JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — As summer nears an end, many parents heading back to work are finding themselves questioning what they can do if their children are required to remain home and learn virtually.
Some parents, like Allie Gerstner, say it can be a struggle.
"It's stuff, every day," Gerstner said. "I have to coordinate who's going to make sure my children keep virtual learning and even watch them when I have to get to the office."
Gerstner, a Jacksonville mom, said she has a supportive family living nearby to help, but said she understands that not everyone is as lucky.
"I have a blessing that they're one phone call away, but still more help is always needed," she said.
Turns out, that clear solution can be found on your smartphone. Websites and apps like UrbanSitter.com are offering extra help to parents.
"We have a great helping for working parents who juggle it all," said Lynn Perkins, CEO and Founder of UrbanSitter.com. "For people that have children at home that are missing school, we have sitters with experience education."
Perkins says her app does a great job pinpointing your needs.
"Yes, we can come to your home or you can come to one of our educated sitters," she said. "You can even create a classroom setting if you want to have several kids learning together. But before we confirm any appointment, everyone must be healthy and have no connection to anyone with COVID-19."
Sittercity.com is another source that's a quick download away. This app also matches parents' needs to the perfect sitter. For example, if you're a mother who wants a sitter who knows music, you can find them with a click of a button.
Other Jacksonville area resources you might want to consider are Jacksonvillemom.com and fun4firstcoastkids.com.
But shop around to find the right service that works for you. Sitters are trying to survive too, so they need your business.