My son is 2 right now so we have a preschool that he goes to until 6pm at night year round. Thinking ahead though, once he's in normal school with normal school hours, I'm wondering who takes care of him??? We don't have grandparents or relatives who can help out and I'm stumped. What do you all do?
My grandchildren were in the YMCA After School Care Program. It was held at my granddaughter's school.
For awhile my grandson went to an in home daycare that was located in the same school district. The bus picked him up at my daughter's home and dropped him off at the day care.
When I switched daycares this year, I looked for one that would transport to and from school so that when my son starts school next year, I won't have to switch him to another daycare again. It is a discounted price per week while they are in school and summer pricing starts when school lets out. They take kids up to 12, although I don't think I will be using them that long.
My grandkids in the same town as me go to the Boys & Girls Club after school, since she was in K and my grandson in 3rd. There's a shuttle that picks them up from school and takes them to the club, they get a snack, have homework time with help, computers to use, inside and outside play with lots of activities, and it doesn't cost much. In the summer the program is even better with day trips and all day care, but then they usually want to hang out with me most of the time. It's a great program all around and my little guy might do the same in a few years, he's 2.5 right now.
there are lots of summer programs for kids.. the schools run the programs.. community centers... day cares often take "big kids" for the summer.. there are many nonschool days to cover.. there are about 175 school days and most people work about 250 days per year.. so you will be paying for 75 dys of care.. 10 weeks of summer 2 weeks of christmas, 1 week at easter..
We use day camps - in fact there are day camps or vacation care for the whole break. These also are open until at least 5.45 pm. Sometimes I take him to work with me, sometimes I take my leave days, sometimes I send him to his grandmother's place for a few days - all together we can work it out so that all days are covered. Remember, your son will be a lot more independent by then, and kids adjust to different circumstances easily.
Here pretty much all school districts offer after school care and summer programs (day camps). That's what we'll do.
We'll be dealing with this soon since our oldest is in kindergarten this year. He goes to an after-school program held in a traditional daycare. The after-schoolers turn into summer campers when school gets out. We are thinking about him being there full-time during the summer although it will be quite pricey....
The schools or the city should be able to give you some resources. The school my children attend does have an after school program held in their cafeteria until 6pm but unfortunately there's also a waiting list. There's also the YMCA and the salvation army as well as afterschool programs that may offer pick up from the school to yet site. It is tough managing, perhaps you can have some kind of arrangement with other parents. Taking turns dropping off and picking up as a back up?
Luckily I've got my dad helping me out and don't know I'd do without his help.
When I was working full time my kids were in aftercare at school which is available until 6pm. There is also beforecare when I think they can be dropped off as early as 6:30am. There is a charge for both of these. In the summer, there usually are summer programs offered by churches and boys/girls clubs in your area. There are also some Karate schools that offer full time in the summer. We did that one summer and even tho the kids loved it, it was VERY expensive...I think it was $260 per WEEK for both kids.
DS (5-1/2) is in a Montessori kindergarten with aftercare until 6 pm. Next year, he will go to our local community center which runs an after school arts program until 6 pm. His school will bus them there (we get either bussing home or to a program) and DH or I will pick him up at 6 pm. They work on our district's school schedule so they are open all day on parent teacher conference and other in service days. Next summer we will likely cobble together a combination of day camp and museum camp options. I hear that summers are the hardest to cover.
Is there any way either of you could work part time? I found that when my girls went to Kindergarten they needed me much more than when they were in preschool. I love being the one to be there when school gets out to hear about their day. We play and get homework done early. I cherish this time and wouldn't trade it for anything. We would live in a smaller house, drive a cheaper car, anything to allow me to be there (at least some of the days) when their school day is done. You don't get this time back. Summer is so much fun when they are able to be home. Doing day care isn't as easy when they are older. They want to play and explore. A few week camps are fine but not every week. I didn't think I would be able to work part time but I am glad we made it work. My kids love having their mom in the afternoons. Good luck!
We have programs where my kids go to school, that are full day care and take the school age kids to school in the morning and pick them in the afternoon. I'd try to find programs like this. There might even be some homecare people that do this.
Many schools have after school programs. My kids are in the LAUSD after school program called STAR, and they loved (2 and 4rth graders now).
