Green Lake

LaFawnda Williams
Program Manager

A former Assistant Director at Kids Co. at Graham Hill, LaFawnda’s gifts working with children and families made her a natural shoe-in when... More

A former Assistant Director at Kids Co. at Graham Hill, LaFawnda’s gifts working with children and families made her a natural shoe-in when the Kids Co. at McDonald Program Director position opened. LaFawnda entered the field of professional child care in 1997, launching her career working with a series of progressively responsible positions at Camp Fire USA Alaska Council. This Alaska native traveled south when an opportunity to attend Seattle Pacific University came available. She fell in love with the area and stayed. She brings a gift for friendship, a passion for basketball, and a joy for traveling to her work. Her grand desire is to be a part of an organization that has a positive impact on the lives of kids. Less

Overview

Ages served: 5 to 12 year olds
Before-School Program
After-School Program
Summer Day Camp

Kids Co. at McDonald offers families a high quality child care experience integrated with the school. Three programs are offered at Kids Co. at McDonald: Before-School Care, After-School Care, and Summer Day Camp.

Before-School Program

Kids Co. at McDonald’s Before-School Care gives families a gentle and reliable jumpstart on the day. Located onsite at McDonald Elementary’s temporary location, Kids Co. at McDonald’s morning program is specifically designed to meet the emotional, mental, and physical needs of children, ages 5 to 12, before heading off to school.

The critical transition from home to school sets the tone for the day. Our morning program supports making this transition smooth and positive for every member of the family—including parents!

Kids Co. at McDonald offers a welcoming environment that supports the unique morning needs of the bodies, minds, and hearts of the young. Children share a nourishing and appealing family-style breakfast served by Kids Co. staff; freely engage in creative activities such as crafts, games, imaginative play, and/or read; and are assisted by our teachers in completing their homework assignments, when needed. On days the weather cooperates, children are also given the chance to play outdoors under the watchful eyes of Kids Co. staff.

Our morning program emphasizes free-choice and personal options. Children are not told what to do, but are given options to decide what they want to do, which supports their growth in self-directed learning and discovery.

Kids Co. at McDonald’s Before-School Care program helps children start the day in happy way!

After-School Program

School’s out for the day, but parents are still at work. Where should children head? To Kids Co. at McDonald’s After-School Care program!

Our After-School professionals are care-givers with expertise in the art of designing and facilitating out-of-school-time for children. They know how to engage children creatively in ways that support the growth of confidence and esteem. Kids Co. at McDonald is also a participant in Seattle Public Schools Community Alignment Initiative, which means that our curricula extends and integrates what kids learn during the school day into their out-of-school time hours!

Each After-School Care day begins with a time of transitioning free play—outdoor play when the weather is nice and gym-time when it is not. This free-play time is followed by a tasty snack prepared and served up by Kids Co. staff. Then it is off for 20 minutes of homework club.

Studies have shown this sequence is supportive of the brain biology of children and helps them access the gifts of creativity and critical thinking, two important aids in learning and retention. After homework club time is done, the staff gathers the children for fun group time activities that the children themselves select. Kids who do not wish to participate in the group activity for the day are given alternatives, such as making crafts, reading, or imaginatively playing alone or with others. After a while, the day is brought gently to a close with a bit of transitioning wind down time, as parents pick their children up, one by one.

Kids Co. at McDonald’s After-School Care program gives families the kind of trusted care they want for their loved ones.

Summer Day Camp

The Kids Co. Summer Day Camp is a voyage in imagination, discover, and simple down-home play that kids are sure to remember for years to come. Offered five days a week, the program is designed to give kids a broad-spectrum summer camp experience tailored to the needs of growing bodies, active minds, and the making of lifelong friends.

Kids can participate from a range of two days a week to all five, depending upon family needs and schedules.

The Summer Day Camp schedule offers a balance of structured activity time with time for unstructured free-play. Each week is inventively and individually themed with activities that are related. Examples of Summer Day Camp week themes include:

Kid Koncoctions (Focus: Mad potions and science)
Walk the Plank (Focus: Pirates and treasure)
Training Camp (Focus: Making friends through games and sports)
CSI M.I. (Focus: Solving mysteries through investigation and analysis)
Tidal Wave (Focus: Water sports)
Reality Island (Focus: Team competitions)
Hogwarts Express (Focus: Secret potions and magic)
Icky Sticky, Ooey, Gooey (Focus: Exploring the senses)
Red Carpet Kids (Focus: Unleashing one’s “inner star”)
Topsy Turvy (Focus: Exploring unexpected phenomena)

Sample Summer Day Camp Curriculum