There used to be a time when, if a child participated in an afterschool program, the assumption was that it was simply something for them to do until their parents were able to pick them up. However, as the curriculum for these kinds of programs continue to evolve, it’s becoming more and more apparent that there are a myriad of reasons why you may want to consider putting your child into one.
If you’re considering doing so, but you’d like to know some of the benefits that come with placing your child into an afterschool program, we have five good ones for you below:
It provides them with tutors (oftentimes free of charge). If you have a child who is struggling with one or more subjects, this is one great reason to put them into an afterschool program. That’s because many of them have on-site tutors who are available to assist your child in a variety of subjects. As an added bonus, oftentimes, you don’t have to pay for their services.
It gives them a sense of responsibility. Although there are usually a lot of games and activities, a good afterschool program will also have a list of delegated responsibilities for the kids to do as well. This is beneficial because it helps to give them a better sense of personal accountability.
It’s a good way for them to develop communication skills. There are actually several studies to support the fact that when a child is a regular participant in an afterschool program, it helps them to develop their communication skills, not just with other kids but adults too. That’s because they are placed into the position of having to interact with others on a more intimate level than they tend to during regular school hours. So, if you have a child who is shy or introverted, this is one way to support them in “breaking out of their shell”.
It helps to keep kids out of trouble. Did you know that reportedly it’s during the hours of 3pm-6pm when children tend to get into the most trouble? That’s because if their parents do have to work during those hours and they are left at home alone, they have a greater tendency to get into mischief. But by placing your child into an after school program, that is one effective way to keep them occupied in a supervised environment.
It exposes them to new things. Due to the fact that afterschool programs tend to have a variety of things to choose from, by placing your child into this kind of environment, it has the potential to expose them to all kinds of things to learn and do. Whether it’s excelling in an intramural sport, learning arts and crafts, taking a dance or art class or something else that is offered within the program, the more that your child is exposed to new things, the more self-confident and ultimately self-sufficient they will become. And that’s always a beneficial thing to any child’s progress.
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