Before and after school care for Grades 1 to 6: what to expect

The last bell rings hours before most parents finish work, so it is natural to wonder what your child's afternoon looks like. Will they be fed, active and looked after, and will they get to and from school safely?

Here is a simple plan in three steps: see what the afternoon includes, sort out the ride, and plan for school breaks. Page numbers in brackets come from our free Parent Handbook, so you can check them yourself.

What happens after school at Kidz In The Park?

Kidz In The Park provides licensed childcare and out-of-school care. Our Out of School program is for Grades 1 to 6, and we are open Monday to Friday, 6:30 am to 6:00 pm.

In the school term, children have supervised morning play before they leave for school (Handbook, page 2). After school, the program includes a snack, outdoor play and activity choices until pickup. Our Out of School program page lists the day:

• Free centre play
• Academic activities
• Reading books
• Circle (calendar) time
• Structured and self-guided art
• Time to do homework

What helps a tired or restless child?

Tired and restless can look alike, and both can come out as grumpiness. These are general tips, not centre rules.

• Start calm. Many children need a few quiet minutes first. A warm hello often works better than "How was your day?"
• Check the basics. Hunger, thirst and a trip to the washroom come first.
• Move, then sit. A short burst of running before homework helps many restless children settle.

For snack ideas, see our article on snacks, lunches and allergy habits. If your child has allergies, list them in the registration package and tell the educators directly (page 5). If you are worried about your child's sleep or health, talk to your family doctor.

How does my child get to and from school?

Talk it through with your child: who drops off, who picks up and where to wait. Our website lists two options:

• Yellow Bus Service: morning and evening pick-up and drop-off for schools within Sherwood Park.
• Daycare van service: available for select schools in Sherwood Park.

Our bussing includes walking students to their bus stop and waiting with them, or driving them in our daycare van. Our FAQs add that all drivers hold a valid Alberta licence and a clean driver's abstract.

For yellow buses, the School Transportation Agreement says they are operated by the school or its contractor, and our staff escort or receive children at the agreed stops.

Availability must be confirmed for your child (page 7), so call us at 780-464-2637 to check your school's route.

What do I fill in for school transport?

The Registration Package comes first. Its first page asks you to tick Not needed, Centre, Yellow bus or Both, and to write your child's school and grade once. If your child needs a ride, you also complete the one-page School Transportation Agreement, and skip it if not.

Have ready your school, grade, days and times, and any early dismissal days. Staff confirm the route details, such as handover places and times. The form has a monthly transport fee for staff to fill in, and the Handbook (page 7) asks you to confirm charges with the director. Our permission forms article covers the other forms.

Once rides start, tell the centre directly about any change: an absence, a pickup by family or a new schedule. Do it as soon as you know: before morning departure and, for afternoon service, before 2:00 p.m. (earlier if pickup is before then). Telling the school or teacher alone does not notify us. For yellow buses, tell the school or bus operator too.

What about school breaks and days off?

Winter break, spring break, summer and teacher days remove the usual routine. Some children love that, and others feel a little lost. A loose rhythm helps many families: a similar wake-up time, active and quiet times, and something to look forward to that your child helps plan.

We are open the whole year, excluding weekends, statutory holidays and our Christmas Break. The Handbook (page 8) lists the holidays we close for.

On school-break days, care includes meals, creative activities, outdoor play and planned field trips (page 2). Our summer and school-break schedule also includes sledding, nature walks and swimming. Field trips need a separate permission form (page 7).

For a particular day off, such as a teacher day, call us at 780-464-2637.

Your next step: book a tour and bring your child's school and grade, so you can ask about your route and homework time.