"Being a parent is tough" just might be the understatement of the century. From the late-night diaper changes when the little ones are literally quite little to the drop offs at school functions and other extracurricular activities, your involvement in your child's growth through the years is often equally as stressful as it is important.
If you've got kids here in Tampa, what to do with them between those hours when school ends and you get off work can often be a point of debate when you're first figuring things out.
The Hillsborough County Parks, Recreation, and Conservation is working to make things easier on parents in this predicament with their newest after-school program Rec2Six.
Rec2Six provides active after-school care for kids in Kindergarten through 5th grade in Hillsborough County. The program is currently available at these County recreation centers:
- Brandon, 502 E. Sadie St. in Brandon, (813) 635-8179
- Egypt Lake, 3126 W. Lambright Street in Tampa, (813) 975-2103
- Mango, 11717 Clay Pit Road. in Seffner, (813) 635- 7489
- Northdale, 15550 Spring Pine Drive in Tampa, (813) 269-1366
- Roy Haynes, 1902 S. Village Ave. in Tampa, (813) 903-3480
- Ruskin, 901 6th St. in Ruskin, (813) 672-7881
- Thonotosassa, 10132 Skewlee Road in Thonotosassa, (813) 987-6206
- University Area Park, 14015 N. 22nd St. in Tampa, (813) 903-2200
- Westchase, 9791 Westchase Drive in Tampa, (813) 964-2948
- Winston, 7605 Destin Drive in Tampa, (813) 744-5539
Rec2Six is hardly some simple babysitting service though. This comprehensive program offers a bounty of physical activity for the kids using the nationally-recognized SPARK (Sports, Play & Active Recreation for Kids) curriculum where program participants will spend 40-60 minutes each day in active structured play and skill building environments.
Kids will also be introduced to healthy food choices at Rec2Six where they can help with a community garden planted at each location and learn all about a balanced, healthy diet.
Each Rec2Six site also requires its participants to spend a half-hour in quiet study time every day where they can complete their homework or other school-related tasks.
This is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to all the fun, healthy, and proactive things your child can accomplish after school at Rec2Six.
Rec2Six costs a mere $38 per week per child with $30/week and $20/week rates for kids with reduced and free lunches respectively. Rec2Six program follows the Hillsborough County School calendar and is available on early release and non-student/teacher planning days.
To register or learn more about Rec2Six and all the great features this program has to offer, visit the official Rec2Six page.
