When Charlie started public pre-k, we never considered other after school care options because the on-site program was the most convenient and affordable option ($300/month until 6pm M-F). We couldn’t even register for 2, hour-long classes a week for less than that, and a sitter would have cost much more. The program had some sports classes and lots of arts and crafts, but there was also a lot of free play. Charlie loved his teachers and the program, so we were happy with it. Not wanting to leave when we picked him up was a good sign.
Charlie started a new after school program when he began kindergarten last fall. The kids took a different class every day from dance to painting to cooking and so much more; there was such a big variety they could take completely different classes every semester. It seemed like so much fun!
As the months wore on, with the intense kindergarten curriculum and the kids stuck playing indoors during this brutal winter, Charlie started disliking school. He still liked his after school program, but would often say that he missed pre-k and didn’t want to go to kindergarten. I thought about it and came to the conclusion that his day was probably too long and too structured. He was studying so hard in kindergarten every day, and though he still enjoyed his after school program, it was very structured and he had very little free play time. I think the lack of free play (particularly exercise) was also impacting his behavior, which was definitely challenging at times.
We’re currently in Woodstock not doing much other than lots of free play!
When the kids were in daycare and essentially played all day, a long day didn’t matter and they didn’t even want to leave when we picked them up at the end of the day. Many experts believe that the daily amount of unstructured play should far exceed the amount of structured play. They’re probably learning more in the time that they’re engaging in free play than they would in structured play, attaining important life-long skills in areas such as executive function, leadership, cooperation, creativity, decision-making, and so much more. With the increasingly demanding curriculums of public school, I think making time for free play is more important than ever, and now that Charlie is in kindergarten, I really see that!
What does after school childcare look like for your elementary-aged child? Is there anything you’d like to change about it?
squash / 13208 posts
I agree they need more play time!
Our is a mix. They review some of the things they are learning in school but they also run around and play games – my DS loves it so I am happy with it!
blogger / nectarine / 2600 posts
Oh this has me a little happier about Drakes kindergarten only being half days now since he will still have a lot of time to play at home ir if we go out and only a set hours of school structure.
coffee bean / 29 posts
We have the same issue. We do aftercare 3 days a week and pick them up early the rest of the days for free play, sports, trips to the library. We also pick them up an hour early one of the days they are in aftercare for them to play outside before dinner. Having a backyard helps.
blogger / eggplant / 11551 posts
I agree with a lot of what you wrote – free, independent play is really important for us and one of the reasons why we haven’t enrolled our kids in many structured activities at all. They’ll have plenty of opportunities for that in the future.
Since Kindergarten is right around the corner for us, my husband and I have been considering options for what we want to do with after school care. The kindergartens in our city are only half day programs (8:30-11:30 am), and because of our flexible telecommute schedules we may completely forego an after school program and just let them enjoy the rest of the day at home. Maybe I’ll enroll them in one or two activities a week at that time to mix it up a bit. We’ll see! It feels so weird to be thinking about this now…. hard to believe our babies are growing up.
P.S. Please tell me you did not write this while on vacay!
admin / watermelon / 14210 posts
@Mrs. High Heels: I wrote it before I left but finished editing it while here.
kiwi / 511 posts
My oldest starts kindergarten next year and quite frankly there is no way we could structure our work so that he could get the bus from our house or be dropped off after school. The school sponsored program is not really that much cheaper than the one offered by daycare so we are going to stick with the daycare.
With them my kids (because lets face it the little one will be in the same boat in two years) know the facility and a lot of the “teachers”. I can do one drop off and one pick up (the school bus will do pick up and drop off at the daycare it is int the same zone for our school). But even better than all of that is that daycare is open on snow days when school is closed, daycare is open on those horrible school vacation weeks in February and April (the school sponsored is not) and daycare is open during the summer and they do field trips etc that can participate in if we want.
All that being said the school age program, they have a study area for the kids, but most of the time when I do pick up the school age kids are running around outside playing basketball, four square, etc. Which is what I think the kids really need. School age is k-6th grade at our facility.
blogger / nectarine / 2010 posts
I chose to put M in a 5 day preschool next year 9:15-1pm and am starting to regret my decision. It’s a lot of playing, but just following direction and going from the playground to music to etc. is a lot of structure for a 3.5 year old. We’ll have our afternoons to play, but I’m hoping it’s not too much structure.
pear / 1614 posts
I’m glad to read this about free play. I often feel like we should be doing more structured time with our kids, especially after reading some of the awesome schedules (or at least structures/routines) a lot of SAHMs here have shared! It seems like they just wander from one bin of toys to the next at home during the days. I’m feeling reassured, thanks!
honeydew / 7488 posts
I agree, it’s hard to find enough time for free play! My 1st grader goes to after school care 2x a week where they do homework, play sports, read, do crafts, etc (their choice). It is kind of free, but not really since the caretakers watch 60 school aged kids at a time, and there has to be structure or it would be sheer chaos. The other 3 days a week, I pick her up but two of those days we go direct to ballet or piano, etc. When she gets home we do homework. That leaves one completely open day. I don’t believe in over structuring by any means, but there is a limited amount of time to get everything in. It’s challenging! That said, I’m ok with our after school setup right now. I don’t know what is going to happen when my younger one has more activities after school. There’s only one of me to go around.!
cherry / 106 posts
The eldest will start kindergarten next year and he really doesn’t need after school care but we went ahead and enrolled him in an after school program where they will pick him up from school and take them to their school and he’ll get about two hours of structured Mandarin lessons plus play time. I worry if it’ll be too structured but our contract states that we’re obligated to stay for the whole year so we’ll reevaluate after he finishes the first year. Our parks and rec offers a very popular lottery system after school program for elementary aged kids and it’s pretty cheap at around $800 per session for 5 times a week. There’s three sessions for the school year and it’s mostly just play based at the local park.
pomelo / 5866 posts
I agree. Finding the free play time balance is important to their development. Having the full attending presence of a parent while they are playing and allowing opportunities for letting them lead you in play is huge! Looks like you are having awesome nature walks there!!
cherry / 110 posts
I totally agree & wish that free play was more readily available for working moms, and especially outdoor free play.
blogger / pear / 1563 posts
@Mrs. Stroller: I don’t think you’ll regret it! At least in TN, our PreK programs have to provide a LOT of free play time in order to be licensed. That’s what my students did most of the day, not only because of licensing, but because I thought it was really important.
blogger / nectarine / 2010 posts
@Mrs. Pinata: it’s still another until his pre-K program because he’s a December baby. This year he’s in a 2 day program and I felt like it wasnt enough. So I rationalized that next year the standard 3 would feel like too little. He’s really social, but now that it’s spting and we’re playing in the yard every day I’m worried I didn’t leave enough time for just playing at home. Of course he just walloped me with a ball while I’m nursing…five days it is!
GOLD / wonderful pomegranate / 28905 posts
I’ve honestly never thought about this before. I’m a little worried now! I’m not sure how a family with 2 full time working parents are going to handle this. Frankly when you’re not home till after 5 you really do need a aftercare program to help with homework. By the time you get home and feed dinner id imagine it’s bedtime because they wake so early and there is no longer naps at school.
Would love to read a similar post from a family with two full time woh parents!
@chopstixwife: the parks & Rex option seems like a good idea. How did you find out about it?
admin / watermelon / 14210 posts
@regberadaisy: you can look for an after school program that has free play, or add on a sitter (what we will most likely do).
you’re right that after we pick them up, eat dinner, take a bath, it’s time to do to bed. almost no free play for charlie during the week!
persimmon / 1379 posts
I am a SAHM so my kids are with me after school, and we have activities 3 days a week after school, but always some down time at home before they start. But that aside, we have felt so fortunate this year that my daughter’s school gives all kindergarten classes an hour of unstructured outdoor play every day in addition to their phys ed/recess time. The kids love it, and I am sure that it contributes to better classroom time for everyone.
I am actually quite worried about what next year will be like when the kids hit grade 1, lots of desk work and no extra outdoor time!
blogger / apricot / 367 posts
So glad you wrote this post. My older one had a hard time with full day kindergarten last year but has definitely adjusted in 1st grade. I can imagine that after school care would add to a long day. Hope the new schedule works out for Charlie!