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When the school bell rings signifying the end of the normal class day, the dilemma of what to do next with school-aged children haunts many parents working outside the home. The hours immediately after-school until early evening are often the most difficult ones for working families. Children in the elementary grades are too young to care for themselves and children in upper grades often lack the maturity to remain alone in the home for extended periods of time. Quality after-school programs, although often difficult to find, can meet the needs of parents and children by providing a healthy alternative to the increasingly growing number of "latchkey children."
To meet the increasing demand, many school districts have instituted onsite after-school programs. Still, the demand for these programs outstrips the supply by a rate of about 2-to-1. Increasingly, communities are striving to create quality after-school programs. Finding an after-school program that meets the needs of parents and children may not be easy. Knowing what to look for in a program can help you make better choices that may benefit the entire family.
Don't wait until school starts to look for an after-school program. Begin researching possible sites as early as possible. Good places to start your search include your local school district, local YMCA or YWCA, childcare centers (increasingly centers that once provided only infant and preschool care are now including before- and after-school programs), churches, local colleges and departments of recreation. Talk to other parents in your neighborhood and ask where their children are being cared for. If possible, take your child to visit an after-school program before committing to one.
The average annual cost for a school-aged child in an urban area is over $3,000 and over $2,500 in rural areas.
What to look for and what to ask
The best after-school programs provide safe and inviting environments. Consider the following when evaluating a program:
- Determine if the program is licensed or accredited. Although not an absolute indicator of a good after-school program, this information can help you determine whether certain state and federal guidelines and regulations are followed (i.e., background checks on employees, building inspections, fire safety requirements).
- If the after-school program is not at your child's school, you will need to arrange for transportation. Many off-site programs offer pick up or drop off services. Others may require that someone bring the child to the center. Check with your school district to see if they have bus transportation to after-school facilities. Have these arrangements worked out well in advance.
- Find out about the program's security procedures. How are children dismissed and who is permitted to pick them up? What happens if a parent is late?
- Inspect the building and grounds. Are they clean and in good repair?
- Interview the staff whenever possible. Observe the staff interacting with the children. Inquire about ratios of staff to children. While older children require less supervision than younger ones, there should be enough staff members to adequately supervise and interact with older children.
- Do you agree with the discipline practices? These practices should be clear and consistent so that both children and parents are aware of them. Review the center's policies with your children before they attend the program to avoid embarrassments and disappointments throughout the year.
- Ask how children will be grouped. Group sizes should be manageable. Children should be placed with other children close in age and development.
What activities are offered?
After-school programs should have adequate physical space for both indoor and outdoor activities. Consider the following:
- Good after-school programs offer reinforcement and enrichment of the academic learning that takes place in your child's classroom. This means not only that the after-school program offers the child assistance with homework, but also should offer access to libraries and computers, along with chances for learning through stimulating, age-appropriate activities.
- Many after-school programs offer music and art instruction on a weekly basis. There may be an extra fee for these services.
- Passive activities such as watching television and viewing videos should be limited.
- Children who have spent an entire day in the classroom need to be engaged in activities that allow them to be physically active. Look for after-school programs with access to playgrounds and open space. Many programs offer supervised athletic activities.
- Children also need time to themselves. A quality after-school program allows time for children to be involved in their own self-directed activities.
Health and safety concerns
Attention to health and safety issues is essential. Consider the following:
- Ask if staff members have training in first aid and CPR.
- Determine the center's policy for treating children who become ill or injured and those who develop a communicable disease.
- Inquire about snacks and meals. Good after-school programs provide nutritious snacks and promote sound nutritional practices among the children using the center.
For many school-aged children, a good after-school program provides a structured, safe and supervised place to be. During these hours, children should continue to learn, have fun and build friendships with adults and peers alike. Take the time to adequately research and select a program that meets the needs of everyone in your family.
Once your child starts an after-school program, talk to your child about what they are doing and how they are enjoying their time spent at the center. When picking up your children, take the extra time to interact with the staff and ask about how your child is doing.
This article was reviewed and updated June 2007.
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