When should you take your kids out of daycare/after school care?

Question

My kids are 6 & 7 years old. They have been in daycare since August 2002. My son (the 7 year old) does not want to go to summer camp that the daycare is providing...my daughter (the 6 year old) wants to go somedays and then other days she does not want to go. My son feels like going to daycare is for babies. Do you think it is okay to let them stay with family during the summer instead of having them in daycare? I was also thinking about having my sister pick them up from school when school starts back instead of putting them in after school care because I am not a big fan of the after school care program that they have at their school. I love their daycare that they go too, they are like a part of my family and I think I am having a hard time deciding on what they should do because I am close to all the people at the daycare. Most of their friends that they have made at the daycare are no longer there, they are either staying home or going to the YMCA.

Answer 1

If you have a family member, friend or teenage babysitter that can watch them, go for it, they need a break, and may decide that they are bored and want to go back. If not and things work out for the family and they enjoy staying at home, then let them.

Answer 2

if you have someone willing tot ake them then do that.  It can be cheaper and let them do somethinga  bit different. Just consider you may loose their spots in daycare.

Answer 3

well is sending your kids to the YMCA feasible for you? If you can send them and all their friends are there then why not? As far as having a family member watch them, does your sister have children they can play with? If not there is a good chance that they will get very bored and want to go back to daycare after a few weeks. I watch my stepdaughter during the week for her mom while she works and by mid july she is climbing the walls because there are no kids around here to play with and all her friends from school either go away or are at camp. So maybe your sister could watch them 3 days a week and they could go to daycare 2 days? Make sure you explain to your son that daycare is not for babies. It is a safe place for kids to go while their parents work. I'm sure if you talk to your kids and find out what they want and what works for you, you can reach a compromise.

Answer 4

like one said is the Y an option?....and what does your child want....I love my daughter's daycare also but decided on sending her to day camp....she is 3 and where I live(Montreal) day camp starts at 3....I did the same for her older brother when he was 3 and he loved it....I decided to do this because at her daycare most parents are either students or teachers at the college near by and they leave for the summer so they are very few children left during the summer months....and they don't do special activities during the summer either....but at day camp they have a lot of fun do many activities....my son totally loves going every summer and I hope my daughter will too....and the ones that have the 3-5 yrs are students in child care...so ask your child what they want to do....and respect that as much as you can...

Answer 5

I think I know why your son feels that way after working in day care for 10yrs  alot of the activities are very repetitive especially during holidays and summer camp.I don't know about the summer camp deal but I do want to say that after school programs are so  miserable for kids they are in this school setting all day and have to continue after hours  at least in day care they get to ride the bus and then go into a different setting. I no longer work in day care and took a huge money cute just so i can be off when school is out there is nothing like seeing my son go out side and run and jump and play in open spaces, after being confide all day with teachers always breathing down his neck.my son is 8.

Answer 6

i think you really have to look to your kids for the answer on this one.....if it is something that is doable and they really don't like going to daycare then you prolly should take them out.  BC if they hate to go there and you force them to when there were other options they will start to resent the fact that you are at work and making them go there prolly even start acting out.  i know you are close to the people there but your kids are the one stuck there and are obviously not as close to them as you are.  and you don't have to loose touch with the friends that you have made...it might even create the perfect opportunity for you to get together with some of them to catch up. good luck and you will make the right decisions we all usually do eventually! :)