the benefits of after school clubs

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF JOINING AN AFTER SCHOOL CLUB?

LEARNING A NEW SKILL Children who participate in a variety of activities are introduced to new skills and new ways of working, as well as the chance to develop new and existing skills. As children realise they are capable of doing new things, they become more confident and additional skills are always useful on future applications, should they want to go on to university or get a job.

DEVELOP INDEPENDENCE By participating in a club, which may or may not be with their usual group of friends, children learn to thrive outside of their comfort zone and these skills are paramount to getting on in life.

GETTING OUT If your child spends too much time in front of a TV or playing computer games, clubs can give children an opportunity to explore more varied activities, become more active and enable them to challenge themselves.

MEETING NEW PEOPLE Joining a club will give children a comfortable place to meet new people and develop friendships with other young people with similar interests. If the club is specific to something that isn’t taught during the school day it can also widen their social groups.

KEEPS THEM OUT OF TROUBLE If your kids are at a club, then you know exactly where they are! What could be better!

IMPROVING THEIR SELECTION PROCESSES In addition to further education, employers and social groups also like to see well rounded applications, participating in a club will help enhance any application.

GOOD OLD FASHIONED FUN Leaning to play an instrument, taking part in a team sport, dancing, singing or just a youth club, these are all just enjoyable things to do and the more fun you have, the better! Obviously, this isn’t the end of the list, but it gives you an idea of how good clubs are for your child!

AVOID THE HOME WORK BLUES

We've all been there. The last minute rush to get homework done that leaves both my child and I stressed, and, in contrast, the homework session that drags on and on with him twiddling his pen, staring into space.

But homework can, and should, be time well spent that connects you to your child's learning, as well as being a benefit to your child's overall education. Here's how I overcame a few pitfuls and made homework a breeze! (Well, a little easier anyway)

LOCATION IS ALL I like to provide my son with a quiet, well-lit space, away from distractions and with all the study materials that he needs to hand — paper, pens and pencils, a dictionary, and whatever else he may need to be comfortable yet productive.

PERSONAL SPACE I would recommend that you try to find a separate space for each of your children, or schedule quiet times for homework in designated spaces. If one child finishes their homework earlier than the other, I would encourage reading time or quiet time until the entire family is ready to do something together, or 'noisy' time.

CREATE A ROUTINE I find that the most productive time for homework is earlier in the evening and not too close to bedtime. Sometimes he needs a little after-school play break and dinner, or at least an energising snack, before hitting the books. The most important thing is to establish a routine that works for your child.

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