Concerns About Early Pickup Expectations and Child Comfort at After-School Program

[Anonymous]

I picked up my 3-year-old from after-school 15 minutes before it ends at 6:00, and the teachers have already dressed him in a winter jacket and hat, put on his backpack, and placed him in a small room near the entrance. The door of the room was wide open, with no activities to keep him and the other 2 children engaged while they waited for pickup.

In addition to comfort and safety concerns, I was appalled by the fact that the teachers wouldn't even spare the children a moment to collect their belongings after there are only a few of them left. They seem so eager to leave and cannot even pretend to care for poor kids whose parents cannot pick them up before 5:30.

I have to work, and traffic in DC can be a nightmare—I physically cannot accommodate their expectations.

Is this normal? The provide is Flex, the school is Stevens

[Anonymous]

Normal

[Anonymous]

Their expectations? You’re projecting. As long as you pick up by 6 you’re fine. Of course they’re going to get them ready - even if you picked kid up at dismissal this is what happens.

[Anonymous]

They are probably rushing out to get their own kids.

[Anonymous]

your child needs activities whike waiting for pickup? you sound judgmental and entitled

[Anonymous]

I hated Flex when they were at our school. I don't know that it's actually that abnormal in the last 15 minutes, especially if there are only 3 kids left. But I HATED Flex. They were awful in myriad ways.

[Anonymous]

What exactly are the “ safety concerns” OP?


Perhaps they did “spare the children a moment to collect their belongings” — prior to and in the process of getting them ready to be picked up as scheduled. Were you expecting the teachers to wait until someone arrived for each kid to begin this process? “Poor kids”? Really? In any case, If you can’t “physically accommodate their expectations “ — which, as far as I can tell, are about picking up your kid on time, then perhaps this particular program won’t work well for you. And, yes, this is normal. The teachers probably are eager to leave. Just like you, they have scheduled responsibilities and appointments.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I hated Flex when they were at our school. I don't know that it's actually that abnormal in the last 15 minutes, especially if there are only 3 kids left. But I HATED Flex. They were awful in myriad ways.

How come they are still providing their services? How come parents do not care enough to complain?

[Anonymous]

They probably have parents complain when the kids are not ready to go when they arrive to pick them up.

[Anonymous]

If your child is safe and able to sit around for 15 minutes bored while they wait for you, I’d pick my battles.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What exactly are the “ safety concerns” OP?

well, the kids are wondering around and anyone can get through the front door -one ring the gaurd opens to everyone has an easy acess to kids- we cannot pretend that school shootings do not happen.

Perhaps they did “spare the children a moment to collect their belongings” — prior to and in the process of getting them ready to be picked up as scheduled.

again I arrived 15 minutes BEFORE

Were you expecting the teachers to wait until someone arrived for each kid to begin this process?
yes the same if I were to pick my child at 5:00pm


“Poor kids”? Really? In any case, If you can’t “physically accommodate their expectations “ — which, as far as I can tell, are about picking up your kid on time, then perhaps this particular program won’t work well for you. And, yes, this is normal. The teachers probably are eager to leave. Just like you, they have scheduled responsibilities and appointments.

Well, as I am told the aftercare should run till 6:00 the teachers should not have any expectations to leave before 6.

[Anonymous]

Flex does kinda suck, but this doesn't seem out of line to me. It's fine for kids to learn to wait patiently, and some parents really appreciate their kid being ready to go.

The reason schools use Flex is Flex is less expensive. They are able to take the voucher funding from OSSE and many other providers aren't. I'm not sure why that is. But that is the reason, since you asked.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I hated Flex when they were at our school. I don't know that it's actually that abnormal in the last 15 minutes, especially if there are only 3 kids left. But I HATED Flex. They were awful in myriad ways.

How come they are still providing their services? How come parents do not care enough to complain?

Our parents did complain. They aren't at our school anymore as a result.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What exactly are the “ safety concerns” OP?

well, the kids are wondering around and anyone can get through the front door -one ring the gaurd opens to everyone has an easy acess to kids- we cannot pretend that school shootings do not happen.

Perhaps they did “spare the children a moment to collect their belongings” — prior to and in the process of getting them ready to be picked up as scheduled.

again I arrived 15 minutes BEFORE

Were you expecting the teachers to wait until someone arrived for each kid to begin this process?
yes the same if I were to pick my child at 5:00pm


“Poor kids”? Really? In any case, If you can’t “physically accommodate their expectations “ — which, as far as I can tell, are about picking up your kid on time, then perhaps this particular program won’t work well for you. And, yes, this is normal. The teachers probably are eager to leave. Just like you, they have scheduled responsibilities and appointments.

Well, as I am told the aftercare should run till 6:00 the teachers should not have any expectations to leave before 6.

Right, they want to leave at 6. Not after you show up at and it takes a while for you to collect your kid's stuff and get him out of there. Actual 6. Because they are busy just like you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If your child is safe and able to sit around for 15 minutes bored while they wait for you, I’d pick my battles.

Today, he was running through the hallways. How is it that if I pick up my child at 5:00, I cannot get past security and must wait for my child to be brought to me due to safety concerns, but after 5:45, those concerns seem to disappear?