Working mom’s plea for all day holiday care
By Zoë Harper, PA to Marketing Exec and loving mom to only child, 11 year old and Type 1 Diabetic, Catherine
As a working mom with limited leave and a child who seems to be on a constant spate of school holidays (especially after the 5 weeks school closure for the World Cup last year) I am always looking out for holiday programs or child care facilities during these periods.
I have gone through most of the suggested holiday activities listed on the site (as I do when any holiday / term break is on the horizon) and found that many are only half day (morning or afternoons only) or only run for part of the holidays or are completely out of my neighborhood . Whilst this may be great for full time mom’s or half day mom’s, they aren’t really much use to me and I’m sure thousands of other mothers with similarly limited time. The Kid’s Village Day camp option looks great but is way out in the sticks which would means either setting off at 6am to be able to get there timeously and back through the traffic to be at the office for 8am and leaving work early to get there by closing time of 5pm for the entire two weeks of March / April holidays. Let’s not even talk petrol costs and stress levels here!
I really feel schools need to make more of an effort to arrange facilities (summer school / holiday programs) for children as we are left with very few alternatives. Not all of us can afford au pairs / full time maids / have freely available grandparents etc. And yes, I’d be willing to pay for them (and we don’t even get a reprieve of cutting school fees during these breaks).
I wish there were facilities whereby you could leave your children in good, safe hands in major centers (community centers / libraries?) during school holidays where they are stimulated, educated and entertained whilst taking a break from the usual school routine (at a reasonable fee too – from my mouth to God’s ears).
I think it’s a good business idea to get into but unfortunately I don’t have the resources or contacts to set this kind of thing up and obviously it’s only during certain times of the year.
I guess I’m just venting and sadly wishing away the time to when my child is old enough to be able to fend for herself at home – but that would probably still entail sitting in front of the tv all day or getting up to mischief
In conclusion – if there are such programs and I am unaware of them – please kindly direct me to them.
I am so with you on this subject. Our school does not offer aftercare in the school holiday’s yet we must pay full price over this time period. Like you I am unable to afford a full time au pair/domestic worker, and granny is too old to look after my daughter. I am left to having her go to friends over this period, which makes me feel horrible, as I feel that I am “fobing” her off on other people, but unfortunatley have got no other choice.
May your words fall on God’s ear for both our sakes.
I am also a working mother and my son started school a month ago and they closed for 2 and a half weeks at the moment which has prompted me to start researching opening up my own aftercare or holiday care facility. I’m just tired of not having support as a parent, you always have to find a solution and I’m just fed up with the situation. My best bet would be aftercare if I did both I would never have a break I guess. Or I could make sure I find a really good manageress to relieve me from time to time, all I know is I have to find a solution because parents need the support! BTW it will be full day, I think the current fees for half day are daylight robbery.
Chantal im completely with you on this one, i myself have been looking into starting a daycare/aftercare that has a full holiday programme. If you are serious about this maybe we could put our heads together?
Hi Zoë, I felt like I was alone in this, but now i fully realise there are a lot of other mothers in the same boat. My daughter (7) goes to a government school and they also don’t offer holiday care every holiday. I have also considered opening up a “care centre” of my own. My daughter has gone to Creative Hothouse in Craighall this week and even though they are expensive, she is having a great time and it has helped me, since I don’t have a full time domestic worker at home either. Good luck – I hope you manage to come right !
This was a gripe of mine all through my son’s time at school! One time I had money from a bonus and I sent my son to Sugar Bay for two weeks. He was in heaven, but it cost me a fortune and I couldn’t do it again! If I found a place for my son to go during the school holidays, it cost me money, they often didn’t do with the children what they said they were going to do to keep them busy through the day. And food was extra. And they refused to help me when my ADHD son went to high school!
Hi Lolita
I’m keen on talking drop me a mail Chantal.naidoo@afp.com
Looking forward to hearing from you
Hi Zoe & all other parents looking for holiday care.
Have you had a look at ‘In The Forest Children’s Holiday Camp’? We are a relatively new children’s holiday camp (opened in April 2010) situated in the south of joburg, just 15 min from Alberton. At the moment we run full day camps for children aged 6 – 13. We offer a transport service from Alberton area and are planning on offering transport from the north and many other areas as well, in the near future. Kids arrive from 7am and are fully entertained and supervised through out the day, until 6pm ( most children get picked up by 5:30pm ). We offer a one night sleepover at the moment as well, while our accommodation is being built and will offer various sleepover packages ( 1,3,5 nights etc ) in the future. This is ‘full day care’ including breakfast, snacks, healthy lunch and mid afternoon snacks! All activities included. Check out our reviews on Jozikids or call us for more info. Our kids and parents are all thrilled with what ‘In The Forest Children’s Holiday Camp’ have to offer! Contact Kyle/Erin on 076 035 4038.
Here’s a list of the all day holiday care offered on Jozikids. Anymore suggestions please email us on info@jozikids.co.za
GOVT SCHOOLS:
1. In the Forest All Day Holiday Care in Eikenhof, Jhb for 6-13yr olds, Apr 4-8 http://bit.ly/i3yyRf
2. Star Garden Health Centre and Labyrinth all day holiday program for 9-16yr olds in Alberton Apr 4-8.
http://bit.ly/g9eZXV
3. Kids Village all day holiday care for 6-12yr olds in Honeydew until Apr 29 http://bit.ly/hhnnHo
4. Flutterbies Nursery Holiday care in Randpark Ridge for 0-11yrs, R120 per Apr 4-8,
http://bit.ly/hV6XbW
5. Michelle’s Little Angels Pre-School Holiday Program in Roodepoort for 0-13, Apr 4-8 yrs
http://bit.ly/ijZxCv
HORSE RIDING all day camps:
6.Easter Pony Camp, Immaculate Equestrian Academy, 8-19yrs Vaal, Apr 6-8.
http://bit.ly/fRkjJu
7.Jod’s Riding Centre horse / pony camp, from 5yrs Eikenhof, Apr 3-9.
http://bit.ly/eevbkU
8. Namirembe pony clinics, from 6yrs,Muldersdrift, Apr 5-6,12-13.
http://bit.ly/dXP2EC
9.Shepherds Fold stables camp/programs, 6-16yrs Muldersdrift, March 28-Apr 15, http://bit.ly/hdww10
PRIVATE SCHOOLS
1. Hide Out full day holiday care in Kyalami for 5-10yrs Apr 18-21
http://bit.ly/heVHfL
2. Kids Village, Namirembe, Shepherd’s Fold ( see above)
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Hi Zoe, feel exactly the same and wanting to pull my hair out my head. I will run it if anyone can find it! Also a working mom and my 9 year old needs somewhere to go. As you said all places are way to far out and don’t offer transport!
Schools could not care less for us. No discount on the continuous holidays, long weekends, etc.
What are working mom’s without close family supposed to do with their kids?
And the areas would be Fourways, Northriding, Sandton, Cresta, Linden!
Thanks
Minette