Only Before And After School Program

[DaisyMamma]

I've been thinking about switching to only after school. Does anyone do this? Where do you do it? How would I go about having it held right at the school?

[littlemissmuffet]

I'm planning on doing this either beginning next September, or the September after. I live near two elementary schools, so I plan on doing it right out of my home, just as I do now with toddlers. I would simply contact your local schools and see what their advice is, and maybe talk to licensing as well, if you want to do it right out of a school!

[DaisyMamma]

I can only have 9 in my home, so the income potential isn't good. How many are you allowed?

[canadiancare]

Hi. I tried doing before and after only and then lunch yard duty at one of the schools but I couldn't make it work financially as we are only allowed 5 under the age of ten.

I have set 2015 as my retirement year as my current group is all going to school. IF that doesn't work out then I may retry before and after only and camps on PD days and school breaks so I can be closed.

[Soccermom]

I've been thinking about switching to only after school. Does anyone do this? Where do you do it? How would I go about having it held right at the school?

I do this in my home and LOVE IT! It works really well for me because I have them for about an hour in the AM and then for a couple of hours in the afternoon. I enjoy that age group because you can plan a lot of fun things with them BUT you have to be a little picky when choosing your afterschool crew. I try to stay within the same age range or at least insure that each child has someone close to his or her own age to play with. I am allowed 9 as well as have 3 of my own so I have 6. I charge 50$ per week and they bring their own snacks (this age group can be very vocal about what they like and don't like....been there, done that ) So I make 300$ per week. If you had 9 you could make 450$, it is decent and you get your whole day to yourself.

They arrive, eat breakfast and then I set out coloring books and I turn on the TV (Everyone is still pretty sleepy so we try to keep it low key. ) In the afternoons, sometimes I will plan special projects, games, movie days, crafts, seasonal parties and sometimes I just let them play outside or in the playroom.

I love it most days, there are days that feel longer than others BUT anything job is like that really.

I should also add that most parents of SA kids are a lot less fussy than parents of littles (Less drama). They don't ask a million questions every day or drive you crazy with overparenting nonsense. They are happy just to have someone who will watch their child until they get home.

[littlemissmuffet]

I can only have 9 in my home, so the income potential isn't good. How many are you allowed?

I'm legally unlicensed and can have 8 school-agers. I would make almost the same as I do now with 5 toddlers if I charged a $400/month year-round fee. I would make up the difference by not providing lunch on school days. I know parents would pay the $400/month because I won't be charging extra for school days off (all B/A programs in my city do) and I wouldn't charge full-time ($200-$300 more) in the summer months (all B/A programs in my city do).

[DaisyMamma]

I'm legally unlicensed and can have 8 school-agers. I would make almost the same as I do now with 5 toddlers if I charged a $400/month year-round fee. I would make up the difference by not providing lunch on school days. I know parents would pay the $400/month because I won't be charging extra for school days off (all B/A programs in my city do) and I wouldn't charge full-time ($200-$300 more) in the summer months (all B/A programs in my city do).

So you keep them full time in the summer and still charge $100/week?
I can have 9, but I have 2 of my own. So I would only make $700/week if I did that. I currently make $800 but have much longer hours, obviously, but still have room for more kids. and most people around here only want afternoon care. No mornings, so that's a bonus. In the summer I'm only allowed 6, but in the summer mine don't count, so I would have to send one family away and would lose out on that income. Great idea though, I'm going to think about this!!!

[Country Kids]

I so wish I could do something like this but our boys and girls club here only charges $50 for the entire school year. Puts me out of business right there.

[DaisyMamma]

I so wish I could do something like this but our boys and girls club here only charges $50 for the entire school year. Puts me out of business right there.

Holy crow! Do they ever fill up?

[Country Kids]

Holy crow! Do they ever fill up?

Filled to capasity I do believe. School buses take them from the schools to the front door. There is no way for me to compete!

[mom2many]

When my own kids were in elementary school, I switched over to S/A only. I no longer wanted to watch infants and toddlers, so that I could concentrate the activities to my own kids interests & needs. I had to let 2 families go and lost some significant income, but it allowed me to have quality time with my own children and we had some fun park days & lots of fun activities together!

I continued to watch this age group until my youngest was in Jr High. I began to miss the infants and toddlers and was ready to switch back again!

I now have both age groups and enjoy having a smaller group in the morning and the older ones join us after school.

My business has changed and adapted to what fits best with my family over the years. I started when my oldest (now 26, was only 6 wks old) and watched only infants for awhile. When my kids were in school, I watched only kids their same age. Now that I'm an empty nester, I have all ages and am loving every minute of it! I cannot think of any other business that can adapt so well to a growing family and provide a substantial income too!!!!! It's truly been a blessing and a very rewarding journey!

[DaisyMamma]

My business has changed and adapted to what fits best with my family over the years. I started when my oldest (now 26, was only 6 wks old) and watched only infants for awhile. When my kids were in school, I watched only kids their same age. Now that I'm an empty nester, I have all ages and am loving every minute of it! I cannot think of any other business that can adapt so well to a growing family and provide a substantial income too!!!!! It's truly been a blessing and a very rewarding journey!

It's true.

Filled to capasity I do believe. School buses take them from the schools to the front door. There is no way for me to compete!

Great for the parents, bad for you. But there must be some people looking for care if they can't get into that program? Does the bus not stop at your house?

[DaisyMamma]

I'm legally unlicensed and can have 8 school-agers. I would make almost the same as I do now with 5 toddlers if I charged a $400/month year-round fee. I would make up the difference by not providing lunch on school days. I know parents would pay the $400/month because I won't be charging extra for school days off (all B/A programs in my city do) and I wouldn't charge full-time ($200-$300 more) in the summer months (all B/A programs in my city do).

If you offered full time care to teachers on top of the schoolagers you could potentially double your $. Aside from the huge workload :: it would fit together perfectly. You could offer teachers the summers and days off they want because you would be filled with school agers on those days. WOW, I'm tired just thinking about that idea :::::: but you could make a nice "teacher's rate."

[littlemissmuffet]

So you keep them full time in the summer and still charge $100/week?
I can have 9, but I have 2 of my own. So I would only make $700/week if I did that. I currently make $800 but have much longer hours, obviously, but still have room for more kids. and most people around here only want afternoon care. No mornings, so that's a bonus. In the summer I'm only allowed 6, but in the summer mine don't count, so I would have to send one family away and would lose out on that income. Great idea though, I'm going to think about this!!!

Yes, I would keep them full-time in the summer at the $100/week. This way I can justify charging the $100/week the rest of the year when the kids are in school full-time - because I won't be serving lunches; so on full school days I would technically only be open from 6:00am-9:00am and then 3:30pm-5:30pm - only a 5 hour day as opposed to my current 10 hour day (and I'd get paid pretty much the same). Those 6ish hours in the middle of the day are all for me and my own kiddo... I think that in itself is worth it!

Whatever you decide to do, best of luck - let us know how it goes!!

[Country Kids]

It's true.



Great for the parents, bad for you. But there must be some people looking for care if they can't get into that program? Does the bus not stop at your house?

Oh the bus does stop in front of my house but most of the kids either have a parent/sibling at home after school or go to this program.

I seriously think there are now more parents either at home for the kids (which is great) or a sibling. I rarely, rarely have calls for after school care anymore.