Have you looked closely at your child’s school calendar lately?
For working parents, the number of days children are out of elementary school can add up quickly. Many school calendars now include much more than the traditional holiday breaks. Depending on your district, your child could have a full week off in October, another full week around Thanksgiving in November, two to three weeks for winter break in December, a full week for spring break in March and even a five-day weekend in April.
Add teacher workdays, professional development days and individual student holidays throughout the year, and families can suddenly be faced with several weeks of school closures while parents are still expected to work.
Having a child care plan in place can make those breaks much easier to manage. At many Children’s Lighthouse schools, our programs for school-age children can help families bridge the gap between the elementary school calendar and the working parent’s calendar.
School Is Closed. Your Workday Isn’t.
For children, seeing “No School” on the calendar is exciting. For parents, it often means figuring out who will care for them from morning until the workday is over.
Using vacation time for every school closure may not be realistic, and piecing together care with family members, babysitters and last-minute arrangements can quickly become stressful.
Children’s Lighthouse can provide families with another option.
Many of our schools offer care for school-age children up to age 12, including programming during elementary school breaks and student holidays. Instead of scrambling each time another break appears on the calendar, families can turn to a trusted child care environment designed with children in mind.
Discover The xSTREAM Quest® Program
As children enter elementary school, their needs change, but their need for a safe, engaging and supportive environment does not.
The xSTREAM Quest® program is designed specifically for school-age children, providing opportunities to explore their interests, build friendships, stay active and enjoy experiences appropriate for their age.
The program gives older children a place where they can continue discovering, creating and connecting beyond the elementary school classroom. Activities provide a balance of fun, creativity, social interaction and opportunities for children to make choices and explore what interests them.
During school breaks, that can mean children have somewhere they are excited to go while parents have the confidence of knowing their child is spending the day in a purposeful environment.
You Don’t Always Have to Be an After-School Family
Here is something many parents may not realize: Your child may not have to attend Children’s Lighthouse every afternoon to take advantage of school-break care.
At participating Children’s Lighthouse schools, drop-in or school-break care may be available for school-age children even if they are not currently enrolled in the regular after-school program.
Contact your local Children’s Lighthouse and ask about The xSTREAM Quest® program and available school-break options. Programs, ages served, schedules, availability and enrollment requirements vary by location.
Give Them a Break That Still Feels Like a Break
Children have worked hard at school, and their time off should feel different from another day in the classroom.
School-break care can provide opportunities for games, creative projects, group activities, outdoor play, social interaction and other engaging experiences. Children can spend time with peers and enjoy a change of pace while still having the structure and supervision families are looking for.
For parents, that combination can provide something equally valuable: knowing you have a plan when the next “No School” day arrives.
Don’t Wait Until the Next School Break
Pull up your elementary school calendar and look at the months ahead. How many days will your child be home while you are scheduled to work?
If you see fall break, Thanksgiving break, winter break, spring break, teacher workdays or long weekends approaching, now is the time to explore your options.
Contact your local Children’s Lighthouse and ask about enrolling your child in The xSTREAM Quest® program or utilizing available school-break care. Depending on your family’s needs and your local school’s offerings, Children’s Lighthouse could become more than your solution for the next school holiday. It could become the place your child looks forward to going before school, after school and when elementary school is out.
Find Your Children’s Lighthouse
Your work schedule does not stop every time the elementary school calendar does. Having the right child care partner can make all the difference.
Children’s Lighthouse serves families beyond the preschool years. Through The xSTREAM Quest® program, participating schools provide an engaging environment for school-age children up to age 12, with before-school, after-school and school-break options varying by location.
Don’t wait until the next school closure to start looking for care. Find your nearest Children’s Lighthouse today and ask about The xSTREAM Quest® program, school-break care and enrollment opportunities for your child.