The pandemic has caused thousands of schools to close throughout the United States. Children have been forced into virtual learning on the computer at home instead of sitting in a physical classroom at school. As a result, millions of parents are struggling to figure out how to care for their children while they are at work.

Since children are out of school during the pandemic, working parents need to consider their child care options closely. Many after-school programs or traditional child care centers are not fully functioning right now.

So, what are parents supposed to do with their children in the meantime? Let’s explore the top four ways they can care for them amid the pandemic.

1) Take Some Time Off from Work

If there was ever a good time to take a break from work, now is the time. Check to see if you have vacation time available at your place of employment. If you have the time, then use it now so that you can stay home with your kids.

Of course, this won’t be a possibility for everybody. But, for those who have vacation time, use it now before you lose it at the end of the year.

2) Work from Home

Do you have a job that allows you to work from home? If so, then you can work from home and monitor your children simultaneously. Then you can continue to earn a living without having to worry about finding somebody to watch your children.

3) In-Home Daycare

In-home daycare is a more affordable daycare option for school-age children. Instead of running a commercial daycare facility, some daycare workers have turned their homes into licensed daycare centers. They often watch multiple children in the house at a time, but the capacity is kept small to comply with social distancing guidelines.

4) Babysitter

Nothing beats a good old-fashioned babysitter. There are a lot of people out of work, including teenagers. Surely, you can find one who would be willing to babysit your children in exchange for a fee. At least your children would stay at home during the pandemic rather than go to someone else’s house. Of course, you should make sure that the babysitter has not engaged in risky social behavior. This is difficult!