Planning Ahead for Thanksgiving and Winter Break Childcare

The holiday season will be here before we know it, and for families with school-aged children, that often means a big change in the usual routine.

Thanksgiving break, winter break, early dismissals, and other school closures can leave children home while parents are still working. Add holiday travel, a nanny's planned time off, and changing work schedules, and childcare can quickly become one more thing to figure out during an already busy season.

October is a good time to look ahead. A little planning now can make November and December much easier for your family, your children, and your nanny.

Start With Your Children's School Calendar

Before making your holiday childcare plans, pull up the school calendar.

Look beyond Thanksgiving Day, Christmas, and New Year's Day. Depending on the school, children may have early dismissals, teacher workdays, or several consecutive days off.

Once you know when your children will be home, think about what those days will actually look like.

Will you be working? Will your nanny's normal hours cover the additional time? Will older children who are usually at school now be home with your nanny all day? Are you traveling? Will your nanny be taking time off?

Identifying those gaps early gives you more options.

Compare Holiday Schedules With Your Nanny

Don't assume your nanny's holiday availability will be the same as their normal weekly schedule.

Talk about Thanksgiving and December plans early, including requested PTO, your family's travel plans, school closures, additional hours you may need, and any changes to the children's routine.

This is also a good time to review your work agreement so everyone understands what was agreed upon regarding paid holidays, PTO, guaranteed hours, schedule changes, and overtime.

These conversations don't have to be complicated. They simply need to happen before the holiday rush begins.

For more guidance on maintaining clear expectations throughout the employment relationship, read How to Communicate With Your Nanny: A Guide for Families.

Think About What Changes When School Is Closed

School break can change your nanny's workday considerably.

A nanny who normally cares for a younger child while an older sibling is at school may suddenly have both children all day. There may be additional meals, activities, outings, transportation, and different routines to manage.

Talk about those changes in advance, particularly if your nanny's schedule or responsibilities will be different from usual.

If you're trying to understand the overall costs associated with employing a nanny, you may also find What to Budget When Hiring a Nanny: A Complete Guide for Families helpful.

Review Guaranteed Hours and Additional Holiday Hours

Holiday schedules can affect your nanny's hours in either direction.

If your family travels and your nanny is available to work their normally scheduled hours, review the guaranteed-hours provisions in your work agreement rather than assuming the time automatically becomes unpaid.

You may also find that you need more childcare while school is closed. A nanny who normally begins later in the day, for example, may be needed for a full day during Thanksgiving or winter break.

For covered live-out domestic-service employees, federal law generally requires overtime pay of at least 1.5 times the regular rate for hours actually worked over 40 in a workweek. State requirements may provide additional protections.

Families can learn more from the U.S. Department of Labor's guidance for domestic-service employees.

Traveling With Your Nanny for the Holidays?

If your nanny will be joining your family on a holiday trip, don't wait until departure day to work out the details.

Discuss the expected work schedule, travel time, accommodations, meals and other expenses, overnight responsibilities, and when your nanny will be completely off duty.

Travel arrangements can raise additional wage-and-hour considerations, so expectations should be clear before the trip is booked.

What If You Need Winter Break Childcare?

Not every family who needs holiday childcare needs a permanent nanny.

Maybe your children are normally in school while you're working. Perhaps your regular nanny has approved time off. You might need several full days of care during winter break or just additional help while your family's regular routine is disrupted.

This is where planning early really matters.

Temporary and seasonal caregivers may be able to fill those short-term gaps, but holiday availability can become more limited as Thanksgiving and winter break get closer.

If you already know there are dates when you'll need help, October is a good time to begin making arrangements.

Plan Now So You Can Enjoy the Holidays Later

The holidays are busy enough without a last-minute childcare scramble.

Check your children's school calendar, compare schedules with your nanny, review upcoming PTO and travel, and determine whether you'll need additional childcare while school is closed.

A few conversations now can give everyone more time to prepare and help keep the children's routine as smooth as possible during a busy time of year.

The Noble Nanny helps families find professional caregivers for permanent, temporary, and seasonal childcare needs.

Need additional childcare during Thanksgiving or winter break? Contact The Noble Nanny to learn more about our placement services.

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Important Disclaimer

The Noble Nanny is not a law firm, tax firm, payroll provider, or accounting firm. This article is provided for general educational purposes only and should not be considered legal, tax, payroll, or employment advice. Requirements may vary by state and individual circumstances. Families should consult the appropriate professional regarding their specific situation.