Thanks, I decided!
I’ve done the kindercare thing, and I hated it. My daughter hated it too. We have had so much better luck with the YMCA after-school care program. Do you have that in your area? My daughter absolutely LOVES it. We took her out of it this year because her taekwondo instructor is doing an after-school program so he picks both of my girls up from school and does their taekwondo training until my husband and I get off of work. It’s working out fabulous, and it’s less expensive than what I was paying at kindercare. We’ll never go back there!
We used the program at SD’s school and will find something similar for DD when she gets there. There are plenty of community-based options, or options in schools (sometimes they offer busing to the other school). If it’s cheaper, and he’s just playing video games, put him in one where he’ll get a snack, run around, do some homework, and likely see his school friends a little longer. We kept SD in til she was a little over 11 because she was not mature enough to be home, and worked with her that last year so we didn’t have to find another option. If it doesn’t sit well, look at the park and rec programs.
Jenny, I’m confused by your question. You asked the same thing last week and it made it seem that your son attends Kindercare. Is he currently going there after school?
We never used Kindercare, but used something similar and were very happy with the program they offered. It was more expensive than other programs, but hours, location, staff, etc. worked better for us.
If you have a problem with the SAC in Kindercare - you MUST go to the Center Director and tell them you have a problem with your son being glued to video games when you pick him up.
When I worked at Kindercare and when my children attended SAC - they got a snack when they got back to the center and were given 15 minutes of “down time” and then homework must be completed…once homework is completed - then they are allowed to play. IF parents do NOT want their children to play video games, they are directed to other activities…
So you need to communicate with the center director and let him/her know you are NOT happy with the video games and such…they won’t know until you tell them.
Home day cares have video games too. It’s NOT just “centers”.
Please think about this. The person who is helping your child do homework might be an idiot. DO NOT LET YOUR KIDS DO THEIR HOMEWORK AT CHILD CARE.
Do homework at home. It always annoyed me that parents would be mad because I refused to make the kids do homework while in my care. I told them how they would feel if their child missed every question and started flunking their homework every day.
They said they’d be mad. So I told them if they wanted to make sure it was done right then it was THEIR responsibility and it will remain the parents job forever.
Kids need to have playtime after school. They have been sitting for 8 hours and need to blow off steam, they need to play video games, board games, play with puzzles, color out of a coloring book, goof off. They are kids not adults with full time jobs.
I think kids who don’t get to have play time are sad little kids that need someone to advocate for them.
Let your child have play time for those few hours per day when they are with their friends. When they come home it’s time for homework while dinner it getting made and then it’s time for bedtime.
That’s all I have to say about this. Kids need play time after a long day at school. They also need their own mom or dad to do the homework thing with them.
I would suggest you check prices and find out exactly what it is that is costing you $60 per day. That is more than private school for full time students are here.
“but what I can’t see is that if they have a daily rate over $60,”.
Most after school programs/child care only charge a few bucks per day after school is over. Like maybe $12-18 per day. I would never pay $60 per day because that is over $10 per hour for child care. I’d never pay that.
My kids went to KC for daycare. But when my son started K, he went to the after-school program run by the Y. No TV, no video games, but homework time, snack, and then outside to play (or to the gym to play when it’s cold). My son loves the Y program, plus a lot of his school friends are there. At KC, there are about 10 kids, but they pull from a few different school districts, so those kids aren’t his school friends. Finally, the Y program charges for a month what KC charges for a week.
There is no comparison. The YMCA program is better for us on all counts. And I say this as someone who still has a younger child at KC, and likes the center very much.
For spring break and other random days off, we get a neighborhood high school student to babysit. They are off for the week too, and will do active stuff with him.
I personally don’t like Kindercare. I used to work at one and I did not like how it was run. I don’t want to go into details but I won’t take my kids to Kindercare. Kindercare is nice because it’s well known. Check to make sure they are actually nationally accredited and that it’s current. Not all Kindercare’s are. I don’t recall their being much or any outdoor time for the school aged kids at the one I worked at. They were just all in a room doing whatever. They are expensive but they can be because there are parents out there that don’t have the time or don’t want to look for something else and trust the Kindercare name because it’s so well known. My kids are in daycare, not of school age yet. I dread the day when I have to figure out the possible before and after (school) care when the time comes but I hope that me working in education will help with the logistics. I too have to pay 1/2 if they are not going to be there (i.e. spring break) and we can only do that 2 weeks out of the year. Drives me insane paying for someone to not take care of my kids.
I think what it comes down to is you being happy and comfortable with where he is. Just because I had a bad experience working for one does not mean that they are all tainted. But if you feel like all you’re paying for is him to play video games then maybe you should consider your options. Good luck!!