| Today's children grow up in a society that | | | | teenagers busy. This may help insulate them |
| demands expertise in everything. Learning | | | | from being exposed to destructive habits like |
| from textbooks is not enough for your | | | | drugs and alcohol. Surveys indicate that |
| children's overall development. It's the age | | | | children who are kept busy through diverse |
| of specialization and your child cannot | | | | absorbing activities are less prone to |
| afford to miss out on this window of | | | | substance abuse, depression and burnout. Good |
| opportunity while he's young. So, scour your | | | | after school programs also increase in-school |
| local area for the most advantageous programs | | | | achievement and attendance and a reduction in |
| and enroll them in the ones you think are the | | | | drop out rates. |
| best. | | | | |
| | | | Most after school programs have children |
| After school programs are basically designed | | | | interacting with one or more adults. This |
| to develop a talent or a skill that is | | | | allows them to benefit from positive |
| ignored or overlooked by regular schools. | | | | relationships with adults other than their |
| These programs could be educational or | | | | parents. Children often find it difficult to |
| recreational in nature. Whichever they are, | | | | confide in parents and teachers, but may open |
| make sure they aim to keep your child active | | | | up with other adults who have taken a |
| and interested. | | | | positive interest in them and their |
| | | | activities. |
| The most important advantage of a good after | | | | |
| school program is that it widens your child's | | | | Today, a large number of children are placed |
| area of interest. He or she is introduced to | | | | into recreational after school programs so |
| new things, sometimes interesting, sometimes | | | | that they reduce weight and remain healthy. |
| challenging. Mastering a new art form | | | | Today there are numerous children below the |
| (painting, photography, dance, acting) or a | | | | age of 16 who are considered obese. Parents |
| new skill (sports, karate, yoga, debating, | | | | who are unable to successfully put their |
| chess) increases your child's self-esteem. It | | | | children on a strict diet may choose sports, |
| also allows you to introduce her to new | | | | physical activities and games to help burn |
| career options. A child attending a music | | | | fat in a healthy way. With cases of child |
| class may decide that she likes it so much | | | | diabetes on the increase, this has become a |
| that she wants to make a career out of it in | | | | prime focus of many after school programs. |
| the long run. | | | | |
| | | | A good after school program has many |
| Socialization is another great advantage of | | | | benefits. It keeps your son or daughter |
| after school programs. Children get a chance | | | | entertained as well as occupied, and thus |
| to meet others who share their interests and | | | | prevents them from becoming couch potatoes, |
| they make new friendships with those who have | | | | addicted to TVs and PCs. By giving them ways |
| something in common with them (other than | | | | to burn up their excess energy and explore |
| just being in school together). An acting | | | | their creativity, after school programs help |
| class or a soccer class can be lots of fun. | | | | to shape their overall personality and |
| Many of these programs coach children for | | | | increase their knowledge of all that's |
| performances or matches. Performing on stage | | | | available to them in the world. Introduce |
| or playing a match can be a great experience | | | | them to what's out there while they're young |
| for a young child. | | | | and they'll keep those experiences and |
| | | | memories with them forever. |
| After school programs also keep your | | | | |