Before- and After-School Care — Look & Listen!

Advice

Children can spend as much as five hours a day in before- and after-school care. This type of care is just as important as full-time child care. A quality before/after school program will help your child grow socially, emotionally, and physically. The best piece of advice, when seeking quality before- and after-school care is to visit the program and look and listen to what you hear when you’re there. Look at the children in the program. Are they happy? Are they engaged? Do you hear laughter? Is the staff involved?

Below are more tips and advice on what to look for when selecting quality before- and after-school care.

1. Hours. What are the hours of operation? What time does the program start in the morning and what time does it end in the evening? Does this fit into your schedule? Are you able to drop your child off early enough to get to work on time? Some programs end at 4:30pm and others stay open as late at 6:30pm.

2. Location. Is the location of the program geographically friendly? We all know the stress of balancing work and family-life. A lot of our time is commuting and rushing. When looking for before- and after-school care, factor in the location and its importance to your work-life balance.

3. Transportation. Does the program provide transportation to and from your child’s school? Is it included in the tuition or is there an additional fee?

4. Enhancement. As mentioned above, quality before- and after-school care helps your child grow socially, emotionally, and physically. Quality care supports your child’s learning and builds links to the community, enriching your child’s life and future well-being. Will your child be engaged in activities? Is the staff energized and devoted to ensuring your child’s success and happiness in the program? Is there age-appropriate structure? Is the program designed to enhance the day or to just give her a place to be while she is waiting for school to start or to be picked up in the afternoon? Finding care that enhances your child’s day is one of the most critical considerations.