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Conference moira::parenting_v3

Title:Parenting
Notice:READ 1.27 BEFORE WRITING
Moderator:CSC32::DUBOIS
Created:Wed May 30 1990
Last Modified:Tue May 27 1997
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:1364
Total number of notes:23848

189.0. "CARE FOR SCHOOL AGE KIDS" by CGVAX2::WARD () Fri Jul 27 1990 13:35

    I'm curious how all you parents of school-age childen arrange for care
    after school, vacations and summers. My daughter will be starting
    school a year from this fall and I'm terribly worried about
    arrangements. She is now going to a full-time day care which includes
    nursery shool and kindergarten. 
    First of all, we live in a very small town and there is no after-school
    program (that I know of). I also am having a hard time thinking about
    her having to go to someone else's house after school for a few hours.
    I can't stand the thought of someone else giving her a snack and
    hearing about her day before I do! And what about vacations? Obviously,
    its impossible for me to take time off during every school vacation.
    With the amount of mothers in the work force, there must be alot of
    different situations. 
    
    So how does it work for you?
    
    Looking forward to your input,
    Brenda
    
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189.1In-home daycare year round...CMAS::ELEYFri Jul 27 1990 18:0838
    I had this same problem two years ago when my son began kindergarten. 
    My daycare had been in a different town then where we live.  This would 
    not work because the local school bus routes are within our town only and
    having someone communte him back and forth was impossible.
    
    I found a wonderful in-home daycare situation.  My two children have
    been there for over two years and it has worked out very well.  We
    have become very close with our day-care family and have even gone
    camping with them.   
    
    To get back to the point:  The kids are there year-round.  I notify the
    school by June 1st of their pick-up and drop-off points.  Frankie (2nd
    grade this year) is picked up at our house in the morning and dropped
    off at his day-care home in the afternoon.  Sarah (kindergarten this
    year) will also be picked up at our house during the morning session 
    and dropped off at the day-care home at noon.  During the afternoon 
    session she will be picked up and dropped off at her day-care home.  
    
    I like this because I don't have to constantly make different
    arrangements during school/summer vacations.  My day-care takes
    them year round.  The only thing is that this school year I will
    only be working four days so on my day off I'll have to either pick
    them up at school or at day-care after school.  The school does not 
    allow convient busing (changing the bus route/destination for special
    days,etc)  This is not a big deal.  I'll just pick them up at school 
    on my day off.  It will be a real treat for them.....
    
    BTW, I'm so HAPPY.  I start part-time on August 6th.  I'm going from a
    40 to a 30 hour work week.  I'll have more time for the family and
    still be able to continue my career at Digital.  What more could I
    ask for!
    
    Well, that's what works for us.  Good luck finding the right situation 
    for your family.  It does get more complicated when the kids are in
    school so it's a good idea to start thinking ahead.
    
    
    
189.2STAR::MACKAYC'est la vie!Mon Jul 30 1990 13:3418
                                                   
    The nursey school/daycare that my daughter goes to has after
    kindergarten care. int he fall, my daughter will be picked up 
    at my house in the morning and dropped off at the nursry school 
    at noon. In the afternoon, she will be in an "enrichment" program.
    In the spring, town kindergarten will be in the afternoon. So, we'll
    drop her off at the nursey school in the morning, the bus will
    pick her up at noon, and she'll go back to the nursery school
    at 3.
    
    Check with your nursery school, maybe they have some arrangment like
    that. I was told that it is getting very poplar. My town has
    after school care, but kindergarten kids will have to be bused to
    2 different places after school. I don't feel comfortable with
    such a hectic schedule for a 5 yr old and it turns out that the 
    nursery school program is cheaper.
    
    Eva.
189.3Extended DayRDVAX::COLLIERBruce CollierTue Jul 31 1990 17:3928
    Where I live, there is a parent-governed non-profit corporation at each
    elementary school that provides Extended Day services.  At three
    schools, the programs are on site.  At the other two, the groups
    jointly sponsor a single E.D. program at a former elementary school. 
    These programs were all started at parent initiative roughly 10 years
    ago.
    
    I know of other towns where Extended Day programs are organized by,
    through, or at: town-wide parent organizations; community centers;
    YMCAs; town Recreation Committees; centers that are mainly pre-schools;
    etc.  Inquire at your school, P.T.A., town hall, community center, or
    the like, to find what currently exists, or to find others who might
    want a new or expanded program.
    
    Some of these programs offer school-year vacation activities as well;
    many don't (including mine), which can be a hassle, though I have
    sometimes organized short term parent co-ops with other E.D. families.
    
    Summer vacation programs usually means daycamps of various sorts,
    sometimes run by the same groups that do Extended Day in winter.
    
    Plan ahead.  Some programs get oversubscribed, and organizing something
    new takes plenty of lead time.  I'm pretty sure there is a state-wide
    coalition of E.D. programs that might provide advice on starting one
    (in Massachussetts).  They've been regulated by the O.F.C. for about 2
    years, so there are rules and red tape.
    
    		- Bruce
189.4GIRL SCOUT VACATION CAMPSCOGITO::FRYEWed Aug 01 1990 19:466
    The Girl Scouts in many areas run "Vacation Camps" which are programs
    that are run during school vacation weeks during the year.  They look
    like fun and interesting programs....
    
    Norma