How is it that the parents don't just let you bring the child home? Seems like you are either a poor fit geographically or the parent is a paranoid nutjob.
We reward the kids with a fast food run every once in a while, maybe Fridays can be your Mickey D's (or Organic whatever's or ChuckECheese or Ihop or Trampoline park) night.
How late are the local rec centers/YMCA open? Look for a place with an indoor gymnasium. Does Arlington even have rec centers?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This one

http://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/609258.page

cant believe theres 2 nannies in Arlington that have to take their charges to the library after exctended day at school.

PP are you a SAHM with nothing to do and has all the time in the world to go through forums all days? I think OP's question is a pretty common dilemma. I know a lot of parents work longer hours than expected, but would like the child to spend some time in libraries, since they are safe in the children's section and there is a little play area to chill out. It's an obvious choice - no brainer on that one.

Or it could be that OP here is the nanny and the other OP in the other post is the parent - both are trying to figure out a way for the kid.

Anonymous wrote:This one

http://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/609258.page

cant believe theres 2 nannies in Arlington that have to take their charges to the library after exctended day at school.

PP are you a SAHM with nothing to do and has all the time in the world to go through forums all days? I think OP's question is a pretty common dilemma. I know a lot of parents work longer hours than expected, but would like the child to spend some time in libraries, since they are safe in the children's section and there is a little play area to chill out. It's an obvious choice - no brainer on that one.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The arrangement is to bring the child to the public library after school, where I can read to her, until her parent (who works downtown) comes to pick her up, at about 7PM. But Fridays are a problem, as the public library closes at 5PM. Going home is not an option due to distance, so what do you suggest as an alternative Friday pick-up point. Playgrounds are not a good option as the weather may not be conducive at times.

Public libraries are not free child care!

They have reading rooms where you can leave your child with a librarian for an hour while she read stories and you can run to Starbucks or something. That's the closest thing they offer.

PP, you are joking, right?

Our library does, obivously can't speak for your local one. SOrry.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The arrangement is to bring the child to the public library after school, where I can read to her, until her parent (who works downtown) comes to pick her up, at about 7PM. But Fridays are a problem, as the public library closes at 5PM. Going home is not an option due to distance, so what do you suggest as an alternative Friday pick-up point. Playgrounds are not a good option as the weather may not be conducive at times.

Public libraries are not free child care!

They have reading rooms where you can leave your child with a librarian for an hour while she read stories and you can run to Starbucks or something. That's the closest thing they offer.

PP, you are joking, right?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The arrangement is to bring the child to the public library after school, where I can read to her, until her parent (who works downtown) comes to pick her up, at about 7PM. But Fridays are a problem, as the public library closes at 5PM. Going home is not an option due to distance, so what do you suggest as an alternative Friday pick-up point. Playgrounds are not a good option as the weather may not be conducive at times.

Public libraries are not free child care!

And yet libraries encourage parents to bring their children in to introduce them to books, with reading rooms and children's areas specifically for that purpose. She's not leaving the kid there unattended, she's reading to her and using the library as intended.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The arrangement is to bring the child to the public library after school, where I can read to her, until her parent (who works downtown) comes to pick her up, at about 7PM. But Fridays are a problem, as the public library closes at 5PM. Going home is not an option due to distance, so what do you suggest as an alternative Friday pick-up point. Playgrounds are not a good option as the weather may not be conducive at times.

Public libraries are not free child care!

They have reading rooms where you can leave your child with a librarian for an hour while she read stories and you can run to Starbucks or something. That's the closest thing they offer.

Which library does that??

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The arrangement is to bring the child to the public library after school, where I can read to her, until her parent (who works downtown) comes to pick her up, at about 7PM. But Fridays are a problem, as the public library closes at 5PM. Going home is not an option due to distance, so what do you suggest as an alternative Friday pick-up point. Playgrounds are not a good option as the weather may not be conducive at times.

Public libraries are not free child care!

They have reading rooms where you can leave your child with a librarian for an hour while she read stories and you can run to Starbucks or something. That's the closest thing they offer.