Aftercare is cruel to kindergarteners

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:School is cruel to children. I think I'll strap my son to my back so he's never apart from me. Never never never.

If my young kids had to be in school for 12 hours a day I would consider it cruel. 6 or 7 hours - sure but 12 - nope. I would homeschool if they had to be in school for 12 hours a day.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:School is cruel to children. I think I'll strap my son to my back so he's never apart from me. Never never never.

If my young kids had to be in school for 12 hours a day I would consider it cruel. 6 or 7 hours - sure but 12 - nope. I would homeschool if they had to be in school for 12 hours a day.

Who is saying anything about 12 hours? My kindergartner will be there from 7:30 a.m. until I pick her up at 3:15. She is only in the morning part of the "extended day" program.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP,

You could have phrased your post with less judgment, but I mostly agree with you. I'm a working Mom and my daughter started preschool last year. My husband and I adjusted our schedules so that we could both pick her up twice a week and my Mom/Dad picked her up on Fridays. It worked great until my Dad got sick. So we moved to aftercare.

On the one hand, I like it in warm weather because she got to go out and spend free time with her school friends. On the other, I didn't like that she spent 9 hours at school (we usually picked her up around 5:15). And I really didn't like it when the weather was not good, so those 2 hours were spent indoors.

This year she's in pre-K and we will not do after-care. I just don't like keeping her there so long and I don't want to pay for the luxury of her staying only an hour (the amount of time I'm comfortable with her staying in aftercare). I also don't like that the "quality" of care changes in aftercare.

During bad weather, wouldn't those 2 hours be spent indoors with you? Or would you just send her out in the rain/snow/freezing cold anyway? You really have some misplaced mommy guilt if this is what upset you.

No mommy-guilt and not sure why you had to phrase your comment in such a combative way. While I love her school, the side where aftercare is held looks a bit gloomy. And indoor play at school is usually spent watching a movie, doing an activity, etc. While great, my DD doesn't like those days in aftercare. She loves it when they get to go outside and play on the field and/or on the playground.

But it doesn't answer the question which was, if you were at home with her, what would YOU do with her during bad weather that would be infinitely more exciting than aftercare?

Maybe nothing at all. Or maybe we'll stop at Chik-fil-A on the way home and she can play in that playroom a bit. Or maybe she'd rather be at home with her 3 siblings and could spend that time together as a family. She loves being home with her toys, hanging out with us. Is that a crime? Can you not picture your child having fun at home where they are relaxed vs. cooped up in a schoolroom?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:School is cruel to children. I think I'll strap my son to my back so he's never apart from me. Never never never.

If my young kids had to be in school for 12 hours a day I would consider it cruel. 6 or 7 hours - sure but 12 - nope. I would homeschool if they had to be in school for 12 hours a day.

Who is saying anything about 12 hours? My kindergartner will be there from 7:30 a.m. until I pick her up at 3:15. She is only in the morning part of the "extended day" program.

That was OPs point - kids there for 11 hours.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP,

You could have phrased your post with less judgment, but I mostly agree with you. I'm a working Mom and my daughter started preschool last year. My husband and I adjusted our schedules so that we could both pick her up twice a week and my Mom/Dad picked her up on Fridays. It worked great until my Dad got sick. So we moved to aftercare.

On the one hand, I like it in warm weather because she got to go out and spend free time with her school friends. On the other, I didn't like that she spent 9 hours at school (we usually picked her up around 5:15). And I really didn't like it when the weather was not good, so those 2 hours were spent indoors.

This year she's in pre-K and we will not do after-care. I just don't like keeping her there so long and I don't want to pay for the luxury of her staying only an hour (the amount of time I'm comfortable with her staying in aftercare). I also don't like that the "quality" of care changes in aftercare.

During bad weather, wouldn't those 2 hours be spent indoors with you? Or would you just send her out in the rain/snow/freezing cold anyway? You really have some misplaced mommy guilt if this is what upset you.

No mommy-guilt and not sure why you had to phrase your comment in such a combative way. While I love her school, the side where aftercare is held looks a bit gloomy. And indoor play at school is usually spent watching a movie, doing an activity, etc. While great, my DD doesn't like those days in aftercare. She loves it when they get to go outside and play on the field and/or on the playground.

But it doesn't answer the question which was, if you were at home with her, what would YOU do with her during bad weather that would be infinitely more exciting than aftercare?

Maybe nothing at all. Or maybe we'll stop at Chik-fil-A on the way home and she can play in that playroom a bit. Or maybe she'd rather be at home with her 3 siblings and could spend that time together as a family. She loves being home with her toys, hanging out with us. Is that a crime? Can you not picture your child having fun at home where they are relaxed vs. cooped up in a schoolroom?

Of course I can picture your child having fun on a playground, that's why I chose an aftercare where kids spent a good amount of time outside (60 to 90 minutes), and then transitioned inside where they had a snack, listened to stories, and got to play or do art projects, or hang out. The question wasn't whether or not your child is having fun at home, it's why you think that fun is so radically different from the fun they'd have if they went to aftercare.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP,

You could have phrased your post with less judgment, but I mostly agree with you. I'm a working Mom and my daughter started preschool last year. My husband and I adjusted our schedules so that we could both pick her up twice a week and my Mom/Dad picked her up on Fridays. It worked great until my Dad got sick. So we moved to aftercare.

On the one hand, I like it in warm weather because she got to go out and spend free time with her school friends. On the other, I didn't like that she spent 9 hours at school (we usually picked her up around 5:15). And I really didn't like it when the weather was not good, so those 2 hours were spent indoors.

This year she's in pre-K and we will not do after-care. I just don't like keeping her there so long and I don't want to pay for the luxury of her staying only an hour (the amount of time I'm comfortable with her staying in aftercare). I also don't like that the "quality" of care changes in aftercare.

During bad weather, wouldn't those 2 hours be spent indoors with you? Or would you just send her out in the rain/snow/freezing cold anyway? You really have some misplaced mommy guilt if this is what upset you.

No mommy-guilt and not sure why you had to phrase your comment in such a combative way. While I love her school, the side where aftercare is held looks a bit gloomy. And indoor play at school is usually spent watching a movie, doing an activity, etc. While great, my DD doesn't like those days in aftercare. She loves it when they get to go outside and play on the field and/or on the playground.

But it doesn't answer the question which was, if you were at home with her, what would YOU do with her during bad weather that would be infinitely more exciting than aftercare?

Maybe nothing at all. Or maybe we'll stop at Chik-fil-A on the way home and she can play in that playroom a bit. Or maybe she'd rather be at home with her 3 siblings and could spend that time together as a family. She loves being home with her toys, hanging out with us. Is that a crime? Can you not picture your child having fun at home where they are relaxed vs. cooped up in a schoolroom?

My DD has no siblings at home to play with, so she'd rather be playing with her friends than just home with Mommy. Mommy, no matter how hard I try = boring, when compared to playing with other children!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
My children are worth more than outsourcing them to someone else for most of their waking hours.

So you homeschool, right?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
My children are worth more than outsourcing them to someone else for most of their waking hours.

So you homeschool, right?

You really must read more thoroughly. AGAIN, school does not encompass most of a child's waking hours. Your guilt is showing, though.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP,

You could have phrased your post with less judgment, but I mostly agree with you. I'm a working Mom and my daughter started preschool last year. My husband and I adjusted our schedules so that we could both pick her up twice a week and my Mom/Dad picked her up on Fridays. It worked great until my Dad got sick. So we moved to aftercare.

On the one hand, I like it in warm weather because she got to go out and spend free time with her school friends. On the other, I didn't like that she spent 9 hours at school (we usually picked her up around 5:15). And I really didn't like it when the weather was not good, so those 2 hours were spent indoors.

This year she's in pre-K and we will not do after-care. I just don't like keeping her there so long and I don't want to pay for the luxury of her staying only an hour (the amount of time I'm comfortable with her staying in aftercare). I also don't like that the "quality" of care changes in aftercare.

During bad weather, wouldn't those 2 hours be spent indoors with you? Or would you just send her out in the rain/snow/freezing cold anyway? You really have some misplaced mommy guilt if this is what upset you.

No mommy-guilt and not sure why you had to phrase your comment in such a combative way. While I love her school, the side where aftercare is held looks a bit gloomy. And indoor play at school is usually spent watching a movie, doing an activity, etc. While great, my DD doesn't like those days in aftercare. She loves it when they get to go outside and play on the field and/or on the playground.

But it doesn't answer the question which was, if you were at home with her, what would YOU do with her during bad weather that would be infinitely more exciting than aftercare?

Maybe nothing at all. Or maybe we'll stop at Chik-fil-A on the way home and she can play in that playroom a bit. Or maybe she'd rather be at home with her 3 siblings and could spend that time together as a family. She loves being home with her toys, hanging out with us. Is that a crime? Can you not picture your child having fun at home where they are relaxed vs. cooped up in a schoolroom?

Unlike you, I can not only picture - but I have seen with my own eyes - my kid having fun in both instances. Imagine it!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Some of us don't have a choice, asswipe! We have to work to put food on the table.

Name-calling is so tacky.

But really: What do you drive? What kind of home do you live in? What kind of neighborhood? What extras could you trim back on? Yeah, it's an inconvenient truth but you could do it.

I don't want to stay home with my children. I'm a cancer surgeon. I think I contribute more to society by being a mom AND a worker than by being a mom alone. I understand if that's not your situation, OP.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
My children are worth more than outsourcing them to someone else for most of their waking hours.

So you homeschool, right?

You really must read more thoroughly. AGAIN, school does not encompass most of a child's waking hours. Your guilt is showing, though.

Oh, really? What about all the mommies insisting that their snowflakes are asleep by 7? If school starts at 8am, they are up for what, 12 hours (7-7)? And school is 7 hours of that. Getting ready in the morning, which we all know is oh so fun, is what - 30 mins -1 hr? Bathtime/bedtime routine is another 30 mins. Homework if your kids are in early elementary is what, an hour? So you get the same number of quality hours with your snowflake as I do since I don't force my child to go to bed before primetime.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:A good aftercare is their neighborhood. With friends and free play.

A bad one is stressful.

Psst....most of the neighborhood kids are in aftercare.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Some of us don't have a choice, asswipe! We have to work to put food on the table.

Name-calling is so tacky.

But really: What do you drive? What kind of home do you live in? What kind of neighborhood? What extras could you trim back on? Yeah, it's an inconvenient truth but you could do it.

I don't want to stay home with my children. I'm a cancer surgeon. I think I contribute more to society by being a mom AND a worker than by being a mom alone. I understand if that's not your situation, OP.

WOOT! You go, cancer surgeon!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:School is cruel to children. I think I'll strap my son to my back so he's never apart from me. Never never never.

If my young kids had to be in school for 12 hours a day I would consider it cruel. 6 or 7 hours - sure but 12 - nope. I would homeschool if they had to be in school for 12 hours a day.

Because we will always need garbage men and yoga instructors. You Go Girl - show us the way.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Some of us don't have a choice, asswipe! We have to work to put food on the table.

A lot of people in this area just make the wrong choices. Really.

Getting a graduate degree and working in one's chosen field is a "wrong choice"?