Talk to me about school-age care

[nina_yyc]

Any thoughts on centre care vs. day home at kindergarten age?  How do you handle summer holidays?  How big a factor is child care in your school choice?

My kids are currently in a day home close to my work and my DD cannot attend that neighborhood's school (it's full.)

Our designated public school may or may not have childcare available.  They won't know until April if they're funded for full-day or half-day kindergarten, and the before-and-after program may not cover half-day.  There are no day homes in our neighborhood and the centres all have ridiculous prices and wait lists.

The next closest public school has an amazing before-and-after care program - friendly, affordable, and even offers a summer camp.  The school will be a 30-35 min walk in the morning for DH and DD (I will take the car to work and pick her up on my way home) and we won't know until the end of February if she can get in, since we're outside the community.

The third school we're considering is an alternative public program that provides busing from our neighborhood.  They have no before-and-after program but coordinate with two daycares.  One was expensive and the other did not return my calls.  Day homes seem readily available and well-priced in the neighborhood, so I'm considering committing to the school and then trying to find care.

I think I am putting more thought into this than I did into picking a college for myself.  Craziness!

[zebra15]

What I noticed is *most* people around here have schools picked out by this time of year... yes its only January but those who need daycare/special classes etc have these things figured out a whole school year ahead of time.  Here too there are crazy wait lists etc.  As for the daycare not returning calls I just showed up one day and asked for info - dont know if you can do that where you are??

You may also find that many moms at the school offer before/after care and its not really listed anywhere.  Have you posted on craigslist etc?

I've also noticed that before/after care costs almost as much as full time care.

All that being said my DS is homeschooled and goes to an in home daycare the days I need to work. He is 10 and we've been doing this since he was a baby... this is really only our 2nd official inhome provider. (we had a couple that didnt work out between #1 and #2)  OH I forgot there was the lady for the 1st year when I worked a normal schedule at a 'real' job LOL....but he was an infant then.  We've been with this last lady for 4 years and we love her dearly.  She really doesnt advertise, just word of mouth stuff and shes always full...  She has some regular baby-age 5 kids then before/after school kids... plus drop ins like DS...

Anyone who does daycare, either inhome or a center will know about days off from school, breaks etc and have school age care for those days.  A center will write those into the contract and inhome will most likely just charge you by the day.

[Alyantavid]

This is something we've only had to start thinking about.  My older son has always been able to stay with dh, at home or work, until this upcoming summer.

He'll go to a small in home daycare run by a friend for the summer, so her kids will there for him to play with.  Our younger son starts kindergarten this fall.  The school my kids go to has full day kindergarten.  Right now, I have no idea what I'll do with them after school.  Now, my work schedule is 7-3:30 so I pick ds1 up off the bus after work.  Next fall, I'll be doing all the drop offs and pick ups so I won't be able to leave work that early.

So, really I have no suggestions, but it's a big stressor for me right now.

[nina_yyc]

Originally Posted by zebra15 

What I noticed is *most* people around here have schools picked out by this time of year... yes its only January but those who need daycare/special classes etc have these things figured out a whole school year ahead of time.

This is kind of my problem.  Maybe things have changed since I searched out a day home for DD 4 years ago, but at the time day homes seemed to just fill spaces as they came up...there was no wait list or planning nine months ahead.  So, if the school of my choice has no acceptable/affordable centre care, then things could be up in the air for awhile.  Of course I will have a backup in place, but ARGHHHHHH!!!!  

I think I posted this thread just as a vent.  WHY can't I count on at least my designated public school?  I have a complaint email to my public school trustee saved in my drafts, but I haven't sent it...can't decide if it's the school board's fault for leaving funding up in the air for so long, or the childcare program's fault for not committing to cover halfday kindy.  You would really think they could count the kindergarten kids in their program this year, assume next year will be similar, and figure out if they will offer it or not.

ETA: Yes I am planning to show up in person at the day cares who don't return calls, but that's just rude   Actually DH and I might cruise that neighborhood checking out real estate, because this whole process has seriously made me question our choice to live in the inner city.

[just_lily]

What happens if you commit to the alternative school and then back out if the situation with your home school works out. 

I live just outside of Calgary, and up until very recently I ran a dayhome.  You probably are not going to be able to find someone who will commit to having a place for you in September unless you are willing to switch now.  Depending on how far away the day home is to the school, you may be able to find someone who is willing and able to do drop offs and picks ups for you. 

I would definitely not plan on any plan that requires your child to walk 30 minutes to school.  It is -41C this morning!!  I think walking is a great occasional option, but you need to have an alternative ready to go when the weather is awful. 

I am not sure about in the city, but where I am it is quite usual for day homes to charge a regular full time rate for kindergarten students, and then this would cover all PD days and vacations.  The reason is because even though the child will be gone for part of the day it is only about three hours, and an entire spot needs to be saved for that kid.  When you are talking about childcare it is better to think about paying for a spot, rather than paying for hours of care.  A larger centre usually has more flexibility.

Do you have a Boys and Girls Club near you.  Ours has a large before and after program, and also runs a kinder-care program.

[nextcommercial]

Many daycare homes won't take school age kids.  School age kids are much harder and cost us more to keep than a preschooler.  

But, some daycare homes have kids that age of their own.  So, they are thrilled to have several grade school kids to come home together.  It's actually awesome when they all come home together and play until closing, then her own kids have built in friends and they have built in friends to walk home with.   When they get older, they work on projects together, join the same teams, help each other with homework.  It's pretty nice.   

If you look for daycare in the neighborhood, is it possible to find someone who's kids are the same grade?  

[nina_yyc]

Originally Posted by just_lily 

What happens if you commit to the alternative school and then back out if the situation with your home school works out. 

I live just outside of Calgary, and up until very recently I ran a dayhome.  You probably are not going to be able to find someone who will commit to having a place for you in September unless you are willing to switch now.  Depending on how far away the day home is to the school, you may be able to find someone who is willing and able to do drop offs and picks ups for you. 

I would definitely not plan on any plan that requires your child to walk 30 minutes to school.  It is -41C this morning!!  I think walking is a great occasional option, but you need to have an alternative ready to go when the weather is awful. 

I am not sure about in the city, but where I am it is quite usual for day homes to charge a regular full time rate for kindergarten students, and then this would cover all PD days and vacations.  The reason is because even though the child will be gone for part of the day it is only about three hours, and an entire spot needs to be saved for that kid.  When you are talking about childcare it is better to think about paying for a spot, rather than paying for hours of care.  A larger centre usually has more flexibility.

Do you have a Boys and Girls Club near you.  Ours has a large before and after program, and also runs a kinder-care program.

Our neighborhood Boys and Girls Club says it serves ages 12-24.  I'm 99% sure that no care is available in my neighborhood (we're in Connaught)...if there were my kids would already be there!  Since DD was born I have only ever seen one day home (sadly not a good fit) and there are a couple of expensive centres but nothing close to the school.
 

I did end up registering at all three schools and was honest with them that we might withdraw.  Surprisingly they are all very OK with that...I don't think I'm the only one.

[One_Girl]

Is there a YMCA close by?  Many have daycare and school age care and in our area they provide transportation to a lot of areas.  They also offer scholarships to help cover costs for people who need them.

[provocativa]

I was told to contact the PTA at the schools to find out about moms who have kids and do after school care.