It’s time to start thinking about get-togethers and activities for your child after school free time. While parents everywhere are scrambling to plan something special, they may be overlooking one important factor, which is ensuring their child is well-rounded. The benefits of getting involved in these sorts of activities have been well documented. Active children tend to have better math skills, better social skills, and more self-confidence. However, when parents focus only on the academic side of things, their children can become dullards in other areas.
Children who participate in extracurricular activities have a much greater chance of being college-ready. By helping your child develop a well-rounded foundation, you are decreasing the likelihood that he or she will suffer from any future discipline problems at home or in school. In addition, a well-rounded child is easier to get along with, making him or her more likely to form healthy relationships with people of all ages.
So, if you’re looking for a fun and interesting kids activities for your child to participate in this summer, consider enrolling them in an afterschool program. With so many options available, there’s sure to be something that fits their interests and compliments their abilities. In today’s society, it is extremely important for children to have opportunities to engage in such activities. These activities provide children with the chance to build socialization skills, engage in intellectual pursuits, and develop teamwork skills. Below are five ways after-school activities shape well-rounded children:
Source: cuemath.com
Contents
- 1. The activities promote academic engagement
- 2. After-school activities foster socialization skills
- 3. After-school activities teach youngsters how to handle difficult situations
- 4. Some of the most beneficial aspects of these types of activities revolve around developing creativity and solving problems creatively – two key traits for success in any field
- 5. After-school activities help kids learn discipline skills
1. The activities promote academic engagement
By engaging in extracurricular activities, kids are more likely to be focused in class and pay attention when learning. Many benefits associated with having an afterschool program can extend well beyond grade level: intellectually stimulating playtime, caring adult role models who provide positive reinforcement; opportunities to learn about career paths, preparing students for college and careers, mentorship programs for young teen girls and boys, networking with professionals in the community, and more.
You may be wondering what your child is doing after school. They might be playing video games, watching TV, or hanging out with their friends. While all of these activities are important, they may not be the most influential when it comes to promoting their academic engagement.
Do you want your child to develop strong social skills? If so, joining him or her in activities is a great way to help! They vary in content and length, but all of them provide an opportunity for children to interact with others face-to-face. Some examples are organized sports, learning workshops, field trips, and dance classes.
Studies show that kids who participate in organized sports or other extracurriculars learn how to cooperate with others and rely on their teammates. They learn how to control their emotions and manage stress, all of which are essential life skills. In addition, they develop strong relationships with other people which can last a lifetime.
Source: encourageplay.com
3. After-school activities teach youngsters how to handle difficult situations
A lot of teenagers go through rough patches during their developmental years. Whether dealing with family stress, peers, or just the normal fist-fights and crushes that come along with being 14 and 15 years old, life can be tough at times. As kids grow older, they’ll encounter difficult challenges in their life, such as making friends at the wrong time or trying out for the soccer team while having braces on their teeth.
By participating in after-school programs, kids learn how to work together as a team and overcome obstacles. This sets them up for successful futures where they’ll need to work together as a team to achieve goals.
4. Some of the most beneficial aspects of these types of activities revolve around developing creativity and solving problems creatively – two key traits for success in any field
Between homework, studies, and extracurriculars, there’s not a lot of time left to be creative. But believe it or not, creative pursuits outside of school are one of the most beneficial aspects of after-school activities.
Kids who participate in arts and crafts often have better problem-solving abilities than those who don’t and exhibit greater creative thinking abilities than their peers. These qualities can be used in any profession – from starting your own company to becoming an entrepreneur!
Source: firstdiscoverers.co.uk
5. After-school activities help kids learn discipline skills
Kids need basics like healthy eating and good hygiene in order to grow up into healthy adults. However, many children today lack basic life skills such as self-discipline. At some point, almost all kids go through a stage where they struggle to stay on task and act appropriately in the classroom. Disruptive behavior is often the result.
Unfortunately, discipline problems often continue into adulthood and can have serious consequences, such as poor job prospects or relationship problems. As we mentioned earlier when kids are engaged in after-school activities they’re less likely to misbehave or get into trouble at home or at school later on during the day.
When organized properly – which includes setting clear guidelines for behavior – these extracurriculars can form the perfect foundation for a child’s future personal behavior as well as his/her academic achievements.
In today’s world, it is important for children to have ample opportunities to engage in socially constructive after-school activities. These activities help toddlers, preschoolers, and young elementary students develop communication, problem-solving, social skills, and creative thinking in a fun and safe environment.
Whether you’re looking for an enrichment activity for your own children or want to provide a full day of after-school programming for your students consider the following activities: playing outside, creative writing, science projects, playing sports, taking arts and crafts classes, joining the drama club, learning new languages and cultures and many more.
Implementing these types of programs can go a long way in developing responsible young citizens.
No matter what level of education you attain, joining an after-school program is something that you should definitely consider for your child! Studies have shown that attending such a program can help improve academic performance, reading skills, attention span, problem-solving ability, critical thinking skills, creativity skills, teamwork abilities, and more!
