With school finally back in session, kids of all ages attend after school activities to keep them physically and mentally active. Plus, these programs help to keep your kids safe until you can pick them up from work or other obligations.
1. Sports
Sports are a great way to keep your child active. Depending on the town or city you live in, and the season, your child can enroll in sports such as, soccer, football, lacrosse, or baseball.
Sports will teach your children discipline and various team building skills that will help them as they get older. Plus, if you have a middle or high schooler in the home, being involved in sports will look great on their resume and can often lead to scholarship opportunities down the road.
There are a few things to remember when making a sports commitment:
- Make sure to check with your local town or school to see when certain activities start, some sports are only offered in the spring or fall semesters.
- Your child may also need to attend try-outs before they’re accepted onto a sports team.
- They will also need a physical to make sure they can handle the physical activity.
- As a parent, you will have to pay for registration, equipment, and clothing needed to participate. You may also be required to help with travel, fundraisers, or other team expenses.
- When your child joins a team, you also make a commitment to help out.
However, if you and your child can make the commitment, sports are great for everyone involved.
2. Clubs
If your child has little interest in sports, consider getting them involved in a club either through their school or local community. Clubs are a great way for your child to make new friends and find new interests.
Clubs in school can take on a variety of subjects, interests, and outreach activities, so be sure to keep involved with your school district to know what is offered. Scouting is also another great way to keep your child involved in their community and build important skills for the real world. In fact, Boy and Girl Scouts offer memberships for a variety of age groups.
Additionally, your local YMCA or Boys and Girls Club can provide a safe environment for children and young adults to go to after school. These clubs offer recreational activities, educational programs to keep kids on track in their schooling, and other programs that can teach kids and young adults about health and financial independence.
3. Homework Help
Not all children can handle the workload of school, and those who may need extra assistance with their studies can benefit from enrolling in a homework help or tutoring program.
Tutors often come with a cost, but many public libraries, such as the Rockville Public Library in Vernon, CT offer a free Homework Help Center online for all grades and different subjects.
Additionally, centers such as, Kumon and Mathnasium, offer educational programs to educate your child when school isn’t in session. Classes are made to help children who may be struggling in subjects such as, math or reading. Moreover, class days and times vary depending on location, but both Kumon and Mathnasium have various locations across the country.
These types of environments are great for working parents who may not have time to sit down for hours helping their children, especially if work related commitments run late.
4. Non-Curricular Activities
Of course, your child doesn’t always have to be involved in something directly through your school’s district. You can find a local business that can help your child stay active after school hours have ended.
Moreover, activities such as karate and dance are popular activities for kids of all ages. You will typically have to pay a large fee for this, but they will teach your child discipline, independence, and give them the confidence they need to succeed in multiple tasks. Additionally, these activities are held all year round rather than seasonally, so if your child wants to join, plan to teach them about the hard work and commitment they’ll have to put in each week.
5. Jumpstart on Reading
Of course, another great way to get your child on the path to success after school is by having them read every night and log the hours they’ve read. If your child is in the Stafford Elementary School system and is in grades 2-5, they’ll have a chance to win a free bike from our agency in the springtime. How is this possible? Well, for the past 2 years our insurance agency has worked with our local English teachers to create the Bikes for Reading Program. When a student reads at least 70 hours in the months of March, April, and May their names are entered into a raffle to win a brand new bike, courtesy of our insurance agency!
If you aren’t a Stafford local, your school may have a similar program. If not, consider rewarding your child for reading a certain amount of hours every month.
So, with all the different activities, your child has no reason to be bored after school! Keep them safe and active this year, by encouraging them to get involved.