I Really Dislike School Age Care!

[AfterSchoolMom]

I don't mind SA's for the most part. It's SA parents that I have the biggest problems with.

[Crazy8]

I once had this crazy idea that once all my own were in school all day I would maybe run a school age only program. Then I realized I really don't like school aged kids. :: My own I can deal with, but a house full of them - no thank you!!!
And with our PAL program offering before/after care for so little money I wouldn't make a dime doing it anyway.

[littlemissmuffet]

(((((HUGS)))))
I
will
NEVER
take
school-age
children
again.



Did I mention I will NEVER ever take school age children again? Because I won't.

:: Same here. Never...... NEVER! happyface

[sharlan]

I always loved SA's. I couldn't wait for summer so we could go to water parks, amusements parks, the beach, museums, zoos, etc. I was always depressed come Sept when they went back to school.

NOW, I can't wait for June. The two I have now can't entertain themselves for 5 minutes and require constant supervision. They really like to manipulate and tattle on the littles.

[Meyou]

Hahaha! I don't mind them so much but I only take SA that have aged out of my program so they're "trained" already. I also have one of those sweet but no nonsense attitude with them that seems to really work. They listen well to me. *shrug* I don't know why.

I was at a bday party for a DCG that has aged out and was turning 8 a few weeks ago (our dd's are still friends) and after 20 minutes I said, "Ok, I can't take it anymore" to the mom and dad because there were two little hooligans crawling around on the floor of the bowling alley in another lane yelling!! I went over and said, "Ok ladies! Right now you CAN go and wait in line with your friends to bowl but you may not crawl on the floor, yell or be rude anymore. Got it??" *big grin with piercing eye contact* They went right in line with confused looks and kept glancing at me for the next 20 minutes while they waited quietly. Former DCD said, "What? You think you look after kids for a living or something, showoff??" and then we laughed.

[Soupyszoo]

I watched a friends SA boys last year just for a couple hours after school each day and I was miserable

I will never do that again.

I love the little kids! They're so cute and fun! They love us and most of the time they listen! They are still young enough to think we're funny for no reason ::

SA not so much

[CheekyChick]

I have to agree. SA'ers are sooooooooooooooooo hard to entertain. They are always bored, always complaining, always attitude-y. Not my fave age group.

[Meeko]

Our after school kids are aged 8, 9 11 and 12. The noise level doubles when they get here...but as they are all from the same family and take a 2 and 4 year old with them when they leave......I like the sudden DROP in numbers and noise!

[countrymom]

don't like them either. Now I do have some that are 4,5 and 6. they are not too bad. But one year I had 8,9,and 10 yr olds. Never ever will I watch that group, they require so much supervision, that I didn't get nothing done. And they don't like to do anything. I love my 4 and under group, they are so much fun and my kids love playing with them.

[littlemommy]

I haven't taken SA'ers yet, and haven't wanted to. If a child I had since birth was getting ready to go to school, I'm not sure how I would tell the parents that I can't continue care.

What do you consider SA? If the child goes to preschool a couple hours do you allow them to come?

[momma2girls]

The worst part was the boredom, pickiness in eating, snacks, etc.. Then be prepared if you are doing before and after school for them only. What happens, when they are out of school, school gets out early, late starts, etc. etc... I didn't charge near enough for all this!! Plus I have all teachers, besides the two I had last yr. so it definately was not fun!!!!

[Greenplasticwateringcans]

I haven't taken SA'ers yet, and haven't wanted to. If a child I had since birth was getting ready to go to school, I'm not sure how I would tell the parents that I can't continue care.

What do you consider SA? If the child goes to preschool a couple hours do you allow them to come?

If the child is old enough to be in K then they are too old for my program. K here is 5 by Dec 31st. We do not have the red shirting issue here but if we did I would still not take a child that should be in K.

I do and have done preschool drop off/pick up but it's only a few hours 2x/w and quite the norm here.

[BigMama]

All of my school-agers are drop-ins so I don't have them around enough for them to get bored and have other issues. I have two lovely young ladies, both 7 1/2, who come over on Wed. afternoons. I have another assortment of children, mostly 5-6 year-olds but a few 8-9 year olds, that come over on half days, over school vacations, and a few full days per week in the summer. I agree that they are more work in some aspects and they don't nap so there is no down time with them, but overall I don't think I would not do it over these issues.

One thing I will say is that my philosophy toward school-agers is completely different than for younger ones. While I do plan activities for them over the summer, for the most part I expect them to entertain themselves. They have access to all of the materials the younger children do plus additional art supplies and games. I never hear an "I'm bored." Also, while the younger children nap, they are expected to read for 1/2 an hour then play quietly in the playroom. We have a "three strikes" rule during that time: if you get too loud or are playing inappropriately I will give you 2 warnings. The third time I have to speak to you lands you upstairs resting with the little guys. Not once in five years have I gotten to "strike three."