkeli are stepping up as babysitters for families lacking support networks. A local investigation reveals where parents can find childcare help when grandparents are not available.
The Mikkeli 4H Association currently serves as the main local babysitting service provider. Welfare district Eloisa and Mikkeli Cathedral Parish also offer support programs for families without traditional support systems.
Recent family survey results from Eloisa show grandparent assistance remains the most important daily help for families. Many South Savonia families lack this type of close support network.
The Mikkeli 4H Association connects teenagers over 16 with babysitting jobs. Association director Siiri Paavilainen said they receive the most inquiries during summer months when parents work and children are on break.
We've employed several young people for weeks at a time to care for children at clients' homes, Paavilainen said in an interview. The youth have also been requested for family celebrations like wedding parties.
The service comes at 25 euros per hour, which Paavilainen acknowledged might be expensive for some families. We've considered finding a partner organization to make our babysitting service accessible to lower-income families, she added.
Sixteen-year-old students Venla Berghem and Ella Ikonen have worked as 4H babysitters and plan to continue. Both also lead 4H club activities.
Eloisa welfare district offers various services for families with children, including short-term home care. Family advisor Henna Ikävalko encourages families to contact them without hesitation.
We always assess each family's situation individually, Ikävalko explained. For families lacking support networks, we offer short-term home care for families with young children.
Mikkeli Cathedral Parish provides weekly Child Ark service on Thursdays from 5-7 PM. The free program gives parents a break from daily routines and chance to pursue hobbies.
Child Ark cares for children aged 1-6 under the supervision of family activity guides and two older youth volunteers. The service primarily targets single-parent families and those where one parent travels for work.
Families don't need to be church members to use the service. Those feeling their support networks are distant may also participate.
Several online services also list Mikkeli-area babysitters, though they typically require user registration.
The high cost of professional babysitting services creates genuine accessibility issues for many families, particularly when compared to the free support grandparents traditionally provide. This leaves a noticeable gap in affordable childcare options for working parents.