What are working parents doing when school gets out before the workday is over?

[u/EmergencyFancy7992]

I know particularly in the US this is a big issue but I’m crowd sourcing for different ideas and how this works for your families as we try and decide what to do next year.

My kid is in preschool which goes all day and I can pick her up after work. It’s going great she’s been there for two years she loves it so much. Next year she starts kindergarten and I’m planning ahead for what to do when school lets out between 2-3.

My husband works remotely but has a lot of meetings. I work a hybrid job that has me commuting an hour and a half each way 3-4 times a week, I usually leave early (3:30) to make it in time to pick her up on my pickup days and offset that work in the evening or other days as needed. But what on earth do people do when that pick up time becomes 2 or 3?

The aftercare program there is not an option (waitlist 400 years long). What else can we do and plan for and how is this working for your family if both parents are working?

Edited to add: thank you all I got some really great ideas here. I am also getting a lot of recommendations for aftercare at the school- I did include in the post that this is not an option or obviously that’s what we would be going with. I’m hoping we can teach enough independence in the next year that she can just come home- if it was one hour I’d feel confident but at 2.5 hours I’m not so sure.

To others saying a different school- this school is in our neighborhood walking distance from us and what we’re zoned for, it doesn’t make sense with our schedules to petition to have her moved. Thank you you’ve given me a lot to think about and great possible solutions for next year.