4 year old in after school club

[TrollopDollop]

I need reassurance. I have recently changed jobs so when DS starts school in September he will have to go to breakfast club 4 days a week and after school club three times where I shall be collecting him at 5. I am worried how he will cope. My mum looks after him before and after nursery (3 hour sessions) at the moment but that will need to end soon. I have looked into childminders but there are none available for the days I need. He has never been in childcare for so long and I am worried how tired he will be. I don't want to give up this job as it will work well once he has settled. He will be with his sister who is in year 2 whom I am not worried about as she is desperate to go.

We have reception children doing breakfast club from 7.30am, school all day, then after school club until 5.30pm every day of the week. Not ideal, but they are fine. The children seem happy and get on very well with a wide variety of children and adults. Just try and establish some sort of contact routine with the teachers, as it can be hard if you don't drop off or pick up. Maybe suggest an ideal time for the teacher to phone you if they need a chat?

DD was in breakfast and afterschool clubs at 4. Not everyday but on random days not a schedule. It was fine, she had a childminder briefly but I found the clubs to be much better. She still goes to afterschool club and misses breakfast club. She gets to do things that she can't at home being the oldest, like learn to play battleships with her peers.

She did go to bed very early in reception as it was exhausting, but I think this was good, other kids who didnt seemed to end up getting drained and sick at the end of term.

Our school club has hardly any reception children so the odd one felt very alone and the mum quickly swapped her to a childminder.

If your club hosts on average more smaller children it can work very well.

Ds3 started breakfast club and wrap round care 4 days a week when he started nursery (the term after his 3rd birthday). He started 5 days when he went to school although he no longer went to breakfast club. He has been fine. I can't get him home at 5:30 as he's always so busy!

check with the school and find out how it arranges things. Our school is an infants, and nursery and reception children have after school club in the lower hall, and use the nursery playground, and generally have their own schedule, while the older children are in the upper hall and have their own schedule etc.

Definitely recommend early nights in Reception it is a lot more tiring than Year 1 as it is still essentially play for them. My DS used to spend all afternoon pretty much running around in a circle.

My oldest 2 did it and they were fine - the clubs are pretty good at providing opportunities to relax and chill at bit, so it's not all frenzied organised activity. Once your DS gets into the routine he'll be fine - they do appreciate that the kids are tired at the end of school.

Thanks all. DD is so keen to go to before ans after school club ansd promises she will look after DS. I am going to book her in for a few sessions before the end of term so I can check it out.

Hi TrollopDollop:

If you haven't go along and visit the before/ after school care provider - it will most likely make you feel much better and you can find out how many YR children are expected next year.

My DDs have done this and it has helped so much. They have friends from all different ages, they have developed a lot of confidence and they have learned all sorts of games (card games, their own version of Tig, clapping games, jump rope games, etc...) because the after school club is entirely about play and not a homework club.

It's a great way to give them 'play time' with other children - something which is so sadly missing from most children's lives. So see it as 'play time' that your fostering - you'll feel so much better about it.

It is hugely individual and down to the child obviously. Dd was in after school club for 4 days in reception as a summer born (July) birthday and she was fine.

Thanks again. PastSellByDate - Thanks for the advice.I visited today and am relieved. They are in a lovely bright room and the staff were kind.There is another buy going who will be in DS's class.

Mine both did it and we're young in their year too. Smallest is just coming to the end of reception - she has many friends in school from other year groups now and I struggle to get her to leave after school club Reception is really tiring for them whether they do after school or not