When the final school bell rings, your child has quite a bit of free time which is why an
after school program is perfect for turning aimless hours into fun, productive learning time. It’s also particularly beneficial for kids with learning and attention issues. Check out these six advantages of enrolling your child in an after school program to see how it can help them grow socially and academically.
1. Safety and Supervision
Keeping kids busy in an after school program can prevent them from participating in risky behavior. Research shows that between 3 and 6 pm is when kids are most likely to commit crimes, drink or use drugs, or become the victims of crime. By enrolling them in an after school program, kids are much less likely to engage in risky behavior.
2. Belonging and Inclusion
Whether you enroll your child in an after school program at their daycare/school or a different location, there are benefits to either. By choosing one that isn’t affiliated with the child’s daycare/school, he or she is able to meet different kids from other schools so they won’t have to deal with the same cliques and social issues. On the other hand, if the program is run by the daycare/school your child attends, it gives your child a chance to connect with classmates in a different environment.
3. Social Skills
Since an after school program usually has more adult supervision than on a school playground, there is more encouragement and guidance for the children to cooperate and respect one another. This creates a more welcoming environment which helps kids feel more secure about joining a game or starting a conversation.
4. Academic Support
Kids can get help with their homework in an after school program which not only helps them do better academically, but can also decrease tension between kids and their parents. When homework is done during the program, it can make evenings more relaxing for both child and parent by removing a common source of friction.
5. New Interests
After school programs can offer activities that help your child explore different interests like science, computers, art, and more in a stress-free and fun environment. By exposing them to different hobbies and interests at an early age, it can help them see what they would like to do as they get older. Activities aren’t just a way to fill time after school, they can tell a lot about a child’s likes and dislikes as well as their strengths and weaknesses.
6. Confidence
An after school program can be less intimidating than regular school which can help kids with learning and attention issues feel more at ease. With its more relaxed atmosphere, kids may be more willing to try new things and take more risks which can help them build confidence.
Orlando After School Programs
At Kids & Company Learning Centers, our after school programs strive to provide safe, positive learning environments. We offer more than the typical Orlando preschool and daycare such as free hot meals, free PM transportation, after school care until 7 pm, and more. At our
Curry Ford location, we even have the option for Saturday and night care.