Aftercare

[k3am]

Crowd sourcing, because I have analysis paralysis.

Option A: existing program that were enrolled in. Long running program on campus, has multiple rooms, bathrooms in class, coverage for inservice and camp weeks (fall break, new years break, winter break, and spring break). This company sucks at billing, but we have been happy with the care. Cost is ~$850 per kid.

Option B: new program on campus. No details about where they will be, if there is a dedicated room for them, etc. No coverage for days school isn’t in session or breaks. Billing is run through the city, so less likely to have issues. Cost is ~$300 per kid. They have a wait list of 45 kids with 39 spots. They will call us during a couple hour window, and we have to pay on the spot. If we don’t answer the call they move to the next on the list.

[dglvrk2]

How old are your kids? If they could fend for themselves on days when there's no school, perhaps option B?
Or just use the money you're saying mean to help cover cause of child care on in service days etc.

Do your kids like the current program? They do spend a lot of time and aftercare, so if money was not a big issue, I'd weigh my kids feelings as well.

[sandandsea]

Option b.

[k3am]

Jul 18, 2023 21:45:16 GMT -5 dglvrk2 said:

How old are your kids? If they could fend for themselves on days when there's no school, perhaps option B?
Or just use the money you're saying mean to help cover cause of child care on in service days etc.

Do your kids like the current program? They do spend a lot of time and aftercare, so if money was not a big issue, I'd weigh my kids feelings as well.

7 and 10. If it were just DD, it would be easier. Both like the current program. DH is worried about lack of structure with the new program. New program is also not licensed/licensed exempt - I care less about it now that the kids are older. I’m sure there’s some kind of guidance they follow.

[waverly]

I’m assuming those costs are monthly? I would go with option B because 1700 is more than half what we paid in daycare a month.

Question, if you choose option B and regret it, are you able to switch to option A easily? I was wondering if option B has a long waitlist due to the cheaper price and therefore option A may have openings all school year.

Are you able to split working from home for school breaks?

[k3am]

Jul 19, 2023 7:04:41 GMT -5 waverly said:

I’m assuming those costs are monthly? I would go with option B because 1700 is more than half what we paid in daycare a month.

Question, if you choose option B and regret it, are you able to switch to option A easily? I was wondering if option B has a long waitlist due to the cheaper price and therefore option A may have openings all school year.

Are you able to split working from home for school breaks?

We will not be able to switch after a decision is made. Program A is impacted and has a 70+ person waitlist program B was just announced in late May - they have been disorganized and no clear info. You could only get on the wait list at open house, they didn’t make any announcements that it was happening. We didn’t know, responded later that night, we’re told to drop off an application, but it had to be done within 8 hours, took time out of work to do it, then they called us immediately after to tell us they were throwing our application out. Then called two days later and told to apply again. Everything about program B, other than the price so far has been a mess.

WFH for breaks is likely not an option.

[waverly]

Given the additional information, I do have concerns about the disorganization of program B and no childcare for the holiday weeks.

[dglvrk2]

Agreed. Program B sounds frustrating. Honestly, my first thought after reading your most recent comment was "what if it closes mid year?"

Even as costly as Program A is, but given your kids' ages and you not being able to WFH, I would go with it.

Perhaps next year, option B will be more organized and you can consider it then.

[mommyatty]

I am a big believer in throwing money at a problem if throwing the money will solve it. So A for me. No coverage when school isn’t in session and the newness/unknown would freak me out.

[supertrooper1]

I voted A because of the unknown with B. Plus the vacation coverage.

[sdlaura]

Jul 19, 2023 9:22:15 GMT -5 mommyatty said:

I am a big believer in throwing money at a problem if throwing the money will solve it. So A for me. No coverage when school isn’t in session and the newness/unknown would freak me out.

Agree. And consider program B for next year once you have more certainty about it.

[186momx]

When does your DD age out of aftercare? Here most aftercare programs only allow kids to stay through the end of 5th grade and some are when you turn 11 even no matter when that falls.

[k3am]

Jul 19, 2023 11:47:44 GMT -5 186momx said:

When does your DD age out of aftercare? Here most aftercare programs only allow kids to stay through the end of 5th grade and some are when you turn 11 even no matter when that falls.

DD will have one more year (rising 5th) and DS will have up to 4 (rising 2nd).

[waverly]

This prompted me to look at ours, and it goes through 6th grade, age 12.

[sdlaura]

Ours also goes through 6th grade because our elementary school goes through 6th grade. DD is going into 6th grade and has negotiated only going 2 days a week this coming year. I wish she would go everyday since she gets home by 2:30 and will just sit around the house, and it doesn't save us much money to do 2 days vs. 5. We'll still be dealing with aftercare for many years since my youngest isn't even in elementary yet. But it's not super expensive and we can text them to have our kids walk home whenever we're ready - so it's super easy.

[mustardseed2007]

Program A but consider B next year after there is a year of history that you can refer to.

[k3am]

We got in. We spent far too long waffling over it, but they’ve committed that they’ll have a guaranteed two rooms on campus, questionable homework help/study/read/quiet time, and then a free for all afterwards. In the end, we left the decision up to the kids, and they chose to save us close to $1k per month. I’m not sure I feel great about it, no snacks, and less structured, but the money helps.

[k3am]

School starts Thursday… no one knows where aftercare will be on campus, how we check them out, etc.

I sent an email today, asking.. “(after care program name) at (school name)” and got back the response… what school is this for? 🤦🏻‍♀️

Hold me.

[sandandsea]

Lol. I hate not knowing the details but I’m sure they’ve got it figured out and it will be find in the end so try not to worry.
I too have so many thoughts on disorganized schools and lack of communication but I’ll zip it and trust it all will be fine…uh huh.