Regarding after school care for your child for those of you who's children require after school care? Do your children participate in the school offered after school programs and if so how do you like them and how do your children like them. What's entailed in these programs? Is it just a free for all and the kids are in the auditorium or cafeteria doing what ever, or outside on the playground running around or are there structured and organized activies that they participate in?
Do any of you opt for after school care through any of the centers, i.e. Tutor Time, Sunrise, etc.
Do you opt for private in-home care at someone's home close by the school?
Boys & Girls Club?
Others?
I will need to make a decision as to what will be best for my daughter who will start kindergarten this coming school year and I'm not familiar with any of the options out there and what seems to work best and what children like best.
Any feedback is greatly appreciated!!
Between all my children,
Between all my children, they went to private daycare, school daycare, La Petite and the boys and girls club in Gilbert. All of these options are good, however I was very disappointed in the boys and girls club. It seemed like there was no real supervision when you had a bunch of kids together. My personal choice is private especially if your child is the only one there. Good luck to you.
Paz
When I need it my 6 year old
When I need it my 6 year old son goes to the extended day program at his school after school. There is not much learning or homework time. It is pretty much play time either in or outside. I know they do plan special projects and field trips if I take him there over spring break or winter break.
DD1 started going to the
DD1 started going to the afterschool program held at her school in 1st grade. It was open before and after school and during breaks. The cost was dependent on the amount of time she was there. She continued until the end of 5th grade, when I became SAHM.
Overall, I was happy with it. They had several activities the kids could chose from each day. There was minimal homework help, but she was able to get it done if she chose to instead of playing. There were always several inside activities and a few outside things to do. All supervised of course.
Your school district should be able to direct you to what is available. I've heard that it is no cost in some districts. We are Paradise Valley dist. I think the full time, which included summer and all holidays, was about $320/month...but that was a couple of years ago.
I've seen a lot of preschool vans at the elementary schools, so they must transport kids to their facilities. I'd recommend thoroughly checking out the bus/drivers situation just like you'd look into the facility itself. See what they do about seat belts, booster seats, etc. There have been some articles on the safety of the big 12-15 passenger vans that some of them use. I'd personally feel safer not having someone transport my child, but that's just me.
IF you could find someone good, I like the idea of having someone in the neighborhood too. A SAHM with kids that age could be a good alternative.
My daughters go to a daycare
My daughters go to a daycare center's after school program after school for a few hours everyday. Thank goodness for my flexible schedule and my mom in the summer. Between the two my girls usually only go to daycare twice a week and during the summer and breaks there are always field trips so its fun for them.
Jennifer is a discussion leader for arizonamoms.com and mommy to four beautiful girls who range from 9 to 4 years of age.
I would check out as many as
I would check out as many as you can, different kinds. YOu will know when you find the right one. I went down this road when my daughter was starting preschool too. I was not completely satisfied so I changed my work school and now take her to school and pick her up from school. Yes, I had to reduce my hours at work from 8 to 7 a day but what I am out from work...I would have just had to put it in a daycare center anyways. Good luck!
There is no way to be a perfect mother, but a million ways to be a good one!