Successful After School

When my mom finally decided to take that plum posting as a Divisional Head, I knew I was in trouble. Her office hours stretched way beyond my school hours. And anyway, I was privy to the many discussions my parents had about 'Honey, what do we do with the kids?' Well, finally they struck gold - an educational after school program. Won't that be just grand? Kids are learning new things while parents are happily minting greenbacks! And so, we went directly to another class after our school. The brochure said that they would be 'using fun activities and innovative teaching methods to fill the gap in your child's understanding'. I suppose they meant that the teacher would write down the homework and we were to copy it. At least, this is what happened most of the time. Of course, we didn't tell our parents. How would that help? They'd simply get smart and shift us to a class that would actually make us solve our homework. I hated the classes. Mo...

There is often a trap in the words 'after school activities'. One may  easily believe that since these activities are after school, they are not  of much importance. But, one couldn't be more wrong. Research suggests  that children pick up some of their most important skills from after  school programs. That is why children who do not participate in any extra  curricular activities are generally slow and less vibrant. The learning environment that one fosters in after school activities must  be as disciplined and as functional as that found in the school. This is  especially true of educational after school programs. This is the best  place to teach the child important skills like time-management and goal  setting. Time-management is a vital skill, but it is not achieved easily.  Children need to feel the discipline that is needed to finish a task and  the happiness of finishing the allotted work in a specific time fram...

What marks a successful after school program? What are the things that you should look for when enrolling your child into one such program? Other  than the obvious advantage of learning something new, successful programs  incorporate many things that help the development of the child.  Development of social skills is one of the more important objectives of a  good after school program. In a recent survey, parents indicated that  while they do want their children to respect others, they also wanted them  to imbibe skills like getting along with other children and getting used  to children outside the immediate circle of friends. Many children find it  difficult to make new friends and get along with people outside their  group.  Good after school programs place special emphasis on security and safety.  They keep children out of trouble and keep them safe. A good after school  program should be fun, especially when...

In an effort to keep children motivated and safe, the U.S. Government sets aside a good amount of fund for financing after school programs every  year. A report by the U.S. Department of Education and Justice points out  that after school programs are very effective and is in the interests of  the society as a whole. Interestingly, it was found that Americans liked  providing school-based after school-programs in their community. Other than safety, boredom and loneliness, the poor performance of many  students also led to the need for after-school programs that are based on  the school curriculum. Children coming from low-income families were found  to lag behind in reading and grammar after a long break in the summer.  Statistics prove that if school-going children are left unsupervised after  their school, the chances of poor grades and drop out are considerably  higher. The funds provided by the Government will allow rura...

In a world that is slowly but surely turning away from books and getting  glued to monitors or television screens, the importance of developing a  passion for reading cannot be overlooked. Reading is a habit and should be  established when the child is relatively young. What can you do to foster  this habit? Enroll your child for reading classes: There are many well structured after school reading classes that aim to  draw the children to books. They help kids with diction, idioms and  phrases. For young children, these classes can be fun with animated  characters and pictures. Illustrated picture books, rhymes, silly songs  and pretend stories all attract the young child. Use creativity to capture  the child's vivid imagination.  Pique your child's interest: If your child has a favorite character, pick a series of books that  features this character. For my son, it was Spiderman. Thanks to friendly  neighborho...

With the growing interest in after school programs shown by the Government as well as parents, new and hitherto unheard of programs are being  explored. In an attempt to make a child aware of his responsibilities as  an individual and as a citizen, these after school programs make use of a  child's natural curiosity and his irrepressible energy. Investigative Skills: In some schools in Kernersville, children are developing their  investigative skills. Children meet with adults who introduce them to the  details of fake non-violent crimes. They take notes, visit the scene and  gather information. Students learn to listen to alibis, collect  fingerprints and gather any other pieces of evidence. According to the  principal, these activities challenge her students' problem solving  skills. Children learn to think critically and to form informed judgments.  Fisheries and sciences: In North Carolina, children who are interested...

After school programs can be divided into 3 broad categories: academic, recreational and social. Balanced development takes place when there is  compatibility between the physical, mental as well as the educational  achievements of the child.As the name suggests recreational after school  programs are based on a sport or recreation. Some of the more common  physical activities include football, swimming and basketball.Some clubs  offer programs like gymnastics, trekking and hiking. In this case,  youngsters are often given a short class in first-aid class also. Recreational after school programs offer children an opportunity to let  off some steam and to destress themselves. The closed classroom atmosphere  and a day full of textbooks and writing cause the child to repress his  natural enthusiasm. He curbs his energy when he is required to sit quietly  in class and learn. Physical activity is an all-time low during such...

With children becoming the primary focus of society, ways and means to  ensure their safety and development are being researched. The Government  too has pooled in to make a success of such programs. Here are some of the  reasons why after school programs have become so popular: 1) Preventing Juvenile Delinquency, crime and violent victimization: About 10% of juvenile crimes happen between 3 P.M. - 4 P.M. Children need  to be kept safe and out of trouble at such times 2) Preventing alcohol, drug and tobacco use. Risk-taking behavior that seeks to establish superiority in a clan is  mostly seen in 'latchkey' children. Children in their pre-teens, if they  have a meaningful relationship with a mentor, are less likely to indulge  in these kinds of destructive behavior 3) Decreases appetite for Television: An average child watches about 23 hours of TV per week. When enrolled for  some activity, the child utilizes his mental and physical...

Several studies are expressing a growing concern that after school programs are pressurizing kids to do too much too soon. They point out  that when a child's afternoon is filled with classes, trips, sports and  other forms of organized activities, kids do not really get the time to be  just kids. They are even being deprived of the cherished family time. Undoubtedly, there are children who are being burdened with a schedule  that places too much demand on their time. This leads to increased levels  of stress on the child and the family. As regular studies cannot be  ignored, children are almost always on the run to achieve more. Such  children are really bearing a burden that is too heavy for their frail  little shoulders. In an ideal world, all children would go home directly after school to  loving and caring parents who are waiting for the children to come home.  But the social and economic realities show that many chi...

When children are literally up to their gills with the learning and sport activities in school, it may seem superfluous to enroll them for after  school activities. In spite of this, after school programs are sprouting  up in large numbers and most of these are booked full. This shows that  there is a real need for after school activities. The unavailability of parental supervision is the leading cause for the  surge in after school programs. It is seen that many children spend about  20-25 hours a week unsupervised and alone at home. And as the saying  goes, "An idle mind is a devil's workshop". Children who are left alone  to contend with too much free time invariably fall into the wrong  company. Drug abuse, alcohol, tobacco and crime come knocking at their  doors sooner rather than later. Parents enroll children to various after  school programs to keep them occupied in a productive manner. This way,  the kids are ...

Initial enthusiasm in after school activities tends to wane after the  first excitement is over. This is but natural. The trick is to keep up the  hard work even after this. How do you keep your child motivated? This is  of particular importance when the child goes in for educational after  school programs. Make the career-academics connection early on: Let your child understand how important studies are. Let him know that  an excellent career is wholly dependent on wholesome learning. To develop  his interest in studies, plan family activities that are connected with  his studies. Emphasize the real-world connection to academics whenever  possible. Set goals: Let your child know, through example, that hard work will be rewarded. If  your child believes that achievement is a natural by-product of effort, he  is more likely to put in hard work. Such children are also less likely to  drop out of programs and college a...

Start off by making enquiries. Nothing can beat the power of information. Approach the school authorities first. Find out if they are offering any  after school activities. Get a list of the various classes that are  available in your school. In case the school does not provide any  extracurricular activities for the child, approach your neighbors. Collect  information about any after school programs, the quality of the courses  taught and the timings etc. Also, check out some of the community  resources. These may include places of worship, community centers,  Museums, libraries, the YMCA, The Boys and Girls Club etc. After you have colleted all the necessary information, discuss the various  options with your child. Find out what his interests are. The best way to  find out what is most suitable is to ask your child. When little children  are too small, you cannot completely rely on their feedback. In this case,  mon...

Should your child go for the football practice 5 days a week?  Are 3 days enough? It is common for parents to be a little confused when it comes to  deciding how much is too much with reference to after school activities.  They argue that since most of the activities are fun (as different from  studies), children will simply lap up these classes. But, too much of fun  can also make a child sick. Here is a simple guide that will help you  decide how much is too much for your child. Kindergarten: Your child is just beginning to learn to interact and get used to  discipline. His or her after-school life should be simple and carefree.  One or two classes per week are enough at the beginning. Once the child  settles down, look for more challenging activities like a music program. Grade 1: One or two activities per week, play dates and playground visits are  recommended. Avoid competitive sports activities. The child is still t...

When there are so many activities on offer, and each one looks as good as  the next, how do you gauge the worth and effectiveness of these  activities? Sure, you want an activity that junior enjoys. But, we really  cannot afford to waste time on pleasure for pleasure's sake, do we? There  needs to be a grain of gold somewhere in there. Given below is a list of  characteristics that any good after school activity must possess. Clarity in objectives and goals is the first important thing. What does  the course offer? How does it propose to achieve the results? How many  kids make up a batch? Ask questions. After all, when you are dishing out  the dough, you really need to understand what you are getting in return. A good after school activity will provide lots of opportunities for the  young to increase their level of understanding of complex concepts. This  is true of recreational activities too. Learning to pitch a ball, or...

As a child grows into an adult, different aspects of his physical,  emotional and mental self needs development. To help a child reach his  full potential, it is necessary to recognize the child's developmental  needs and abilities. To be effective, after school programs should assist  children with tasks they must accomplish during each stage of development.  A child's growth curve can be divided into three main parts: 1) Young child (ages 3-5) 2) Middle school (ages 6-8) 3) Older school (ages 9-12) The four important domains of development are: The Physical Domain, the  Social Domain, the Emotional Domain and the Intellectual Domain. Each of  these domains needs to be separately addressed during the various phases  of a child's growth. After school programs should concentrate on  developing each domain as applicable to the age of the child. Although the  children participating in these programs may have similar developm...

Why does Lisa grumble when it is time for her to go for her piano lessons? How come Johnny abhors the sight of his skates now? After all, these  children were very enthusiastic about the programs when they started off.  What happened? Parents are often confused by the disturbing and often  incongruous signals they receive from their children. One day the kids are  excited about the new theatre class and in just a few short weeks they  wail and moan when it's time to go. The first thing a family should do when a child begins resisting a  previously loved activity is to listen and investigate. Do not jump into  conclusions. A little bit of intelligent sleuthing is required. Ask your  child what he or she does in the class. Find out what exactly is the cause  of the problem. Then ask the teachers the same questions. Compare notes.  You may stumble on some important clues. Usually, children start out on an  activity thinki...

Children grow up in a society that demands expertise in everything. You really cannot sit back and decide that learning from textbooks is enough  for the overall development of your child. It's the age of specialization  and your child cannot afford to miss out on this window of opportunity.  So, scour your locality for the most advantageous programs and enroll them  for the ones you think are the best. After school programs are basically designed to develop a talent or a  skill that is ignored by regular schools. These programs could be  educational or recreational in nature. Whatever type they are, they  basically aim to keep the child active and interested.  The most important advantage of a good after school program is that it  widens your child's area of interests. He or she is introduced to new  things, sometimes interesting, sometimes challenging. Mastering a new art  form or a new skill increases the child's s...

A recent report by several independent researchers concludes that  participating in the arts nurtures the development of social, personal and  cognitive skills. Programs based on Arts can improve academic achievement  and decrease the tendency towards delinquency. It helps youth form  positive attitudes about themselves and build self-esteem. Arts programs involve communication, interpretation and understanding of  complex symbols, much like mathematics and languages. Thus it fosters  higher-order analytical skills and skills of evaluation and synthesis.  Many of the programs make the child regularly use multiple skills thus  making him dynamic and versatile.  Development of imagination, judgment and philosophy are fringe benefits of  an arts-based activity. As opposed to the short 45-minute duration of the  art classes at school, the extra time allowed in after school activities  allows the child to get more inv...

So, your son's school does not offer any extracurricular activities. You  are worried of depriving your child of all that extra knowledge and fun.  What should you do? After school activities need not be taught in a school-like environment by  professional teachers in a structured and timely manner. There is a lot  YOU can do to support your child's academic, physical and social  development. Do not be too concerned about formal programs, as many of our  children are already over-scheduled.  Obviously, school is top priority for children. They need to go to school,  and finish their homework. They should then do their daily reading or  writing work etc. This may take about 30-60 minutes. In the course of his  daily work, your child may develop certain academic preferences and  interests. In that case, you can try and find a program in a college or a  community center that will help him and encourage him. In the a...

When parents send their children for after school programs, they take it for granted that the child is safe. But since the number of children  participating in these activities has increased, it is necessary to look  into safety issues.  Children are vulnerable when they are outside the classes. While going or  returning, they should know the safest route to take. Many kids hang out  with their friends just after these classes. Find out 'danger zones' from  your neighbors and make the children aware of these.  The child has to know how to handle emergencies. It is better to discuss  various scenarios with your child. Tell her what she should do in case the  class is suddenly cancelled. Show her the first-aid kit at home and make  sure she knows whom to call in an emergency. Post any important contact  information in a place that is easily accessible to the child. If the  child will be alone at home, discuss a few...

How important is discipline when it comes to after school programs? Since most of the activities are recreational, does a program have to adhere to  strict rules? Discipline is just as important here as it is in  activities that pertain to the school. The child is sent to a program  because you want him to learn more. Discipline in one form or the other is  necessary to facilitate learning.  Every program should begin by laying down the rules. The supervisor or  teacher should explain each rule and can thus prevent future mishaps.  Misbehavior should be addressed as and when it occurs. Deal with the  problem in such a manner that it causes the least disruption. It is unwise  to turn a blind eye to misbehavior because it catches on like fire, and  soon you will have a bunch of unruly children on your hands. Besides,  however much they resist it, children like to operate within the safety  net of strict guidelines a...

So, your child is beginning to get restless and make you restless. He has got more time than is good for him, and you are now considering after school programs - anything that will keep him busy for a few life-saving hours! Most after school activities can be broadly classified into three - recreational, educational and society-oriented. The last bit usually comes in when your child is already a bit grown up and can voice his own interests. Educational activities aim at furthering the knowledge of your child. His general awareness, his understanding and his memory are targeted and he is given various techniques that will help him improve one or all of these. Programs such as intensive memory training and speed mathematics are educational after school activities. There are academic programs that will go over your child's homework and class work and help the child gain more in-depth knowledge in the various subjects. Thus academic programs have a definite edge over the fun and game...

ADHD refers to attention-deficit-hyperactivity-disorder. Most children who suffer from this disorder suffer from attention problems as well as hyperactivity. Parents of such children are well aware that inattention and hyperactivity continue throughout the day. Keeping such children busy after school hours can be as difficult as keeping them safe during the school day. The first step while choosing the right after school activity for your child is to understand how ADHD affects him. Is your child interested in sports? Is he put off by the fierce competitiveness, or does he find it hard to get along with teammates? Does your child vocalize his feelings, or is communication a problem?  For a child suffering from ADHD, physical exercise is always beneficial. Exercise takes up the extra energy and helps to stimulate the brain. Team activities teach social skills and discipline. But, if your child shies away from team sports, you may want to look at activities like dancing, cycling...

Research and studies show that our children are growing fater by the day. Many families all over America are struggling to keep the weight of  their children within reasonable limits. As a parent, I know that it's  nearly impossible for me to look into the tear-filled eyes of my son and  refuse food.  So, what's the alternative? Studies show that the number one reason for  obesity in children is not junk food and colas. It's actually TV.   Children tend to plop themselves on the sofa and munch away happily when  they are in front of the TV sets. But, once the set is off, their natural  buoyancy will lead the children to do stuff and to move their body. THey will then be diverted from eating. Recreational after school activities are a must if you feel that your  child is beginning to put on undesirable fat. It is better to begin these  activities as early as possible. The more weight the child gains, the  harder h...