• Babies
• Building a Family
• Children
• General Parenting
• Newborns
• Teenagers
• Toddlers
• Pregnancy

Is an after-school child care job right for you?

With so many busy working parents out there, there is a real need for after-school child care. This type of care can fill the several hour time gap between school getting out and parent(s) getting off work. Turns out, it can also provide a great job opportunity for nannies and sitters who need the flexibility traditional jobs don’t offer.

I found my first after-school child care position when I was taking morning classes for my degree and working odd lunchtime hours for another family. I needed some extra income, but many jobs couldn’t fit my schedule. Fortunately, I found a family who needed an after-school babysitter for their 11-year-old daughter. The position began at 3 p.m. and ended at 6:30 p.m. each day, fitting perfectly into my schedule, the pay was fair and the girl was sweet as can be. I accepted the job, not knowing that it would become one of my favorite — and longest — positions. This after-school care job lasted nearly six years and allowed me to finish my degree, care for other children and support my own new family.

Whether you’re a student or a caregiver juggling multiple gigs, here’s what you need to know about after-school care jobs.  

The basics of after-school care

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, in 64.2% of married-couple families with kids, both parents were employed in 2019. By the same data, among families maintained by fathers, 85.2% of the dads were employed, and among families maintained by mothers, 75.4% of the moms were employed. For this reason, after-school child care solutions are in high demand, including after-school nannies and sitters. 

They can vary by family and school, but here are some after-school child care scenarios you might find:

• Generally, after-school care jobs start “after school” — typically at about 2 p.m. or 3 p.m. For a family with a child in half-day kindergarten, this could mean the job starts as early as 11 a.m. or noon.

• An after-school position may require driving to separate schools if a family has children of different ages or chaperoning children home from the bus stop.

• Depending on the parents’ jobs, an after-school child care provider may only have to stay for a few hours until “traditional” 9 a.m. ̵1; 5 p.m. hours end.

• Other parents who work later hours may need a babysitter or nanny to stay longer, possibly through dinnertime until after the children go to bed.

Ultimately, it’s up to you to decide which type of position (and schedule) you’d like to find and accept.

Deciding if after-school care is right for you

There are a number of benefits to finding an after-school child care job. These positions are a great way to work around other part-time morning jobs or your own school schedule if you’re seeking a degree or formal training during regular school hours.

Before you dive in headfirst to look for after-school jobs, consider whether it’s right for you.

Sydney Naylor, a child care program coordinator from Broomfield, Colorado, says an after-school provider needs “patience and an understanding of what it is like to teach and help a child grow. You are taking care of the most important things in the world and your heart needs to be in it.”

It’s also important to know exactly what the after-school care position entails. Christa Doyle, lead teacher and director of a preschool in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, says: “Know what is expected of you and consider whether or not you can, or even want to, meet those expectations.”

That goes for any child care job, Doyle says, but it’s especially important when it comes to helping families during the hours after school. After all, there is a lot to be done between when a child gets out of school and when their parents come home.

You definitely want to make sure it’s a role — and a schedule — you enjoy.

Typical after-school care provider responsibilities

If an after-school gig sounds right for you, you need to consider what services you will offer families during those hours. After-school care can involve a mix of child care, transportation, tutoring, housekeeping and even some household management.

Examples of after-school services you may include:

• After-school pickup (using your or the family’s vehicle).

• Transportation to and from after-school activities.

• Homework help.

• Snack prep.

• Playtime or activities at home.

Some “extra” services you may offer for an additional cost could include:

• Housekeeping (during child care hours or to fill extra hours during the day).

• Pet care (dog walking, cat box cleaning, meals, vet visits, etc.).

• Dinner prep (grocery shopping, creating menus, and/or cooking).

• Tutoring.

• Special needs care.

• Child care for multiple families by starting an after-school nanny share.

• All-day care on days school is out, which can include spring and winter breaks, holidays, in-service days, snow days and summer break.

Where to find an after-school gig

When it comes to finding after-school child care jobs, where do you look? And how do you spread the word about your services? The good news is parents with school-age children love having a network of care available to them, so you may have an “in” already.

Ask your network or family friends if they need help with their children after school, or if they know anyone who does. You may also find a few “fill-in” positions, where a nanny is sick or on leave and a family needs temporary care for their kids. Taking on some evening and weekend babysitting gigs is another way to get your name out there and connect with new families.

Other ways to share your availability for after-school care include:

Social media. “Finding your neighborhood’s Facebook group is another great way to find nearby families who need after-school care,” says Rebecca Webb, a child care provider from Tucker, Georgia.

Online job sites. Set up or update your professional profile on job sites, including caregiver-specific sites.

Community boards. Post your nanny or babysitting offerings to your neighborhood, church or school bulletin boards to advertise your services.

Specialized organizations. If you have specialized child care skills, check out the local chapters of relevant organizations in your area. Child care providers with experience caring for children with ADHD and other executive function challenges are “gems,” says Erin Koerselman, founder of Honestly ADHD Parenting Academy — and they’re in high demand.

Wherever you decide to share your services, make sure to include your name, years of experience and a good phone number or email to reach you. Make sure to list your availability to work after-school hours and any relevant services, such as tutoring and transportation.

Expand your skill set

While you wait for that perfect after-school gig to come along, Leigh Aberle, of Family First Travel Nannies, recommends that you “continue [your] education by staying up to date on CPR and first aid training. Maybe take some classes on meal prep, and tutoring experience is always a plus!”

Continue to build your resume while you search so that you can have some great experience and new skills to bring to your after-school care interview.