Have you recently decided to go back to work? Do your children finish with their school day before you get home from work? If so, maybe you already have a plan for their after-school care. If that's not the case, from arranging for your children to be in an after school child care program to hiring a sitter, here are some ideas that might help you.

Arrange For After School Child Care - Does your child's school have child care right in the school building? If so, you are probably very grateful for that. However, if that isn't available to you, remember that there are facilities that offer after school child care. In fact, the facility will probably even offer transportation from the school to the facility at no extra cost. 

Of course, you'll need to inform the school officials that your child will be picked up by the vehicle that will be taking them to their after school location. You'll probably have to put that in writing. If there are times that your child won't be going to the after school program but will be going home with somebody else, your child's school probably requires that information to be given in writing, too. 

If your child is going to be absent from school, let the after school director know that he or she won't be attending the program. 

Whether it's at school or at the after school child care facility, you will have the peace of mind that the caregivers have the training and the experience to provide safety for your children. There will probably be an after school snack waiting for them. Otherwise, think of packing one that your child can bring in his or her backpack. 

Besides having an enjoyable time with other children, there might be fun activities planned for younger children. If homework needs to be done, there will more than likely be a quiet place available. 

Hire A Sitter - If you aren't comfortable with your children being in a school-type setting for too many hours, consider hiring a sitter. There might be a super responsible teenager that lives close to you who would love to earn money by watching your children until you get home. Or, it might be an adult who will be available as a paid sitter.

Whether it's an adult or whether it's a teenager who will be tending your children in your home, be sure that he or she knows the after-school rules. For example, maybe you have a rule that there will be no television until homework is done. Let the sitter know that from the very beginning.