Help a Mom: After school care for middle schoolers

I received this question from a reader who already is on the look out for after school programs for her son when he enters middle school in the fall.

Posted 1:42 a.m. Jan 9, 2013 — Updated 1:42 a.m. Jan 9, 2013

Sarah Lindenfeld Hall

I received this question from a reader who already is on the look out for after school programs for her son when he enters middle school in the fall.

Here's what she wrote:

I have a son who is in elementary school now and attends an after school care program. It works out great since I work a 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. job. He will be going to middle school next year and I am having trouble finding after school options for him. It amazes me how most of the programs out there are for elementary aged kids. Do parents leave their 11- and 12-year-old children home alone? I just don't feel comfortable doing that. Besides, aren't those tween/teen years when our kids would really benefit from some sort of after school activities to keep them out of trouble and give them productive options. Please help :)

The YMCA of the Triangle offers after school programs, serving most elementary and middle schools in Wake, Durham, Johnston and Lee counties. Click here for details. The N.C. Division of Child Development and Early Education also has a searchable form with details about facilities that care for kids up to age 12. I have some calls in elsewhere about other programs and will update with another post as I hear back.

But I know there must be other programs out there too. Parents of middle schoolers ... what do your kids do after school?

Please share your tips in the comments box below. (If you don't see the comments box below, you'll need to log in or sign up for a WRAL account. You can do that by going to the top of the page and clicking on either "log in" or "register").

Help a Mom features questions from readers every Wednesday. If you have a question that you'd like to ask Go Ask Mom readers, click here to email it to me.

Suggest A Correction