Enriching Activities

AFTER-SCHOOL EXTRAS

These enrichment programs offer kids a chance to take deep dives into a range of subjects.

By JENNIFER AMATO

Choosing enrichment and extracurricular activities can be overwhelming given all the choices for our kids. But when selected with care, these programs can spark interest and creativity and expand upon the lessons they’re learning in school.

From core subjects to the arts and beyond, we’ve rounded up a range of enrichment options for just about every interest.

ENGLISH & MATH

Chatham Learning Center

Chatham chathamlearningcenter.com

After-school offerings include tutoring in math, reading, foreign language, writing and AP courses along with homework help and summer enrichment. There’s also SAT and ACT test prep, psychoeducational evaluations for students who are struggling academically and Orton Gillingham tutoring for those having difficulty with reading.

City Kidz World

Cranbury, Kendall Park citykidzworld.com

Classes teach reading comprehension, writing, grammar, punctuation and vocabulary for children ages 6-18. There are inschool options as well for writing and journalism.

Eye Level Learning

Multiple locations myeyelevel.com

This group’s goal is to help foster independence, initiative and achievement through weekly math and English classes, daily homework and a mix of offline and online learning.

Huntington Learning Center

Multiple locations huntingtonhelps.com

Kids from kindergarten through high school get one-on-one tutoring in math, reading, phonics, vocabulary, writing, science, study skills and test prep.

JEI Learning Center

Multiple locations us.jei.com

JEI’s individualized, workbookbased model (one session per week plus daily homework) includes classes in problem-solving, math, English, reading, writing and critical and creative thinking.

KUMON

Multiple locations kumon.com

Kumon offers worksheetbased educational services for kids as young as 3 through high school. Strengthen their math and English skills with two weekly classes featuring timed/evaluated worksheets, plus 20-30 minutes of daily homework.

Language and Enrichment Center

Scotch Plains languageandenrichmentcenter.com

There is free pre-K and kindergarten before and after care, Mommy & Me, Language Immersion Education, including Italian and Spanish programs, After-School Enrichment and language classes for teens and adults.

Mathnasium

Multiple locations mathnasium.com

Boost your K-12th grader’s knack for numbers with a methodical yet personalized curriculum designed to help strugglers improve and superstars soar through a combination of mental, verbal, visual, tactile and written exercises.

Project Write Now

Red Bank projectwritenow.org

Lit-loving kids, tweens and teens can workshop ideas, hone their craft and get constructive feedback amidst a supportive group. Older students can benefit from an internship program or help with writing college essays. Project Write Now also offers community outreach programs aimed at helping underserved groups develop writing and communication skills.

Sylvan Learning Center

Multiple locations sylvanlearning.com

Sylvan offers custom tutoring in math, reading, writing and more, plus homework help and coaching to sharpen students’ study skills. Older kids can get AP class support, help with college essays and SAT/ ACT prep, along with tutoring geared toward higher level skills.

Team Makers

Tenafly teammakers.com

Team Makers programs are designed to teach children to think outside the box, solve problems and gain new perspectives while playing games with other children.

The Writers Circle

Multiple locations writerscircleworkshops.com

From folktales to poems, weekly workshops aim to ignite a creative spark in storytellers in grades 3-12. The school offers in-person, hybrid and virtual workshops for students near and far.

FINE ARTS

duCret School of Art

Plainfield ducret.edu

The school’s mission is to provide a diverse, accessible and affordable visual arts education that promotes creativity and exploration so artists can find a voice in fine arts, illustration or graphic design.

One River School of Art + Design

Multiple locations oneriverschool.com

Students have access to a unique method for learning art and digital design. There is a designated space for an exhibition program, where artwork is presented in school galleries to support the mission of teaching about contemporary art within the community.

Sharron Art Center

South Brunswick, Piscataway sharronartcenter.com

Students are given their own specialized curriculum to ensure they learn all the skills they need at their own pace. The center offers both weekday and weekend classes year-round.

Urban Arts at Monroe

Hoboken urbanartsnj.com

Fine art classes here allow students to use visual arts as a vehicle for self-expression. In addition to art classes, Urban Arts curates student art shows throughout the year.

Visual Arts Center of New Jersey

Summit artcenternj.org

Through exhibition, Studio School and community programs, the Art Center engenders connection, curiosity and creative risk-taking among its students.

Yard School of Art

Montclair Art Museum, Montclair montclairartmuseum.org

Classes include Introduction to Printmaking, Ice Dyeing, Printing with Leaves and Flowers, Plein-air Painting Retreat, sketching, drawing and painting.

York Fine Arts

Princeton yorkfinearts.net

This art school provides students with a basis in classical technique and offers personal monitoring. Options include drawing and painting, creative painting and selfexpression.

FOREIGN LANGUAGE

Cultural Center for Language Studies

Newark cclsnj.com

Using multimedia technology, CCLS encourages students to think and speak only in English. Both formal and everyday American speech are introduced in each lesson to serve as the basis for all subsequent classroom work.

Dynamic Language Service

Haddonfield dynlanguage.com

This group specializes in personalized language coaching to increase conversation, vocabulary, grammar, pronunciation and listening comprehension skills in multiple languages.

Gain Ville

Ho-Ho-Kus, Rutherford gaincontact.com

Kids from pre-K through high school can learn Spanish, Italian, French and Arabic at this center which uses a culturally authentic approach to learning a new language.

HudsonWay Immersion School

Stirling, New York City hwis.org

Native speakers help kids in pre-K through grade 8 navigate fun, 90-minute immersion classes in Spanish and Mandarin. Kids will work on their skills in foreign language listening, reading, writing and speaking.

Jump Immersion School

Multiple locations jumpimmersion.com

A Spanish and Mandarin immersion private school, there are day school preschool programs, elementary level programs for kindergartners through third graders, and supplemental courses for students ages 5-11.

The Language Institute

West Caldwell thelanguageinstitute.com

The instructors are native or native-proficient speakers and professional teachers who use a communicative approach and a variety of techniques to accommodate each person’s learning style. All languages, plus English as a Second Language and American Sign Language, are offered.

The Language Workshop for Children

Montclair, Ridgewood languageworkshopforchildren.com

The Language Workshop exclusively offers one-on-one instruction featuring boisterous stories, snappy songs and engaging dialogue to get kids ages 2 and older excited about learning French, Spanish or Italian.

Princeton Language Center

Princeton berlitz.com

Kids and teens can learn Spanish, French, German, Korean, Italian or American Sign Language using the Berlitz Method, which requires learners only speak and hear the target language.

MUSIC + PERFORMING ARTS

Brightest Star School of Performing Arts

Cedar Knolls, Morristown brighteststarschool ofperformingarts.com

This independent school encourages students to “learn arts for life.” Aside from vocal lessons,

students learn improvisation, memorization and dance.

Hunterdon Academy of the Arts

Flemington hunterdonacademyofthearts.com

Music lessons are tailored to each individual student and are available on most instruments, including guitar, piano, drums, violin and voice, among others.

MarbleJam Center for Arts & Enrichment

Hackensack marblejam.org

Instructional art classes, creative arts therapies and educational enrichment programs are offered for all ages and abilities. Staff provide the optimal approach based on each individual’s needs in an environment designed for success.

Performers Theatre Workshop

Millburn ptwonline.com

Children can expand their skills when it comes to acting, singing, dancing and playing musical instruments. The supportive, noncompetitive environment is great for kids of all ages and levels.

The Performing Arts School

Bergen Performing Arts Center, Englewood bergenpac.org

Arts education programs provide students with handson arts training by industry professionals that allow them to gain real-world experience and enhance academic achievement through the arts as well as opportunities to perform on bergenPAC’s main stage and throughout the county. Your child can try dance, theater, music and a Video Day Project, either in person or virtually.

Princeton Ballet School

Multiple locations arballet.org Princeton Ballet School is the official school of American Repertory Ballet. Dancers are involved in in-school residencies, community events, student matinee performances and specially designed class offerings. Princeton Girlchoir and the Poco Voce class for first and second graders, Westrick also offers individual voice lessons for your budding songbird.

The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey

Florham Park and Madison shakespearenj.org

The Shakespeare Theatre Academy offers teen classes in a wide range of disciplines connected with classic theater. Each series of classes gives kids the opportunity to work under the instruction of The Shakespeare Theatre’s artistic and educational staff as well as guest teaching artists.

STEAM

AlphaMinds Academy

Multiple locations alphamindsacademy.com

AlphaMinds Academy is an enrichment program that provides students of all ages and abilities the opportunity to learn in a fun, creative atmosphere. Specialty classes include chess, coding, engineering, mathematics and logic, reading and Russian.

Taubenslag Productions

North Brunswick taubenslagproductions.com

A variety of fun-filled family entertainment options are offered, including professional touring children’s shows, Theater Week and Summer Theater Camp.

Westrick Music Academy

Princeton Junction westrickmusic.org

Home to Princeton Boychoir,

Bits Bytes Code Computer Learning Center

Madison bitsbytescode.com

Kids can learn how to type, code, build a computer or build a robot, all while having fun.

Code Ninjas

Multiple locations codeninjas.com

Kids ages 7-14 can master coding skills at their own pace through a game-based curriculum. They’ll earn colored wristbands as they level up in coding and create games.

Little Ivy Academy

Multiple locations littleivyacademy.com

Creative kids in grades K-8 can design/build/program smartphone apps, video games, robots, digital inventions, dynamic websites, spy tech and digital movies.

Mad Science

Multiple locations madscience.org

Mad Science revels in hands-on classes in forensics, astronomy, magnetism, slimy stuff (chemistry) and other natural wonders. Interactive online and in-person classes for students between ages 5-12 will take them to the stars or teach them about engineering through LEGO building.

Montclair Learning Center

Bloomfield mlcplus.com

Kids can have fun while learning chess, Minecraft, coding, robotics, engineering and video game technology. There is also a special Girls Who Code program, plus Maker Spaces.

Robot Revolution

Summit robotrevolution.net

Future engineers currently in third through 12th grade will learn problem-solving skills both in a cerebral logical method (programming) and in a physical way (mechanical engineering).

STEAM Works Studio

Multiple locations steamworksstudio.com

The academy is focused on fostering and developing essential 21st Century and STEAM skills such as problemsolving, critical thinking, creativity and collaboration in a hands-on, fun environment.