Child Care
Find quality in-home or center-based care for your children.
Families exploring independent school options for their child(ren) can access resources through the Independent Schools of St. Louis.
Washington University partners with Bright Horizons and Guidance Resources to provide a range of supports for families.
To access support, pre-register here:
Bright Horizons
Username: WUBACKUP
Password: BACKUP
Guidance Resources
REGISTER
Web ID: WASHU
Find A Child Care Center
Family Learning Center (Bright Horizons)
BrightHorizons.com/wustl
Call 314-935-5437
Kellie Jackson; Center Director
jkellie@wustl.edu
Washington University Nursery School
Nurseryschool.wustl.edu
314-935-6689
nursery@wustl.edu
University City Children’s Center
UCCC.org
Call 314-726-0148
enrollment@uccc.org
This center is not affiliated with WashU, but reserves spaces for WashU employees.
Visit Bright Horizons to search for local centers in the Bright Horizons network.
- Select “Additional Family Supports”
- Select “Get A Spot in a Quality Child Care Center”
WashU families receive preferred enrollment and up to a 10% tuition discount.
Call Guidance Resources at 844-365-4587 for a personalized list of childcare options with confirmed openings.
Child Care Aware provides referrals for a range of child care options, and other resources for families.
- For a personalized list, call 866-892-3228
- Or do a self-search online
Child Care Aware is not affiliated with Washington University. They are not endorsed by the university and are listed for informational purposes.
In Illinois, contact Children’s Home and Aid Resource and Referral for a personalized list of childcare options.
- Call 800-467-9200
CHASI is not affiliated with Washington University. They are not endorsed by the university and are listed for informational purposes.
Find In-Home Care
Provides full-service Nanny Placement through College Nannies and Tutors. Employees receive a $300 discount on the placement fee and a 10% discount on the hourly rate. To access, visit Bright Horizons.
- Select “Additional Family Supports”
- Select “Access Nanny Placement Services”
Place job advertisements and access SitterCity’s database of providers. Membership is free and employees have unlimited provider background checks. To access, visit Bright Horizons.
- Select “Additional Family Supports”
- Select “Search for Sitters, Nannies and Housekeepers”
Search for a sitter or hire a nanny online. You may also contact by telephone at 314-725-5660.
These resources are not affiliated with Washington University. They are not endorsed by the university and are listed for informational purposes.
Find a last-minute sitter or a long-term sitter online or by calling 314-625-8420.
These resources not affiliated with Washington University. They are not endorsed by the university and are listed for informational purposes.
Call Guidance Resources at 844-365-4587 for a list of local in-home care placement agencies.
Emergency/Backup Family Care with Bright Horizons
Use backup care when you have an emergency situation, such as a sick caregiver, help after a medical procedure, shift change or your school or daycare is closed.
You are eligible for Backup Care Benefits if you are:
- A regular faculty member with an appointment of 50% or more of the required full-time faculty workload.
- A regular staff employee whose standard work schedule is 20 or more hours per week.
- A postdoctoral associate; or postdoctoral research scholar who receives payments from WashU.
- A clinical fellow who receives payments from WashU.
- A full-time graduate or professional student.
Bright Horizons (WashU Partner)
After registering, go to Bright Horizons, then select “Family Solutions” and “Reserve Back-up Care”. You can also reserve care by calling 1-877-242-2737 or by downloading and using the Bright Horizons mobile app.
- Reserve backup child care in a high-quality center or in your own home.
- Request same-day care, or care for future dates up to 60 days in advance.
- Access to 20 days of backup care per calendar year.
- Small copay with each reservation. Center-based care is $20 per use for one child and $30 per use for more than one child; in-home care is $7 per hour with a 4-hour minimum.
- Book online or on-the-go reservations through the mobile app.
- Out-of-network care is available through your own personal network and reimbursable up to $150. Immediate family members are not eligible for reimbursement.
- Any taxable wages attributable to the utilization of backup care will be reported on your W-2 for the year. Please consult your tax advisor for guidance. The fair market value for child backup care services is $150 per day, minus any copays. This is relevant to those who meet any of the following conditions:
- You are employed by Washington University and receiving pay.
- If the value of your child’s backup care utilization between January 1 and November 30, 2023, PLUS any contributions you made to the Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account (FSA) is greater than $5,000, the amount over $5,000 will be reported as taxable wages.
- If you are a highly compensated employee (view IRS pre-tax limits, which are adjusted annually), the amount by which the value of your child care backup utilization between January 1 and November 30, 2023, PLUS any contributions you made to the Dependent Care FSA exceeds $2,850 will be reported as taxable wages.
Additional backup family care resources (Not affiliated with WashU)
Search for a sitter or hire a nanny online. You may also contact by telephone at 314-725-5660.
NOTE: Not affiliated with Washington University, nor endorsed by the university, but listed for informational purposes only. Copays may apply.
Find a last-minute sitter or a long-term sitter online or by calling 314-625-8420.
NOTE: Not affiliated with Washington University, nor endorsed by the university, but listed for informational purposes only. Copays may apply.
Resources for Parents & Other Caregivers
Child Care Center Check-List
Child Care Choices
21 Fun Summer Activities to Do with Your Kids
Bright Horizons to Accept Mildly Ill Children for Emergency/Back-Up Care
Resources for Enhancing Care, Education & Development
These resources are not affiliated with or endorsed by WashU. They are listed for informational purposes only.
Free
Vroom is a free, web-based app that empowers families to use everyday moments to build their young children’s brains. Grounded in current brain research, the app can be accessed via computer, tablet, or smartphone. Vroom provides science-based tips and tools tailored to specific ages (birth through age five). Activities involve both parent and child, and are short, simple and fun!
This curriculum, normally reserved for teachers and behind a paywall, is now free for parents, giving access to videos, interactive maps and activities that encourage students to explore everything from ecology to geography.
Users from K – 12 can choose a grade level and then gain access to activities and projects, games and tools, tips and how-tos, printouts and more that focus on reading and writing.
The Nine Network is producing three hours of literacy and math instruction for prekindergarten through fourth grades, weekdays from 11:30–2:30 pm, free of charge on television. The grade-appropriate instruction, taught by committed local educators at home, ensures all kids in our region have access to quality teaching during the academic year shutdown and into the summer, regardless of access to internet or computers. Website has links to previous sessions on YouTube.
Free Engineering and Science Challenges for Children.
Links to videos and livestreams for children.
The Resource Library provides information on a wide range of health topics. You can request information, search in their online catalog, or call 314-454-2350 with questions.
Fee-Based
Learning games and videos for reading, math, science and more for kids ages 8 – 13.
K-8 site provides students with informational videos that explain everything from science and social studies to art, music and health in great detail, all while introducing subject-specific vocabulary.
DIY.org offers a huge library of hands-on projects, how-to videos, and an awesome kid community for children ages 4 – 13.
GoPeer is a resource that allows families to connect with qualified college students who are available to tutor.
Online learning for children PK – 3rd Grade.
Epic! is a subscription-based service providing access to thousands of children’s books. Books can be selected based on a child’s reading level and interests, and parents can monitor their child’s reading and progress. The site is secure, and includes “Read To Me” books and age-appropriate videos. After a 14 day free trial, the monthly subscription fee is $7.99. There are no “in-app” purchases.
Book Recommendations
The Perfect Baseball Player
by Jeff Hansen
Ana knows that today will be perfect. She’ll lead her baseball team to their first ever championship and then meet her new baby brother Louis. But when problems arise both on the field and in the hospital, Ana must figure out what perfect means to her. Can Grammie’s science lesson somehow inspire Ana to lead the Rascals to victory? And can the Rascals’ struggle against the stronger Skippers teach Ana about genes, genomes, and her brother Lou? With home runs and hugs and genetics and grapefruit, Ana teaches us the meaning of perfect.
Questions?
Lisa Eberle-Mayse, MA
Child and Family Care Facilitator
- Phone: 314-935-3060
- Fax: 314-935-5146
- Email: FamilyCare@wustl.edu