Arlington Extended Day

[Anonymous]

We are enrolling our child in Arlington's extended day program in the fall when he enters first grade. I've looked at their website but I can't seem to get a feel for what the program itself is like. Where do they go? What is a typical afternoon like? Do they mix grade levels? Are there choices of activities they can do? Is it mostly running around playing or are there structured activities? Or did I miss something that will explain all this?

Mostly I just want to tell my son what to expect, since he is quite excited about the whole thing. If it turns out to be totally lame I may need to come up with a Plan B.

[Anonymous]

My DD was in Arlington's extended day program for kindergarten. She loved it (except the first 2 weeks -- rough transition). She made tons of friends, and had lots of activities to do. Kids are separated by age. They go to the playground part of the time. Inside they are provided a snack, and there are various board games, toys, cars/trucks, hula hoops, jump rope, arts and crafts, and lots of other stuff, to include free play. Kids can choose what they want to do. I was very pleased with it and my DD often wanted to stay there and play longer.

The extended day is at the school your child will attend -- kids are in a multi-purpose room, gym, or outside at the playground. It's running around (outside) or structured activities, depending on time of day, weather, and waht the child feels like doing. I think you son will enjoy it, esp. after he makes some friends who go to extended day.

[Anonymous]

Call up the school your child will attend and ask to speak to the extended day director.

Then, realize you will be calling when she's busy, so make an appointment to talk to her.

ED is great. My son loves it. He loves the director. He loves being with his friends. He gets pissed when we pick him up early. We put him in homework club, so he is monitored for a while while doing his work - they don't check it, so this only works if your kid can handle it, but in any event, this doesn't happen in kinder... - Of course, some schools have better programs than others.

The kinders are usually separated - at least until later in the year when they aren't so small.

[Anonymous]

OP here, thanks for the helpful responses! I really appreciate your taking a few minutes out of your day to help a stranger.