Photo by Eder Pozo Pérez on Unsplash

According to the US Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) website, the average school session in the United States is 6.6 hours per day. *

Compare that to a 40-hour work week, commonly executed as five 8-hour days. Factor in a lunch break and some commuting time, you could easily be facing a 9-hour (or more) workday while your child is done after about seven hours.

What’s a working parent to do? How do you address that period of time between school getting out and you completing your work day?  

The safety of my child(ren) would always be my top priority. Beyond that, I would look to additional factors, such as: 

·         Single- or two-parent home? Are older siblings available to help? Others in support network?

·         How close are the three locations (home, school, and work) located? Are you in a big city or a small town?

·         What is the financial impact: Direct cost? Opportunity cost? No cost?

Here are seven different options that may help you address the school/work day gap:

School district provides transportation

For some, the bus pick-up and drop-off schedule adds enough time to the school day to facilitate the work schedule.  

·         Works better when home and work are located close to each other and the child’s bus route is lengthy.

·         Financial Impact: No direct cost unless your school district charges for bus transportation. 

One parent works part-time

One parent reduces their workday to a part-time schedule that matches the school day.

·         Best for two-income households where one parent is willing to work part-time and experience the pros and cons of a downsized career. This is the choice I’ve made. Might you want to downsize your work schedule too? 

·         Financial Impact: No direct cost but definitely an opportunity cost in the form of reduced wages and possibly reduced career potential. You can read here about the pay cuts in my life. 

Parents stagger shifts

One working parent leaves for work early and the second parent gets the kid(s) to school. Roles are reversed for the afternoon, and the early-to-work parent picks up the kids from school.

·         Best for households where the parents’ employers offer shift flexibility.

·         Financial Impact: No direct cost.

You combine in-office work with telecommuting

Some employers and job types support flexible working scenarios. A working parent could be in the office during the school day and telecommute (work from home) the remaining hours needed to complete their day.

·         Best when your type of work can be done from home and your employer supports flexible work arrangements. Thankfully, my employers past and present have.

·         Financial Impact: No direct cost.

Before and after school options provided at the school

For younger students and grade levels, this might look like a district-approved provider offering a for-fee childcare program, located in the school building before and/or after school.

For high schoolers and sometimes middle schoolers, participation in sports programs extends the school day but only for the duration of the sports season (e.g., soccer, gymnastics, swim season). Extracurricular activities, e.g., robotics club, may meet weekly or monthly but doesn’t fill the gap on a daily basis.  

·         Financial Impact: Direct cost (onsite childcare fees, sports/extracurricular fees)

Here’s an interesting article from The Atlantic, where a town stepped in to address the gap for working parents.  

Before and after school care by a caregiver in your home

Hire someone (nanny, neighbor, nearby relative) to watch your kids before and/or after school and task that person with getting the kids to school or the bus stop safely.

·         Best for those with the resources to hire a caregiver OR those with a support network of friends and relatives who’d be willing to watch someone else’s children at no or lower cost.

·         Financial Impact: Direct cost if set up as a household employee. No cost if you can swap days, barter with another family, or identify a friend or neighbor who is willing to help.

Kids manage on their own

Some kids are old enough and responsible enough to get themselves to school and then be at home unattended afterward. Reasons for this will vary and I’m guessing some parents have no other choice.

Know your child as well as your state and local guidelines. I was never comfortable with this option in my children’s younger years and I am not recommending it.

·         More suitable for families with older kids with a high level of maturity and responsibility.  

·         Financial Impact: None

*SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, Schools and Staffing Survey (SASS), “Public School Questionnaire,” 2007-08.

In the comments below, please share practical tips so others can identify solutions for their school/work day gap! Thank you in advance for not writing ‘make your school district lengthen the school day’ because that’s not a practical, actionable item for a family to implement successfully. Let’s help others succeed! 🙂