It might seem like one of the biggest mysteries of life in Israel: How do Israelis manage to work full-time when kids have such short days at school and so many things are scheduled during work hours? It’s not actually such a huge mystery; here’s how they do it.
After-school programs
Official school days are very short in most schools, but extracurricular activities often make up the difference. Younger children can be enrolled in “Tzaharon,” an afternoon program that provides hot lunch, activities and possibly even homework help. These programs generally run until 4 or 5 PM, and some of them are open on certain school vacation days. Tzaharon usually goes up to third grade, so older kids don’t have access to them. Instead, they may be enrolled in Chugim (extracurriculars) like sports, art, drama, English lessons and more. Chugim may be run by the schools or they may be at other locations, requiring transportation to be arranged.
Staying home alone
In Israel, kids who are in fourth grade and above are considered old enough to stay home alone. Even younger kids can be home without parents if there are older children in the house who are responsible. Parents leave a meal that can be easily heated up in the microwave and kids serve themselves lunch. After lunch, kids will relax at home or walk to nearby Chugim.
Long and short work days
Parents in a dual-income household will often switch off coming home early (by 4 PM) with their spouse. Each parent will work some short days and make up those hours either by staying late at the office on other days, or by working from home in the evening after the kids go to bed.
Grandparents and babysitters
Israelis tend to rely heavily on relatives, especially grandparents, to help out in the early evenings and on days when kids are on vacation but work is not. Those who don’t have grandparents who live nearby and are available for childcare will hire babysitters for hours between when kids come home and when the parents arrive. Often neighbors will help each other out as well, especially for a one-time issue or when the arrangement goes both ways.
Vacation and sick days
It’s expected that some of an employee’s vacation and sick days will be used for childcare. When kids are sick or have doctor’s appointments, sick days can be used to cover them. Taking off on days like Purim or Erev Chag because kids are home is accepted practice in most workplaces (with proper notice and permission given, of course). At the end of August, when there are almost no childcare options available other than babysitters, many parents choose to take time off. They often choose to travel or vacation in Israel during that time, although prices are higher that time of year. If they stay home, parents usually split the vacation days with their spouse, so there’s always one parent at work and one at home with the kids.
Israelis are family-minded in general, so many workplaces are understanding about the need to attend violin recitals, gan parties, army ceremonies and school plays. Israelis will definitely ask to leave early on days when these events are taking place and these requests are often granted.
Prioritizing
Israeli parents know they can’t do it all; they choose what to skimp on and what takes priority. They may buy processed food for their kids’ lunch or throw ingredients into a crockpot to cook on their own. They might relegate trips to the playground to the weekend or do laundry haphazardly. Each family will choose what’s important to them and what to let go of. As long as kids are healthy and happy, compromises can be made in other areas, so parents can work full-time and provide financially.