Are after-school activities important? After a whole year of these opportunities, we’ve realized how crucial time to relax is for our children as well as our families.
This is a time of excitement for the field of education after school. Things have changed since last year’s experience: fortunately the after-school programs are back, and we’ve made it easier for families to be involved in a variety of activities and clubs outside of the normal school hours. Chess, robotics, yoga for families or trail running as well as other activities are all added to our Afterschool Hub in order to enhance learning, enhance the development of social, emotional and cognitive abilities, encourage healthy lifestyles, help develop the development of new talents, and create an enjoyable and safe environment for kids and teens.
After a whole year of avoiding these activities, we’ve discovered how important time off and after-school activities is for our families and children. There aren’t just us people who think this. According to various research and authors, successful afterschool programs do not just offer educational environments but also provide many benefits to families, children and the communities.
Learn about the six main advantages of taking part in afterschool programs
1-Strengthen lifelong education at any age:
An after-school program that is well-designed can provide a valuable time for learning. This is an enormous benefit, particularly for children who think and learn differently. According to Gardner the human being is not naturally gifted with all of the knowledge they’ll ever possess. Thus, practice and experience are essential. For this reason, an afterschool program with a wide offer of activities that can foster multiple intelligences (linguistic, logical-mathematical, spatial, musical…) and offer your child a variety of ways to learn is a good way to set your child up for success. What kinds of intelligence do you want to encourage in your child?
2. Improve brain function and school performance:
Involvement in afterschool activities is directly related to improved cognitive function and improved school performance. A recent study carried out by researchers at University of Illinois University of Illinois and published in the journal Pediatrics found that elementary school children who exercised for a minimum of one hour each day in an after-school program had higher cognitive abilities as well as higher levels of focus than children who did not participate in a lot of physical activity.
3 Improve social and emotional abilities:
There is evidence growing that the emotional and social abilities that young children and teens acquire during after-school programs can be instrumental to their academic success and in life. They are referred to as ‘life skills’. these essential skills range the ability to communicate and problem solving using critical thinking, self-awareness , or assertiveness. Children learn to collaborate and to be self-reliant.
Additionally, after-school programs provide an ideal environment to engage in this kind of social learning , with smaller groups, a sense of connection as well as opportunities to form friendships with fellow students from the same or various age ranges…
4. Promote healthy habits:
Active children become active adults. Being physically active throughout life is an essential element of good health and wellbeing. There is evidence that suggests that activity levels in early childhood can “track” into an active lifestyle in the early years of adulthood. In particular, researchers have discovered that high-quality 課外活動 contribute to children’s physical activities.
-Boost new talents
In addition to the bell, children might be more inclined to experiment with new things explore new interests and take risks. This could increase self-esteem as well as self-awareness. Psychologists frequently stress the importance of knowing as much as you can about yourself in order to discover your interests in your life.
6-Provide a safe and secure environment
Positive interactions with other kids in the afterschool club or in the hub create a sense of belonging and acceptance. The school provides a safe and positive environment where children can enjoy the remaining hours of the day engaged and productive. Additionally, keeping children busy will keep them from engaging in risky behaviours. This is a great benefit for parents who work, and can breathe a sigh relief and finish your day with high-quality childcare in your child’s school.