Adventure Time - Chabot Elementary School

Archived Q&A and Reviews

March 2015

RE: Experience with Adventure Time at Oakland Public Schools?

 I saw the one reply you got and felt compelled to respond, because I have a slightly different perspective on Adventure Time. My oldest is in Kindergarten at Chabot this year. She is not enrolled in Adventure Time, but I do pick her up three days a week, and we almost always stay at school, while she and her little brother play on the yard with the AT kids. So I have spent a good 5ish hours a week just hanging out in the playground observing AT this year. Here is what's great about it, from my admittedly limited view: it seems to be one of the only times kids in our city/culture can reliably have child-directed playtime. Not a play date. Not an enrichment activity. Just play. The counselors are there and appear to be making sure everything is OK outside, while I am under the impression that indoors the kids have the option to participate in more structured activities. But at Chabot, after snack time is over, the vast majority of the kids are outside just playing. And the counselors just stand by and observe unless the kids engage them. They don't really butt in to what the kids are doing unless someone's doing something wrong. So all the kids get to do whatever the heck they feel like doing. They're figuring out friendships, making up fantasy worlds, playing basketball, WHATEVER.

This is SO RARE nowadays. I mean, even during the school day, they only get 15 min of recess and a little more after lunch. And the dynamic that I grew up with - being free to roam around with neighborhood kids after school - doesn't exist anymore either. I'd be glad to let my kids do that, but everyone in our neighborhood has parents who both work every day, so they're in aftercare until 5 or 6. Or their parents just don't feel comfortable letting them run around outside without very close supervision.

So... if you value free play for your child, AT may be one of a very few ways to get it. I have no idea if other schools are like Chabot. And I can't comment on anything beyond just having observed life on the schoolyard for hours and hours. But as someone who wants my kids to have the fun of making up some of their own games and the freedom to navigate relationships without constant adult intervention, I will be signing up my daughter for AT next year. Kids need to play!

April 2013

Re: Extended care Kindergarten at Chabot
I always considered AT to be a pretty good bargain, especially after what we paid for pre-school... We're just about to graduate from Chabot this year, and over the years I've only heard of 3 options for those that didn't/couldn't use AT- Studio One, Tzofim, or hire a college student/au pair/nanny.

Eventually all kids who need pre or post care ended up at AT. Reasons being ease, convenience, quality of care, reliability. As soon as you start looking for off-campus care, things get more complicated and there may be costs you haven't calculated yet (transportation). Sorry for not really answering your question, but maybe you need to think it through more. And other advice- SIGN up for AT on the official sign up day! You can always cancel or reduce your hours later, but if you don't sign up in the spring, you may not get a space in the fall! Mom of 2

July 1996

My daughter attends elementary school in Rockridge (Chabot) and attends the on-site extended care program called Adventure Time. I don't know how they handle medical situations but they are very attentive and involved with the kids. Adventure Time can be reached at 482-0610.
Phyllis