Working parents of school aged kids (non teachers)

How do you handle the bus pick up and drop off ? What about summer? Kind of baffled for the future in my own life and wondered how others are doing it.

Re: Working parents of school aged kids (non teachers)

We have a neighbor across the street, who watches them before/after school. She watches a few kids in the neighborhood and walks them and picks them up at the bus stop.

This past summer we had a nanny, who we found through on Care.com. It worked out really well because she was a college student and ended up living across the street from us. Each week she would do different things with the boys like go to the park, zoo, movies, bowling, library.

Before that, we took the boys to before/after care at a daycare near a train station and they would bus the kids to local elementary schools. It was really convenient because the train was right there but on days where we had train issues we'd pay out the a$$ after 6:15pm.

Re: Working parents of school aged kids (non teachers)

I have a short commute and work hours that go by my kids schedule. There is no bus, we all leave at 8am, I drop them off and get to work by 8:30. I get out at 4:30. They are in aftercare that I pay for in the school that goes til 6 if I want it, but I usually get them by 5:30.

I am in a dead end job right now but am not willing to change my commute by much right now because I am fortunate to have a good commute/schedule that revolves around my kids!

Re: Working parents of school aged kids (non teachers)

I drop my DD off at school in the morning before work, around 8:45 and my mom gets her off the bus at 3:30 and watches her until I get home at 5:30.

Working parents of school aged kids (non teachers)

Thank you everyone. I didn't know much about before and after care. It's good to see that's an option

Re: Working parents of school aged kids (non teachers)

Before and after care cannot necessarily be counted on.

Luckily my job is flexible. I pushed my hours back from 8:00-4:30 (I work in Manhattan) to 9:00-5:30 (in reality I don't get here until 9:30, but I don't take my lunch, so no one gives me a hard time).

I drop my DS at school at 8:15 (no beforecare) and run to work. He does to go aftercare at his school from 3-6. I then have a baby sitter pick him up at 6. She meets me at my house around 7:30 with DS.

It sucks. But I am a single parent, I am sure it is much more do-able with two parents

ETA: Summer is the worst. I get hives thinking about it. DS went to a YMCA camp last year which worked out well because it had early hours and aftercare, but it ended at 6 (he will be 7 this summer) so Idk what I am going to do this year.

Message edited 2/11/2014 2:39:53 PM.

Re: Working parents of school aged kids (non teachers)

All districts are different. Mine offers before/after care, as well as Summer care. They are also open all school holidays, and even stay open when there is early dismissal due to weather. It's dirt cheap too. I don't have a use for it at this time, but it's nice to know it's there.

Message edited 2/11/2014 2:42:21 PM.

Re: Working parents of school aged kids (non teachers)

Working parents of school aged kids (non teachers)

We were using aftercare through the district for a while, but the price was $12 per day and most of the time my son was only there for a 1/2 or so before dh got there. So it wasn't really worth it. Then I met someone who was within the same school/bus zone and she offered to get him off the bus and a really low price ($10 week!). It was great. Now my oldest is nearing high school age and lets herself in and makes sure her 5th grade brother gets off the bus safely. It stops in front of our driveway so she doesn't have to wait outside for him either.

Re: Working parents of school aged kids (non teachers)

DS is only in Pre-K so he just goes mornings.

We pay by the day for pre-care ($11/day) and my ILs pick him up for the rest of the day unless DH is home.

We don't always use pre-care but it's great to know it's there.

Next year, in Kindergarten we will also do pre-care and then my ILs will pick him up when school ends for the day. My district also has an afterschool program that you pay for too if needed (not sure how much).

I'm excited because the pre-care is in the same place he goes now for Pre-K so he will know everyone already.

The only thing I'm NOT crazy about is that a bus will pick him up and drop him off at school.

It's only a short distance but it still makes me very uneasy.

I can't adjust my hours at work and am too far away anyway.

DH tries to be flexible if he can.

Re: Working parents of school aged kids (non teachers)

I put my son on the bus at 7:45 and i am at work at 8am. After school, my son goes to Project Most through scope (the after school program) until 4:10 when i pick him up. It runs until 6pm if needed.

during summer, he goes to camp 5 days a week.

Re: Working parents of school aged kids (non teachers)

The daycare center my DS went to is in our district and offers before and after care. (It's a Tutor Time.)

They also offer "fun days" on school vacation days and they have a summer long camp program. The standard hours are 8-6 for these. (If I am running late, they are available until 7. They also have early drop-off. The charges are extra for extended hours.)

This also works for me because my DD is in the daycare and I can drop and pick up in one place.

Also- if my district has a delayed opening, I can drop him off and still get to work somewhat on time. (We had a 2 hour delay last week, but the daycare was able to open on time.)

We can use this program through 5th grade (age 10?). I may try a camp program when he gets a little older, but I'm not changing it now because it works well for us and he is really happy there.

Districts will bus to and from daycare centers located within the district. You can enquire with them if there are any if this is something that interests you. (Buses come for all 4 elementary schools within our district.) The daycares also may extend beyond 6, while the school programs end at 6. (I can actually pick up by 6:15p without an extra charge.)

Re: Working parents of school aged kids (non teachers)

Before & aftercare thru the district. My mom & XMIL do the summer. Next year I'll have 2 in before/after care. My bank account is already crying

Re: Working parents of school aged kids (non teachers)

My boss was kind enough to let me flex my schedule so I can come in after I put DC on the bus. I work through lunch to make up the time. After school, they are in aftercare at the school.

Summer is camp all week.

Message edited 2/13/2014 10:03:21 PM.

Re: Working parents of school aged kids (non teachers)

I work PT 9-2....I put her on the bus at 8:45 and get to work by 9. In the summer she does a summer camp through the town that is 9-2 and I get to work a few min late and leave a few min early. I have been with the same office for 10 years so I have some flexibility. I could go to a new office and make more money, I am positive of that - but the flexibility is worth a lot more to me right now while she is still young.

Re: Working parents of school aged kids (non teachers)

I work in NYC as does my husband when he's not traveling so we have to use a nanny. Aftercare doesn't run that late.