WITI-TV, OCONOMOWOC -
When schools close because of illness, that leaves many working parents scrambling to find childcare. Some local YMCA's have decided to offer relief to those parents of the healthy kids.
The sounds of fun and free throws fill the gym at the Oconomowoc YMCA. It's likely a place that the Dittrich kids will be spending some of their week, because school was called off Wednesday.
With more than a third of the students out sick with flu-like symptoms, the Oconomowoc School District canceled classes at Greenland Elementary. This forces working parents are forced to find last minute childcare. Barbara Dittrich says, "I definitely had to restructure my work day...The problem is that days like these come on such short notice, I think that's the challenge for families."
The good news is both the Oconomowoc and Waukesha YMCA's welcome health kids on no-school days, now dubbed staycation days. Laura Doerr from the YMCA says, "We gear activities on the staycation days towards the older kids, the K-6, the opportunity to use the rest of the facility, to take part in gym activities, basketball, soccer, swimming in pools, all kinds of fun things to keep them busy on the days off."
Kindergarten through 6th grade children are welcome at the YMCA, fees for members and non-members may vary.
As for moms like Dittrich, she's grateful she has a place to send her kids if school gets called off again.
YMCA officials stress only healthy children are welcome.
The sounds of fun and free throws fill the gym at the Oconomowoc YMCA. It's likely a place that the Dittrich kids will be spending some of their week, because school was called off Wednesday.
With more than a third of the students out sick with flu-like symptoms, the Oconomowoc School District canceled classes at Greenland Elementary. This forces working parents are forced to find last minute childcare. Barbara Dittrich says, "I definitely had to restructure my work day...The problem is that days like these come on such short notice, I think that's the challenge for families."
The good news is both the Oconomowoc and Waukesha YMCA's welcome health kids on no-school days, now dubbed staycation days. Laura Doerr from the YMCA says, "We gear activities on the staycation days towards the older kids, the K-6, the opportunity to use the rest of the facility, to take part in gym activities, basketball, soccer, swimming in pools, all kinds of fun things to keep them busy on the days off."
Kindergarten through 6th grade children are welcome at the YMCA, fees for members and non-members may vary.
As for moms like Dittrich, she's grateful she has a place to send her kids if school gets called off again.
YMCA officials stress only healthy children are welcome.
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