After school care options for busy families
Compare child care options: programs, babysitters, and after school nannies to find the right fit for your family’s schedule.
What is after school care?
After school care covers the gap between the end of the school day and when parents are home from work.
Depending on your family’s schedule, it may include school pickup, transportation to activities, homework help, snacks, supervision, or a caregiver who stays until you arrive.
The right fit depends on your child’s age, your work schedule, your budget, and how much flexibility you need.
Common types of after school care
Most families consider one or more of these options. Each works differently in terms of cost, flexibility, location, and what’s included. UrbanSitter helps you find sitters and nannies for any of these types of after school care.
After school nannies
A regular caregiver who handles your child's afternoon routine in your home: school pickup, driving to activities, homework supervision, snacks, and care until you're home.
School after school programs
Many schools and community centers offer programs from dismissal until early evening, often affordable, with homework time, snacks, sports, or enrichment learning.
Sitters who drive
Caregivers who pick your child up from school and drive them to sports, lessons, tutoring, or other activities.
Homework helpers
Caregivers who supervise homework time, support specific subjects, or work with your child's reading level.
Hybrid or backup care plans
Many families use a mix, for example a school program three days a week and an after school nanny for the other two. Hybrid plans can match irregular work schedules.
Babysitters for school pickup
Shorter coverage, occasional help, or specific pickup days when your school program ends before you can get home.
Which after school care option is right for your family?
Use this quick guide to match your family’s biggest after school need with the option that tends to fit best. Many families end up combining two or three of these.
Lowest cost
Why it works: Structured, often more affordable, and may happen on campus.
Flexible schedule
Why it works: Can adapt to changing work schedules, split weeks, or specific days.
School pickup help
Why it works: One caregiver handles pickup and brings your child home.
Transportation to activities
Why it works: Helpful when kids need rides to sports, lessons, tutoring, or other activities.
Homework and snack support
Why it works: Care happens at home and can follow your family's routine.
Backup coverage
Why it works: Useful when regular plans fall through or school programs close.
Consistent daily help
Why it works: Provides recurring weekday support with the same caregiver.
Just need rides
Why it works: Solves the transportation need without changing the rest of your care plan.
Need help figuring out your after school care plan?
Every family’s schedule is different. Tell us what you need and local sitters and nannies will reach out with options that fit.
When an after school nanny or sitter may be the right fit
An after school nanny or sitter may be the right fit when your school’s program isn’t enough on its own. Depending on what you agree on with your caregiver, an after school nanny might:
- Pick your child up from school
- Drive them to activities, sports, lessons, or tutoring
- Help with homework or supervise reading time
- Prepare snacks or start dinner
- Supervise play or downtime at home
- Stay with your kids until a parent is home
- Cover specific days of the week, alternating weeks, or recurring weekly hours
How UrbanSitter helps families find after school care
Finding after school care has never been so simple. Our service makes finding, hiring, and paying caregivers as easy as 1-2-3:
Share your after school needs
Tell families/caregivers the days, hours, school pickup details, driving needs, homework support, and any activities.
Browse available caregivers
View profiles of interested local sitters and nannies, including reviews, repeat families, response details, and background check information.
Message, interview, and hire
Message caregivers, confirm details, book interviews, and schedule your ongoing job for after school coverage.
After school care that parents love
With an easy-to-use app and reviews from local families, it’s not hard to see why parents across the U.S. use UrbanSitter to find after school care.
Find an after school nanny or sitter your family will love
Find local babysitters and nannies reviewed by parents in your school and neighborhood. Sign up free to get personalized recommendations based on your family’s after school schedule.
Find an after school nanny near you
Browsing to see if UrbanSitter is a fit? Here’s a peek at top after school nannies and sitters in our community.
More resources for planning after school care
The Cost of After School Care
Average rates by city, plus tips for negotiating gas allowance and flexible hours.
7 Tips for Hiring an After School Nanny
What 500 sitters told us about taking after school jobs: hours, gas allowance, schedule flexibility.
After School Babysitter Guide for Parents
Tips for setting up a successful after school routine: homework expectations, snacks, and communication.
Is After School Care Tax Deductible?
Tax credits, dependent care FSA accounts, and which after school care expenses may qualify.
Frequently asked questions about after school care
After school care covers the gap between when school ends and when parents are home from work. It includes school programs, daycare-based programs, private nannies or sitters, transportation services, and hybrid arrangements.
Some families also need before and after school care, especially when work starts before school drop-off or ends after school programs close. The right fit depends on your child’s age, your work schedule, and how much flexibility you need.
An after school nanny picks kids up from school, drives them to activities, helps with homework, prepares snacks or dinner, and stays until a parent is home from work. The role often runs 10 to 20 hours per week. Some after school nannies also handle morning routines, weekend coverage, or split-week schedules.
An after school nanny is usually a regular, ongoing arrangement with the same caregiver every weekday or on a set part-time schedule. A babysitter is often occasional or one-off care. Nannies may take on more recurring responsibilities, including driving, homework supervision, meal prep, and activity coordination.
Yes. Many caregivers on UrbanSitter handle school pickup, then drive your child to activities or home, supervise homework and snacks, and stay until you are back. Filter for caregivers who drive or are willing to use your car. Most families discuss a gas stipend when driving is part of the role.
As of January 2026, the national average babysitting rate is $26.24 per hour for one child and $29.87 for two children, based on UrbanSitter booking data. After school nanny rates often run higher because of the consistent commitment and added responsibilities. Many families pay around $25 to $35 per hour. See current babysitting rates by city.
For the upcoming school year, many families start looking 4 to 6 weeks before school starts. School-based programs may have waitlists, so check enrollment timelines in spring. For private after school nannies, posting a job 2 to 4 weeks before you need coverage gives caregivers time to apply and lets you interview.
After school care may qualify for the federal Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit if both parents work and the care lets you earn income. Some employer Dependent Care FSAs may also cover after school care. Eligibility depends on your specific situation. Learn more about after school care and dependent care tax benefits.
Ask about experience with your child’s age range, comfort with school pickup and driving, homework subjects they can support, hourly rate expectations, and availability for recurring weekly hours. Confirm whether they need a gas stipend, what their backup-day policy is, and how they handle communication with parents during the workday.
Yes. Many after school nannies and sitters offer part-time and irregular schedules, such as Monday/Wednesday/Friday coverage, alternating weeks, or specific days when your school program is not enough. Be specific about your schedule and driving needs in your job post.
Yes. Every caregiver on UrbanSitter completes a background check each year, and every profile is individually reviewed by our Trust and Safety team. Profiles can also include reviews from other local families, repeat family information, response details, and other signals that help parents choose care. Learn more about our trust and safety standards and what’s included in a background check.