after care costs at private schools

[Anonymous]

Why are the after care costs so high? We're looking at $10 per hour. The schools are only watching older kids in large groups. Summer camps are cheaper.

[Anonymous]

10/hr is not that bad considering the alternatives. Finding an after school nanny/caregiver costs 15/hr. on average. Often, you have to find someone new as college students have different schedules each semester and nannies often want more hours and may leave you if they get a better offer with more hours. Also, you are getting the added benefit of knowing that the kids have playground time and friends to play with at the school's aftercare program vs. having a nanny who may not offer that on a consistent basis. I was relieved to not have to keep our nanny on once we started school and am happy to pay the 10/hr. when I need it (and I don't have to pay it when we don't).

[Anonymous]

My point is really that they should be able to do it cheaper. They seem to figure out what the parents options are and go from there with the charges. If summer camps are lees, they should be able to meet that. The schools are organizations, not for profit corporations.

[Anonymous]

supply and demand ladies. supply and demand.

[Anonymous]

The after school program that our child attends is exceedingly well staffed and has study hall options for older kids and a wide variety of crafts and activities for all children.

For working parents, it is the only way to ensure a well monitored, but 'free form' means by which the kids can explore whatever interests them on any given day.

Yes, it may be more expensive than a college kid or nanny (I doubt that given a nanny would want full-time commitments), but the opportunity to hand out with kids both older and younger is the closest to the free-form afterschool time I had as a kid, with the flexibility so that working parents can, well, work.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The after school program that our child attends is exceedingly well staffed and has study hall options for older kids and a wide variety of crafts and activities for all children.

For working parents, it is the only way to ensure a well monitored, but 'free form' means by which the kids can explore whatever interests them on any given day.

Yes, it may be more expensive than a college kid or nanny (I doubt that given a nanny would want full-time commitments), but the opportunity to hand out with kids both older and younger is the closest to the free-form afterschool time I had as a kid, with the flexibility so that working parents can, well, work.

Another Beauvoir - ABC parent by chance? If not, your glowing review of your program applies equally to the after school program at Beauvoir, particularly as they've revamped everything this year with "Mr. Hugh," err, Hugh Squire, who is a delightful, creative, and very responsive after school director.

My only gripe, maybe it's more of an observation, is that most of the families (and yes, of course, I know there are exceptions to the rule so don't hit that post-reply key just yet) with children there are either single moms, or two working parent families who necessarily must both work to scrape together enough to meet tuition obligations. So the fact that Beauvoir charges as much as they do for the after school program is ironic, but perhaps unavoidable given the overhead. By the way, based on my calculations, even though ABC/after-school prices may seem high -- it still comes out cheaper than a college kid or nanny, and is certainly less complicated logistically and better enrichment-wise for your kids.