Baby-sitting circle had parties (9)
I believe the answer is:
childcare
'baby-sitting circle had parties' is the definition.
I can't tell whether this definition defines the answer.
'circle had parties' is the wordplay.
'parties' indicates an anagram (the letters move or party around).
'circle'+'had'='circlehad'
'circlehad' anagrammed gives 'CHILDCARE'.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for childcare that I've seen before include "Responsibility for family" , "concern for charges" , "protection of the young" , "Youth work" .)