What To Look For In After School Care In Kew Gardens And Elsewhere

By Mark Graham


Working parents of school age children have a special set of problems. Most realize that the hours after classes end, and before they get home from work, are risky for unattended kids. They are much more likely to get into trouble or to be victimized by others who are just as unsupervised as they are. Finding a suitable place for children to go can be difficult and expensive. If you are looking for after school care in Kew Gardens, or anywhere else, experienced parents have some tips to make the search easier.

There are advantages to structured supervision for kids and parents, that go beyond safety and security. Parents have the comfort of knowing where their kids are, and what those kids are doing. That makes it easier for them to do their jobs. Three quarters of parents believe they miss less work when their children are in after-school programs. The same number think these programs make it easier to keep their jobs.

There is compelling evidence that kids who attend structured afternoon programs have an academic advantage over the ones who don't attend. Kids in programs are more likely to be in regular classes every day than children who aren't involved in after-school programs. The statistics are significant enough to make parents choose programs as carefully as the schools their kids attend.

When you are new to the area, there are a number of ways to get recommendations for after-school care. The secretaries at schools are a great resource. Schools almost always know what programs are available in their districts. If there's a recreation department in your community, you should contact their office. A lot of these departments have programs for youngsters after classes have ended for the day. Many of them have buses that transport students from the schools to the rec department facilities.

YMCAs are affordable and positive places for kids. They have all kinds of programs for children from preschool to senior high students. There are excellent mentoring and academic clubs for teens to get involved in. Local churches are another possibility.

Finding other parents with school age children can be extremely helpful when looking for afternoon care, especially when you're new in the community. You are most likely to find them in parks, cafes, and community centers. You can go online to find for-profit programs. If you have social media accounts, you can let all your friends know what you're looking for. This is a good way to get the word out to the maximum amount of people.

There are certain factors that make programs better than others. You want to look for a program that has sufficient staff, space, and resources to offer students a variety of structured activities. There should be qualified help with homework. You want a program for your child that is flexible and affordable.

Communication between the program management and the parents must be open and consistent. Your kids should like the people who work in their program. You want to see a staff dedicated to motivating and engaging the kids.




About the Author:



No comments: