We're near Joe's Movement Emporium and I toured before signing my kid up for dance classes - their afterschool program was going on at the time and I was so impressed. Those kids are having exposure to such a fantastic ranch of dance and movement forms, homework help. It just looked like a blast, so enriching, and there's no way I could find that range of cultural offerings for that age group in a weekend class.

Onsite afterschool activities can also be fun, with your friends, but it's usually just some homework time in the library, playing on the playground, etc. It's fine, but it's kind of just babysitting, whereas the program at Joe's was an actual enrichment program and really it's own curriculum of impressive offerings, IMO.

We also use our school's after care program and have been very pleased with it. It is pretty popular and the spots fill up fairly quickly. We are moving schools next year and have also heard good things about that school's after care program. We are hoping we can get registered soon enough to get a spot.

We use the before and after care in the school. They remain open on half days but close when schools are closed. The program is ok. Like another poster said (maybe the same school), they have clubs on fridays, help with homework, divide by ages, go to the gym, library and cafe. It is cheaper than area schools. Check it out. If you or your child doesnt like it, then you just give a two weeks notice. On school closings, most take off or have a family member watch the child. You can always look into getting a highschooler to watch your child, as they are off too. We use a highschooler seinor to watch our child and our son loves when he comes over to watch him.

On half days in pg county does anyone know if the before and after care for the school keeps the kids or do parents have to pick kids up on half days?

We started with a center. Ds enjoyed it and did summer camp there. Then he decided he was tired of it and now is at the school. We keep the center for backup care for snowdats or schools out. Both are fine but I like the school aftercare more, they use the schools library, computer center and have clubs in Fridays. The center has wii and movies and less age separation. The school seems a little cheaper but you have to take off with or use backup for days off so it's about the same in the end.

We are new to pg county as well with not a lot of family support very close. I feel my second grader will miss things after school, however i cannot be off everytime school is out either. We are debating as well especially since they were out a lot during winter. What do other parents in pg county area do when school is out?

I think it depends on the program and you just need to check it out. I'd definitely check the more affordable in-school option out first. My experience with aftercare was that it was closed on days there was no school. Ours was an off-site program in the neighborhood.

Also, barring anything truly terrible happening, it's not the end of the world if you try it out, decide it's not a good fit, and change. It's aftercare.

This will be our first year in PG County Public Schools. I am debating between before and after care at the school or finding a center that will bring my child to school and pick up. Have you noticed the program to be organized at your school? What do you do when school is out or no school at all? I am wondering if it is worth just finding a center although the school program is more affordable?