improving the child care experience

Many households have two working parents, so it can be very difficult to ensure that parents are able to pick their child up from school at the end of the school day. If your work schedule does not align with your child's daily school schedule, a simple solution is to find an after-school child care program. When your child is enrolled in an after-school child care program, you can have the peace of mind of knowing that he or she will spend time in a safe and fun environment until you can pick him or her up. Use the following tips to help you find the right after-school child care program for your child:

Look at Staff-to-Child Ratio

When evaluating different after-school child care programs in your area, it is always a good idea to begin by looking at the program's staff-to-child ratio. It is essential to choose a program that employs enough staff members to provide adequate supervision for the children in their care. Staff-to-child ratios may also depend on different age groups—kindergarten-age children require a lower staff-to-child ratio than children in late elementary grades, who are more independent. A quality after-school child care program will ensure that they always maintain a safe staff-to-child ratio.

Program Structure

An after-school child care program involves much more than just having enough adults to supervise children. A good after-school program will be structured in order to ensure that the experience is enriching for the children in attendance. Look for an after-school child care program that includes after-school snacks, homework assistance, organized physical activity, and educational activities that align with your child's grade level and what he or she is doing in school. It is always a good idea to ask any questions that you may have about an after-school program's structure before you enroll your child.

Price

Most families are on a budget, so the price of a daily after-school program is something that most families must take into consideration. This is especially true if multiple children from one family will be attending the after-school program. Contact several after-school programs in your area to learn about their pricing and make sure that you understand exactly what the price includes. Some after-school programs also offer sibling discounts, which can make enrolling your children in the program much more affordable. 

For more information, reach out to after-school child care programs in your area today.