Afterschool care for middle schoolers in Chapel Hill (YMCA, middle schools)

[travelgeek]

Hi!

I'll be relocating to Chapel Hill later this year and will be putting my middle schooler into one of the public schools. Are there after school programs for middle school kids in Chapel Hill? Or do people typically hire a babysitter? If so, what are the going rates? If I have to hire someone, my thought is to have someone do housekeeping and babysitting, but finances will be tight so I'm concerned the cost may be prohibitive.

Thanks for your help!

[StoneOne]

Unless your child has unusual development or behavior problems, there is no reason why he can't be alone after school at middle school age.

Just my 2 cents...

As for afterschool programs, I've only seen ones that cater to elementary-age children (maybe I've only noticed because our only child is still in kindergarten).

[polarbear3]

My child goes to Smith Middle School and goes to their after-school program (and, no, he doesn't have any unusual behavior or development problems). It's free and the kids have a chance to do homework. It ends at 5:00 pm though and is only offered Monday-Thursday (it lasted longer last year, but budget cuts shortened it). I think the other middle schools in the district offer similar programs.

The Chapel Hill YMCA also has an after-school program for middle-schoolers. They have buses that pick up the students from the schools and take them to the Y. I don't remember the cost, but it is offered Monday-Friday and I think it ends at 6:00 pm.

I hope that helps.

[travelgeek]

Those sound like great options. Thank you! Behavior problems or not, I prefer not to leave my daughter alone for a few hours every afternoon. It just seems like a bad idea, especially because we will be new to the area. An afterschool program will help her make new friends (and keep her out of the trouble that I remember all too well from my middle and high school days!).