There are winter camps including sports camps as PPs have said.

College kids in the neighborhood may be happy to have this as a short-term babysitting job - many are home and looking for something to do.

Regarding eloping and hiding from staff, I am theoretically NT and I did this at least 3 times during my childhood because I was smart enough and mad at the staff and mad at my parents.

Once I just walked home from school and lay down in my backyard until my mom came home. Twice I was playing in other areas of the school without permission but didn't go anywhere dangerous. I knew not to put myself in harm's way or wander off. But I was "missing".

I am the person above whose younger kid almost got kicked out of school-based aftercare for verbal fighting and needing to be fully separated from another kid. A lot of the staff were pretty ineffective there. But it was as safe as regular school, had continuity with school friends, and didn't require transport intra-day. So I stuck with it.

I understand as a working mom that we need aftercare and it won't be perfect. But that can mean we are sometimes putting our kids in the hands of neglectful and clueless people even at supposedly reputable institutions. I'll never forget the day I got a day camp injury report handed to me by a counselor who got my son's name completely wrong and then insisted to my face that was my son's name (like calling him Steven when his name was Mark).

It helps if you can stay very in touch with your kid's opinions and actual experience with various programs on a daily basis. Your sympathy may have some tempering effect on your kid's anger.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is he medicated? If not, it sounds like he needs to be stat.

Yes he is. I am asking for care options though not input on how to care for my child.

I have a feeling you wouldn’t do this to a mother in your income bracket and I don’t appreciate it.

Yikes take it down a notch. It was just a question Janice

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is he medicated? If not, it sounds like he needs to be stat.

Yes he is. I am asking for care options though not input on how to care for my child.

I have a feeling you wouldn’t do this to a mother in your income bracket and I don’t appreciate it.

lol alll the income brackets should medicate for ADHD. concerta is free on medicaid AND they pay for the name brand, so no shortages! hooray!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is he medicated? If not, it sounds like he needs to be stat.

Yes he is. I am asking for care options though not input on how to care for my child.

I have a feeling you wouldn’t do this to a mother in your income bracket and I don’t appreciate it.

How are we supposed to know what your income bracket is? 🙄 lol

Hey OP, this probably isn't helpful for winter break, but Urban Adventure Squad offers great programming for older elementary/middle schoolers on days out of school (and has a scholarship/low cost option based on need).

https://www.urbanadventuresquad.org/fulldayprograms.html

Anonymous wrote:Boys Club
YMCA
Rec Centers
Tae Kwon Do

all have winter break camps where I am in NOVA. I am sorry this is happening.

Thank you! Will reach out to all. We tried YMCA once and I wasn’t impressed with staff.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is he medicated? If not, it sounds like he needs to be stat.

Yes he is. I am asking for care options though not input on how to care for my child.

I have a feeling you wouldn’t do this to a mother in your income bracket and I don’t appreciate it.

My income bracket is probably the same or similar to yours. Medication and the proper dosage is the only thing that helped my son. If his meds aren’t working, don’t waste time at his age waiting for them to work. Move into another type. Nobody will take an
out of control kid and you’ll be in the same spot a week later. GL to you.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is he medicated? If not, it sounds like he needs to be stat.

Yes he is. I am asking for care options though not input on how to care for my child.

I have a feeling you wouldn’t do this to a mother in your income bracket and I don’t appreciate it.

We don’t know your income bracket. Chill (DP)

Also, I think Montgomery County Recreation has Kids Day Out programs that might work

Kids After Hours has a Travelin' Teens program for winter break (all local trips)

Anonymous wrote:Is he medicated? If not, it sounds like he needs to be stat.

Yes he is. I am asking for care options though not input on how to care for my child.

I have a feeling you wouldn’t do this to a mother in your income bracket and I don’t appreciate it.

Boys Club
YMCA
Rec Centers
Tae Kwon Do

all have winter break camps where I am in NOVA. I am sorry this is happening.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Send him to a relative's house? Southwest he is old enough to fly by himself.

If he stayed with anyone in our family he’d come back addicted to meth.

Would he benefit from an organization like Big Brothers? That won't solve your immediate childcare need, but ... it sounds like he needs some more solidly good people in his life in addition to you, and that might fit the bill.

Is he medicated? If not, it sounds like he needs to be stat.