Who says you have to feel guilty about putting your kids in after-school care? At CTK, kids get to experience the joys of childhood, get their homework done, and many of them beg their parents to let them stay when it's time to go home. This is Reading parents' best kept secret.
Clock Tower Kids (Closed)
781-944-3124
Get an inside look at Clock Tower Kids and see why CTK is the place to be after school.
Carol Van Buskirk
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Listing Manager:
Diane Haverty
The basement of the Old South Methodist Church in Reading houses an after-school day-care program called Clock Tower Kids. This is not your typical tight-scheduled day care program; the only similarity to others is an assisted study time. Program director Diane Haverty, who has more than 25 years of experience, designed a program that would allow children to have freedom to decide in a guided environment.
The children learn cooperation, sharing and socialization, as the open space combines all ages. Activities include making crafts from recycled materials, games, play at imagination stations and cooking lessons, to name a few. The children are invited to optional educational based field trips. In the past they visited the Ipswich Wildlife Sanctuary to learn about maple sugaring and Lowell Mills to learn about the local history of our industrial nation.
Most important, however, is Clock Tower Kids community service efforts. Diane feels it is important to teach children about their part in society and the world. For example, the children were encouraged to participate in a fund-raiser after the Haitian earthquake, as well as the annual Avon Walk for Breast Cancer. The church itself has one of the largest food pantry and food donation centers in the area, and the children often assist with sorting.
The program picks up children from school, and also has prearranged pickups for those with after-school activities.
Clock Tower Kids is a ministry of the Old South United Methodist Church and it is open to all regardless of religious preference. This staff is mature, with years of experience in child care, and receive annual continuing education as required by the state. There are never more then 30 children in the program at a time, so early registration is important.
- Fax: 781-944-8858
- Hours: After school till 6 pm
- Handicap Accessible: Chair lift on stairs
- Parking: Free lot, On-street: free
- Payments accepted: Cash, Personal Check
- Ages: 5 - 14
- Capacity: 30
- Services (child care, day care): Pick-up
- Insured: Yes
- Licensed: Yes
- Average personnel experience (years): 20
- What's your organizational philosophy?: To provide quality childcare in an enriching, home-like environment.
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Reviews (4)
I had a son and a daughter in Clock Tower Kids for several years and our family was extremely pleased with the experience. We stay in touch and continue to support the program, since we believe that they offer a terrific afterschool experience for our community. The kids have a variety of activities to do after completing homework: outdoor play, several areas for games or activities, seasonal art projects, the best giant tub of legos you've ever seen, and many other choices, all supervised by terrific staff. My kids loved it, and so did we. The staff goes out of their way to make working life easier for families, and to make after school a great time for the children.
Before choosing Clock Tower Kids, I did quite a bit of research on after-school programs. I was very impressed by the staff, who have chosen child care as a career, not just a job. My son has been a Clock Tower Kid for five years, and the staff has done exactly what I had hoped: They have helped instill positive values and guided him in his interactions with other children and adults…and they have been there to help with homework, too! It is a comfort to know that he is in such good hands and having so much fun while we are at work. My son is so happy at CTK that he doesn’t want to leave at the end of the day!
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As of this fall, our son is starting his third year at CTK. His experiences there have always been great. The adults and the children really have a sense of community. Children of different ages play with and look after each other. There is time devoted to completing homework, and the CTK staff always have fun projects and occasional field trips or visits to the local park to keep things interesting.