Why Are After School Programs So Important?

Did you attend an after school program? What do you remember the most about it? Maybe you learned something new or just enjoyed hanging out with your friends.

On average, 10.2 million children and teens participate in after school programs, ranging from sports, to theater, to STEM activities. Almost every child could benefit from attending one of the thousands of after school programs and here are a few of the ways that an after school program could positively impact a child's life.

We can often forget that understanding social cues and social etiquette are learned behaviors, not instinctual. It takes time, energy, and practice for young children to understand some of the most basic of these "soft skills".

The keyword there is practice. With an after school program, a child gets another chance to enhance some of the social skills that may have been missed in their academic schooling, such as taking turns while having a conversation and actively listening.

After school programs can also focus on other necessary social and emotional skills, such as cooperation. During these team-building activities, kids learn where their strengths are in a community setting, which is vital to their overall growth.

Along with enhancing a child's social and emotional growth, after school programs offer them the ability to learn about the importance of community. While the academic school does a tremendous amount of work in helping to instill a general sense of connection between students, after school programs can offer a wider range of preferred activities that a child would enjoy. A community is created within the after school program as children associate with their peers on a subject to which they all can relate.

Most schools ring that final bell sometime before 4pm, but many working parents don't officially clock out until later, leaving a gap in time where their child would still need to be supervised. While it can be wonderful to encourage age-appropriate independence, leaving a child home alone with no adult can sometimes lead to risky behavior on behalf of the child.

After school programs help to bridge that gap and provide a safe place for a child to go when school lets out at the end of the day. With a trusted adult in charge of the activity, parents can rest assured that their child is safe while they finish their workday.

After school programs play a huge role in a student's academic success. It can raise their grades across a variety of subjects and help improve a child's confidence. In addition to this, it has been shown that teens who participate in after school programs have a lower dropout rate.

A report published on youth.gov states "A national evaluation found that more than 40 percent of students attending 21st Century Community Learning Center programs improved their reading and math grades, and that those who attended more regularly were more likely to make gains".

No matter how you slice it, after school programs have a major positive impact on a child's life. It allows them to participate in activities they enjoy while gaining confidence through practicing social skills with their peers in a safe and supportive enviroment.