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Moms of school aged

DTNZ4EverDTNZ4Ever member
in Working Moms
I'm starting to freak out (could be pregnancy hormones) DS will start kindergarten next school year. I've been looking into before and after care. I could go with our center but that gets really expensive especially since we will have a newborn. Plus DS would only need 3 days a week so I worry if he would get on the bus on the right day to go back to daycare. Or we can go with the park district (which is held at the school) which is way cheaper then our DC. But I was talking to a neighbor who said that they just hang out in the cafeteria have some activities that they do a quiet area for homework. I just worry that it doesn't seemed structured. Both programs are K-6th grade. It makes me nervous that my kindergarten kid will be hanging out with 6th graders. I know I just need to check out the park district program and see what is up. It would be nice to feel comfortable with that program since it would save us $$$ per month. It's just a change and I'm worried about DS, scheduling, buses, juggling this with the new baby, trusting a new care provider. Ladies how was your transition from daycare to school?
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Re: Moms of school aged

  • litzo27litzo27 member
    I think you need to get more understanding of the school's after-school program. I had no clear idea of what they do until I had the orientation this year. For our school the K kids are separated from the 1-6 kids and are in one of the K classrooms. Also for 1-6 kids there are a bunch of activities (sports, cooking, art) that they sign up for so they are not all together in one huge room. They actually have different groups working on different things.
    I was also really worried about the logistics (how will he know where to go when he gets off the bus, etc.) but the teachers are very good about helping the kids make their way as needs. I saw in our classroom the teacher has a note on the wall with all the kids names and their after-school schedules. Mine stays in extended day every day, but plenty of kids only do 1-2-3 days a week and the teacher knows which ones go to after-school vs. which ones go to bus-pick-up. And make sure they get on the right bus.
    Then again, our school is very very good - one of the reasons we bought a house here. However, before panicking I would get a much better idea of what your school is like in these respects.
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  • QueSrahQueSrah member

    I would ask more questions directly to the people who run the program at the school, so you're going on specifics and not just second-hand info.

    Also, what's so bad about unstructured time?  K will be a big transition with the structure of a long school day.  Time to hang out and play freely sounds like a good thing.  At the preschools DD has attended, the "structure" of their day is pretty loose after naptime anyway.  One or two activities, then playground time.  It doesn't sound all that more structured than what the rec. people are offering at the school.

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  • ss+elss+el member
    DS has not been to before school care yet, so I'm not sure what that looks like. (I work weird hours, haven't had any early days since he started). In the afternoons, they keep to a timed schedule - check all the kids in, give them a snack and break out paper and either crayons or markers. Then they go out and play on the playground for a bit, then back inside for free play in the gym. Although it can be loud and there are kids running around, I still feel things are under control.
    None of our neighbors go to this school (half the block open enrolls out of district), so I like letting him have the time to run around with his school friends that he doesn't otherwise see outside of school.
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  • AZ123AZ123 member
    I've heard such wonderful things about the after school programs. ALl the kids that go in this area that I know absolutely love it.  After school, you actually don't want too much structure. Kindergarten takes a lot out of them and the chance to play or do something creative is perfect for them. They separate the kindergartners and then he'll also have friends in his class/school with him which makes him develop more and tighter friendships. I personally would take the after school care at the school over going back to daycare/preschool where your little guy will be the biggest kid in the class and learning stuff that he's way beyond.
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  • AZ123AZ123 member
    Also, a lot of schools offer sports and clubs after school that you can sign your child up for so having him in after school daycare will help because he can just go to his once a week sport class and the coaches come and grab him from the after school care in the cafeteria.
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  • DTNZ4EverDTNZ4Ever member
    Thanks for the reassurance ladies. I am sure I am freaking out because "my baby" is growing up and pregnancy hormones are crazy. I really appreciate it!
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  • mommymegan831mommymegan831 member
    have you thought about looking into a nanny?  She could get your older one to and from school while watching the baby during the day.
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  • *sparky**sparky* member

    I also think you should get more info about the after-school program at school.  DS has been attending his school program since K, and it has worked out really well for us.  I did not like the idea of him being transported and he also only goes 2 days a week, so I know what you mean about getting days confused, etc.  Also, his school program goes through grade 5, but they split the kids up into age groups, so the K and 1st graders are together, grades 2 & 3, and grades 4 &5.  He likes that his classmates are there with him, versus if he went to an offsite program he may not know anyone at first.

    Also, they do have homework time and also unstructured time, but at the end of the day they need that.  They play in the gym, or outside, and just blow off some steam.  Especially the first year he full days of school, he needed that down time at the end of the day - any more structured time and he would have had a breakdown. 

    They have adult teachers, but also some helpers from the Middle School, who help with their homework if they need it.

    I would just suggest asking some questions, because you may find it is a better program than you are thinking. 

     

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