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.
In fact, Stats Can found that 40% of Canadian school aged children attend some form of before- or after-school care.
Before-school care is particularly crucial for parents with early work days, demanding schedules or those who need to travel for work. That being said, before-school care can take on many different forms, 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 6 before-school care options to consider.
What is before-school care?
There are a number of different affordable childcare options (more on this shortly), but simply put, before-school care is childcare that’s utilized — you guessed it — before school. Depending on which type of before-school childcare 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 childcare centre or the school itself.
Options for before-school childcare
Early morning childcare 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
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 childcare to your specific needs.
In some cases, the nanny or babysitter will simply transport the children from their home to school but other times they may arrive 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 before dropping them off at school.
Benefits:
- Convenience.
- Personalized care.
- Affords kids more sleep.
- More accommodating to busy work schedules/travelling parents.
- Reduces morning tasks/stress for parents.
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/travelling parents.
- Reduces morning tasks/stress for parents.
Live-in nanny or au pair
Another option is to hire a live-in nanny or au pair who is fully integrated into the family’s before-care routine, which automatically lends itself to helping out with the morning rush.
Benefits:
- Convenience.
- Personalized care.
- Affords kids more sleep.
- More accommodating to busy work schedules/travelling parents.
- Highly-adaptable to schedule changes.
- Extremely reliable.
School-run before-care programs
Some schools host before-care programs, which can involve supervised play or homework help and in many cases, something to eat. Elementary schools with before- and after-care are the most popular choice for Canadian parents according to Stats Can and is where 45% of children in extended care will attend.
Typically, these before- and after-school care programs start around 7:30 a.m., and often have pay-as-you-go or drop-in opportunities. 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 childcare.
- Convenient.
- Low commitment.
- Opportunities for socialization.
Third-party school-based before-care programs
Some childcare programs offer before-school care at school (but are not school-run).
These programs allow kids to begin their morning alongside their classmates and help create a consistent routine, which includes being in the same place all day, but may include activities not offered by the regular school curriculum, like chess or STEM opportunities.
Benefits:
- Consistency.
- Convenient.
- Affordable childcare.
- Opportunities for socialization.
Daycare centres
Before- and after-care daycare centres provide before-school care for kids at their centre, along with transportation to school. (In some cases, kids will go to both a centre’s before- and after-care program.)
Just as there are benefits to starting the day at school with peers, kids also benefit from off-site before-care, which help promote social skills and friendships outside of their regular school friendship circle. Additionally, affordable day care options like these can help parents to manage their childcare budget.
Benefits:
- Consistency.
- Convenient.
- Affordable childcare.
- Opportunities for socialization and expansion of social group.
Community programs
Similar to daycare centre, community programs, such as YMCA before- and after-care may provide wraparound care, as well. Depending on their setup and relationship to school, they may be at the school itself or at their own location, such as a YMCA day care.
These programs provide a safe environment before school for the children and convenience for the family.
Benefits:
- Consistency.
- Convenient.
- Affordable childcare.
- Opportunities for socialization and expansion of social group.
The bottom line
When it comes to before- and after-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.