Why does no one talk about before-care programs?

[Anonymous]

Whenever I see talk of SACC here, people are always talking about after-care. Is before-care structured much differently, like as a holding-pen vs. the more structured activities in the PM?

I'm wondering b/c although my daughter will be in both, she'll be in before-care when it opens at 7.15 till school starts at 9, vs. only in aftercare for maybe 45 mins max, and now I feel worried that before-care is sub-par.

Thanks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Whenever I see talk of SACC here, people are always talking about after-care. Is before-care structured much differently, like as a holding-pen vs. the more structured activities in the PM?

I'm wondering b/c although my daughter will be in both, she'll be in before-care when it opens at 7.15 till school starts at 9, vs. only in aftercare for maybe 45 mins max, and now I feel worried that before-care is sub-par.

Thanks.

I don't think it is used as frequently. That may be the reason.

[Anonymous]

It's the same. Not as active, mostly quiet reading and maybe a few games. I think at most schools, kids are there for a very long time, so less likely to start more-involved activities. I know at our school there are not nearly as many kids in the program.

[Anonymous]

Our DS goes to am SACC. School starts at 9:15. The kids have the option of going to the gym at 8. They play an organized game. When it's nice they play an organized game outside. DS is high energy, so burning off some of the energy before school helps him concentrate better in class. They also do art projects. They've been weaving bookmarks lately. I send DS with breakfast, so he can sit and eat there before going to the gym. We really like the program. We tried foreign language for awhile, but DS begged to go back to SACC.

[Anonymous]

for us it is the same teachers there in the afternoon, but less kids and maybe a teacher or two less. The waitlist is much smaller since less people need it. Ours still has a lot of activities, the teacher has the kids in the gym playing things they do in the afternoon. Morning SACC was great for our son, when in K and now first he gets to run out energy he wouldn't if he were home in the morning. I think it helped him be able to handle a full day with limited recess. We like both.