From playing tag, serving snacks to being a mentor is just a taste of Metro Kids caregiver’s daily responsibilities. “Providing care and guidance to the kids as well as improving behavioral issues,” are some of the responsibilities that senior Ben McGregor has. Metro Kids is a before and after school child care program designed to have fun and interactive relationships with elementary students. Metro Kids is offered to grades Kindergarten through fifth grade. The hours are from 6:30 a.m.-5:45 p.m. During regional days, Metro Kids is offered at specific elementary schools throughout the district. The goal for Metro Kids is to provide a safe and loving environment for children who have parents who work. “I know how they act and how they react, they know me and they trust me to do what’s best for them. Other kids don’t have the bond we have,” senior Lexi Lingner said. Responsibilities as a Metro caregiver goes from playing with the kids one on one, to making sure they are making good decisions. “Some kids who go to Metro Kids are usually ones with behavior issues due to problems at home. Other than that, most of them are like your everyday elementary school kids,” McGregor said. What makes Metro Kids different than just going home, taking the bus, or at a daycare is they get to experience all the art projects, science experiments, reading stories, and physical activities outside. Kids can enjoy all of these with the help of the caregivers. Metro Kids is a paying job through Des Moines Public Schools (DMPS). You apply through the school districts website, dmschools.org under the Jobs @ DMPS under Child Care. Every year the starting pay raises, the shifts are set and guaranteed, and you build an amazing relationship with the kids. The hours offered to work are 6:30-8:45 a.m. and 3:00 p.m.-5:45 p.m. Before hired, they ask if you want to work AM/PM or both.