Monday, January 28, 2019

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.

If you're a newcomer in the community, there are several ways to get good suggestions for afternoon care. The school's secretary can be a good resource. Schools should be familiar with the available programs in the district. If your community has a recreation department, you should contact the director. Many recreation departments have after class programs for kids in the community. Most of them provide transportation for the kids. They pick them up from the various schools for free so the kids aren't walking on their own.

The YMCA is always a possibility. Most of them have programs for kids of various ages. There are some especially good mentoring and homework clubs that teens can get involved in. You can also try contacting local churches.

Talking to other parents is probably the best way to find good resources for your kids, especially when you have just moved into a community. Cafes, parks, and community centers are great places to find parents and kids who are willing to discuss the merits of different programs with newcomers. You will find a lot of information by going online. Social media can be a good resource once people know you are looking for kid friendly programs.

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:

Post a Comment