Schools have so many days off... What do working parents do?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:School is not child care

Great. So answer the question: What do working parents do for childcare?

Umm....daycare? nanny? au pair?

[Anonymous]

Full day preschools rarely have this many days off. My preschool has:
1 week in August
2 parent-teacher conference days
1 teacher development day
All Federal Holidays
3 early release days - Good Friday, NYE, day before Thanksgiving.

This is still more days off than when we were at a large center where conferences happened in the evening and they did Development on Columbus Day.

The only schools I’ve seen have so many days off as you describe are Montessori schools. Unfortunately the Montessori philosophy is not compatible with being a working parent unless you also have a nanny or au pair. Some schools begrudgingly offer before and after care to make it a full day, but still run a very abbreviated calendar.

Depends on your kid and your job on how you handle it. I work from home and my 4yr old is great at independent play. On days like parent conferences, I buy a new $10-20 Lego set and that buys me 3-4 hours of work time. I work longer the night before and that evening to make up the extra hours.

[Anonymous]

For parents of school age children, the YMCA, the county and area churches often run “school break” camps. I know Arlington parks and rec had a few options for 4/1 which is conference day. On early release day, if your kid is in after care, they just have more hours in after care.

For snow days / weather delays it pays to team up with a neighbor or two and rotate who has the kids and takes a day off.

[Anonymous]

Welcome to Northern Virginia!

[Anonymous]

It’s a nightmare. Our culture makes it as hard as possible for working parents.

[Anonymous]

Our school has camp in the summer and many special camp days during professional days. We get grandparents to help cover some days. We plan vacation weeks to coincide with other long gaps.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:School is not child care

Great. So answer the question: What do working parents do for childcare?

It's been answered repeatedly--they choose programs that don't close as often, usually called "daycares" rather than "preschools." The curriculum is often quite similar, but a daycare program will close less often because it's also explicitly serving as child care for working parents.

And it usually costs a lot more.

That was not our experience. Costs were comparable, hours were longer and there were very few days off each year.

[Anonymous]

I picked a preschool that followed the federal government in terms of holidays/closings. They have a couple teacher working days during the year but otherwise are only closed during federal holidays.

My preschool costs are pretty minor compared to other daycares. They opening hours are also 7am-6pm (not that kids are in that long).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Full day preschools rarely have this many days off. My preschool has:
1 week in August
2 parent-teacher conference days
1 teacher development day
All Federal Holidays
3 early release days - Good Friday, NYE, day before Thanksgiving.

This is still more days off than when we were at a large center where conferences happened in the evening and they did Development on Columbus Day.

The only schools I’ve seen have so many days off as you describe are Montessori schools. Unfortunately the Montessori philosophy is not compatible with being a working parent unless you also have a nanny or au pair. Some schools begrudgingly offer before and after care to make it a full day, but still run a very abbreviated calendar.

Depends on your kid and your job on how you handle it. I work from home and my 4yr old is great at independent play. On days like parent conferences, I buy a new $10-20 Lego set and that buys me 3-4 hours of work time. I work longer the night before and that evening to make up the extra hours.

This. OP here. It is a Montessori co-op program. I am torn. On one hand, I can see how my child would benefit from an education that cultivates concentration and self-learning. On the other hand, it may be difficult to make it work for three years with so many closed days. Plus little kids get sick often, which adds more leave days for parents.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:In the summer we put our child in camp - there are a few starting at age 3. During the year, we were fortunate to have flexible schedules to work from home or take the day off. If you don't have that flexibility, I would look into daycare.

Any recommendations on full-day camps for the 3s?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No idea.

What annoys me most are the obnoxious posters on this site who excoriate worried parents before snow days about how they should have a couple of back-up plans always in place.

As if most families could afford that or have a family/friends network in place.

I can't even begin to imagine how a single working parent juggles everything if the other party calls quit.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:School is not child care

This is a good thing to remember.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:School is not child care

Even if you are a SAHM, school IS childcare for small children. SAHMs run errands while their kids are in school, or do things around the house, or focus on babies. SAHMs do not wait outside the school with their car running for the entirely of school.

Sure.

So preschool is not child care for working parents with little flexibility.

That's what daycare is for.

[Anonymous]

DD's Montessori school is made up predominantly of families with two parents working full-time. Most children are in before/after care and then summer camp. YMMV.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:School is not child care

Great. So answer the question: What do working parents do for childcare?

It's been answered repeatedly--they choose programs that don't close as often, usually called "daycares" rather than "preschools." The curriculum is often quite similar, but a daycare program will close less often because it's also explicitly serving as child care for working parents.

And it usually costs a lot more.

That was not our experience. Costs were comparable, hours were longer and there were very few days off each year.

This. Plus when you consider that your kid *could* be there 12 hours a day, ours provides 2 snacks and lunch, has a state accredited pre-k program and only costs $200 a week (I'm outside the DMV bubble), it's pocket change. I have SAHM friends who pay the same $10k a year for preschool that goes 9-12 3 days a week September through May only.