When a child begins attending all day school, he or she no longer needs day care services, but in most cases the school day ends before many parents are off of work, so after school care is essential. Choosing the right after school child care program for your children will make your life easier and will also ensure that your kids have a great school year. Use the following tips to select an after school child care program for your children:

Staff Ratio

While school-aged children don't need as much supervision as infants and toddlers, they still need to be watched closely to ensure that rules are followed and no one gets hurt. When deciding on an after school child care program, make sure you ask about the staff ratio for the program. It is important for a facility that offers an after school child care program to have enough staff available to ensure the safety and health of all of the kids in the program.

Structure

Most parents want their children to attend an after school child care program that is well-structured so the kids know what to expect each day. Many after school child care programs offer a snack when the children arrive, and may also set aside time to help children complete their homework. A good child care program will plan fun and engaging age-appropriate activities to entertain the children until the end of the day. In essence, an after school child care program should be an extension of the school day and enrich your child.

A Positive Environment

An after school child care program should be a positive environment where your child feels happy and emotionally safe. The last thing you want to do is choose an after school child care program that your children dread going to when the school day ends. If possible, make arrangements to observe an after school child care program before you enroll your children. Seeing how the program is run and how the staff interact with the students can help you decide which after school program is best for your family.

Consider Cost

After school child care programs typically cost a fraction of full-day day care, but expenses can still add up, especially when you have several children that need to be enrolled in the program. Consider your budget, and focus on looking at programs that fit into the price range that you can afford to spend.  Contact a care center, like Small World Early Learning & Development Center, for more help.