Local service guide
Columbia childcare: Costs and Care Planning
Columbia’s paid city after-school program costs $40 per child per week. Arrange childcare by matching your child’s age, school pickup route and required hours before committing to a provider. Check the city’s free enrichment option and, for a preschooler, First Steps 4K eligibility. Confirm a place, transportation and coverage for any remaining hours before ending another care arrangement. [1] [2]
Start with the hours you need covered
Write down your earliest drop-off, latest pickup, school dismissal time and required start date. Include the trip between school, care and work. For siblings, prepare a separate schedule for each child before deciding whether you can manage different care locations.
The City of Columbia lists after-school hours of 2:00 to 6:00 p.m., Monday through Friday during the school year. Ask the site about teacher workdays, school holidays, early dismissals and summer arrangements before assuming it covers those dates. [1]
For care in your home, give the prospective caregiver a written description of the work. Specify school pickup, meals, homework supervision, bedtime and household duties. Agree on who will cover an absence and how you will communicate schedule changes.
Compare paid and free city after-school options
The city publishes a fee of $40 per child per week for its paid After-School Program. Staff provide snacks, and some special activities may cost extra. Parents pay at the program site before the child’s week of care. The city lists Heathwood Park, Sims Park and Woodland Park as registration locations. [1]
The city offers a free After-School Enrichment Program with snacks, homework assistance and recreation. Parents or guardians register at a participating park. Some activities, including field trips, may carry a fee. The city provides no transportation for this program. Decide who will handle school pickup and the handoff at the park. [1]
Confirm age eligibility with the individual site. The city’s page announces an August 6, 2026 start but retains September 1, 2025 as its age-reference date. It lists different age groups at certain locations. The published page does not resolve current eligibility; ask the site before committing to a pickup arrangement. [1]
Check preschool assistance before committing to fees
South Carolina First Steps offers free full-day four-year-old kindergarten to children who meet age, income and state-residency requirements. Families can choose a participating private, community-based or faith-based program. First Steps describes in-person attendance five days per week during the school year. Most providers offer an eight-hour day and/or operate year-round. Confirm your chosen provider’s hours and calendar. [2]
For the 2026–2027 school year, First Steps lists eligible birthdays from September 2, 2021 through September 1, 2022. Its application page requests a certified birth certificate, proof of South Carolina residence and income verification. It lists a child’s Medicaid card or eligibility letter, or a family SNAP card, as alternatives to household income documents. [3]
The application page requests a South Carolina Certificate of Immunization and recognizes religious and medical exemptions. If an exemption applies to your child, contact First Steps for instructions on documenting it in the application. The page also warns that an unvaccinated child may face exclusion during an outbreak of the relevant vaccine-preventable disease. [3]
First Steps reviews submitted applications and emails families after determining eligibility; the chosen school also contacts the family. The agency warns that slots are limited. Keep a backup arrangement until you have confirmed eligibility, a place and a start date with the school. [3]
Plan extended care and sibling coverage
First Steps 4K students qualify for extended-care scholarships, and enrolled students’ siblings ages 0–12 qualify for child care and after-school scholarships. First Steps describes scholarship opportunities for up to 52 weeks. Families can use sibling scholarships at participating licensed centers or after-school programs in ABC Quality, the state’s voluntary quality rating and improvement system. [2]
Ask which children, hours and provider arrangements your approval covers before budgeting around assistance. Write out the preschool day alongside your workday. Identify who will handle the morning trip, afternoon pickup and any gap between the program’s closing time and your arrival.
Screen caregivers and get written terms
During a tour, ask who will supervise your child and how staff handle arrival, authorized pickup, allergies, medication and emergencies. For an infant, ask the caregiver to explain sleep arrangements. For a sitter or nanny, request references, discuss relevant training and agree on driving duties before the first visit.
Request a fee schedule for the hours you need. Discuss deposits, registration, meals, supplies, transport, special activities, late pickup and charges during absences or closures. Compare the same schedule across your shortlist. Include separate school pickup or evening care in your household budget.
Before paying a deposit, get your child’s start date, attendance schedule and cancellation terms in writing. Give the caregiver emergency contacts and authorized pickup names. Agree on how the caregiver will notify you about an illness, injury or unexpected closure.
Published paid after-school fee at two city registration sites
Local details that affect your job
Paid program registration and advance payment
Heathwood Park at 800 Abelia Road and Sims Park at 3500 Duncan Street are city-listed registration locations for the paid after-school program. Parents pay $40 per child per week at the program site before that week’s care. Confirm a place and current age eligibility before arranging school pickup. [1]
Free enrichment needs a school pickup plan
The city lists Edisto Park at 1914 Wiley Street and Katheryn Bellfield Center at 2611 Grant Street for ages 5–12 in its free enrichment program. Parents register at the participating park, and the city provides no transportation. Confirm current age eligibility with the site because the page retains a 2025 age-reference date. [1]
State preschool application assistance
Families seeking a participating preschool in the Columbia area can get First Steps application help at 1-877-621-0865, Option 1, during normal business hours. Prepare age, residence and income records. The application page requests immunization documentation but recognizes religious and medical exemptions; affected families should ask First Steps how to document their exemption. [3]
Choose an option to investigate
| Your need | Option | Confirm before committing |
|---|---|---|
| School-year afternoon care | City paid after-school program: $40 per child per week | Current site age eligibility, available place, pickup arrangements and activity fees |
| Afternoon care with no base program fee | City free enrichment program | Transportation, current site age eligibility, available place and special-activity charges |
| Preschool for an eligible four-year-old | South Carolina First Steps 4K | Income and residence eligibility, school acceptance, daily hours and calendar |
| Additional care for a First Steps 4K household | Extended-care or sibling scholarships | Approval, participating provider and coverage for each child |
| Care at home or outside program hours | Interview a sitter or nanny | References, duties, schedule, driving arrangements and written charges |
Your hiring checklist
- Write each child’s required care hours, pickup location and start date.
- Confirm current age eligibility and an available place with the individual program.
- Arrange transportation and agree on the school-to-care handoff.
- Discuss holidays, early dismissals, summer care and caregiver absences.
- Review preschool application documents and ask about exemption instructions if needed.
- Request references and discuss training, emergencies and authorized pickup.
- Get fees, duties, cancellation terms and the confirmed schedule in writing.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does city after-school care cost?
The city publishes $40 per child per week for its paid After-School Program and no base fee for its enrichment program. Both may charge for special activities. These fees describe the named city programs; they do not establish private daycare, nanny or sitter prices. [1]
Does free enrichment include school transportation?
The city provides no transportation for the free After-School Enrichment Program. Arrange the trip from school and confirm the arrival procedure with the park before relying on this care. [1]
Can First Steps 4K help with care for siblings?
First Steps says siblings ages 0–12 of enrolled 4K students qualify for child care and after-school scholarships. Families can use sibling scholarships at participating licensed centers or after-school programs in ABC Quality. Confirm approval and provider participation before counting assistance in your budget. [2]
Does a First Steps application guarantee a place?
First Steps reviews eligibility after submission and warns that slots are limited. Its office emails the family after determining eligibility, and the chosen school also contacts the family. Confirm the place and start date with that school before ending another care arrangement. [3]
Sources and scope
This guide combines the sources below with practical planning guidance. Figures apply to the stated geography and period; request a written quote for your property.