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School is back in session, which means it’s time to decide which before and after school care your child will attend. As many parents will attest, the right program should build your child’s confidences, foster their love of learning, and help them make new friends. So, before you make the final selection, consider these tips.     

5 Tips for Choosing the Right Before & After School Care Program

1. Safety First

You wouldn’t send your child to a school that made them feel physically or emotionally vulnerable. So, the same goes for before and after school care. Before selecting a program, ask if you can tour the learning center. Make sure that it is clean and secure and that the staff is warm and friendly. Lastly, ask how kids and teens are checked in and out of the facility every day.

2. Flexibility

Juggling work and family is no easy feat. That’s why you should look for a before and after school care that helps you manage that burden. Look for a program that offers coverage during vacations, holidays, and even district in-service days. Also, make sure they provide transportation to and from your child’s specific school.

3. Healthy Options

When the final school bell rings, your child likely has a lot of energy they need to let out constructively. Therefore, you should ask prospective learning centers about the available indoor and outdoor activities. For example, do they have up-to-date sports equipment? Are their toys age-appropriate for your child? Don’t forget to look for healthy breakfast and snack menus too.

before and after school care4. Enrichment

While nutrition and play are both crucial elements of a good before and after school care, so is skill building. Find a facility that provides opportunities for students to develop their creativity, leadership, and communication skills. Ideally, these should be a mix of free-play and structured activities where children can interact with their peers as well as the adult caretakers.

5. School Support

Depending on how your child’s age and unique needs, you may want a program that directly reinforces the work they do in their classroom. In that case, you should research local before and after school cares that also offer tutoring programs.

 

Northern Lights Preschool & Child Care is a premier learning center located in Anchorage, AK. There, they offer a comprehensive before and after school program complete with a flexible schedule, transportation, and free, healthy meals. To enroll your child in the program for the 2017 to 2018 school year, call them at (888) 688-8794 or visit them online.  

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