Resources for Childcare

The NYU Work Life office is committed to offering working parents the additional support you need. By listening to your experiences, how you utilize the University’s work-family child supports and where challenges persist, and by partnering with other units and key stakeholders, Work Life is dedicated to refining the caregiving solutions offered at NYU. 

Begin Your Childcare Search

• Expand your circle of support: Raising a family is a team effort, and it’s essential to expand your support network. Reach out to colleagues, friends, and family members who can lend a helping hand and provide support when you need it most.
• Understand your childcare options: Gaining insights into the myriad of options can be really beneficial, and the earlier you start your search, the more likely it is for you to find the right fit for your family, which may end up being a mix of different types of care arrangements. Care options range from childcare centers and nursery schools to family child care providers and in-home caregivers, along with a variety of community-based programs for after-school and summer camps. There has also been an expansion of publicly funded universal prekindergarten programs.    
  • For families who live in New York City, there are public pre-K programs for children who are 3 years old and 4 years old. While these programs are admissions-based and operate for limited hours throughout the school year (September to June), they can be a source of affordable childcare.
  • For families who live outside of New York City, check with your local school district to find out if there are public pre-K programs in your neighborhood.
• Budget for the high cost of childcare: Childcare can be a significant expense, particularly in the early childhood years, so it’s crucial to plan and budget accordingly. For eligible faculty and employees, NYU subsidizes child care expenses primarily through employer contributions to your Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account; please refer to Work-Family Child Supports for more information.

Affiliate Early Care and Education Programs

As NYU continues to explore opportunities to expand access to affordable child care, there are existing affiliations with two local early childhood programs conveniently situated on the Washington Square campus. Kindly note that admissions to both programs typically occur the year prior to your child’s enrollment. 

• Creative Steps Early Childhood Center - Operated by University Settlement Society, Creative Steps serves children ages 12-months through 5 years, and has a public Pre-K classroom. Following a school year calendar, they also offer extended day and summer programming. Of note, the program dedicates approximately 50% of their enrollment to the NYU parenting community. 
• University Plaza Nursery School (UPNS) - Operating as an independent parent co-op nursery school, UPNS serves children ages 2 years through 5 years, and has public 3-K and Pre-K classrooms. They follow a school year calendar with shorter hours at the beginning to facilitate children’s separation experience; afterschool programming is available, as well.

NYU Child Care Google Group

The Work Life office manages the NYU Child Care Google Group, a dedicated space closed to NYU families and students to connect around caregiving needs. The Group functions as a shared "bulletin board" where community members can post, search for, and respond to caregiving jobs and services. 

Students and other affiliated NYU members seeking care jobs are encouraged to join the Group using the Sitter Signup Form; they can then respond to caregiving posts and advertise their own services, whether they are for babysitting, tutoring, or even recreational coaching.

Carefully App

Work Life is pleased to sponsor membership to the Carefully app for the NYU parenting community. Through Carefully, families can easily build a network of parents you know and trust to share care:

• Easily manage and organize playdates, babysitting swaps, and group events

• Syncs with your calendar

• Group notifications

• In-app group messaging

To learn how to join the NYU Group on Carefully, please contact Work Life.

Work Life’s Consultation Service

Finding childcare, whether it is for infants or school-aged children, can be overwhelming. For assistance, kindly complete an Intake Form to schedule a consultation with the Program Director of Childcare & Education, Helga Yuan Larsen, who can provide guidance to help you make informed decisions about the variety of options available for childcare, and assist you in navigating and maximizing NYU’s benefit programs and resources specifically designed for your caregiving needs.

Jump To:

• Begin Your Childcare Search
• Affiliate Early Care and Education Programs
• NYU Childcare Google Group
• Carefully App
• Work Life's Consultation Service