Discussions

Hello fellow parents, I'm jumping the gun on this but I'd rather be prepared. My oldest won't be starting kindergarten until September 2020 (so yes really jumping the gun) and will most likely attending Forrest Elementary as we will be living a mile west of the town. I've spoken to the school and been given the days that kindergarten runs and was told that the weeks are a bit jumbled due to holidays, pt days and the like.  
 
My question is, how did you go about child care on the off days? With the weeks not always the same how did you make it work?  
 
Thanks for the advice

My niece went to all-day every-other-day kindergarten this past school year. My SIL basically had to pay for a full-time spot even though they only needed it roughly 1/2 time. That was the only way to guarantee a place for their child on the off days and PD days.

Unless you get lucky and find someone who only charges on days your there your likely going to have to pay for a fulltime spot if you need childcare.

As a daycare provider who has often taken children from the Forrest school Division you pay for a full time spot. Once you throw in pd day’s, stat days, school breaks the child spends more time at daycare than at school throughout the year. Also kindergarten starts mid way into September as well not when all the other kids go back. Also there are days the buses don’t run due to weather etc.  
 
If you want to secure a spot for when you need it then you need to pay for it.

I chose to be home with my little ones daily and worked evenings. My husband was home in the evenings so no hassles.

While I think it’s great that you “chose to be home with my little ones daily” not everyone has that option. The OP was asking a question in regards to part time daycare, not your job flexibility. To the OP, unfortunately, you will likely have to pay for a full time spot, as previously stated. Good luck

I was very fortunate to find part-time care but you may have to pay for a full-time spot. On one hand its no different than going 1/2 days and paying for full-time. (and trying to figure out how to get them to school, then to daycare half way through the day). Financially its not easy, but I personally found it easier to not have to transport them half way through the day to our daycare.

You don’t need to comment on what I said, at least I offered an idea! I know perfectly well what the poster wrote, that’s why I commented. You don’t know...maybe it could be an option for them.

We are a few years off from this issue with our child but already realizing the major PITA it will be to deal with the half-day Kindergarden currently offered in our area. Whoever thought half days/every other day was a good idea when so many kids are in full-time care? Holdover from the single income stay at home mom days?  
 
Will likely leave us having to pay for a full time childcare spot and run around at noon most days to make the switch.  
 
As long as they are learning and engaged why not just omit Kindergarten altogether? Far better student-teacher ratio in most daycares anyways.

for your input, it's really helped us put everything in perspective. We are building our forever home and have started planning financially for the future knowing we would be paying a larger mortgage so it's been helpful to understand what we will likely have to do come kindergarten.  
 
We looked into me staying home with the kids but it seems like our best bet (like many of you mentioned) is to just keep her in her current full time care spot for her kindergarten year.  
 
Again, thank you all for your feedback, it is very much appreciated.