Typically children aged 2 and above can attend, though some of the outdoor ones are only from 2.5 or 3 years. These groups tend to be for two to three hours in the morning, and do not include lunch. You usually sign up for a whole term. This is an awesome option for pre-k kids to practice being away from mummy and learn some Swiss German.  There are many, many different playgroups in the area and two good websites to start searching for one are:

• https://www.spielgruppe.ch/spielgruppenverzeichnis.htm
  (for indoor and forest playgroups)
• http://www.ig-bauernhofspielgruppe.ch/spielgruppen/spielgruppen.htm
  (for farm playgroups) 

Drop off childcare: there are a few places that offer drop-off care, so it’s not a regular weekly affair, more something you use as and when you need it, such as:

• Smartys in Wädesnwil
   http://www.smartys-kinderparadies.ch/en/​

• Familien Oase in Wädenswil 
  http://familien-oase.ch 

Many take babies from three months of age, through to kindergarten. Some even take children for after-kindergarten care. There are many bilingual options. Search the Silver Coast Parents Facebook Group for lots of recommendations. Type “Krippe” or “Kita” plus your location and you will find many relevant posts.

Hourly rate for nannies tends to be between 20 and 35 CHF an hour.

• The www.babysitting24.ch website can be used to find nannies. You can look for free, but if you want to contact someone, you need to sign up as a member for at least a month. 

• There are also two Facebook groups on this subject: Nanny Jobs in Switzerland and Nanny or aupair Job in Switzerland.

• You can also ask within the Zurich Silver Coast Parents Facebook page, there are a few nannies who are part of this group, who may, when you are looking, have free days. 

• Finally, the Rockmybaby Nanny Agency has been highly recommended by a number of parents within the Zurich Silver Coast Parents Facebook group. They charge a one off fee if you hire a nanny through them. 

Other than asking a neighbour or a friend, there are three main sources for finding babysitters: the Swiss Red Cross website, babysitting coordinators for your area and the babysitting website www.babysitting24.ch. 

Babysitting Coordinators: Each gemeinde has a “Babysittervermittlung”, a coordinator who holds a list of babysitters in your area, including their age and whether they have done the Swiss Red Cross Babysitting course. You can find the contact for your Gemeinde in this document.

The Swiss Red Cross has recently launched a babysitter search for babysitters that have done the babysitting course, which can be accessed here (you can search by your postcode). 

​Also on the Swiss Red Cross website is information here on how much you should pay your babysitters and what to do about insurance. In short, 13-15 year olds are 8-10 CHF an hour, 16-25 year olds should receive 11-18 CHF an hour. More than 2 kids, +2 CHF each additional, and there is also information on overnight charges. Really useful.  

​You can also look on www.babysitting24.ch for babysitters. You can use the service to search for babysitters for free, but, if you then find someone you like and want to contact them you have to sign up, and there is a minimum membership of one month.​

Rockmybaby also offer Babysitters at 25 CHF an hour, I believe their babysitters are generally experienced child care providers (see more details on this agency under Nannies above).