After school programs?!

[MichaelsSahm]

Does your kid's school have afterschool programs for kids? I am not talking about afterschool care, they have that period for kids with parents that work.

Ours just started a afterschool program called Quality Time. Its a FREE afterschool program. For kinder they have playtime, for 1st graders, sports, music, computer. etc.
You can pick between 2 days or both days.
I talked with DS (6) if he wanted to join Playtime, and he does. Tomorrow afterschool he stays an extra hour so he can play with his peers, they do games etc. Just once a week, and see if he likes it.
He is an only child, so he gets little playtime with other kids his age. So this seems like a great way for him to have more social time. The school bus drops him off after school in front of our home.
I didn't want to do the 2 days, it seems a bit too much after school. And if he doesn't like it after tomorrow, then we will pull him out.

I just think its great to have this, esp for us, since we don't get to hang out with other kids as much.

[mata]

our GATE program offers after school enrichment-yoga, knitting, poetry, etc. DD took guitar lessons this fall.

[meowmix]

We have afterschool programs, but they are not free. My son is in a science program and the lego club and my daughter is in a little acting program. They are 45 minutes to an hour after school. I wish they were free! But I paid for them and they last about 8 weeks or so. The kids love them! They cost about the same as classes through the parks and rec.

[Zach'smom]

We also have after school enrichment programs. They are not free. DS is currently taking a science class. Last year he had karate and Spanish. They also offer art, dance, lego, etc. They are for one hour after school. Ds loves it.

[lightheart]

we have free afterschool at my son's school it runs from 3:00-5:45. You do not have to stay the whole time but they ask that if you come pick up your child and he/she is in a class like music or computer that he stays until the transition period. They serve snack and then divide up into grade levels. they have gym, music, computer, then are susposed to have 'enrichment activities' although for my K last year 1st this year, they usually just go back to the rooms and play or watch tv movies. and have outside playground time.

They do have tutoring now which lasts from 3-4:30, not the same as the afterschool, different funding based but in there there is an actual teacher that works from the same material that they are doing in class. you can leave titoring to go to afterschool.

There is no bussing home from tutoring or afterschool.

[Satori]

Our district has an after school enrichment program, runs from 3:17 to 6:17pm and your not supposed to pick up your child before 6:10pm. There at risk of losing there funding right now becasue of parents picking there kids up early. Anyway, it runs 5 days a week for K-6. dd was going until last week when I pulled her to go back to homeschooling, she LOVED the program (HS'd kids are not allowed to attend the program ). It was 100% FREE and had spots for 80 kids.

[cchrissyy]

i think I heard our school has one day free choir afterschool, but the rest is charged for, either at school or off-site.
My boy goes to one at the community center right next to the school because I found it nicer than the program at the school itself. a staff member just walks all the kids over when school lets out, and in rian the district busses take the kids, it's just a couple blocks.

They have snack and free play, then classes- one day is cake decorating, one day gardening, one day art. He picked those - other kids have durmming, hebrew, homework club, legos, cooking, basketball etc. I love that he gets fun social time every afternoon - we don't have neighborhood friends or anywhere he could run around outside or ride bikes in our town, so this is his classic childhood play time, getting to be outdoors and with kids his own age and doing these enrichment classes for 3 hours 3 days a week.

[mamalemon]

We have a wonderful afterschool program that integrates Autistic students with those that are not. Teachers lead them in semi-organized play. It is free for the "experienced player" (non-Autistic).

I absolutely LOVE this program! My son has had gained much in the way of tolerance and patience. I didn't even know that this program was offered when we enrolled him, but it is his and my favorite part of the day now.

[pranamama]

I just realized there is no band in or out of school at my elementary school. I find it really odd. There is childcare available if you pay, or expensive private activities (my dd loved these) like art

[1xmom]

At my dd's school they do have an afterschool program for kids needing extra help. I think it runs until 5. It is free and transportation is provided if needed. My dd, however, goes to the afterschool day care that is satellited thru our local YMCA. It does cost, and does not provide transportation, but for me it is worth it. They have homework time, snack, free play, etc. I really like the director and her staff. It's nice for me, b/c even when the school has half days or lets our early due to weather, they Y afterschool is still there.