Some parents luck out when it comes to their school-work schedule. The school day begins at, say, 8, and they need to be at work by 9, giving them ample time for drop-off and their commute to work. For others, though, it’s not so cut and dried, making some form of before-school care essential.
Before-school care is crucial for “parents with early work days, demanding schedules or who need to travel for work,” explains Stephanie Fornaro, founder of Hello, Nanny!, a nationwide nanny placement agency. That being said, before-school care can take on “many different forms,” according to Fornaro, which means a little research is likely in order.
Whether you need to be in early consistently or have sporadic “in-office days,” here are six before-school care options to consider.
What is before-school care?
There are a number of different options (more on this shortly), but simply put, before-school care is child care that’s utilized — you guessed it — before school. Depending on which type of before-school child care you opt for, it may entail getting the kids ready for school and transporting them to the bus stop or school or games and activities at a center or the school itself.
“My sons have been going to early bird care [early morning child care] since they were both in kindergarten,” says mom of two Sonia Gomez of Cranford, New Jersey. “It’s through a local child care center, but held at their schools. They’re let into the gym before school starts, where they play with Legos, read books, etc.,” This, she notes, allows both her and her husband to get to work on time.
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Options for before-school child care
Early morning child care at school isn’t the only choice for before-school care. Here are a number of options for varying needs.
Before-school nanny or babysitter
Find a before-school nanny
Find a before-school babysitter
Depending on your schedule, a before-school nanny or babysitter may be your best bet — particularly if you need to leave your house earlier than most and other options aren’t available at that hour. And the best part: You can tailor this in-home child care to your specific needs.
“In some cases, the nanny or sitter does the morning school drop-off, picking up the children from the family home and getting them to school,” explains Fornaro. “In other situations, the nanny arrives early to the family home to prepare breakfast and help the children get ready for the day, which can include packing lunches, getting them dressed and getting backpacks put together and safely transporting them to their respective schools.”
“… the nanny arrives early to the family home to prepare breakfast and help the children get ready for the day, which can include packing lunches, getting them dressed and getting backpacks put together and safely transporting them to their respective schools.”
— Stephanie Fornaro, founder of Hello, Nanny!
Benefits:
- Convenience.
- Personalized care.
- Affords kids more sleep.
- More accommodating to busy work schedules/traveling parents.
- Reduces morning tasks/stress for parents.
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Full-time nanny
Find a full-time nanny
For parents with little ones who aren’t yet in school, a full-time nanny can help get the big kids out the door in the morning and then tend to younger siblings during the day. Similar to a before-school nanny or sitter, parents can tailor morning duties to the family’s needs.
Benefits:
- Convenience.
- Personalized care.
- Affords kids more sleep.
- More accommodating to busy work schedules/traveling parents.
- Reduces morning tasks/stress for parents.
Live-in nanny or au pair
Find a live-in nanny
According to Fornaro, live-in nannies and au pairs are fully integrated into the family’s before-care routine, which automatically lends itself to helping out with the morning rush.
“This provides parents with significantly more freedom and flexibility and accommodates overnight care for parents who travel for work or have an unpredictable schedule,” notes Fornaro, adding: “It’s important to note that even with a live-in nanny or au pair handling before-care, there should always still be a defined schedule for their workload.”
Benefits:
- Convenience.
- Personalized care.
- Affords kids more sleep.
- More accommodating to busy work schedules/traveling parents.
- Highly-adaptable to schedule changes.
- Extremely reliable.
School-run before-care programs
Some schools host before-care programs, which can involve supervised play in the school’s gymnasium, and in many cases, something to eat. “Generally, before-school care includes breakfast as well as structured and nonstructured (free play) activities,” explains Judy Krause, associate dean and program director of the Doctor of Education in ECE program at Pacific Oaks College.
Typically, these programs start around 7:30 a.m., and often have pay-as-you-go or drop-in opportunities. For instance, at PS321 in Brooklyn, there’s a single-day option, which costs $8, or parents can purchase before-school care packages. This can be particularly helpful for parents who have inconsistent work schedules (think: having to be in-office a few times a month).
Benefits:
- Affordable.
- Convenient.
- Low commitment.
- Opportunities for socialization.
Third-party school-based before-care programs
Find a before-school care program
Like in Gomez’s case, some child care programs offer before-school care at school (but are not school-run). According to Krause, having before-care on-site can be helpful for a number of reasons.
“It’s good for kids to begin their morning alongside classmates they spend the rest of the day with,” she explains. “Research supports the idea that this consistent routine, which includes being in the same place all day, helps to strengthen networks of connection in the brain.”
Benefits:
- Consistency.
- Convenient.
- Affordable.
- Opportunities for socialization.
Daycare centers
Find a before-school daycare center
Many daycare centers provide before-school care for kids at their center, along with transportation to school. (In some cases, kids will go to both a center’s before- and after-care program.)
“Our before-care program provides care for children ages 5-12,” explains Meghan Travinski, vice president of marketing at Big Blue Marble Academy. “The kids get a nutritious breakfast, engage in activities that promote physical, social and cognitive development, and some locations provide transportation to school.”
“The kids get a nutritious breakfast, engage in activities that promote physical, social and cognitive development, and some locations provide transportation to school.”
— Meghan Travinski, vice president of marketing, Big Blue Marble Academy
And just as there are benefits to starting the day at school with peers, kids also benefit from off-site before-care, Travinski says. “This setting promotes social skills and friendships outside their regular school environment and expands their friendship circle,” she notes.
Benefits:
- Consistency.
- Convenient.
- Affordable.
- Opportunities for socialization and expansion of social group.
Community programs
Similar to daycare centers, community programs, such as YMCAs, often provide before-school care, as well. Depending on their setup and relationship to school, they may be at the school itself or at their location.
These programs, Krause notes, provide a safe environment before school for the children and convenience for the family. “Whether they’re on- or off-site, before-school care programs usually include the same components, which often include breakfast and activities,” she adds.
Benefits:
- Consistency.
- Convenient.
- Affordable.
- Opportunities for socialization and expansion of social group.
The bottom line
When it comes to before-school care, there are a number of options, none necessarily better than the other. The key is figuring out what works best for your family’s schedule and budget. “I don’t what my husband and I would have done without before-school care,” Gomez notes. “Neither of us have work schedules conducive to school hours.”
