After-School Activities and Childcare

After-school care and activities in Lithuania

Most Lithuanian schools and municipalities offer a range of options to support families outside of core school hours. These include supervised after-school care (vakarinė grupė or pailgintos dienos grupė) within the school itself, as well as extracurricular clubs, sports groups, arts activities, and hobby circles.

Finding these options is usually easier than it sounds — the school office is often the best starting point.

Types of after-school provision

School-based after-school care Many schools provide supervised afternoon groups where children can stay after lessons, do homework, have a light meal, and take part in organised activities. This is typically available for primary-school-age children.

Extracurricular clubs and circles Schools and cultural or community centres (kultūros centrai) across Lithuania run clubs in areas such as:

• Sport (football, basketball, swimming, martial arts)
• Arts and crafts, music, and theatre
• Science and robotics
• Language and reading clubs

Private childcare and day-care centres Private childminders (auklės) and day-care centres are also available in larger towns and cities. These are regulated and vary in cost.

How to find out what is available

• Ask at your child's school. The school administration or class teacher can tell you what is offered on site and share information about nearby clubs.
• Contact your municipality. Local municipalities maintain lists of youth activities and childcare providers in the area. The municipality's education or social affairs department is a good contact point.
• Check community notice boards and local Facebook groups. Many activity providers advertise locally in these spaces.

Costs and financial support

In general, school-based after-school care involves a small fee, though costs vary by municipality. Extracurricular clubs at municipal cultural centres are often low-cost or partially subsidised.

Families on lower incomes may be eligible for social support from the municipality, which can help cover childcare and activity fees. Contact your local social services office (socialinė tarnyba) or ask your municipality's education department for information about available subsidies.

Some NGOs, such as Caritas Lietuva, also run free or low-cost activity programmes for children from migrant and vulnerable families.

Practical tips

• Register your address (deklaravimas) in Lithuania as early as possible, as municipality support is often linked to your registered place of residence.
• You do not need to wait until your child is fluent in Lithuanian to join clubs — many activities are practical and social, and they can be a wonderful way for children to make friends and feel at home.