You’re not imagining it: the after-school juggle is widely shared experience.

In national research with more than 1,500 Australian parents and caregivers of primary school aged children, families described school pick up as a daily stress point.

Two findings stood out:

• 35% of parents said it is difficult to pick their child up at the end of the school day.

• 40% of parents reported arguing about drop off and pick up responsibilities, adding to daily stress.

These numbers reflect something many families already feel - that school hours and work hours often do not match. And when they don't align, families are left to “patch together” solutions that can change day to day.

The difficult trade-offs families are making

One of the clearest themes in the research was not just that families are busy. It was that families are making meaningful trade-offs to keep everything running. Parents told us they are:

• reducing working hours to manage pick up and care arrangements (30%)

• juggling pick-ups between parents and shifting responsibilities week to week (24%)

• working from home for flexibility where possible (23%)

• relying on family members for help (19%)

These are not small adjustments. They are evidence of families doing what they can to bridge the gap between school and the rest of life. For some, these trade-offs can be manageable. For others, they create ongoing strain, particularly when flexibility is limited or informal support is not available.

Why this matters for children too

The after-school hours are not only about logistics. They shape how children experience the day after school.

When afternoons are rushed, children can miss out on things that help them thrive, like:

• time to decompress after a big school day

• play and physical movement

• social connection with friends

• opportunities to explore interests in a supported environment

Families told us they want after school time to feel less like a scramble and more like a safe, positive bridge between school and home.

What “support” looks like for families

A key takeaway from this research is that families are not asking for one perfect solution. They are asking for options that reflect real life.

For some families, support means:

• a safe, consistent place for children to go after school

• a predictable routine that reduces daily stress

• affordable access to childcare

• reassurance that children are cared for, engaged and supervised

For other families, support means:

• flexibility when work hours shift

• reducing the pressure to rush

• having breathing space to spend time together

• finding a balance that suits their family values and circumstances

Across these differences, the common thread is clear: families want after school time to feel more manageable, and they want children to be healthy, safe and supported.

What the research tells us about OSHC

The JAG Insights research highlights the role that quality care outside school hours can play in easing pressure on families. The strongest message was not about “doing more”. It was about making afternoons, and the school week, feel more workable.

When children have access to safe, affordable and reliable care outside school hours, families can experience:

• less daily stress around pick-up and handovers

• more consistency in routines

• more time for children to play, connect and unwind after school

• more flexibility for families to structure life in a way that works for them

This is not about one “right” way for families to organise their lives. It's about recognising the reality and shared experiences families described and ensuring care options match the modern day.

About the research (Australia)

The Jag Insights research in Australia was conducted by 89 Degrees East, an accredited independent research consultancy. It involved an online survey (February 2025) with more than 1,500 parents or caregivers of children aged 5–12 years across Australia.

Coming next in this series

This is the first insight in our Beyond the school day series. Over the next few weeks, we will share further findings about what families told us outside school hours, including how children are spending time after school and what families value most in healthy, enriching alternatives.