It’s tough to get by on only one income, especially when you have kids to support. But when both parents are working, it’s difficult to line up the kids’ school schedules with your shift at work. Luckily, after school programs are available to help out. And even if you are available to pick your kids up when the bell rings, an after school program near you can provide educational assistance, sports, art classes, and a host of other activities that kids will find fun and beneficial.
So, where can you find an after school program near you?
What Are After School Programs?
After school programs were initially designed to supervise children after the school day ended until their parents or guardians were available to pick them up. But today, after school programs involve much more than just supervision and now encompass a wide range of activities, such as
homework help, arts, sports, and more.
Daycares vs. After School Programs
Daycares are mainly focused on caring for and supervising children. On the other hand, after school programs are typically more recreationally or educationally centred and provide specific activities that can help enhance children’s learning and social development.
How To Find An Affordable After School Program Near Me
Several online resources are available to help you find an after school program near you. All you need to do is enter your location, and the website will populate a list of available after school programs in your chosen area. Here are a few online resources to help you get started on your search:
| Resource | Link |
| Camps.ca | Learn More |
| City of Toronto Before-After School Program Locator | Learn More |
| CentralHealthline.ca | Learn More |
| ChildsLife.ca | Learn More |
| OurKids.net | Learn More |
| HelpWeveGotKids.com | Learn More |
How Much Does An After School Program Near Me Cost?
The cost of an After School Program near me can cost as little as $10 to $40 a day depending on the program you enroll your child in. For example, the YMCA Before and After School Care charges $15.86 a day. That can quickly amount to a few thousand in a year.
For instance, if you use the program for 150 days, it would cost $2,379. While this may be affordable for some families, others might find this unaffordable due to high debts or low incomes. So what can you do?
What If I Can’t Afford An After School Program Near Me?
The cost of after school programs ranges quite a bit. But no matter how much the price may be, you may find it difficult to afford enrollment fees. If so, there are options available:
Are There Any Free After School Programs Near Me?
Some municipalities may offer free or lower-cost recreation program options for low-income residents. For instance, the City of Toronto provides free drop-in programs, including swimming and skating for children and youth. There are also several free centres available across the city, as well as subsidies to help reduce the cost of children’s programs.
Can I Finance An After School Program Near Me?
Yes, you can take out a personal loan to finance the cost of an after school program for your child. With a personal loan, you can use the lump sum provided to you by your lender to pay for the program’s cost upfront, then make much smaller installment payments over the course of a few weeks or months.
If your finances and credit score are in good standing, you can secure a lower interest rate and better terms to make the loan more affordable. Before applying for a personal loan, check your credit score for free by using Loans Canada’s CompareHub tool.
Best After School Program Near Me
A handful of popular after school programs are available across Canada, including the following:
YMCA Before and After School Care
The YMCA has been around for decades providing before- and after-school care for children. Their programs focus on fun, active, healthy lifestyles and are designed to help children develop strong physical, mental, emotional, and social skills.
Kumon
These popular learning centers specialize in after school math and reading programs for children of all ages. Instructors utilize the unique Kumon Method to teach these subjects in a way that makes it easy for kids to learn and put into practice.
Physical and Health Education Canada
PHE Canada promotes healthy and active lifestyles through quality physical and health education and empowering learning environments for children. The organization also ensures that all children have equal access to the benefits of physical and health education during the critical hours right after school.
Girl Guides
This decades-old organization offers programs for girls between the ages of 5 to 17. Programs are designed to foster friendships, lead adventures, and teach real-life experiences. They usually run from fall until spring every year.
Best After School Program Near Me In Alberta
Active After School – This program is managed by a provincial committee of instructors and leaders and is committed to supporting after school programs across the province of Alberta. Children are encouraged to participate in quality physical activity after school under the guidance of the Provincial Activity Guidelines for After-School Programs in Alberta.
Ever Active Schools – This registered national charity is focused on creating and supporting healthy school environments and communities at schools across Alberta. Specific health and education goals are identified to enhance the physical and social outcomes of children and youth in the province.
Options Academy – This after school program offers activities such as yoga, home economics, jiu jitsu, arts and crafts, swimming, music, and engineering.
Best After School Programs Near Me British Columbia
UBC Geering Up Engineering Outreach – The youth of BC are given the opportunity to dabble in science, technology, and engineering, in a fun, engaging, and educational environment.
Bricks 4 Kidz – This organization provides students with STEM programs that encourage them to learn about engineering, architecture, and design concepts while using LEGO blocks.
Sundance Martial Arts – This program is just as much about helping children become leaders in their communities as it is about martial arts. Kids are taught discipline, focus, and respect in a safe and fun environment.
Best After School Programs Near Me Ontario
The STEAM Project – This after school program lets kids access cutting-edge technology to help bring out their creativity. Children will learn skills such as 3D printing and woodworking. It’s perfect for kids who love science, technology, and robotics.
Sports Camps Canada – Children can use their time in these programs to play, learn, and improve their skills in their favourite sports.
LOLART School – Children can choose from various programs that include clay and crafts, digital art, life drawing, and painting.
Best After School Programs Near Me Quebec
Animation KIDZ – This program is designed to unleash children’s imagination and teach them new skills while they’re having fun.
Inventor STEM School – This after school center offers classes to kids between the ages of 3 to 16. Children are taught about coding, robotics, architecture, game development, and LEGO builds. These classes are designed to help develop children’s creativity, critical thinking, and science and technological literacy.
SportLife – Young athletes will find SportLife programs stimulating and fun while they learn and improve their skills that can propel them into professional careers in sports.
Does Canada Have Free Daycare?
The government of Canada does not have a free daycare program, but some individual provinces do. For instance, the government of Québec has a program called the Reduced Contribution Regulation which covers the cost of childcare for certain parents. In Alberta, childcare subsidies are available to offset the cost of childcare for qualifying families.
Ontario parents may qualify for $10-a-day child care thanks to an agreement made between the Premier of Ontario, Doug Ford, and Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau. This is a five-year deal meant to lower childcare costs and create thousands of new licensed childcare and early learning centres in Ontario.
Final Thoughts
After school programs are readily available, though they vary in terms of focus. Some programs may be strictly for the purpose of supervision until parents are around for pick-up after school. Others have a specific emphasis on teaching and improving skills. Whatever your needs may be, there’s an after school program somewhere nearby that can fulfill both your needs and those of your children.
