Daycare can be quite expensive, especially for the college student. However, there’s a good chance you’ll need someone to watch your children while you attend school. Thankfully, there are a variety of options.
Whether your child stays with a relative or you qualify for a government program, there are affordable daycare options. Here are just a few tips on how to find affordable daycare while you go back to school.
Ask Family
One of your best options is to ask a family member to care for your children. A grandparent may be more than happy to watch her grandbabies while you go back to school. If possible, you should consider taking as many online courses as possible so that you don’t leave the relative feeling put out.
Another consideration is to pay your relative in exchange for the services. You might offer to pay a couple dollars per hour over minimum wage or offer to do something in return, such as weeding the garden or painting the house. Either way, leaving your child with a relative is not only affordable, but the safest option.
Pay a Friend
If you have a friend who is a stay-at-home parent, ask if she would be willing to also watch your child. In this case, you should definitely pay for the service. You could ask what she feels is a fair hourly wage or if there is anything you could do in return. For example, you might offer to do her laundry or watch her children on the weekends or evenings when she wants to go out.
Consult with Your School
Many colleges and universities actually offer daycare for their students’ children. This is an excellent option because you can drop the kids off on your way to class and pick them up on your way home. If there’s an emergency, you can even run over to the daycare at a moment’s notice. You may even decide to stop by and take your children out for lunch. The cost of this service will vary from school to school.
Seek Out Government Programs
Last, but not least, there are a number of government programs that help single mothers and fathers pay for daycare so that they can go to work or college. Begin by talking to your social services office or local health department. You can also search the government websites of your state.
Daycare can reach upwards of $3,000 per month, but it doesn’t have to. There are options for those that need affordable solutions. Whether you pay a friend to watch your children or use a daycare located on campus, you can go back to school without having to worry about finding care of your children.
About the Author: Keila Sineath is a single mother who had to figure out how to get back to school while still caring for her two children. She used sites like grantsforsinglemother.org and others to find financial aid and other resources to make her life as easy as possible.
Credits: Photo courtesy of Benjamin Thompson.