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Today I am thinking about child care (again). When I went back to school several years ago, I noticed that some fellow nontraditional students did need to worry about this. They had young children, and needed a good child care place for them. Some brought their kids to nontraditional student meetings too.
When I was working outside the home, I always needed to find not only child care before school started, but after. And I know that many nontraditional students need this too. They need to grapple with child care as well as their school schedule. They need a safe place for their kids that is a place that is handy to school, reputable, and doesn't cost an arm and a leg. (Good luck with that) (chuckles).
Ideally, wouldn't it be great to have a place right at the school where you could have your children that were not school age? I have heard of some schools that actually have such a place. I know Western does, but the place is for the youngest of children only.
Some communities have After-School programs that are really great. They include study sessions and fun things like Girl Scout meetings or art activities. Of course, there are also pay sites, which can be very good. Some Boys and Girls clubs have buses that transport school kids to a safe place where they can exercise, do homework, and more.
I think each school that does not have child care at the school should provide nontraditional students with lists of good child care centers in the area. After school and before school programs should also be included. This would be such a great resource.
Does your school have child care, nontrads? Do they offer a referral pamphlet or help with that? I think that could really help nontraditional students a lot. Ratings would help too.
What do YOU think? Make a comment below. Thanks!
Related postings on this blog that you may find interesting include:
Is your school nontrad friendly?
Forming a nontraditional student group
Nontraditional students and families
Some Michigan help pages for nontraditional students
Nontraditional students have two reasons to like Health Care Reform
Some Nontrad links: The Nontrad site and blog Join Nontrads on Facebook Nontrads on Yahoo Nontrads on Twitter
At KWC, nontrads are the minority and even more so if the nontrad has children.
ReplyDeleteThis has been brought up several times by one student imparticular but unfortunately there's nothing that can be done right now. She has mentioned swapping childcare between nontrads, but for me, that just is not an option. I won't leave my children with just anyone and I also don't want to be responsible (liable) for anyone else's.
I am anxious to see other comments. I have no idea if the Western campus in Owensboro offers anything that like or not.
I typed a huge comment and it disappeared!!! Oh well, I don't see universities providing much for daycare. An onsite daycare would be great, but most uni's are so strapped for funding they aren't able to direct funds into something that serves a minority population (non-trads). I have lots of family and friends with kids that I swap babysitting with, and that has been a lifesaver. I don't know what I would do otherwise. For those that don't have that, I would like to see the schools or financial aid recognize childcare as an expense for non-trads so we could afford to put our children in safe, licensed daycares while we complete our educations.
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