After School Activities Guide

There is often a trap in the words 'after school activities.

After school activities and burnout 

For millions of parents around the world, the day does not end with the school bell. There are still pictures to be painted, songs to be sung and games to be played.

This all adds up to keeping children happy, safe and out of trouble. But, parents have to steer away from going overboard.

After school is not baby-sitting:

After school activities thrive only if it is backed by sufficient parental involvement. What would a soccer match be without parents cheering their little heroes from the sidelines?.

Research and choose:

Instead of convenience being the decisive factor, find out things that will interest your child. Once you select a program, get the fine print and find out what you have to contribute.

Free time:

Many children attend piano classes, followed by ballet and squeeze in some time for play dates in between just before they rush home in time for bed. This rigor is too much for a child. So, go slow.

When to quit:

Often, parents enroll their child in an activity to discover that he may not be the prodigy they thought he would be. This is the time to let go.

Your child may not become the next wonder-kid. But, let him cultivate an interest that he enjoys. Remember, happiness and fulfillment are all that matter. 

Art-based activities

A recent report by several independent researchers concludes that 

participating in the arts nurtures the development of social, personal and cognitive skills.

Programs based on Arts can improve academic achievement and decrease the tendency towards delinquency. It helps youth form 

positive attitudes about themselves and build self-esteem.

Arts programs involve communication, interpretation and understanding of complex symbols, much like mathematics and languages. Thus it fosters higher-order analytical skills and skills of evaluation and synthesis. 

Many of the programs make the child regularly use multiple skills thus making him dynamic and versatile. 

Development of imagination, judgment and philosophy are fringe benefits of an arts-based activity. As opposed to the short 45-minute duration of the art classes at school, the extra time allowed in after school activities allows the child to get more involved.

This results in more satisfactory opportunities for development of latent capabilities in the child. In turn, the child learns to set high standards of achievement. He understands what sustained focus is and learns that regular practice is the way to excellence. 

In the shy or the withdrawn child, theatre, speech or drama lessons may be an outlet for pent up emotions.

As drama entails getting into the 'skin' of another person, the child learns to verbalize emotions and express thoughts. These reasons account for the popularity of arts-based activities.