Late Labor Day? Summer Birthday? How the Calendar Can Cost You Thousands More in Childcare
School calendars can leave some parents paying more for child care. Here's how timing can affect family costs.
TL;DR
- A late Labor Day, like the one on September 7th, can create a gap between summer camp end dates and the start of school, requiring parents to arrange additional childcare.
- A child's birthday falling after a school district's kindergarten cut-off date (often around September 1st) can mean an additional year of paid childcare, averaging $17,264 per year nationally.
- Universal free preschool is not widely available, with only three states and some cities offering it for four-year-olds, meaning parents may bear the cost of full-day care or private preschool if their child misses the kindergarten age cut-off.
- Financial experts advise parents to plan for these calendar-related childcare costs as early as possible, even starting savings months in advance.
- Childcare costs vary significantly by state, ranging from approximately $6,500 per year in Mississippi to nearly $30,000 in Washington, D.C.
- Beyond financial costs, families should also consider non-financial aspects like the quality of care and the impact on a parent's career when making childcare decisions.