Benefits of a good after school program

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 self-esteem. It also allows you 

to introduce your child to new career options. A child attending a music 

class may decide that she likes it so much that she wants to make a career 

out of it in the long run. 

Socialization is another great advantage of after school programs. 

Children get to meet others who share their interests and make new 

friendships. An acting class or a soccer class can be lots of fun. Many of 

these programs coach children for performances or matches. Performing on 

stage or playing a match can be a great experience for a young child. 

After school programs keep your teenager busy. He or she thus has some 

amount of protection from destructive habits like drugs and alcohol. 

Surveys indicate that children who are kept busy through diverse absorbing 

activities are less prone to abuse, depression and burnout. Significant 

increase in achievement and attendance and a reduction in drop out rates 

are other advantages of a good after school programs.

Most after school programs have children interacting with one or more 

adult. This allows them to benefit from positive relationships with 

adults. Children often find it difficult to confide in parents and 

teachers, but may open up with other adults. 

Many children are put into recreational after school programs so that they 

reduce weight and remain healthy. A newly emerging trend shows that about 

15% children below the age of 16 are obese. Parents who cannot put their 

children on a strict diet resort to sports and games to burn fat. With 

cases of child diabetes on the increase, this has become a prime focus of 

many after school programs.

A good after school program has many benefits. It keeps the child 

entertained as well as busy, and thus prevents children from becoming 

addicted to TVs and PCs. By giving them ways to burn up their excess energy 

and explore their creativity, after school programs help to shape the 

overall personality of the child.