Care.com, on the most popular platforms for individuals to find child care, pet sitters, housekeepers, and senior care, recently had a surge in providers offering "virtual-only" care amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Since individuals are advised to limit the number of people they interact with to reduce the spread of the virus, the virtual option enables both children and providers to remain safe.
Parents are finding that "video call can be much better for a child than passively watching television or playing a game." This is primarily due to the ability of the child and care provider to see each other's reactions and increase engagement. Moreover, it's refreshing for children to be able to interact with new individuals who are outside of their immediate family.
Virtual-Only Babysitting Platforms
Care.com Now Offers Virtual Child-Care Workers
Trend Themes
1. Virtual Child-care Providers - The surge of virtual-only child-care workers due to COVID-19 creates opportunities for developing new virtual child-care provider platforms.
2. Engaging Video Call Child-care - The popularity of virtual-only child-care due to increased engagement creates opportunities to develop better engagement platforms like video-call-based child-care providers.
3. Remote Child-care Services - The demand for virtual child-care providers creates opportunities to establish remote child-care platforms that offer tailored childcare services for virtual-only care.
Industry Implications
1. Online Child-care Platforms - Established online child-care platforms can expand their offerings to include virtual-only child-care services.
2. Video Conferencing Platforms - Video Conferencing platforms can partner with child-care providers or create separate solutions to provide cost-effective child-care services.
3. AI Powered Virtual Child-care Platforms - The integration of AI technologies in virtual child-care platforms could create more efficient, safer, and cost-effective virtual child-care services.