School closures/delays?

Wait, how much is that per month if you aren't using private insurance?!

So we've got income census 😁 plus sports and computer science.

I honestly hadn't even looked at it from that angle before 😁
But man, when I sit down and actually crunch the numbers on what we’re paying for daycare and all those little extracurricular activities for my kid $340, once you multiply that by twelve months, it’s definitely not pocket change
.
Also, quick question about books—what's the deal with the local scene here in Chicago?
Are they still free? Are we talking brand new copies or just used stuff?
Personally, I can't stand used books or anything checked out from a public library 🙂

Honestly, I didn't bother figuring that part out since it wasn't really my responsibility anyway 😁 😁

What do you mean you don't have to? If you're footing the bill, you better be doing the math. 😬

True, but I don't actually have to pay for those; I can just opt out of the sports and English classes 😁
And once she starts school, she'll end up doing some kind of sport anyway, though it'll probably be more expensive than what we're getting through daycare 🙂

Look, you can quit, but you haven't. 😁

That’s basically the price of admission. It's what it costs you.

I mean, you could skip out on paying for daycare too, but we all know you're still cutting that check. 😁

So, my little guy is supposed to start school next year. By September, he’ll be about six or seven months old—which sounds crazy, I know—but the kid is just a total whirlwind. He’s hyperactive, always on the move, and honestly? School isn't going to be his vibe. I know there's still plenty of time before then, but let's be real, I don't see him slowing down anytime soon.
Is there any way we can just push his start date back to the following year?

Well, I guess you're right, but then there's never really a direct comparison between daycare and school costs. I'm just looking at the raw numbers, the base price 😁
So, public school is basically free, whereas daycare starts at $650 minimum if you're going private 😁

I mean, schools usually have some kind of meal program or something 🤔
But yeah, if you’re just looking at the raw cost of daycare, I guess that makes sense. For me, the local municipal center runs about $450. It used to be closer to $600.

The meal is included, but you aren't obligated to take it or stay for the session.
Honestly, I know quite a few people who skip it because the food is actually great, yet their kids just won't eat at all. :/

After-school care runs about $67, and lunch is an extra 200. If your kid is staying for after-school programs, I’d say you should probably plan on packing some food too—the school lunches are decent enough for a midday meal, but the rest of the menu is pretty hit-or-miss.
As for books, they give you a bit of a mix of used and brand-new textbooks (like for music or science classes). The workbooks are new, and the English books are new as well—I'm fairly sure the math textbook is new too, since kids end up writing directly in them.

Harold Cook2 said:So, my little guy is supposed to start school next year. By September, he’ll be about six or seven months old—which sounds crazy, I know—but the kid is just a total whirlwind. He’s hyperactive, always on the move, and honestly? School isn't going to be his vibe. I know there's still plenty of time before then, but let's be real, I don't see him slowing down anytime soon.
Is there any way we can just push his start date back to the following year?

I think I'll hold off on making any big decisions about that until next year.
It’s amazing how much a kid can grow and mature in just two months—sometimes they accomplish more in that short window than they would have in an entire year. It really makes you realize how quickly they pick things up!
I feel the same way. Thinking about letting a kid stay late at daycare just for extra playtime doesn't make much sense to me—it’s just unnecessary. It's pretty much like pushing a student to start school early just to help balance out some budget cuts or save on finances. Neither approach really serves the child's best interests.

Richard Perez3 said:I mean, schools usually have some kind of meal program or something 🤔
But yeah, if you’re just looking at the raw cost of daycare, I guess that makes sense. For me, the local municipal center runs about $450. It used to be closer to $600.

It seems like a lot of parents are choosing not to sign their kids up for after-school programs lately. I’ve noticed more and more families opting to keep the kids at home instead of sending them to the local community center or school-run daycare.
I had this idea that the whole "modernized testing" approach to schooling would actually make sense in neighborhoods where kids only have after-school care during first grade. I figured if a second grader is staying until 8:00 PM—or even later sometimes—they’d be able to stay on their own without much trouble. But I was honestly surprised to find out it doesn't really work like that, mostly because they aren't even signing up for after-school programs back in first grade.
Beyond just the cost, I think there's a real issue with kids being stuck in school for way too long. Honestly, I’m inclined to agree with that point—especially when you consider that most kids don't even get a chance to head out to the playground around noon or 1:00 PM to just run around and burn off some energy.

It’s worth noting that things like language classes or sports programs are usually treated as extras in preschool—meaning you’re looking at an additional fee on top of tuition. But once the kids hit elementary school, those same activities are typically bundled right into the curriculum for free, covered under their standard language arts and PE requirements. 😕
I honestly don't quite get the logic behind claiming that starting school a year later actually saves money. It feels like a bit of a misunderstanding of how much things really cost. In reality, you’re just adding an entire extra year of expenses to the tally. If anything, pushing it back just stretches out the financial commitment.

It’s hardly the kind of workout they see in gym class; it's more just moving around while taking out the trash or tidying up the room

rowdypanther12 said:It’s hardly the kind of workout they see in gym class; it's more just moving around while taking out the trash or tidying up the room

I don't think that's the whole story, though.
Usually, all that restless energy comes from not having enough physical activity during the day. 😠

Personally, I see staying in preschool a little longer as a huge plus.
I mean, if you look at those daycare centers where kids get to go outside twice a day to run around and climb on things... they can stay active even without a formal sports program built into the curriculum.

Our school’s after-school program runs until third grade, which includes kindergarten. I'm working until 5, my husband's done by 3, and honestly, damn it, I really thought we could actually make the most of that schedule while we had the chance.

Susan James said:I don't think that's the whole story, though.
Usually, all that restless energy comes from not having enough physical activity during the day. 😠

Personally, I see staying in preschool a little longer as a huge plus.
I mean, if you look at those daycare centers where kids get to go outside twice a day to run around and climb on things... they can stay active even without a formal sports program built into the curriculum.

Either that, or because there isn't a proper recess. Or PE basically turns into kids chasing a soccer ball while the teachers just sit on the sidelines. Personally, I’m all for bringing in a dedicated gym teacher starting in first grade—someone who actually focuses on coordination and motor skills.

More and more people I know are opting out of the traditional school setup entirely. Honestly, I’d move closer to a school just so my kid could be home alone for a few hours after class. I realize how weird and scary that sounds to some people—leaving your kid home by themselves—but it’s worked wonders for us, and I haven't regretted it for a single second.

Besides, I’d probably push back enrollment anyway just to avoid dealing with this idiot system.😁

Around here, they basically offer full-day care
BUT
if enough parents don't actually sign up, they just won't bother setting it up—that’s how it went last year, anyway

The daycare provides breakfast (think cookies and tea), lunch, a fruit snack, some kind of midday meal, and then something milky, like yogurt, right before they head home. And then they usually just eat again once they get back to the house.
I mean, if I'm just splitting those meals up myself, I doubt it'll actually save me much money on groceries or anything
🤣

In our little daycare group, everyone follows the same timeline. A few kids headed off to elementary school last year, and since they were all born by April 1st, there's about 20 of them moving on to school now. They're all turning 7 this year, I guess.

Harold Cook2 said:So, my little guy is supposed to start school next year. By September, he’ll be about six or seven months old—which sounds crazy, I know—but the kid is just a total whirlwind. He’s hyperactive, always on the move, and honestly? School isn't going to be his vibe. I know there's still plenty of time before then, but let's be real, I don't see him slowing down anytime soon.
Is there any way we can just push his start date back to the following year?

I suspect that unless you have a legitimate, objective reason backed up by a pediatrician and a specialized evaluation team, you probably can't just request a deferment for a child born in January. 🙂(I think yours might be a couple of weeks younger than mine, if I recall correctly.)
To be honest, almost every kid seems to be running around like they're on caffeine when they're five. Don't sweat it too much.😁

silentraven6 said:Either that, or because there isn't a proper recess. Or PE basically turns into kids chasing a soccer ball while the teachers just sit on the sidelines. Personally, I’m all for bringing in a dedicated gym teacher starting in first grade—someone who actually focuses on coordination and motor skills.

More and more people I know are opting out of the traditional school setup entirely. Honestly, I’d move closer to a school just so my kid could be home alone for a few hours after class. I realize how weird and scary that sounds to some people—leaving your kid home by themselves—but it’s worked wonders for us, and I haven't regretted it for a single second.

Besides, I’d probably push back enrollment anyway just to avoid dealing with this idiot system.😁

🙂 That makes two of us!