After school child care

[emiiuki]

Hi, guys!
I have a concern about after school child care. I am going to land with my children in March (my husband and I landed in September but I've returned home) and I plan to start a job search immediately. Kids are 7 and 6 and I'll enroll them in school after we arrive.
As I realize, school ends around 13-14.00 and what happens with children after that? I doubt that all canadian women are staying at home to take care of children! I was told that they have some child care facilities, but how am I going to bring them there from school if I work??? Also, I've heard that they are quite pricy, like $1.000 per month per child.
Is all of this true and how did you resolve this issue?
Thanks in advance!

 

[steaky]

While at school, you would probably meet other parents picking up their kids and if one of them is your child's classmate, then you can perhaps entrust the other child's parent to picking them up in the future and look after them while you are working.

 

[Leon]

Naturally other people have the same problems so after school programs may be offered on site at your kids school and off site after school programs may offer at school pickup. You'll have to ask your kids school once you know where they are going to school.

A back up plan or if you can't afford it would be like steaky says, check with other parents at your kids school if there is a stay home parent who take care of your kids. Failing that, you can try to find a person/neighbour who is retired and who your kids can go to but of course you would have to make sure that person is trustworthy.

 

[enth]

Depending on where you live, if both parents are working/studying, you could apply for child care subsidy.

 

[monstergirly]

As I realize, school ends around 13-14.00 and what happens with children after that? I doubt that all canadian women are staying at home to take care of children! I was told that they have some child care facilities, but how am I going to bring them there from school if I work??? Also, I've heard that they are quite pricy, like $1.000 per month per child.
Is all of this true and how did you resolve this issue?
Thanks in advance!

I'm in the Toronto area and the public school that my 6 year old goes to has an on-site before and after school program as well as a daycare for younger kids. My younger son (who's 3) was on the waiting list for the daycare but I got a job sooner and was able to get him into a program at another school. He'll go to the same school/after school program as his brother in the fall.

I would check the provincial or local school board website (i.e. the Toronto District School Board or TDSB where I am) for where you will be moving and see if the school that you are planning to send them to has options. It seems pretty common here - most schools have programs. There are also local YMCA locations that pick kids up from nearby schools for after school activities.

It's cheaper when they are school age... This being Toronto I think it is the most expensive market and we pay about $700/month. I'm not sure how the subsidy and tax credits work yet...