After school program question.

[MichaelsSahm]

My DS (6) is in Kindergarten from 8 AM till 2:30 PM gets home by 2:45 pm with the bus. He is in a after school program (Quality Time) to play with other kids 2X a week. Something he wanted to do. But here's the thing. He is in school already full time, on those days that he is in afterschool program he doesn't get home to close to 5 PM. Its from 3:00 till 4:15 and the bus gets here around 4:45pm. He seems exhausted on those days. But he wants to continue. However.. I am not sure what to do, because he is exhausted and I have found him to be acting out when he is at school so long. Since he started this program he seems to be alot more moodier also after he comes home.


What would you do in this situation!?!

[mata]

I would definitely limit the afterschool. My kindergartener gets exhausted from half day K-we really take it easy with her down time.

[fadedgirl]

Sounds like a clear case of his being overly tired! I noticed this in my DD when I had her in preK full days, it was simply *too long* for her. When I began picking her up much earlier every day, all her moodiness and uncharacteristic (for her) behaviors ceased.

So if I were you, I'd definitely stop the after school program. I'd come up with some "reason" so DS doesn't think the stoppage has anything to do with him, his tiredness or his behaviors *whatsoever*.

[MichaelsSahm]

I was thinking of coming up with an activity at home. Like baking cookies, etc after school.

[pranamama]

can you pick him up from the afterschool program a little earlier rather than having the bus bring him.

[Kristine233]

If you are close enough to the school and its not too much of a hassle I'd just pick him up early from after school care. Perhaps 3:30? If thats not possible then I'd probably stop the ASC and try to do a playdate instead.

My kids don't get to go to afterschool care as much anymore because thier dad has been home when they get home, but they really miss it. We're currently working out a plan to allow them a day or two a week to go play at ASC so they can hang out with friends outside of academics.

[CarrieMF]

Do they feed snack at the program? If not that could be why he's moody.

[MichaelsSahm]

well last night we talked, and he told me that he is "bored" at the afterschool program. That he gets really tired and that he'd rather come home and spend time with me because he "really misses" me he said.

So, we have decided that if it makes him happy to come home, he can come home.

He can always play with the kids in the neighorhood who are also in his class after school for an hour or so if he wishes to.