where can MS kids go if I need childcare after school

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is op. My kid is special needs. Even though he needs minimal support at school with IEP, I don't know if I trust him walk home from school by himself. He will be fine once he is at home because he can watch screen for hours. If there are options, I want him stay at school after school clubs, but I doubt they have it available for Mon to Fri till 5:30pm or 6pm. I also don't mind if he get bused to somewhere doing activities with some supervision Mon to Fri. I don't want him randomly walking on the street or get bullied. He has no friends.

I have not given him a phone yet because I don't trust him on social media or messages.

Check out the local community centers. Get him a flip phone, used for calls only. Our middle school absolutely had plans and options for kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is op. My kid is special needs. Even though he needs minimal support at school with IEP, I don't know if I trust him walk home from school by himself. He will be fine once he is at home because he can watch screen for hours. If there are options, I want him stay at school after school clubs, but I doubt they have it available for Mon to Fri till 5:30pm or 6pm. I also don't mind if he get bused to somewhere doing activities with some supervision Mon to Fri. I don't want him randomly walking on the street or get bullied. He has no friends.

I have not given him a phone yet because I don't trust him on social media or messages.

Maybe there is a reliable older/retired person in your neighborhood who you could pay to pick him up in the car rider line and drop him at home.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is op. My kid is special needs.

I have not given him a phone yet because I don't trust him on social media or messages.

Please stop describing your child like that. Your child HAS special needs.

You can get a limited phone that can call/text only you and not have all the other apps.

[Anonymous]

What middle school? I have some thoughts but they are pretty geographically specific.

[Anonymous]

Be careful with the MoCo rec centers. A lot of delinquents hang out there. We had a family member who used to go to the rec center after school to hang out for the same reason the OP posted. Next thing we know, his personality changed and he started getting into street life.

Come to find out much later, that the older boys at the rec center pushed him to do weed and pulled him into all kinds of horrendous street activity.

OP, I would recommend looking to your network. Start with extended family, and if that's not an option, neighbors.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:For MS kids, where can I send them if I need childcare after school hours Mon to Fri. I and DH work at office, so no one will be at home till after 6pm.

Where and what do your MS kids do after school if both parents work?

home

[Anonymous]

They go home and do chores and homework.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is op. My kid is special needs. Even though he needs minimal support at school with IEP, I don't know if I trust him walk home from school by himself. He will be fine once he is at home because he can watch screen for hours. If there are options, I want him stay at school after school clubs, but I doubt they have it available for Mon to Fri till 5:30pm or 6pm. I also don't mind if he get bused to somewhere doing activities with some supervision Mon to Fri. I don't want him randomly walking on the street or get bullied. He has no friends.

I have not given him a phone yet because I don't trust him on social media or messages.

Check out the local community centers. Get him a flip phone, used for calls only. Our middle school absolutely had plans and options for kids.

Not sure if this is enough but if you get a keypad lock for your front door it can text you when his code is used so you can be sure he got home.

[Anonymous]

Have you asked the school? My kids school has an option to bus the kids to a local community center where they have activities. I don't know details, but I know it's available.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Be careful with the MoCo rec centers. A lot of delinquents hang out there. We had a family member who used to go to the rec center after school to hang out for the same reason the OP posted. Next thing we know, his personality changed and he started getting into street life.

Come to find out much later, that the older boys at the rec center pushed him to do weed and pulled him into all kinds of horrendous street activity.

OP, I would recommend looking to your network. Start with extended family, and if that's not an option, neighbors.

Agree with this. We let our DS do this for a while, and the kids were definitely smoking weed and shoplifting from one of the nearby stores. Lesson learned.

Sure, kids in MS are old enough to stay home alone, but they don't always make good decisions. And are heavily influenced by their peers. Agree with the PP. Try to find a good option that offers some adult supervision, if possible.

[Anonymous]

I would see if you can hire a HS age sitter to hang with him.
My kid is in 5th so going to MS in Sept. we’ve had a HS sitter the last 3 years for her, she does need driving to activities. We only need the care twice a week but it’s worked out. We found the sitters through our pool. Will be doing the same thing next year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Be careful with the MoCo rec centers. A lot of delinquents hang out there. We had a family member who used to go to the rec center after school to hang out for the same reason the OP posted. Next thing we know, his personality changed and he started getting into street life.

Come to find out much later, that the older boys at the rec center pushed him to do weed and pulled him into all kinds of horrendous street activity.

OP, I would recommend looking to your network. Start with extended family, and if that's not an option, neighbors.

which rec center? My 11yo goes to Praisner on Fridays sometimes for their youth basketball time. He loves it. Walks there with a friend and I walk and meet them. There are plenty of staff members and I’ve never seen anything like this happening.

[Anonymous]

I apologize if this was already suggested. I didn't read all the replies. If there is a KidsCo or before/after school program at a neighboring elementary school, they may be able to help.

I know the MCPS bus at the Damascus KidsCo used to pick up kids before school and take them to Baker and then drop them off afterschool. This was just for students in 6th grade though - because I think their age tops out at 12. KidsCo I believe arranged all that with the school. This was only a few years ago (my kiddo is in 8th) so it might still be an option.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A middle school-aged child is perfectly capable of coming home and watching TV for a couple hours.

They're also perfectly capable of doing other stuff they shouldn't be doing when they are home alone.

No different than if they were in high school. Do we have after school babysitters until 18?

Give me a break

My 7th grader is already babysitting

[Anonymous]

Private school. Sports, clubs, and activities are all late in the day and run after school. These are mandatory at the school unless the kid opts for PE, which not many kids do. The PE kids are typically the ones that are highly competitive at a sport not offered at the middle school level, e.g., gymnastics, ballet, martial arts, etc.

I pick my daughter up at 5; she gets dropped off at 720.