After school clubs

[Tanith]

Do any of you that care for after school children have a policy for collecting from after school clubs?

We used to have the odd club to collect from and that wasn't a problem. Recently, though, there are more and more of them and one child seems to be signed up for everything, plus swimming lessons and rainbows after clubs on some days! Today, we collected from the same school 3 times. We also collect from 2 other schools - and they have their clubs, too.

I don't want to stop them attending clubs, but this is getting ridiculous! I'm a childminder not a glorified taxi :) Some days, I seem to do nothing but drive round town all afternoon. I work with DH so can be a bit more flexible.

I refuse to do it point blank. Mind you I do have up to 8 after school!

I refuse point blank, I just couldn't do it, my under 5's would spend half their time in the car!

I pick up at 3 and that is all, anything else Parents have to organise.

None of mine would expect me to, to be honest.

No I don't, because of the upset for the other children. How about another parent dropping them to you after the club - to be arranged between the parents, not you.

Also ... My own DD had to miss out on after school clubs for this very reason.

I have a policy for this which basically says I probably will say no but I'm willing to hear details and decide as long as they don't expect me to say yes. For example, ds1 does recorders after school 1 day a week but the kids all wanted to watch them all in the hall and they have their snack and dance along or we play in the playground, whatever they fancy. If we weren't able to watch I'd have to rethink. Same if was a mindee wanting to. But this is only half hour after school, anything more would be impossible due to needing to get back to do dinner etc. No way could I be doing lots like you, would be unfair on the others plus I'd never be abler to get dinner made (which is a struggle at the best of times!!)

Thanks for your replies, everyone! I hadn't realised that no-one does clubs! I don't think I'd be able to consider it if there weren't two of us, though.
However, I am having the same problem as you, Looney. Dinner has now become a real headache!

Oh dear! Time to talk to the parents and I really hate having to tell them I can't offer something they want

Thanks for your post, cat64. It's very helpful and reassuring.