Balancing Family and Work

In Lugano, there are several facilities managed by the City and also by private entities that enable families to balance professional activities with family needs, both for households in which both parents work and for single-parent families. Extracurricular services in early childhood and primary schools, such as the ViviLugano summer camp and skiing courses, are also available to help families balance work and family life. LuganoNetWork, the service of the Divisione Socialità offering free professional or educational orientation, also provides assistance in finding recommended babysitters.

For nursery schools, public ones are managed by the autonomous entity Lugano Istituti Sociali (Lugano Social Institutions - LIS). Numerous private nurseries are instead organized by associations, religious organizations, and in some cases directly by employers.

The guide Diventare mamma e papà. I primi 3 anni (Becoming Mom and Dad. The First 3 Years) also presents other care options, including nurseries, babysitting services such as Baby Help (a home childcare service provided by the Red Cross), day families, socialization centers.

The guide summarizes the main laws that regulate parental leave and other contributions towards expenses for child care during working or study hours. Additionally, for many private nurseries, public support for enrollment fees is available, and tax deductions are provided for childcare expenses.

For more information on the various types of financial contributions for families, you can contact the Family Allowances Service of the Istituto delle assicurazioni sociali (Institute of Social Insurance) of Canton Ticino (IAS).