Ah jeez, i cant get over the guilt i feel, Its daft but after school clubs, guilt guilt guilt!

[deanychip]

My child goes to after school club for one evening a week.
He is in year one and i thought that its too much for any more.
But i had a work thing tonight so, we put him in for one extra one off evening.
I finished work at 3.30 and mad dashed to pick him up, got there aat 4pm and he looked at me and said "ive only just got here"!
Cheek!

I do though, i feel SO guilty about the one a week that he goes to.

What about you?

[MarkStretch]

I can't speak for all afterschool clubs but I know the one at dd's school is very popular and dd is often disappointed she doesn't get to go.

I would remember that your ds probably doesn't even understand the concept of time in the way that you do and to him it's probably like an extra playtime after school. I know my dd would love the extra socialising with her friends that go.

Plus it's only for one afternoon a week.

Don't beat yourself up.

[cherrylips]

My ds has just started reception class. DH doing nights at the mo, But in October my ds will start after school club 2 evenings a week. I am a bit nervous coz think it will be a long day for him.

But I am also mindful that he has settled down so well into school (I was so worried over nothing) so I hope he will settle into the club as well.

[soopermum1]

unfortunately, my DS will be going 5 times a week (work full time.)

he loves it and i console myself that when i was his age i was running around outside with my mates with very little presence of input from my mum. after school club, to me, seems a similar set up, albeit with adults present. our after school club has a graasy area outside so he can run around and play football if he wants.

[neverforget]

My dd wants to go to after school club because in her own words "you get food mum and its dead cool"

[coppertop]

Last year I arranged for ds1 to go the after-school club as a one-off because of a hospital appointment. He loved it so much that he begged to be able to go again the following week. And again the following week. And again the following week....

It's now almost a year later and he still goes to the club once a week. The children all seem to love it there.

[haggisaggis]

My two have to go every night as we both work full time. They have been going since they started school - althouhg up until this year my mum could have them 3 days after school.
They are used to it and mostly enjoy it.

[LadyMuck]

Yep, giving your child a chance to play with their frends after school, when they could be at chess/piano/Japanese/horseriding... yes, you defintiely should feel guilty.

[Portofino]

Mine goes every night til about 5 - 5.30 depending on how early I can get away. She loves it and we always miss the bus as she has to be dragged away. Maybe we're lucky as they have a great playground/bikes/sandpit and loads of toys and puzzles. The woman who runs it is really creative as well, so they're always doing crafts and stuff that would never occur to me to do at home. Always get lovely hand made gifts for Xmas/Mother's Day. I don't feel the slightest bit guilty. I have to work and she is happy - end of.

[Anna8888]

There is nothing wrong with after school club per se. You should only worry if it makes your DC's school day impossibly long and tiring and they don't have fun there.

[hana]

dd goes twice a week and loves it. I can get to her by 5 but she is quite disappointed when I do, so most weeks I get her at 6. Plays with kids she doesn't normally in other yeargroups. Has a fab time. Don't be guilty about this, life is too short.

[Majeika]

ds1 begs me to let him go!!

[LostGirl]

I used to work in one before becoming a SAHM and most kids absolutely love it because it is a social environment seperate from the school and they just get to play and have fun. It's slightly different for say nursery age children who go to breakfast club and then nursery all day and then ASC until 6 as I found they would be falling asleep by the end, and when they start getting into secondary school age then they just don't want to be there. If your child is happy (and he certainly sounds it) then you have absolutely nothing to feel guilty about.

[compo]

my reception aged ds is starting next week
sadly he'll be going to breakfast club at 7.45am and to afterschool club until 6pm
it is a long day and I do worry he'll be knackered
It's only thirs and fri so I'll have the weekend to recover
I know some reception children are doing 5 days a week so I'm trying not to stress too much

[Overmydeadbody]

I don't understand this.

What exactly is it you're feeling guilty about deany?

[compo]

I feel a bit guilty because at the moment all the reception parents go to the classroom and pick the children up
So I worry at 3.30pm ds will be lost and lonely wondering what is happening when I'm not there (obviously i'll explain it to him but still at 4 it will be a bit strange for him)

[compo]

oh no
that is just the sort of thing I'm panicking about!
ours is on site though

[ilkainnorthants]

I would gladly make use of an afterschool club a few days a week. If only there was one at ds's school.

[Seasider]

ilka
It's a statutory requirement for schools to provide After School's clubs. ask your Head why your school does not have one. Our school has a scheme in conjunction with three other First schools, so don't let them use size as an excuse!

[ilkainnorthants]

I will ask again, there are some clubs like football and IT, but they are only for older ones, reception can only use the'infant play and stay' club and that's for 45min after school on a Tuesday, not particularly helpfull, I'll try to catch the head tomorrow, just afraid I'm perceived as the bad mum that prefers work to looking after her children, rather than an understanding for work as a necessity these days