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THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS
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to accommodate the fact that we
have kids and a career? It became
mandatory finding a program," he
says."
Although he was one of the first
parents to request extended day, re-
sponse from other parents was not
favorable in the beginning. "Some
people were shocked that we would
subject a child to a 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.
(schedule) daily, but to her, that's
the way the world works. It wasn't
that we elected to use it," he says.
"We had to use it."
Elizabeth Levin is a working,
married mother who also uses ex-
tended day and latchkey programs.
Her youngest, David, 31/2, goes to
Temple Emanu-El, while her older
son, Daniel, 7, goes to a latchkey
program at Burton School in Hun-
tington Woods, part of the Berkley
School District.
The. Burton program has only an
afternoon session, from 3 p.m:-6
p.m., but Mrs. Levin's job as a libra-
rian, allows her to be at home when
Daniel leaves for school each morn-
ing.
"When you're working, you need
someone dependable. You need to
know there's someone there every
day," explains Levin. She feels her
children are "too young to be at
home" and older women she hired in
the past "didn't want kids to be a
trouble."
Babysitters were fine for a
while, she says, but when her son
David became older, she felt that he
needed to be around other children.
"I didn't want my son at home
watching TV" she explained.
Reasons for using latchkey pro-
grams can be very clear cut. Need,
cost efficiency and convenience are
all important factors. But emotions
also play a big part in the parents'
decision.
Czarowitz honestly admits that
there's "always a conflict, a sense of
guilt, waking up a kid early."
Levin was concerned about "the
great unknown with nurseries and
extended hours. I was concerned that
mainly my kids would be happy
there, that my son would like it,
that it would be adequately super-
vised."
Leaving her children in a latch-
key program is "very hard to do,
very hard."
Another big concern for parents
is what goes on during the time they
are not with their children. Prob-
.
,
While waiting for his parents at the
latchkey center, Daniel Levin thinks
about all the things he can be doing at
home. At right, Elizabeth Levin escorts
son Daniel to the latchkey center at
Burton Elementary School in
Huntington Woods.
4? 4.d
•
Latchkey centers offer
working parents
new choices and
new headaches.
lems are always a possibility, but
Levin has no qualms with the Tem-
ple Emanu-El program. She likes
"warmth" and the fact that the
teachers "give him a warm wel-
come." The kids have "room to jump
around" after sitting in school all
day.
Czarowitz describes the situa-
tions for his daughter as a "very ac-
ceptable environment for her to be
in. They've done a marvelous job.
There's-nothing to change,",he_says.
The Temple Emanu-El Nursery
staff gives parents the names and
home phone numbers of all the
people involved in case of any prob-
lems. "I'm very impressed,"
Czarowitz says.
State law mandates that persons
supervising latchkey programs must
have two years of college education.
Courses in child development, child
psychology or education are re-
quired. After that, according to Le-
vin, the program "hinges on the per-
sonality of the person running
them."
Ja-nice Lyons, supervisor at
Way and Eastover elementary
schools in the Bloomfield Hills
School District, says a good in-
structor has "to know how to deal
with children." She adjusts the at-
mosphere for the children and tries
to do fun things for the children that
are also beneficial.
She changes the program to
keep it fresh by sending the kids to
the kitchen for a snack or to the li-
Friday, August 16, 1985 31
TO SCHOOL
brary or outside, so they don't get
bored. They are not kept constantly
in the same room. The children come
anxious, she says, but many times
they don't want to leave at the end
of the day.
A major concern for latchkey
parents is that most programs func-
tion only during the school year,
while most parents work all year
long. Levin and Czarowitz both ex-
pressed a desire to have summer
latchkey programs. "Anything that
makes the world more convenient is
always appreciated," Czarowitz says.
DespitE 'he need and the success
of latchkey, _he children are the real
issue.
"My older boy would honestly
come home after school," Levin ad-
mits. For his part, Daniel wants
"more good activities," like playing
the games he likes. He doesn't know
many children in the Burton pro-
grain, because the children are from
different classes. His honest evalua-
tion, "I just don't like it."
On the other hand, Levin says
that David enjoys extended day at
Temple Emanu-El. He has a good
time and sometimes doesn't want to
leave.
Czarowitz has the same experi-
ence with Kate. "I take that as a
good sign," he says.
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