[JayCT]

Age 12 is a bit old for day care and 9 is pushing it. Many schools offer after school programs. Some are through the local YMCA. Contact the schools and see what they offer. Jay

[koalajoy]

okay Nowhere man suggested that we work part time and take care of our own kids.. well hello. I am trying to find out this information for my "significant other" /boyfriend as I stated in the first posting of mine and that is why I came on this board because we are in a difficult situation. My bf has custody of his two kids. He went out to CA to get the kids and now has taken a job back here in CT. I live in the Boston area. .I don't feel like putting all the private info on here to our situation because the crazy mom might read it all, ya know? the point is that he has a high profile job and he cannot work less. I am 120 miles away and am doing the best that I can to help them/us out during all the changes.. so enough said.. it is obviously not possible for us to stay home with the kids and yes it is a problem when they become ill and need to stay home from school. I realize these kids are "older" and can stay at home and don't need to be "babysat" every second of the day.. we just thought with the relocation stress etc it would be nice to find after school programs that they oculd go to on a regular basis.. Of course there is always stuff like lessons and individual sports, activities, etc. I was just wondering what there is for the general public for kids their age to engage in.. There must be a wealth of other kids in this age group that have parents who work.. From everything everyone has said here I guess we will have to hire a nanny and just have nanny to take them to individualized events. And thanks Jay, I will contact the schools to see what they have to offer.

[koalajoy]

people like nowhere man that think people shoudl stay home with their kids might like this link about after shool care across the country.. Lights On Afterschool! (broken link)

On October 14, 2004 more than 6,000 communities rallied for afterschool by participating in the fifth anniversary of Lights On Afterschool! The event called attention to afterschool programs and the resources required to keep the lights on and the doors open.

Lights On Afterschool! is the only nationwide event celebrating afterschool programs and their important role in the lives of children, families and communities. Afterschool programs keep kids safe, help working families and improve academic achievement.

Lights On Afterschool! is a project of the Afterschool Alliance, a nonprofit organization dedicated to ensuring that all children have access to afterschool programs by 2010. The National Presenting Sponsor of Lights On Afterschool! is the C.S. Mott Foundation. The JCPenney Afterschool Fund is a National Sponsor of the event and additional support is provided by the David and Lucile Packard Foundation and the Open Society Institute.

Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger served as the 2004 Chair of Lights On Afterschool!, a role he first embraced in 2001.

The Alliance salutes the many Lights On Afterschool! partners and programs who make this event a success, in particular the After-School All-Stars, Boys & Girls Clubs of America, 4-H Afterschool, Junior Achievement, the 21st Century Community Learning Centers and the YMCA of the USA.

History

• Lights On Afterschool! was launched in October 2000 with celebrations in more than 1,200 communities nationwide.
• The event grew in 2001 to more than 3,600 events across the nation, and more than 5,000 in 2002.

[avapizzuti]

Hi...in my research on existing after school programs for children ages 5-14, I was surprised at the limited resources for parents in need. I am in the process of developing an after school program at the sports facility on the Orange/Milford town lines (almost), Frozen Ropes. We will be trying to open up this Fall with bussing from Milford schools to our facility where children will have baseball or softball instruction, golf, strength/conditioning training, free sport choice (volleyball, flag football, kickball) and specialty of the week (art, sportscasting, community service project), homework time, snack. Hours will be likely be from 3-5:45pm.

Have you found anything that works for you? Is this something that you would like? You can call us at 799-7673, if you'd like.

Ava