Parenting Assistance Line - PAL

Health & Safety

Choosing After-School Care

Your child’s safety, well being and happiness are important when choosing an After-School provider. Give consideration to your expectations of your child’s time spent immediately following the school day; i.e. academic enrichment, sports or religion. You may want to contact your school guidance counselor, other parents, religious communities and your local child care resource center for possible referral information. Different programs offer different kinds of services, so how does a parent decide?

How do I begin searching for an After-School Program?

• Consider what your needs or expectations are for an After-School Program.
• Gather information about the programs and services available in your community
• Decide the cost that your family is willing to pay for After-School care.
• Visit programs that may be of interest in order to get an idea of how the programs’ daily activities are coordinated and implemented.

What questions should I ask about an After-School Program?

• What are the costs?
• Does the program offer a clean, safe and friendly environment for my child?
• Are healthy snacks provided?
• Will she receive help with homework or other tutoring services?
• Is there adequate supervision?
• What are the hours of operation?
• Is transportation provided?
• How much space is provided for both inside and outside activities?
• What additional cost may be incurred?
• What actions are taken in case of an emergency such as an accident or severe weather?
• Does the program accept payments of financial aide from agencies?

Locating an appropriate After-School program for you and your child gives parents a feeling of comfort and ease! Knowing that your child is safe and content helps both parent and child be productive in activities that extend past regular school hours.