Parental nursery: the nursery where parents decide

The great involvement of parents makes it a special kind of childcare. But if these associative structures involve families enormously, they obviously employ professionals, answer the same safety standards and the same legal obligations as other host institutions.

Very invested fathers

At the Petits Lardons crèche, in Paris, this Friday morning, the children arrive in a dropper and later than usual. They are pretty wide awake. For parents, it’s a different story. It must be said that the day before took place the monthly board of directors of the structure. For once, he did not go on forever, but it would have been a shame to leave without sharing a drink at the local cafe. So some have a bit of a headache. In a parental nursery, it is obvious, the atmosphere is very special. Between parents and professionals, familiarity is required. Families are alike, share the same cultural codes, smile about the same details. Everyone has the feeling of participating in a collective adventure. In a joking tone, a father leaves the few parents present with a “Good, fellow citizens, I leave you”. Another remains to be discussed, obviously happy to be there. Striking detail: for the moment, only dads have crossed the threshold.

What is a family crèche? What is its function ?

Parental nurseries were created at the beginning of the XNUMXs, with the ambition of bringing together professionals and parents annoyed at feeling disqualified. These establishments now obey the same operating standards than any municipal crèche, whether it be premises, tariffs (progressive according to the family quotient), quotas of qualified personnel or food. The days are over when everyone cooked their own meals. Meals must be prepared on site, according to precise methods and in a suitable kitchen.

Parent members are grouped into an association, which recruits and remunerates the manager and employees.

What is the particularity of the parents’ place in a parental crèche?

 

The specificity of these nurseries is based on the investment required from parents. Each family must ensure a permanent half day per week in contact with children and must take charge of a “commission” according to his skills, wishes or what remains. Some will thus have to manage the purchasing logistics, while others will supervise the DIY. For professionals the question of care, know-how, practices, for paying parents administrative tasks and management. “These are real constraints that are not possible for everyone,” says Daniel Lefèvre, educator of young children and technical manager of Les Petits Lardons. Among our families, we have intermittent entertainment workers who can adapt their schedule, teachers available on Wednesdays or parents who devote their RTT to the crèche. Once they buy into the principle, they are generally happy. And when they leave us to go to kindergarten, they are often frustrated that they no longer have a real place. “

What are the advantages of an associative parental nursery?

This is a finding that is unanimous. All of these parents appreciate having a say, participating in the life of their child and the community. Marc, Maël’s dad and on duty this Friday, assures us: “We participate in decision-making, we are aware of everything concerning our child. At the municipal crèche, which was very good, we just dropped our child off in the morning in an airlock and picked him up in the evening when we learned that he had eaten well and slept well. It ended there. Richard is about to move. “We will not have the same type of care and that breaks our hearts. We were here at home, with professionals really listening to us. I was treasurer of the association, which is quite heavy. But it was also very rewarding because I was doing it for my child. ”

Marc and Aurélie, the two parents on duty during this half-day, will spend their morning playing with the children present, to ensure supervision of older children and to distribute household chores. “Did you come down, Marc? Is there any work? “” I have put two washing machines on the way and there are quite a few laundry to fold. “

Awakening at the heart of projects

Daniel, the manager, offers Aurélie to come as reinforcement on the psychomotricity course installed by one of the auxiliaries for the children of the large section. Parents are never in charge of babies, which all remain under the responsibility of professionals. They also do not take the children to a nap, do not administer drugs, do not provide care, except on their own offspring. They are, however, strongly encouraged to read or lead manual activities. “Here, we have a good excuse to indulge in very pleasant activities such as handling plasticine for hours! », Rejoices Aurélie while trying to move away a little from her daughter Fanny who does not let go of a sole. “The difficulty for parents, at the beginning in any case, is to manage their time of presence between their child and those of others, asks Daniel. They are supposed to take care of several little ones, while maintaining real relational time with their child who is too young to understand the distancing. Some people sometimes worry about their little one’s behavior. They must be reassured by reminding them that when they are not there, their child is not at all the same. »A great classic.

Much more than a form of childcare

In the afternoon, Marc and Aurélie give way to two other mothers. Marjorie, Micha’s mom, seems very comfortable around other people’s children. Normal, she is in her fifth year of parental nursery. “It’s more than a form of childcare, it’s an associative commitment. And for some, it’s almost a part-time activity. You have to really want it. For me, on-call services with children have always been a decompression chamber, a breath of air. “ On the professional side, motivation must also be present. “Welcoming parents is a real asset for us,” assures Daniel. But for some, it can be an embarrassment. Because you have to be sure of what you present. In terms of childcare, we often take what we find, what is available. But in a parental nursery, parents, like professionals, are never there by chance.

 

How much does a parental crèche cost?

The price of parental nurseries is varied. Indeed, the price will depend on several factors such as the rental price of the premises of the nursery, or the qualifications of the people employed, or even your income. There is no specific price, unlike municipal nurseries. Find out more from the parental nursery that interests you. 

How to open a parental crèche?

Are you motivated and want to open a parenting nursery yourself? You will have to go through a number administrative steps to get there. First of all, you have to find other motivated parents and found an association law 1901 (with a president, a secretary and a treasurer). Then, you will have to work in conjunction with the Caisse d’Allocations Familiale (CAF) which will help you establish your educational project and direct you to possible assistance. Finally, Maternal and Child Protection will need to validate the opening of the crèche according to various criteria (hygiene, premises, reception capacity, staff, etc.).

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