After-school-care concern: movie nights and video games

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I enrolled my son (age five) in an after-school care program. He attends Kindergarten full time (9-3) and he is in after school care from 3 to 4/4:30 ish.

The afterschool care program is licensed and run by the city (or a branch of the city). There is an extra staff member as there are two children (including my son) who are special needs. This extra staff person is funded by yet another agency (which is also government funded).

Anways, I am reasonably happy with the set up. Having my son at After school care gives me a little more time to do things with my daughter, run errands, etc. My son benefits from having increased social time with other kids in a structured environment (which he thrives on).

The problem....

Yesterday, I was given a more formal calender of what the children will be doing at After school care each day of the week. Each Monday - there is movie. So the kids sit and watch a 90 minute film after school once per week. Each Thursday is hand held electronic and video game day. So the kids can bring there hand held video games to After School Care and play with them on Thursdays of each week.

I am furious!!

I do not enroll my child into programs so that he can watch tv and play video games! I have lots of documentation that supports that too much tv isn't good for children (especially children that ALREADY have trouble socializing). This same documentation is issued by the same health agency as the one that licenses this after school care!

I spoke to one of my child's ABA workers. She has lots of experience in after school care with other clients. She was taken aback that an after school care place would allow so much tv and computer media. She advised that some After School Care places allow video games once per year. Others may have a special movie once per month or even less. Once per week for movies and once per week for video games seemed absurd to her (for either children with ASD or neurotypical kids).

I also spoke to the administrator at my child's school (where the after school program picks up from). He confirmed that he does not like the children bringing valuables (such as hand held electronics) to school and advised that he will confiscate same if they are used while school is in session. He also advised that he agrees with me that video games is not "appropriate play" for a program such as this.

I have already voiced my concerns to the After School Care administrator.

What I need from the Wrong Planet members is any more web sites (preferably academic or sponsored by state/provincial health boards) which help back me up regarding limiting tv watching, computer use and video games in school aged children.

I have some information regarding limiting this for preschoolers, but I am having trouble finding good ACADEMIC and official health sites which support this for school aged children. I would like to put together a package for the After School Care administrator and other parents whose children are enrolled here so that I can get this policy changed and more appropriate activities can be planned.

BTW - I am not trying to say that parents who allow their kids (autistic or neurotypical) to watch tv or play video games are bad. I admit, I allow my children limited computer time (where they watch videos and play computer games). However, the limit for my kids is 20 minutes per evening. Even if a parent is okay with more than this - this should be a parent's choice and decision based on their philosophy and what works for their family.

My concern is that I (and most parents) enroll our kids into programs so that they are engaged socially, mentally and physically. We don't enroll them in programs so that they can sit and watch tv and play video games. If someone is going to get a break while my child plays with a computer (for a very short period of time)- it's going to be me. LOL! In any event - I am trying to keep my kids engaged, reading more and doing activities other than tv/computer/games both at home and through outside programs. It's a lot of work - I think that it is good for the kids and good for the family.

Actually, after school programs are often just programs to "baby-sit." My school had them. They'd play a movie, let homework be done, let you play with your electronics, and that's about it. It's for children whose parent's don't get off of work until later so that they can pick up their children when they're able to.

I think, on the contrary, that computers and the television can be beneficial for some autistic individuals. It helps them calm down. It can even help them learn language for those that are speech-delayed. It's something they can understand and interact with, and a great learning tool.

A movie once a week is hardly a cause for alarm.

After school care programs vary widely. I can see why you would want a different one, but I don't know how much power you have to change THIS one.

The program my kids went to was amazing, and incredibly well suited to my Aspie son. No TV, no movies, no computer. Lots of Legos, amazing crafts, and encouragement to follow your own ideas. By fourth grade my son was making prototypes at after-care of all his game invention ideas, and had drafted a group of younger kids as beta testers. My daughter learned to sew there. So many things I just never was able to inspire my kids to, but they did. A real rarity among care programs, however.

If you want something different, you have to look at all your alternatives and choose the one that suits your children and your family the best.

Thanks for the replies.

The thing is - there isn't a lot of choice in my area. This the the ONLY licensed after school program in my area.

I guess I could purchase a second car for my family and drive across town for something more suitable - but then I could just hire really good ABI's for $20 per hour to help my son (after vehicle cost, maintenance, parking, gas, insurance etc plus the cost of a better program - LOL!!)

I'm am still going to try to change the policy because it is licensed by the Health Authority and this same Health Authority is the ones that research and publish most of the information on limiting/eliminating tv and gaming for this age group...

Also, the people I spoke to who have experience in other after school care places indicate that having this (movies and gaming) EVERY WEEK is excessive (once a month would not be such a big deal).

I guess I just expect better standards for services which my tax dollars support and which the Health Authority licenses....

In any event - I am happy to report that I picked up my son after being in after school care for an hour and a bit. He was happily playing with one of the staff members and had a rich language environment. The staff there ARE skilled. It is not just "babysitting" - some staff have full ECE qualifications and other staff are students in nursing, education, special needs education and other related disciplines. It would be nice if they had better opportunity to utilize and hone their skills by prioritizing social, emotional and physical opportunities for the kids. I think the problem is an administrative one and that the staff are perfectly able to handle a more appropriate environment for all the kids. It just takes parental initiative to make it happen.