Help, moms! Fall is still months away and my stomach is in knots over this. I desperately need some options that will calm me down!
My daughter will be attending half-day kindergarten in the fall -- really only two hours, what a joke! Right now she goes to day care four days a week, all day. My husband works full time and I teach journalism part time at a private university and have a couple of freelance jobs. I teach at two campuses, one in Schaumburg near my house and the other is in Chicago. It's a lot of running around but I enjoy it.
I've seen other postings about options for summer day care when your child is in school, but how do other families handle day care when your child is only in school less than three hours a day and you have to work? Because of the nature of my work as an adjunct instructor, I can't take days off. It turns out that my daughter's first day of kindergarten and my first day of the fall semester fall on the same day, and I'm hyperventilating when I think about missing her first day of school due to work! Is anyone else in a similar situation?
I shudder at the costs of full-day private kindergarten, which is offered through her day care but costs even more than we're paying now. I don't want to have to cut back my work hours for a year until she starts first grade in District 54, but I'm running out of ideas.
My in-laws used to watch my daughter when she was smaller, but they live kind of far away and I can't rely on them to be here at a certain time due to traffic. They used to be late and just plop her in front of the TV, which I hated. And we don't really know any neighbors who could watch her or how I could even find someone -- at this point I'm not even really sure what my work schedule will be like this coming school year.
Any advice you can give me will be appreciated! I quit full-time work to be home with her and slowly went back to part time, but am really having trouble making it all work as she starts "real" school.
Check with your Park District. In Elk Grove, they have a program called Kindergarten Club. If your child has morning Kindergarten, then Kindergarten Club is in the afternoon and vice versa for afternoon kindergarten. The PD buses the kids to another location nearby. You can also combine it with an after school program. It wasn't cheap but it's only for one year.
St Hubert's in Hoffman Estates is in Disrict 54 and has bus service, all day kindergarten and after school care. It's a great school. Good luck with your quest.
I would also try to talk to some of the moms of the kids that will be in her class. Hopefully you know some from preschool or park district activities or the neighborhood or something? I currently watch a girl from my daughter's afternoon kindergarten class two mornings a week and then she gets on the bus with my daughter to go to school and I think her mom is home by 3 to pick her up. I do it for free, but I know she goes to another mom's house the other days and the other mom charges her. I know a few other moms who watch a few of the other kids also. Most of the moms who stay home would welcome a few extra dollars and have a friend for their child to play with at the same time.
Check with your park district. Ours had a 1/2 afterschool program specifically for AM kindergarten.
Most schools have before and after school care, but it only applies to full day kids. So if your daughter goes to morning kindergarten, she could get it before, but not after. If she goes to afternoon kindergarten, she could get it after, but not before. At my school it's $8 for before and $8 for after per day. So if you were to do both, it would be $16 a day. So call your school and find out if they offer it and how much it is to help figure out your costs.
That being said, you could do something where you have a babysitter for part of the time and before/after school care the other part of the time. You could post a job listing at the college you teach at in Schaumburg or ask around in your community (church, friends, etc.) and see if anyone could do it. Sometimes a mom needs some extra cash, but doesn't want to do daycare full-time.
Daycare centers also have some programs tied into kindergarten. I see the kindercare and bright horizons bus at my son's school picking up kids during dismissal.
You aren't foolish to look into it now. You need to figure out your costs and your options. Good luck!
Hi S.,
I don't know if you'd consider Carol Stream Christian Academy - a private Christian school in Carol Stream that is a preschool through elementary school - or if that's too far of a drive for you, but it would solve all of your childcare issues since they offer full-day kindergarten 5 days a week, as well as both beforecare (which I think starts at 7:30 a.m.) and aftercare (which goes until 6:00 p.m.). The extendedcare is available on an as-needed basis - i.e., you just show up early in the morning and/or leave your child there after school to utilize it (no arrangements need to be made), and they'll bill you by the hour on a monthly basis for whatever time you used - I believe it's $5/hour, and they also take YWCA vouchers if that might apply to you.
Since they cater to working parents, they also offer full-day childcare on non-major holidays when school is not in session, including winter and spring breaks, and they have a "summer camp" childcare program as well.
I know you said that the costs of full-day private kindergarten scare you, but when you consider the costs and inconvenience of covering the hours that your daughter is not in school, it may be well worth the peace of mind and convenience to you, as well as the stability for her of being able to stay in one place every day with the same group of kids. Actually, it might even come out about the same or even better costwise compared to having to cover non-school hours in other ways, and if your schedule varies from time-to-time, imagine the convenience of never having to make a phone call to change or make childcare arrangements. As a single working mother with an unpredictable schedule on a day-to-day basis, I can't say enough good about how it has made my otherwise impossible situation all work out.
On the academic and nurturing fronts, it is an amazing school. My daughter attends kindergarten there and absolutely loves it. She has been at that school since she was in their 3-year-old preschool, which the older of my two boys now attends, and my younger son will be there in 2.5 more years. I love the continuity of the same kids growing up together and being together all day every day with teachers who really love and care about them. We have families that come from all over Chicagoland to send their kids there - one even lives in Indiana and drives over an hour each way.
Particularly as an educator yourself, you might appreciate that they teach the kids to read beginning in 3-year-old preschool. The kindergarten day includes reading and math and, depending on the day of the week, art, music, PE and Spanish as well.
I can't say enough praise about the school - the teachers, administration, and academics all combine to make it a place of excellence, or I wouldn't send my children there. You can see from their website (www.carolstream-christianacademy.com) a little more of what the school is about if you are interested, and I'd also be happy to tell you more about it. The ethnic diversity there is great too - the kids are mostly African-American (probably a function of its being run by and located within an African-American, non-denominational church that draws from its own congregation), whereas the teachers and administration are mostly white.
Good luck in making your plans for the upcoming school year!
L.
You didn't say where you live - but many schools have "enrichment" programs (that you pay for - but not outrageous) for before or after school care. Or - many pre-schools or daycare facilities will have after school care. Most school bus's will even drop your child there for you. You just need to call all of the facilities near you & educate yourself on their options. As long as they are in your school district boundaries - you can rely on the school bus to take her to and/or from. You should find lots of options! :>) Good Luck!
You should check out St. Peter's on Schaumburg Road. They have a great school and full & half day kindergarden. I have 2 boys and they both attend and love it. It is a very caring environment and enriching also. I feel the tuition is a great deal compared to daycare prices. Its worth to check out.
It is sort of late and you have probably heard it all, but do consider the option of cutting back your work. Ask the school if there are any stay-at-home-moms who they would recommend to watch and transport your child. You know, their child will also be in the same class and they could use a little extra cash. They should have liability car insurance. Do not ask a man to do this, sorry, that's my husband's perspective, he works at juvenile court and has seen it all. This would be an arrangement for only this one year (Yes, half day kindergarten is a day care nightmare). Do you know a reliable teenager who drives and would watch your child in your home for a few hours. So often high school gets out very early. Also, there may even be college grads out there who haven't found a job or are working on a thesis or in school and only taking a few hours. Some suggestions.
Hello S.!
I would love to be able to help you out. I am a stay at home mom to a 2 year old. My husband and I moved to IL in November 2006 from MN and we don't have family here so I understand how hard it is to be able to find someone to watch your child when you are in need. If you are interested, send me a message and we can chat!
Tiffany
I am not in district 54 but our school office has a list of moms that are avaliable to watch kids. You can check with your schools office and see if they know of anyone looking to watch a kid or two. You can also put an ad out for a sitter. It is good that you start now because you will have all summer to get to know someone-- I am sure you will be able to find a stay at home mom looking for some extra cash that would do it. Good luck
I know people who just choose to send their kids to a private christian or catholic all day kindergarten and then beofre or after care there as well. they were far more advanced and ready for first grade and yes it may be expensive- around 4 grand for just the school- but it was cheaper then what they paid in the previous years for preschool and daycare- and its still tax deductable. good luck!
