Extended stays - what are your experiences?

Oh great, another two hundred bucks gone every month 😂
Honestly, I'd rather be on my own anyway. It’s better to have some food on the table than nothing at all 😂

A friend mentioned she pays her neighbor so much that, in exchange, the woman occasionally picks up her kid from school or after-school care when she’s stuck late at the office.

Right now, our elementary kids in grades 1 through 3 have after-school care available... I really hope that stays an option for as long as we need it.
I’m a little confused about why they’re starting making the kids carry their backpacks home on Wednesdays too. Apparently, one of the reasons is that there isn't anyone available to help them with their German homework during those hours. But honestly, what are parents supposed to do if nobody in the house even speaks German?
Also, I can't help but wonder—is Nona going to be able to handle a high-energy kid all the way from June 11th until heaven knows when in September? Between all the holidays, it feels like a lot. I might end up paying for a nanny fund instead of booking a summer vacation, though I know that's a separate issue from the after-school program...

Paul Johnson said:A friend mentioned she pays her neighbor so much that, in exchange, the woman occasionally picks up her kid from school or after-school care when she’s stuck late at the office.

My neighbor does that for free😁—for us, for them, and honestly, for everyone else on the block too.😁

I mean, it isn't a massive amount of money objectively speaking, but I just don't have that kind of extra cash lying around.

My daughter just started first grade, which means she's officially enrolled in the after-school program. At her school, they currently have it organized up through third grade. Since the Department of Education sets specific limits on how many grade levels can participate in the program, there wasn't quite enough room to keep all the third graders separate. It looks like about six kids from third grade will be joining our group this year. I’m guessing they just grouped them together with our crew of 18 since that was the most efficient way to make the numbers work.

Honestly, if I had waited until she was old enough to walk home by herself, I would have needed that after-school care for the entire duration of elementary school 😂 🤣. Luckily, her grandmother lives pretty close by, so she'll be heading over to her place.

I've been thinking about this for a few years now—what would it actually take to start an after-school program through parent-led initiatives and private funding?
It feels like something that could really gain traction here if we pushed for it.

rowdypanther12 said:I've been thinking about this for a few years now—what would it actually take to start an after-school program through parent-led initiatives and private funding?
It feels like something that could really gain traction here if we pushed for it.

Good luck. 👍
What does it actually take to get approval for something like that? How does a school ensure parents will actually cough up the cash for the whole year?
The hardest part, if you ask me, is finding thirty parents willing to pay a premium instead of just leaning on relatives or neighbors to watch their kids.
Maybe I'm wrong—but people usually find a way to scrape something together, or they just teach their kids how to fend for themselves. For free.

Paul Johnson said:Good luck. 👍
What does it actually take to get approval for something like that? How does a school ensure parents will actually cough up the cash for the whole year?
The hardest part, if you ask me, is finding thirty parents willing to pay a premium instead of just leaning on relatives or neighbors to watch their kids.
Maybe I'm wrong—but people usually find a way to scrape something together, or they just teach their kids how to fend for themselves. For free.

First off, you need an actual space for the kids to hang out.
Some schools just don't have the room, which is why they don't offer after-school programs.

If it's run through the public school district, there aren't really any guarantees regarding funding or space. 😬

But if a local non-profit or community group runs it, the cost might be a bit higher from the jump. They could also include a clause in the contract stating that if a certain number of parents drop out, the price goes up—or the whole program gets canceled.

To me, those logistical hurdles seem much easier to clear than the issue of a school simply lacking adequate space.

Yeah, that could definitely be an issue.
We'll see, honestly—there are actually quite a few of us interested so far. Either way, it might just be easier to pay someone to prep their lunch and then get them focused on finishing that assignment.

rowdypanther12 said:I'm curious about what the total cost might look like. I'm thinking about paying for someone to pick up my kid, handle meals, and help guide them through their homework 😁 while they're under supervision all day during school breaks
. I don't have all the details yet, obviously—it's hard to say how much an 8.5-year-old can actually handle, but I'm sure they won't be able to focus for ten hours straight every single day
.

We really underestimate them. 🙂

I didn't have anyone else to leave my kids with.
At our local daycare center, there are 27 groups spread across two buildings, but in the summer, only about 4 or maybe 6 groups are even active.
I only have two kids per year.

I can't rely on other parents to help with childcare.
And the prices for private daycare or sitters are just insane—starting at $1,500 and going way up from there.

My child started coming home from school starting in the second week of first grade; he'd head to the convenience store or the bakery and was totally fine being home by himself for nine hours.

He’d sleep in a bit later, eat, watch some cartoons, work on crafts, or tackle some printed worksheets... he actually enjoyed it.

rowdypanther12 said:I've been thinking about this for a few years now—what would it actually take to start an after-school program through parent-led initiatives and private funding?
It feels like something that could really gain traction here if we pushed for it.

The school has to actually have the staff and the physical space available before the Department of Education will even consider approving it. That’s how it worked in my district.

Well, look at that—finally getting a straight answer from a rhino. 😁

Every kid is different. I don't think my daughter would struggle with being on her own; honestly, I’d feel perfectly fine leaving her by herself right now without worrying she'd mess something up or get into trouble.
It’s just that she wouldn't actually enjoy it. She wouldn't be having fun—she'd likely just feel lonely, bored, and probably a little bit anxious.

I agree that every kid is wired differently. My own isn't exactly thrilled about the idea of being left to his own devices, yet the moment he's actually alone, he claims he's having the time of his life.
Boredom is an absolute inevitability, so they really need to experience it occasionally; it’s a vital lesson in learning how to entertain themselves (which is a massive struggle for my kids)

In fact, my son has actually cooked up some brilliant ideas and projects just because he was bored out of his mind.
And let's be real—I wouldn't expect the nanny I hire to spend all 8 or 10 hours of her shift acting as his personal cruise director🤷.

Wow, I was just looking at our future elementary school's website, and it looks like they’re starting after-school programs for second graders this year too!!

At our local elementary school, after-school programs are only available for first graders. Honestly, I’m thrilled they aren't an option for the older kids, and I know I'm not the only parent feeling this way. Staying at school all day is just exhausting for the little ones, but for us parents, having that extra flexibility is easily the most convenient and budget-friendly setup we could ask for. My oldest daughter didn't need after-school care back then because I was home with her younger brother, but watching my son now, I realize how much easier it is for him not to be stuck in a classroom all afternoon. It makes me think those programs are often more of a necessary evil than a benefit. Luckily, I have my mom living right downstairs, so she handles things while we're out, but looking around, most families seem to manage just fine on their own. Some pay for private daycare near the school (around $267 a month), some let the kids hang out at home, and others rely on neighbors or college students to help out.

$267 for after-school care? Honestly, sounds like a sweet deal. I’m living in the States right now, and between daycare and after-school programs, we end up paying about $300 total including meals. But it really depends on what you pull in—if someone is just scraping by on minimum wage, they might only drop $100. My kid absolutely loves his after-school program. The staff is great, the lunch is decent, and they always throw in a little dessert. Plus, they have different activities like art or tennis, and when he has sports practice, the sitters actually walk him over to the gym since it’s a bit of a trek, which saves us from having to hike all the way there just to drop him off. By law here, kids under 11 aren't supposed to be left unsupervised for long stretches—like five hours or whatever. As for private sitters, you're looking at maybe $10 an hour if you're doing things off the books.

rowdypanther12 said:From what I understand, there are basically two types of after-school programs over here. In cities like Chicago, it's either an all-day program where they stay on campus, or just a standard afternoon session.
Staff is usually on duty starting at 7:00 AM. As for religious education classes, it really depends on the specific school district, so you’ll definitely want to check with yours directly. You might want to be prepared to pick them up early if they don't have a spot reserved for them during those classes.😁

At Stenjevec Elementary School, only first graders get after-school care... my daughter is in second grade now, so she goes to a private program at Bazinga. I pay $267 a month, and honestly, it's the only organized option in the western suburbs. On top of that, I still pay for her lunch at the school since they don't provide it there... they actually pick her up from the school and drop her off if there's an afternoon session... there are only two kids in the group, so they focus on homework and prepping for tests and stuff.

rowdypanther12 said:Wow, I was just looking at our future elementary school's website, and it looks like they’re starting after-school programs for second graders this year too!!

No, that's not right. It's only first grade, and they aren't ever going to expand to second grade because they don't have the capacity—they can barely scrape by with the space they have as it is.

velvetcobra65 said:$267 for after-school care? Honestly, sounds like a sweet deal. I’m living in the States right now, and between daycare and after-school programs, we end up paying about $300 total including meals. But it really depends on what you pull in—if someone is just scraping by on minimum wage, they might only drop $100. My kid absolutely loves his after-school program. The staff is great, the lunch is decent, and they always throw in a little dessert. Plus, they have different activities like art or tennis, and when he has sports practice, the sitters actually walk him over to the gym since it’s a bit of a trek, which saves us from having to hike all the way there just to drop him off. By law here, kids under 11 aren't supposed to be left unsupervised for long stretches—like five hours or whatever. As for private sitters, you're looking at maybe $10 an hour if you're doing things off the books.

It’s a good setup, sure, but it’s also really the only affordable option if you don't have school-based childcare available. Hiring someone to stay home with a kid for a few hours would cost me way more... this way, I don't have to stress about homework or studying, which is a massive relief. Even now, with the schools closed due to the strike, it's working out perfectly—we can just coordinate with them whenever it suits my schedule...

Kate Morgan14 said:It’s a good setup, sure, but it’s also really the only affordable option if you don't have school-based childcare available. Hiring someone to stay home with a kid for a few hours would cost me way more... this way, I don't have to stress about homework or studying, which is a massive relief. Even now, with the schools closed due to the strike, it's working out perfectly—we can just coordinate with them whenever it suits my schedule...

I never said it wasn't worth it; I was just thinking about what a typical salary looks like here in America.