Roots and Blues is a great place to bring your kids and enjoy the festival — most of the time. But sometimes, parents might want to relax, kick back and listen to some of the daytime music, rather than spending the entire afternoon watching their children play in the sandpit.
For those parents, there is a new option for child care at Roots and Blues.
Organized by Melissa Treleaven, owner of Playcare Early Childhood Centre, for a $20 fee per child, parents will be able to leave their children to be cared for in the Kids Zone for a two-hour period.
“It’s one of the things people have been saying. They love the festival, they love to bring their kids, but they feel like they get stuck in the Kids Zone all day and miss out on some of the great afternoon music,” says Treleaven.
“This way, they can take a break from the kids, go listen to some music, maybe have a little freedom while their kids are being looked after. ”
Parents will have their choice of child-minding from either 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. or 2 to 4 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. There is no child-minding Friday or in the evening. Children must be three years old and up. The cost is $20 per child for the two hours, even if parents decide to pick up their children early.
There will be one babysitter for every five children and early childhood educators will be onsite running the child-minding.
“It’s going to be qualified people doing this, so parents will know their kids will be safe and happy. That’s the most important thing.”
Children will be required to wear a special pinney identifying them as under the care of the onsite babysitters, but they will be able to partake in all the activities in the Kids Zone. This year, the entrance to the Kids Zone will be staffed by volunteers to ensure no kids can leave the area without parents.
Parents should pre-register online or by phoning the Roots & Blues office at 250-833-4096.
Treleaven says they hope to have people sign up early, but if spaces are available on the day, they will take kids at that time.