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Having an extra activity after school is a good thing for any child. These kind of toddler activities are an excellent source for an extra knowledge and fun!. So, having an extracurricular activity for your child is almost a must!
What if your son’s school does not offer any extracurricular activities. You are probably be worried of depriving your child of, like I said before, all that extra knowledge and fun. What should you do?
Most of us parents think that after school activities are always thought in schools. Well, it’s not. After school extracurricular activities need not be taught in a school-like environment by professional teachers in a structured and timely manner.
There is a lot YOU can do to support your child’s academic, physical and social development. Do not be too concerned about formal programs, as many of our children are already over-scheduled.
Obviously, school is top priority for children. They need to go to school, and finish their homework. They should then do their daily reading or writing work etc. This may take about 30-60 minutes. In the course of his daily work, your child may develop certain academic preferences and interests. In that case, you can try and find a program in a college or a community center that will help him and encourage him. In the age of the
Internet, information is really not a rarity. Allow him to use the net to find more information about thing that he likes. Encouraging the child to do independent research to gain in-depth knowledge is something that no
formal program does.
The first thing that a parent will be worried about is that their child may not have the social life. If you are concerned about it, enroll him or her in a club. There are all sorts of clubs available for kids. Or they can visit public libraries or even the theater, if your child is interested. It is not necessary for your child to make
friends with children his own age. A parent-child book club is another interesting option. If you can round up a number of like-minded children and their parents, you may well start your own after-school program… but of course, that is a little leaning on the side of the parent and not on the child.
There are instances that there is no organized group activity. Another good place to check out is your community. Many children love to get involved in social problems. They get their first real taste of suffering, charity and community help from such experiences. Volunteering for clean-up sessions, adult education programs etc could be a real eye-opener for your child. The lessons thus learnt are invaluable.
If physical activity or the lack of it is your major concern, enroll your child for some dancing classes. If organized sports are impossible to get, try to enroll her in a gym. She may find friends there and may take to the treadmill.
Your child does not necessarily have to be a part of an organized group to benefit from after-school ctivities. There are various avenues open in front of you. Roping in the enthusiasm of your children in daily household
activities like cooking, cleaning etc can also provide them with a refreshing extracurricular experience. Moreover, it will improve family ties too.
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