Defining your before and after school needs

What are your family's and your child's unique needs? Reviewing these questions will help you decide what's important.

What is our primary reason for seeking a program? Do we need regular before school or after school child care, or are we looking for enrichment classes?

What are our scheduling needs? Are we looking for before school and/or after school care? Do we need 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 days? What specific hours are we trying to cover? Does our child's school have monthly or occasional early dismissal days? How many placements do we need?  Are we looking for one program that will satisfy all of our requirements, or are we considering different options?

Do we need transportation? Can we provide our own transportation to and from the program or do we need alternate transportation? How will my child be transported to/from the program to school? What are our options regarding carpools or transportation provided by the school system or the program itself?

What is our family philosophy? What do I most want my child to take away from this experience? Do I want her to finish her homework, learn new skills, or play with new and old friends?

What type of program do we prefer? Family child care home, child care center, or school-based program? Do I want my child playing or learning for most of the afternoon? Outdoors or indoors? With children his own age or with a variety of ages?

What is my child's style? Does she prefer a consistent, pre-planned schedule, or one where she can choose some of her activities each afternoon? Is she self-motivated, or does she do best with encouragement? Is she always in motion, or is she a deep thinker? Does she do well in mixed-age or large group situations?

What is my child like after school? Is he tired and/or in need of some quiet time immediately after school, or is he always eager for a playdate? When does he do his best on homework — if he plays first, or if he settles right down to work?

Special needs. If my child is differently-abled physically and/or intellectually, or has an illness such as diabetes or cancer, do we want a program designed just for children with similar experiences, or prefera program where he is integrated with a mix of children? 

What can we afford? Have we considered “hidden costs” such as field trips or recitals?