After-School Programs in St. Louis: A Parent's Fall Guide

School starts and the 3 p.m. gap shows up fast. Here is how St. Louis families put together an after-school plan that covers childcare and gives kids something they actually look forward to.

Start with the school itself

Many schools across St. Louis city, county and the metro now host in-house enrichment: chess, coding, art, martial arts, dance, and sports clinics run by teachers or outside vendors right after dismissal. It is the cheapest option logistically because there is no drive.

Ask the front office three questions:

• Which programs run this semester, and on which days?
• Is there supervised care between dismissal and program start?
• Is financial assistance or sibling pricing available?

Fill the other days with community programs

Rec centers, libraries, YMCAs, museums and private studios all run weekday sessions. Use the category pages to filter by age and area so you are only looking at programs you can realistically drive to.

Build the week on paper

Two enrichment days, one sports day, and two quiet days at home is a normal, healthy week for an elementary kid. Overscheduling in September is the most common reason families quit programs in October.

Budget realistically

Session-based classes usually run 6-10 weeks. Compare cost per hour, not cost per session, and check the make-up policy for sick days and snow days.

Where to look

Browse after-school and enrichment classes, sports, and free events near you, or start from your part of town on the area pages linked in the footer.