We do 1 or 2 days with an activity (swim or ballet, whoever takes her works in the car or at a coffee shop nearby). The other days, I’ll spend 30-40 minutes hanging out with her while she has a snack and downloads her day, and then she does art or solo playtime until DH finishes up and can hang with her.

To respond to the PP who asked why we don’t do aftercare— we actually did aftercare but it’s just not very good at our school— insufficient playground supervision, too many coloring pages instead of real arts & crafts, and too many screens. We like the socialization but it’s low quality care and we want a better environment for her. So we split the difference with activities she enjoys and time at home with us. Neither of us ever winds up doing childcare when we’re working because we can trade off and she is self-sufficient enough to spend time on her own as well.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why do working parents think they don't need aftercare? Its not your kid's fault for not wanting to be along and entertain himself.

Interesting, I personally think it's better that the child go home and still have access to parents appropriately but be at home vs an aftercare situation.

Not if the parents are working. I think parents of young kids who work don’t do aftercare or some other planned activity after school for most days of the week just don’t want to spend the money - they don’t think that what they’re doing is “better” for the kid, they think it’s better for their pocketbook. I’m not saying that’s not valid but let’s not pretend the parent thinks the kid is better off with that arrangement.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why do working parents think they don't need aftercare? Its not your kid's fault for not wanting to be along and entertain himself.

I think the question should be “how can people be actually working when they are watching a young child?”
I have a job with a lot of flexibility over the summer, so my kids aren’t in camp every single week, but that means I’m working at night after they’re in bed.

They can't. The child is either on screens, or the parent is not focused on work which is not fair to the employer. I get that most parents don't care though.

Anonymous wrote:Why do working parents think they don't need aftercare? Its not your kid's fault for not wanting to be along and entertain himself.

I think the question should be “how can people be actually working when they are watching a young child?”
I have a job with a lot of flexibility over the summer, so my kids aren’t in camp every single week, but that means I’m working at night after they’re in bed.

They come home at 3pm, have a snack and then play either outdoors or in our basement which is really decked out for fun. Some play dates and sports activities also are involved. I avoid screen time but some times it's impossible. We tend to have an early dinner around 5:30-6 so the after school period is not very long. If they have homework we try to do that after they have a snack.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why do working parents think they don't need aftercare? Its not your kid's fault for not wanting to be along and entertain himself.

Interesting, I personally think it's better that the child go home and still have access to parents appropriately but be at home vs an aftercare situation.

Unless there is a playdate going on or you have siblings who love to play together your kids want your full attention. Not just the knowledge that you are nearby.

I mean, do you enjoy it when your DH is home but off in a corner on his phone?

I definitely think it’s good to have downtime.

We have dd in ballet 2x a week. They pick up from school so that’s easy.

She colors and does art on other days. She also likes playing with neighborhood kids and doesn’t need to be watched like she did a few years ago.

When I was a kid, I would come home and watch tv. I also roamed the neighborhood. I was a latch key kid.

I don’t work but I have 3 kids. The kids all get a snack and wind down. My kid(s) have gone to play dates. I have hosted play dates. I took them to the pool. My 2 older kids started tennis today. Tennis starts at 4. I try not to do any screens during the week.

Anonymous wrote:Why do working parents think they don't need aftercare? Its not your kid's fault for not wanting to be along and entertain himself.

Interesting, I personally think it's better that the child go home and still have access to parents appropriately but be at home vs an aftercare situation.

Why do working parents think they don't need aftercare? Its not your kid's fault for not wanting to be along and entertain himself.

tv time, snack, hw, pool, play with toys inside, bike rides, walk, quick outings for drive thru icecream/snack, quick grocery store outing, practice gymnastics, art/art supplies....

indoor bounce house set up ( I did this during the pandemic )

the ideas are endless but nothing will replace you taking the time with him for quality outside time....

If you can't go outside I think you're going to need to set up activities for them like playdoh, or magnatiles, or legos, or kinetic sand, or whatnot. If those types of things won't work, then I think you are probably a better candidate for aftercare.

Mine is currently whining because I won't let her stare at YouTube, and she also wants a snack

I'm looking for something low key for her to do - we had a tutor come once a week last year (she wasn't reading), and thinking piano lessons this year. Just so there is at least a day or two of structure.
Then playdates, and I may work from the park now and then. Or whining. I suspect there will be more whining.

If they come right home and don't do aftercare. Looking for ideas for activities that don't require a ton of parental involvement since we're working from home with flexible jobs, but not flexible enough to go to the playground EVERY day. Some days we can send DC outside with neighbor kids, and not opposed to some screen time, but DC's behavior goes off the rails with too much TV. What does everyone's kids do in those afterschool hours?