Friday, February 26, 2010

Developmental After School Programs

Developmental After School Programs

As a child grows into an adult, different aspects of his/her physical, emotional and mental self needs development. To help a child reach his/her 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/Emotional Domain, the Intellectual Domain, and the Spiritual 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 developmental needs and age, do not expect development to be uniform. Children will develop as and when they are ready.

Physical Domain:
When children are young, they want to perfect skills that they have just learnt to control. A variety of movements such as jumping, catching and throwing delight them. The middle school child, on the other hand, wants to learn more complex skills and get involved in team sports. This is also the best time to learn about rules and discipline in sport. The older school child wants selection and variety and is often ready for more adult-like activities that need greater structure and discipline, like dancing, gymnastics, music classes etc.

Social/Emotional Domain:
Young children are observing others and will be interested in games where they play the roles of family members. They develop short-term friendships and need an adult's presence to assure them. The middle school child is intrigued by society wants friends and will love trips to factories, public buildings, etc... They want to know the 'how' and 'why' of things. The older school child is ready to learn about different cultures, food and customs. Friends are often established and time with is important. They often want to do some amount of social work and help others.

Intellectual Domain:
Young school children will practice what they are learning. Middle school children want to learn more skills and will show interest in reading, drama and problem solving. The older school children are ready to research
and probe. They enjoy getting a puzzle and pondering over it.

Spiritual Domain:
Young school children will practice what they see others do. Middle school children will want to know "Why" and seek to learn more. The older school children are ready to test "Why" and see if it works for them. They often need guided opportunities to test their ideas and feelings about God. In all stages, example has a powerful influence.
Any after school program needs to address the interests of the child depending on the category he or she belongs to. Knowing children and appreciating their needs and interests will help you plan and structure programs that are most useful to the child.
Learning can be fun,
Greg

Thursday, February 25, 2010

Home-Based After School Programs

Home-Based After School Programs

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? Or, maybe you home school your child but still want them to have all the benefits of after school activities.

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 be taught,
and finish their homework. However, in the course of his/her 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 them and encourage them.

In the age of the Internet, information is really not a rarity. Allow them to use the net to find more information about the thing that they like. Encouraging the child to do independent research to gain in-depth knowledge is something that no formal program does.

If you are concerned about the lack of social life, enroll him or her in a
club - a reading club maybe. Visit public libraries or even the theatre,
if your child is interested. It is not necessary for your child to make
friends with children his own age. A parent-child book club is another
interesting option. If you can round up a number of like-minded children
and their parents, you may well start your own after-school program.

When there is no organized group activity, look to your community. Many
children love to get involved in social problems. They get their first
real taste of suffering, charity and community help from such experiences.
Volunteering for clean-up sessions, adult education programs, etc.. could be a real eye-opener for your child. The lessons thus learnt are invaluable.

If physical activity or the lack of it is your major concern, enroll your
child for some dancing classes. If organized sports are impossible to get,
try to enroll her in a gym. She may find friends there and may take to the
treadmill.

Your child does not necessarily have to be a part of an organized group to
benefit from after-school activities. There are various avenues open in
front of you. Roping in the enthusiasm of your children in daily household
activities like cooking, cleaning, etc... can also provide them with a
refreshing extracurricular experience. Moreover, it will improve family
ties too.

Learning can be fun,
Greg

Wednesday, February 24, 2010

How To Find After School Activities

How To Find After School Activities

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, park and rec., community centers, Museums, libraries, the Boy Scouts or Girl Scouts, 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/her 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, monitor the development of the child on a regular basis. If the child shows excessive resistance to an activity, it may be necessary to look for other options.

Always consider your family's schedule when planning the extracurricular activities. If it is difficult for you to chauffeur your child, you may want to employ tutors at home or conduct some activity at home yourself.

Learning can be fun,
Greg

Tuesday, February 23, 2010

Boring After School Activities

William-Adolphe Bouguereau's La leçon difficul...Image via Wikipedia

Boring After School Activities

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 thinking it's all fun. But when they realize that they cannot just hang out and that they need to follow rules etc, they begin to resist. Your child may feel stifled if the program is too structured. If the discipline is too rigorous or the activity too painful (like a karate class). Use your own instincts. Does the program feel like fun? Would you want to attend it yourself? Are they offering enough motivation to keep the child interested?

The teacher-to-child ratio is also an important factor. Children need
attention. If the number of teachers is just enough to handle a class, it
is possible that your child is not receiving enough attention. State
recommendations usually specify that there must be 1 teacher for 15
children.

Children try to avoid problems they cannot solve. If there are no
perceivable problems with the class and the teachers, perhaps you need to
have a chat with your child. If your judgment says that the place is good
and the activity engaging enough, then it's time to work with your child.

More often than not, social pressures may be at work here. Does your child
have friends there? If he/she is lonely or miserable because of the lack of friends, help him/her find a friend. If he/she finds a friend, they will get more involved in the activities

If your best efforts do not pay off, and your child still resists that
fantastic guitar classes, then it's time to let go. Shift your child to
some other program. If he or she still retains interest in guitars, you
can take it up after a few months. Never force the child, especially when
it comes to extra-curricular activities. Since they are 'extra', they must
bring in extra happiness and extra enthusiasm too.

Learning can be fun,
Greg

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Monday, February 22, 2010

Potential of After School Programs

Potential of After School Programs

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 about19 to 23 hours of TV per week. When enrolled for some activity, the child utilizes his mental and physical skills to meet challenges.
  4. Improving academic achievements.
  5. Improving school attendance: More confidence in self and increased interest in school leads to greater attendance in school. A program that helps children with their homework also gives the child a much-needed feeling of self-achievement.
  6. Improved behavior and inter-personal skills. Children who attend after school activities handle conflict better and cooperate more with authority figures.
  7. Closer family and community ties.
Learning can be fun,
Greg

Saturday, February 20, 2010

Effective After School Activities

Effective After School Activities

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 dance
to a tune - regardless of the activity involved, the child should be
encouraged to grapple with and conquer new concepts. This not only keeps
boredom at bay by challenging the child, but also builds up his/her
self-confidence. Development of academic, personal and social skills is
one of the prime aims of an after school activity. As the skills develop,
the child's self-esteem also increases.

After school activities are all about boosting a child's sense of
competence. Good and effective after school activities promotes the
resilience of youth and encourages them to grow stronger, be it mentally,
emotionally or physically.

Safety is one of the first requirements of an after school activity. The
staff should be qualified, adequate and alert. Never put your child in a
program where safety is a matter of accident instead of a matter of
priority. The staff should be friendly and should have a positive
relationship with the child. Therefore, the program should have
professional and trained staff that loves to interact with children. The
program should maintain a cooperative and supportive attitude and a
structured environment. Participation and collaboration as opposed to
competition and antagonism must be encouraged.

Some programs involve the children in planning activities and making
decisions. Adults often forget to get the opinion of their children. By
giving the children an opportunity to voice their opinion, programs become
fun activities that children are motivated to participate in. Young people
thrive when they are listened to, respected and allowed to contribute
their mite.

Routine evaluations are an important part of after school programs. If the
child does not benefit from a class, don't waste time being
over-optimistic. Try something new.

You are now ready to look for the perfect after school activity for your
child. But don't let us forget that having fun is also an important part
of growing up. The child deserves a few hours of pure delight. Remember,
all work and no play, ……

Learning can be fun,
Greg

Friday, February 19, 2010

Need for After School Activities

Need for After School Activities

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 free to enjoy themselves in a supervised activity.

Crime is considered to be at its peak during the after school hours,
between 3- 4 p.m. During such a time, children need protection. Getting
the children together under one roof and encouraging them to participate
in a group activity is protection enough.

Obesity is a matter of growing concern in this country as well. It is noticed that more and more children are becoming couch potatoes. After school, many of them relax on the sofa with packets of chips, cool drinks or chocolates while they watch T.V. 30 % of the kids below the age of 19 are considered overweight, and about 15% of these are obese. An after school program ensures that the child shakes off his lethargy and keeps himself busy. This also helps to reduce the child's fascination for T.V and computer games.

After school activities that promote social awareness develop the
individual's sense of social responsibility. It is seen that these sorts
of programs not only keep kids out of trouble, but also help to produce
responsible citizens. To that extent, they are valuable building blocks
in a child's personality.

Times are changing and parents want their children to excel in academics
as well as in other activities. This may be a reflection of the parent's
unfulfilled desire to excel - a remnant from his/her own childhood.

Whatever the reason, parents today encourage their children to enroll themselves in various programs and develop the various facets of their
individuality. Children also seem to be comfortable learning many things
at the same time, and gain satisfaction from this.

Learning can be fun,
Greg