A guide to choosing after-school activities

a guide to choosing after-school activities Here are a few steps and things to consider when trying to decide what is right for you, your child, and your family.

By Karissa Tunis

As your kids continue to grow and develop, you will find that they often enjoy exploring more of their own personal interests. Sure, school offers opportunities for children to get involved with different types of educational and social activities but most of the time, these options are more general in nature. After-school activities and programs are excellent because they tend to offer more specific classes that focus on a particular topic. These programs are often led or taught by experts in that field, which allows the student to dive deeper and greatly improve upon their skills.

I am a firm believer in allowing children to explore a variety of sports and activities before selecting just one or two that will fill up their evenings (and perhaps weekends, too). Not only does variety open their eyes to many wonderful possibilities, but they just might surprise themselves and discover that they have a hidden talent - they might even realize that they like running around outside with a team or getting creative in an art studio.

Not only will your children meet more people, they will be exposed to different environments (outside, inside, in a classroom, on a field, in the woods, etc.). They will learn new things like teamwork, survival skills, new terminology, new technology, and different

"After-school activities and programs are excellent because they tend to offer more specific classes that focus on a particular topic."

skill-sets. They will become more rounded and better educated within their community, and better understand all that it has to offer.

What to consider when choosing after-school activities

Consider looking for programs that are two- to threemonth commitments, as opposed to programs that run for the length of the school year. This should give your child enough time to dive into an activity and realize if they like it or not. And if not, then at least you are not obligated to finish out the rest of the year.

Obviously, if your child wasn’t a fan of soccer, you will most likely sign them up for something very different when the next registration time rolls around. But if they really enjoyed gymnastics, consider signing them up for something similar, like cheerleading.

But don’t just think about common sports. There are dozens of other options - music classes, art courses, STEM sessions, archery, fishing, bird-watching, Scouts, knitting, crafting, cooking, horseback riding, photography, drama, fencing, and more!

Here are a few steps and things to consider when trying to decide what is right for you, your child, and your family:

Explore your options

While some schools offer separate after-school programs, there are also a lot of other options. Before you decide, take the time and do a little research. Then, sit down as a family and discuss the possibilities before deciding which one to commit to. Also, many programs offer a free trial class. When calling around, ask if they offer a free trial class, too. It’s always a great idea to try before you buy!

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Things to ask/consider

1. What classes? Find out what classes/courses/ programs your local schools, recreation centres, community buildings, youth associations, indoor sports complexes, local clubs, etc., offer. 2. Where at? Once you narrow down your interests, look at which facilities offer what it is that you are looking for. 3. Timing? Consider the timing of the class. What time/day is this program offered? Do you need to stay, or can you drop off your child? Will there always be someone available to provide transportation? Knowing the time commitment for you and your child ahead of time is important! 4. Cost? Keep in mind that some after-school activities may require additional funds beyond the program itself. Do you need to purchase special equipment, a uniform, etc.?

Once you have taken all of this into consideration, hopefully the right decision will be clearer. If you are only committing to a few weeks rather than all year, that should hopefully take some of the pressure off of making the perfect choice and give you the flexibility to be more daring with your selection. Again, it’s fun to try new things. A little challenge can be good at times. And if it’s not working out as expected, the flexibility to move onto something else is wonderful.

Something to remember

While activities have their benefits, they can also take away quality time that could be spent with family, on homework, at church, etc. We all strive to find the perfect balance, but it can be tough to obtain. When trying new activities or when trying to decide if you should register again and keep moving up/forward through the program, I encourage you to pause and ask yourself these questions: 1. Is my child really enjoying or benefiting from this activity? 2. Is it worth the time that we are missing from being at home as a family? 3. Is my child handling the demands of their schedule both mentally and physically?

If the answer is ‘yes’ to all of these questions, then keep going and exploring! But if you see any stress or difficulty, consider taking a break. There is no harm in waiting another month, or year, before jumping back in. After-school programs are meant to be fun! But they are not required. What is most important is to give your children fun experiences and that can happen anywhere - even at home!

Karissa is the co-owner of the parenting website, adorethem.com. Adore Them strives to share positive, practical advice and resources to help you find joy in your own parenting journey! CCM

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