Before and After School Child Care: 6 Practical Solutions

nanny packing child's lunch into backpack

The new school year is around the corner which means it’s time to nail down your before and after school child care. From morning drop-offs to shuttling kids to after school activities, the back to school hustle can leave you juggling a lot of different schedules. Not sure what kind of after school child care is right for you? Have no fear! We have 6 before and after school babysitter and nanny solutions that will help your family get an A+ this school year.

1. The Full-Time Nanny

before and after school child careDo you work full-time? Need a helping hand before and after school? Have a little one in school and one still at home? A full-time nanny may be just what you need to cover all your bases. This option not only provides a full-day of care, but also ensures a comfortable home environment for your children. Nanny-finding sites like UrbanSitter conveniently allow you to search or post a job for this type of “split shift” schedule. 

Pro-tip: Check our blog post for suggested questions to ask when interviewing potential nannies.

2. The Carpool-Driving Sitter

carpool driving sitters

Maybe your mornings start early and you need help getting the kids ready and dropped off on time to school. Or, maybe you can’t leave the office early enough to pick them up. Problem solved! Book a carpool driving sitter. During the summer, this service can also be beneficial for getting kids to and from summer camps or summer enrichment activities. This is a great option especially in school districts with limited transportation options.

Pro-tip: Use UrbanSitter’s search filter to find sitters ‘willing to drive kids’ in your car or theirs.

3. The Homework Tutor

homework tutorLet’s be real, school-age children have A LOT of homework these days and sometimes our kids need a little extra help. Find and book a sitter who’s ready to hit the books after school and provide quality homework assistance. This is particularly useful for 1st grade and older children needing extra academic support. Such sitters can also engage kids in educational activities to reinforce learning in a structured environment after school.

Pro-tip: Sites like UrbanSitter make it easy to search for sitters by the grade levels and subjects they teach or tutor.

4. The After-School Sitter

after school sitterSoccer practice, music lessons, dance class, or even just a trip to the park can be hard to juggle when you have more than one kid, errands to run, or when your work schedule keeps you late. Have no fear, an after-school sitter can help you feel like you are in more than one place at the same time. This option is perfect for parents who need a structured environment for their children after school.

Pro-tip: If you aren’t finding any sitters to cover every day of the week, consider splitting your job into two jobs with a sitter for Monday-Wednesday-Fridays and another for Tuesday-Thursdays.

5. The Last-Minute Sitter

last-minute sitterWhen the kids have an unexpected day off from school or their summer camp program or your usual nanny calls in sick, you’ll need access to a last-minute sitter for backup child care.

Pro-tip: Download UrbanSitter’s child care-finding app for free for access to last-minute child care providers. 

6. After School Programs

after school program

Some schools offer after school programs to give parents a few extra hours of child care beyond the school day. If your school doesn’t offer an after-school care program, many local YMCAs and community centers offer affordable school-age child care programs. These programs for children often include structured activities, physical activity, and a fun environment to keep kids engaged.

Pro-tip: Check out your local YMCA camps or recreation center for quality child care programs that offer both enrichment activities and physical activity.

Before and After School Child Care, Solved!

Found the right before and after school child care solution for you? Now get started on your search with UrbanSitter, it’s free to join!

If an after school nanny is the right fit, you can find after school nannies in your area and see who is available for your schedule.

Before and After School Child Care Solutions

UrbanSitter has you covered!
Explore Now

5 Popular Child Care Options for Summer

kids playing in fountain

Trying to figure out your child care options for summer? Maybe you’re wondering how to plan child care around a summer trip or weekly camps. Let’s review the pros and cons of the top 5 most popular summer child care solutions.

First, there are some general factors to consider:

  • Your schedule – Do you need full-time or part-time coverage and is it for the entire summer or certain weeks?
  • Your budget – How much are you willing to spend on a weekly or monthly basis?

Next, you can start to evaluate the advantages of each of these 5 popular child care options for summer:

  1. Book a summer camp

    2. Summer camps come in all shapes and sizes, from half-day to full-day, completely virtual to sleep-away camps. These can be a great option for kids who want to explore a specific interest (art, dance, robotics, coding, nature, etc.). There are lots of things to consider when choosing a camp including schedules, since many are only 1-3 weeks long and you may need to string together multiple camps to fill the summer.

    Pros: Variety of interests for kids, lots of scheduling options
    Cons: Possible cancellations, strict refund policies, limited openings

  2. Hire a summer nanny or sitter

    3. Hiring a summer nanny or sitter for full-time or part-time child care could be a great solution. A summer nanny cares for your kids in your home according to the schedule and responsibilities you decide on, which may include outings, meal preparation, driving the kids, nap time, bath time and more. While a dedicated caregiver might cost more per hour than other solutions, you only pay for the hours you need and the cost does not double with each additional child as with camps or school. Not sure where to find a summer nanny? Try an online caregiver-finding service such as UrbanSitter.

    Pros: Dedicated caregiver, fits your schedule, no commute
    Cons: Must find/hire candidate yourself, cost depends on how many hours you need

  3. Register for summer school

    4. Many parents want their kids to make up for lost academic time with summer school. If your public school is not offering a summer session, many private schools are open and will accept outside students for the summer session. 

    Pros: Affordable (when offered by public school), prevents “brain drain”
    Cons: Only covers school hours

  4. Form a summer sharecare or co-op

    5. Start a sharecare with a group of families from your neighborhood. Kids benefit from having socialization, while parents share the cost of a caregiver a.k.a. “sharecare” or split caregiving duties a.k.a a “child care co-op.” Form a summer sharecare with your kids’ best friends and hire a summer sitter with camp counselor experience to create your own backyard summer camp.

    Pros: Socialization, shared costs
    Cons: Management of sharecare/co-op rules, not an option if you don’t have space in your home

  5. Plan on a hodgepodge

    6. If you’re a Type A parent, break out your spreadsheet and plan out the ultimate hodgepodge of the child care options at your disposal. For example, pair a series of half-day camps that your kids will love with a summer nanny to handle drop offs, pick ups, and the gap days between camps.

    Pros: The exact schedule and activities you want
    Cons: Lots of planning required, expensive

    Did you find the solution that fits best with your family’s needs? Whatever you decide, we hope it will be your best summer ever.

    Find a summer nanny or sitter now with UrbanSitter’s detailed caregiver search.