At A Crossroads in my daycare.. .

[Crayola kiddies]

How far is the walk? Usually there is busing available for jk's unless less then .6 km away from school. I'm sure if it's not too far then it should be manageable as the bad weather doesn't usually start until dec and is gone by march .... Having said that I don't do school age unless they go to my kids school as the bus comes right to my door. Maybe just do a bit earlier lunch have a nice walk over and usually there is supervision in the school yard 15 mins before school so that would get you back home a bit earlier and get the kids in bed and maybe suggest the parent find a older student to walk back to your house and you can take $5/day off her fees .... But I know how you feel cause I have four two yr olds too and an 11 month old ... Good luck

[playfelt]

When I did kindergarten I always had them go in the afternoon for the reasons you are thinking. We did our own things in the morning and then they went to school and little ones went for naps. No having to entertain the big kids.

It does mean shifting your schedule. You eat early and then take them to school - one thing I did do the last few years was arranged with another parent that always walked their own child was to hand off the kindergarten child to her - with the mom's blessing - and then immediately leave to come home. So kids were in bed pretty much on time. (school was from 1 - 3:15) I know they have staggered the times now so that will be an issue. I could have the kids up by 2:45 changed and be back to the school for 3:15. We had snack once we got home.

I do not regret not taking JK/SK kids because of the trip - no it isn't fair to the little ones and while they don't see a problem now you may have to deal with anger from them come next year when it is raining or -35 and still have to go to the school and they dont' want their child to go out and start threatening to pull them then what are you going to do.

If you are not able to drive them and do not have an enclosed means - there is something called a turtlebus a friend of mine had - actually had it for sale for ages when she closed her daycare but it only sat 4 as she figured the school kid would be walking. Very expensive and imported but if this is just the JK year and you plan to offer this service in the future you might want to consider something like that the keeps the little ones out of the elements.

This comes down to one of those does the needs of the one outweigh the needs of the many - I have chosen the once you start school you move on - and often the younger child stays with me - many schools have half day care available at the school. Others continue to do the school runs and parents are mixed on if it is ok or not but certainly something to bring up at interviews.

[Cadillac]

I have done pick up and drop off for this girl to nursery school in the afternoon. This is why I know how crazy it is. However, that was 3 days a week and I've been lucky enough to have help in the past with neighbors who are home and want to make a few extra bucks, or my assistant, or my husband who has had some hard luck with work over the last year an a half. Now my neighbours are working full time, I can't afford my assistant to come 5 days a week, and my husband has found an AMAZING job.

The walk is not far at all! But regardless of the time it takes to get there the issues still exist. It looks like my only option is to find someone to walk her.

I'll talk to mom quickly at pick up instead of having a whole meeting. It's a quick yes or no question.

I'm so tired today. I can't function. My little one didn't sleep at nap time, I'm miserable. the kids are miserable. I need the day to END!

[fruitloop]

She will be going in the afternoon. Before drop-off would be lunch and the children will be sleeping until we have to pick her up. This is my issue.

Mom and I choose to send her afternoons so that she would be around for activities and away for nap time.

If she goes mornings nap time issue is settled but I still worry about taking all the children in the rain, and freezing weather and what not. Then there is the added issue of not getting a break because she is hanging around during nap time.

I went through this last year with my dd when she was in kindergarten. I wanted morning though and she took the bus to school and then I picked her up because the bus didn't run again until the end of the full school day. Mornings worked well for me. She would walk to the bus with the neighbour kids OR I would walk/drive her (if it was cold/rainy/gross out) to the bus in the morning (which was just around the corner). It worked well for me, as the kids showed up in the morning they would get loaded into my truck and we'd take dd to the bus. At 10:20 we would go to her school (she got out at 11:10) and because I was early, I got the prime parking spot in front so she could see me when she came out the doors. If it was nice out, I'd take the kids out of the truck to play in the playground for awhile or if it was yucky out, they'd watch a movie on the dvd player. It worked perfect. As for afternoon nap time, you may be surprised and she might nap. Kindergarten is a big change for kids and some tend to be tired. If she doesn't sleep, put a movie in and let her watch it while the others are sleeping. You still get your break that way

[Skysue]

Ladies what would you charge for someone to take them to and from school. Is $10.00 too much or a good amount?

[jec]

Ladies what would you charge for someone to take them to and from school. Is $10.00 too much or a good amount?

I pay someone $40 a week ~ dd is every other day but I pay her regardless if she goes or not. I need to make it worth her while and it helps her out with gas and in return, I get my monkey safely to and from school.

[Cadillac]

Mom said YES NO PROBLEM! . . . I swear I'm turning into a bit of a stress bag with everything going on at home. I should've just asked instead of stressing over the possibilities.

I'll start looking in June

Thank for the help everyone.

I appreciate the support

Next question: Do you split the cost with the parent? Or, do you foot the bill? I already give this family a sibling discount.

[mom-in-alberta]

[QUOTE=FlexFunCare;11 808
Next question: Do you split the cost with the parent? Or, do you foot the bill? I already give this family a sibling discount.[/QUOTE]

Are you charging for half days or full days? If you are only charging half days, I would NOT foot the bill. I would pass it along to the parents. If you charge for the full day, I would eat that cost.

Frootloop: I'll be doing that same schedule next year when my daughter starts at Nose Creek! I am not sure whether I am hoping for mornings or afternoons. I just know that I want Mrs. Laubman as the teacher. Both my boys had her.

[fruitloop]

Are you charging for half days or full days? If you are only charging half days, I would NOT foot the bill. I would pass it along to the parents. If you charge for the full day, I would eat that cost.

Frootloop: I'll be doing that same schedule next year when my daughter starts at Nose Creek! I am not sure whether I am hoping for mornings or afternoons. I just know that I want Mrs. Laubman as the teacher. Both my boys had her.

If you are at Nose Creek by 10:30, you'll be able to park right in front of the sidewalk that leads to the kindy doors. After 10:30 it fills up very fast in the front.

Afternoons would be crazy there with all the busses and traffic. (unless they get out before everyone else).

[mom-in-alberta]

Yeah, I remember that.... sigh.
Either way, I know that she`ll be taking the bus one way. I still have one older son there next year to be with her to keep an eye out.
PS- I used to be one of those big yellow buses! You think it`s a traffic nightmare in a minivan.... nothing compared to a large lumbering giant like that. LoL