Couples Night Out (CNO)

Couples Night Out came out of discussions of married couples with children who were trying to figure out a way to make it easier to go out on dates so that they could have time alone. Each couple had basically the same two reasons for not dating: Difficulty in finding a reliable babysitter; or by the time you pay for the babysitter, you can't afford to do anything when you do go out. We decided, since we're all in the same "boat," there MUST be a way...

What is Couples Night Out?

Couples Night Out is a child care cooperative for married couples. Two Friday nights a month are designated as Couples Night Out. The evening begins at 6:30pm and ends promptly at 10 p.m. Children should arrive already having been fed their supper. Teams are required to act as babysitters once a quarter. In exchange, couples that are not scheduled as babysitters for that evening are encouraged to bring their children to the church (Grace Hall) and then go spend an evening alone as a couple. In other words, a couple would baby-sit one Friday with the other couples on their team, and then get five (yes, five) opportunities to go out to dinner, see that movie you've been hearing so much about, or just be alone together for the night. An evening out without the 'munchkins' and without the added expense of a babysitter. What a deal!

What Do the Teams Do?

All of the participating couples are arranged into six teams. Six couples constitute a team. Each of these teams is assigned to baby-sit one Friday night a quarter at the church, in Grace Hall. Each team will have a designated Captain couple who is responsible for coordinating team members' responsibilities during the evening. The team is responsible for cleaning up the church premises and placing everything back as indicated by maintenance rules and regulations. Each couple is required to sign a Commitment Form which spells out the expectations of the participants for service, finding substitutions, asking older children to help with younger children and pick up time. Medical Release forms for each of their children must also be completed and are kept on file.

What do the Kids Do?

Each of the teams is responsible for planning activities and bringing snacks for the children they are caring for during the evening. Generally, infants and toddlers are kept in the Nursery area of the church, where age appropriate toys are kept. The older children are kept in Grace Hall, where jump rope, basketball, kickball, or other supervised games can be played. Team members also organize crafts and the kids can participate as they choose. The last hour is designated as "settle-down" and "clean-up" time. During this time, children can be dressed in their "jammies" and are offered a quiet alternative, such as a video or story reading. Pick up time is firmly at 10pm