TAKING
by Rebecca Wolf
Extension Home Economist
In June, school children will be
dismissed for summer vacation.
Knowing this, many parents are
scurrying around, bargaining with
friends, relatives, and neighbors
panicked that they will be unable
to find summer care for their
children.
More than S-million American
school children are labeled as
“latchkey kids”. These children
return after classes to an empty
home for part of the afternoon.
When summer arrives, these
children are faced with being
unattended not for a few hours but
for an entire day.
Other children may seem
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responsible enough to take care of
themselves for one or two hours,
but a whole day without supervi
sion may be risky. And so as
spring turns to summer, parents
search for safe, enjoyable places
that provide school-age child care.
Fortunately in many areas,
community groups provide day
time programs for school children.
If you are a parent, investigate loc
al playground, day camp. Girls’
and Boys’ Clubs, and YM/YWCA
programs.
But first, think carefully about
your needs and your child’s needs.
How much supervision does your
son require? Would he be able to
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stay at home with a next door
neighbor checking on him each
day? How much can you afford?
Does your toddler’s day care pro
vider accept school childfren dur
ing the summer months?
If you think your daughter is
independent enough to care for
herself during the day (or if you
think an older child will be able to
give her adequate help), you need
to take a few evenings to help her
prepare for his time.
Many parents fear kidnapping
and other “outsider” threats to
their children’s safety. But home
accidents and fires account for far
more injuries and deaths among
children. Both types of situations
should be discussed. With your
child, PRACTICE what to do
when there’s a fire at home, how
to answer the phone and door
without letting anyone know that
he or she is alone, how to get help
in an emergency and simply how
to deal with boredom, loneliness,
and fear.
Check the local phone directory
for hotlines for kids. Your town
may have an organization that
provides a listening ear for lonely,
frightened kids.
Why not create an Tm Bored”
bag? This is an excellent tool for a
child who will be alone. Take a
brown paper lunch bag and ask
your child to decorate it with his
or her name and pictures. Then cut
ten pieces of paper. On each slip,
your child should write one thing
he or she likes to do (shoot basket-
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ball, read, play with die cat, put
together a puzzle). Cut five more
pieces of paper. On those write his
or her chores or contributions to
the home (make the bed, feed the
dog, take out the trash).
Then each time your child’s
bored, draw a slip from the bag.
He or she has the privilege of not
doing the first suggestion and may
choose another slip. BUT he or
she must do the next one. This is a
way to give your child some
independence.
If you decide your child is not
mature enough to be by himself,
you need to take time to select a
quality provider to care for him. In
our area, referral agencies may be
able to help you with this task for
a fee. A more informal referral
network exists in the area, too.
Just ask your neighbors, co
workers, other parents in your
PTA group about the options they
know.
Visit and speak personally with
every potential provider. If possi
ble, have your child come along
with you. School children will be
able to tell you if the setting and
person is someone they would be
comfortable with.
Be sure to ask questions about
payment Do you have to pay for
the week your family is on vaca
tion? Will there be additional
costs for day trips to museums,
parks, and the pool? Will the pro
vider care for children of a variety
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of ages or just school-age kids?
How do you feel about that? Will
you need to adjust your work
schedule in order to pick up your
child at this location?
Ask about the provider’s plans
for the child’s time. A school-age
child does not need constant
supervision. Children should be
able to play outside, to choose
some activities for quiet times.
They need to be developing the
abilities to make choices and
entertain themselves.
Be sure you know what your
family budget can afford. You
may need to investigate ways to
swap services. Could you babysit
in the evenings for a Mend who
watches your daughter several
days each week?
This whole process takes time.
Start now. Plan to put as much
effort, if not more, into finding
quality cate as you would into pur
chasing a new car. Your child
deserves the best option available
to you.
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