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by: Elizabeth Sedway, TahoeKidsGuide.com

Families traveling to Lake Tahoe over the Christmas and New Years Eve holiday break might be interested to know about childcare options in the Lake Tahoe area. I have not visited these facilities myself, and have no first-hand knowledge of the facilities or childcare providers. I have, however, learned the following about each facility:

If you're looking for a babysitter to care for your children at your house or condo, I can highly recommend Alina Pop.  She cared for our children and I have referred her to numerous families.  Each family that Alina has worked for raves about her.  She can be contacted by her cell phone: (480) 388-6416 or by her email: alina_pop_san@yahoo.com.  She generally charges $15 per hour for 1 to 2 children and adds $5 for each child after the second child.  If you are located far from her North Lake Tahoe home, expect to pay something additional for transportation.

If you're looking for a group childcare with activities there are a few of those, as well.  Every Friday and Saturday night, between 5:30p. and 8:30p, during the Winter season, The Village at Northstar offer childcare and entertainment for children 4 to 12 years old. The program costs $49 per child. Holiday special dates are also available December 26 - January 2, 2010 and February 12 - 20, 2010.

Kids get to hang out with Marty the Martian, Northstar's life-sized friendly and lovable mascot, have dinner and eat S'mores by the ice rink firepits. Parent's Night Out is a fun and convenient alternative to at-home babysitting.

In addition to dinner, indoor enteratainment (movies and games) and treats, kids will enjoy a 30 to 45 minute outdoor activity (ice skating, scavenger hunt or bungy jumping.) Northstar's Parents' Night Out program claims a supervisor ratio of 1 to 5 kids.

For reservation details, click here, Space is limited, first-come, first-serve. Reserve your Parent's Night Out package by 4:30 p.m. the day of your planned night out.  Kid's Drop off begins at 5:15 p.m. and ends at 5:30 p.m. at the Children's Ski & Snowboard School Center.

On Saturday nights at Tahoe Gymnastics, in South Lake Tahoe, children that are potty-trained can enjoy an evening of aerobic exercise, pizza dinner and a movie. The maximum number of children they take is 30 and their child to supervisor ratio is 10 to 1. The rate for this service is $35 per child per Saturday night ($25 for additional siblings.)

On New Years Eve, December 31st, Tahoe Gymnastics will offer a special 'Sleep Over' night. Children can either stay until 12:30a (Early registration rate: $30 per child; Regular Registration: $40) or sleep over all night and be picked up by 8a (Early registration rate: $70 per child; Regular Registration: $80)

Also at South Lake Tahoe is Tahoe Kids (not to be confused with TahoeKidsGuide.com)  Tahoe Kids offers evening sessions for kids that include dinner and great activities. The evening sessions begin at 6p and parents pick up their children between 9:45 & 10:00 P.M.  Evening Session Fees: $60 Per Child.

The evening begins with dinner (usually McDonald's, pizza, etc.), then off to have some fun doing one of a variety of activities. These can include movies, bowling, or miniature golf. After and activity, Tahoe Kids takes kids for a snack (ice cream, slurpee, etc.) and then head back to Embassy Suites for a swim in their indoor pool. Kids' Camp usually finishes the evening session inside one of the local arcades (additional money required).

Kids' Camp has room for only 15 children in each session. There are always two adults for sessions with eight or more children. A cellular phone is with the staff at all times and parents may call as often as they wish. Mark Heidt 775-450-4538 or Bill Spicer 775-450-4829. Children are transported to different activities in the Kids' Camp Van.