Draft Cowork-Coplay FAQ for our website

[Lucas Cioffi]

Hi All, 

It's great to read the existing messages in this group.

I mentioned in a recent thread that we're exploring launching a cowork+coplay service in Charlottesville, Virginia which we've now named MyLittleCoworker.

We're moving toward the model that Heather mentioned in a previous thread when she wrote:

"A parent cooperative is not required to be licensed, so we are starting with a 9-1 program where parents take turns volunteering each day. We're modeled mostly off of the coop preschools that are popular here."

The draft FAQ from our website is below.  If anyone has a few minutes to look it over we would be tremendously appreciative!  What are we not thinking about?  Where is our plan weakest?  Our target is 20 families in this coop.  Has anyone seen a coop work at that size?

Thank you!

FAQ

How does this work?

When you sign up, you gain 24/7 access to a cowork+coplay space and a highly supportive network of parents. The parents who are present on any given day make arrangements when they arrive to watch each other's children from 10am-3pm. This enables each parent to have 4+ hours of quiet time to get work done, depending on how long they stay. To make this as hassle-free as possible, parents are responsible for feeding and changing the diapers of their own children.

How does this make sense for me financially?

Our goal is to help you find four highly productive hours for every six that you spend on site. At 20 hours/week, the cost comes to about $6 per hour that you are able to work. When you factor in the shared workspace for you, the social & learning environment for your child, saving 30 minutes per day (2.5 hours/week) by making 2 less trips to daycare, free coffee, and a strong network of support this option makes perfect sense.

Where is My Little Coworker located?

As we sign up the first 20 families, we are looking at a handful of locations within one block of the Downtown Mall. We will choose the right location to match the demand for this new kind of service, so whether you're interested now or you will be in a few months, be sure to drop us a note!

How do I sign up?

First be sure to let us know that you are interested, by using the contact form at the bottom of this page.

When we open in January 2016, we will have room for 20 parents and their children. This is the ideal size for us to build a sustainable business while making it easy for parents to get to know each other and build trust. The first 20 families who are ready to make a 3-month commitment will save $200.

How is this different or better than daycare?

Daycare is a great option, but it's also expensive. The price in Charlottesville for daycare or preschool is often $1000-$1200 for full-time daycare and up to $900/month for part-time daycare.

At My Little Coworker, you get 100% control over when and what your child eats. Each parent has responsibility for feeding their own child and changing their own child's diapers.

Everyone is responsible for feeding and changing their own children, so that the task of watching someone else's child is not too burdensome.

How is this different or better than staying at home with my child?

We know from firsthand experience how challenging it can be to work from home with a child who is competing for your attention. You will be able to work in a separate room, knowing that your child is in great hands.

Who are the founders? Why are you doing this?

Sandra Nam Cioffi and Lucas Cioffi of Charlottesville founded My Little Coworker LLC, because they enjoy both work and parenting and want the best of both worlds. They and their daughter will be regular users of this space right alongside you and your family.

What kind of environment is this for me and my children?

We've designed the work room as an inspiring place to help you do your best work. We've designed the play room to be safe, fun, and support continuous learning for children ranging in age from 6 months to 5 years old, through hands-on learning stations that are set up by us and also by parents who want to create an interactive exhibit with their child.

What do I get out of this?

You get to be part of a strong network of parents who value both quality time with their children and productive time for work. This community is critical to our success. You will have a strong voice in helping to shape this community along with all other parents.

Do I have to be there every day?

We've built this service to be convenient for you. The space is open 24/7, and you can come as much or as little as you like.

As you have already read, the way we save parents time is by helping them organize each morning to watch each other's children between 10am-3pm that day. Don't worry if you're not present on a particular day, because you will not be expected to watch anyone's children.

To provide even more flexibility, you are absolutely encouraged to make arrangements with other parent members to bring their children on site when they cannot be present. If you bring two children, we may ask you to spend two hours helping to watch all the children instead of one. We will learn whether this is necessary and fair as time goes by.

What does my child get out of this?

Your child gets to spend time in a fun and exciting play space, engaging with other children of similar ages. We encourage all parents to embrace each child as their own and to give their very best attention and instruction to each child when it is their turn to provide care.

What if I have a problem with another parent?

This is one of the most important questions. Our ability to provide this service depends on a strong community, and we all have a responsibility to keep it strong. If you feel uncomfortable about the actions of any of the other parents, we encourage you to speak to that parent privately and politely, because most matters can be resolved this way. If the two of you cannot resolve the matter, you can bring it to the attention of the operations manager or one of the founders. For serious matters that cannot be resolved we may respectfully cancel a parent's membership, but only as a last resort.

Why are you asking for a three month commitment?

Three months is long enough to ensure that the people who join are committed to learning alongside us as we build systems and processes to make this type of work-play arrangement the best that it can be.

How many spots are available?

Initially, we are starting with a core group of just 20 families to create a comfortable, safe, and trusting environment. Later, we will explore whether we should increase that number by hearing input from all member families.

Has anyone else tried this model before?

We have found other organizations across the country who offer coworking for parents + professionalchildcare. We chose to use a different and collaborative childcare model to build a greater sense of community than one might find at a daycare center. After all, this is the kind of environment where we would enjoy spending our time.

Is there a kitchen?

We're building a kitchenette which includes a sink, refrigerator, microwave, and coffee machine.

Are coffee and snacks included?

We expect that you will love Trager Brothers Coffee from Lovingston, VA as much as we do. We also provide fruit and snacks such as granola bars to keep you energized throughout the day.

What if my child has allergies?

To ensure the safety of all children, every parent will be aware of every child's allergies. If a child has a significant known allergy to a particular food, then we will let all parents know that they should not bring that food on the premises.

However this is a serious issue and there is no 100% solution, because people can forget, even with the best intentions. So that's why we enforce a rule that everyone will feed their own children unless they make an arrangement with another parent.

Are diapers provided?

We provide emergency diapers in case you leave yours at home. You can borrow what you need and replenish the stock the next day.

Are there diaper-changing areas and bathrooms?

There will be two diaper changing stations and two bathrooms, one for the play area and one for the work area. All parents will be responsible for changing their child's diapers and supervising when their child uses the bathroom.

What if my child or other children have a cold?

Because the members of our community would otherwise be working from home, we ask parents with children who are sick that day to stay home until their child is not at risk of getting other children sick. This is another important advantage compared to daycare where people often drop off their sick children when they have no other option.

How fast is your WiFi?

We are incorporating 1000 Mbps Internet which is up to 100 times faster than the average home Internet connection in Charlottesville.

What age ranges are welcome?

All ages from 6 months and up are welcome. Children older than 5 years can do their work at the tables in the play area, however the toys are intended for ages 5 and below.

What is the daily schedule for parents?

Parents who are members can use the space with or without their children any time of day, 7 days a week. From 10am-3pm parents can expect to get up to 3-4 hours of work done and spend 1 hour watching the other children. With this arrangement, there will be approximately 1 parent for every 5 children in the play space.

Outside of the 10am-3pm window, parents can work from the tables and chairs in the play space while watching their child, or they can make additional arrangements with other parents and alternate which parent is watching the children and which is in the workspace.

What is my child going to do there all day?

We designed the space so that your child can play there for several hours without getting bored. You can feed your child, change their diapers, and put them down for a nap on your own custom schedule. We expect to have naptime for most children from 12:30-2pm, however we will adjust this with the input of all parents as we learn what schedule works best for everyone.

Do you have security measures in place?

Yes, everyone has their own security code so we can track who enters the building at all times. No one can enter the building without a security code.

What if I take a vacation for a week?

Just like regular daycare options, you would pay for the whole month even if you are on vacation for a week.

What if I want to cancel my membership?

After the initial 3 months, you can cancel your membership at any time from our website.

What if my family has two parents or a babysitter that would like to join?

The good news is that you only need to pay for one membership, if only one adult will be present on site at any time from your family.

What if my family has more than one child?

Additional children from your family can become members for half price.

What if I'd like to bring a guest?

Absolutely! You can bring one guest parent-child pair per month, and they will have register their names one day in advance.

How do you schedule tours?

Let us know you're interested, and we'll schedule a tour when the space opens.

[Heather Haindel]

Lucas,

The two big things I would wonder about are background checks for parents (or other caregivers) in the space and a caregiving philosophy.

It's exciting to see other options out there!

Heather

[Marnee Chua]

This all looks great Lucas! We'll be looking forward to seeing you open!