For those who work 8 – 5 M-F and have school age children at home, finding before and after childcare can be a challenge. Children go to school from 9 to 3:30, or in my case, 9:17 – 3:22. And I work 8 – 5. Someone has to be with my child from 8 – 9:17 and 3:22 – 5.
Children have to be in someone’s care until they are around 11 years old. They start school around age 5.
Finding daycare for only 3 hours a day (and a split 3 hours) is hard. Having a child part time in a childcare center ties up a space that could be used for a full day.
And the fees associated with before and after care can range from $300 – $550/month. Again, because it uses a full space, some daycare centers have no alternative but to charge the full fee.
Many schools do not have a program within the school. I think all schools should offer this. Even if I had to pay for it.