Somewhat at a loss: Fairfax aftercare: Why ONLYN dojos?

[Anonymous]

Any advice/feedback/pointers welcome.

My kid is entering second grade at a McLean public elementary school. We're approximately number eighty billion on the SACC list.

For first grade, he did aftercare at a martial-arts dojo. I don't much like the place, but there seem to ONLY be martial-arts dojos that do actual pick-up-from-school aftercare in this area (we both work full-time in downtown DC, so we can't transport him from school to aftercare in the afternoon).

We really can't afford a nanny for afterschool care: running the numbers, we'd go from about 500/month for the dojo to ca. 1200/month for nanny afterschool care.

I'm boggled by the lack of afterschool programs in this county. Isn't there anything but martial-arts programs?

(Re. the dojo: it's okay, he likes the karate, but it is WAY over the top on its line-up-and-shut-up approach to dealing with kids and its teachers are pretty careless compared to other karate instructors he's had. It's also small/cramped/barren and the kids never get outdoors.)

Any recommendations? What do most of you working-full-time couples do for Fairfax aftercare?

[Anonymous]

Babysitter.

[Anonymous]

The La Petites & Kindercares aren't much better, but they also have transportation.

[Anonymous]

Hmm, well we found a neighborhood in home daycare in our school zone. And of course there are daycare centers with busses at most schools.

It really just depends. Some of the gymnastics places do pick ups, there might also be arts/theater places (there is one in Reston that we were hoping to use if we'd bought there).

It really just depends on your school zone.

[Anonymous]

We are in McLean, close to the Falls Church line.

The only public-school-based aftercare programs here are SACC. Again, we're way down the waitlist.

I've been googling like a fool, but there's nothing but martial-arts dojos that provide school pickup here. It's so odd that that is the ONLY thing going here. I'd love to have him in a program that emphasized outdoor time/play/just hanging out, instead of the half-careless, half-reform-school environment of these dojos.

If anyone knows of anything else in Falls Church or McLean, please do post.....TIA.

[Anonymous]

Vienna has the new Stemtree, but it's $$$.

[Anonymous]

have you talked to the school office? They might have suggestions.

Have you done a search on the Fairfax County daycare website for elementary aftercare in your school zone?
http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/childcare/search/

[Anonymous]

Yes, I did the search. Everything in the zip code is for younger kids (he is 7), plus a few private sitters, which I don't want to do/probably can't afford.

I wish he could go to the Westgate Childcare Center, which we're about two blocks away from, but they do pickup only from Kent Gardens and he doesn't go there. Aargh.

[Anonymous]

I thought McLean schools had the most after care w/ bus pickup options

ex http://itselementaryllc.vpweb.com/FAQs.html

[Anonymous]

I think in-home daycares might surprise you. They likely have a weekly rate for afterschool care. Our lady charged $10/hour, but we only used her 2 days a week for 3 hours total. $30 didn't break the bank.

[Anonymous]

Redeemer Lutheran and Chesterbrook Methodist each have after care. I think Chesterbrook Methodist also offers before care. Redeemer Lutheran just bought a bus so they can pick up students. Neighborhood rumor is the St. Dunstan's is also contemplating a after school program.

If your children do not go to the school these church's serve. Petition churches in your school's district to start one- organize one yourself.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think in-home daycares might surprise you. They likely have a weekly rate for afterschool care. Our lady charged $10/hour, but we only used her 2 days a week for 3 hours total. $30 didn't break the bank.

For whatever reason, there are very few home daycares in McLean.

[Anonymous]

very few is still a few, right? Still worth exploring

[Anonymous]

I agree it is very odd how the tae kwan do places seem to specialize in after-care. Is this something cultural?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I agree it is very odd how the tae kwan do places seem to specialize in after-care. Is this something cultural?

Its because if families work, they cannot bring their kids to classes so its a way to earn money as many have their classes after 5 or 6 when all parents can bring their kids vs. just SAHM's/nanny's/etc. It makes sense from a financial standpoint as they have the staff and space and have to pay for the space so they might as well use it.