If your child’s school doesn’t offer any extracurricular activities or programs, you may be concerned that your child is not making friends his/her age or will not develop any interests or skills outside of school. What should you do?

Remember that after school activities don’t always have to be taught in a school environment in a structured manner. There is so much that you as a parent can do to support your child’s academic, physical and social development. Don’t be too overly concerned about participating in conventional after school programs, especially since many children are already overscheduled.

As you know as a parent, school is the priority for your child. Attending school and completing assigned homework is what must be done in order for the child to keep up academically. Then, after the required homework is done, the child should also do some sort of daily reading and/or writing – remember that practice makes perfect! For some children, this is enough of an after school program.

Here are some tips for creating your own “after school program” for your child.

o Find a program in the local community college or community center. Some community adult/night schools have programs appropriate for children in the evening such as scrapbooking or photography.

o Allow your child to use the Internet to find more information about subjects that interest him/her. This type of self-directed ‘after school program’ (supervised by you, of course) is often the best type of program because it is directly connected to the child’s own interests.

o If you are worried about the lack of social interaction, enroll him or her in some sort of a club -perhaps a reading club. Visit public libraries or even the theater, if your child is interested. A parent-child book club is another interesting option. If you can round up a number of like-minded children and their parents, you might even start your own after-school program.

o When there are no organized group activities, look in the community. A lot of children love to get involved in social issues. Volunteering for clean-up sessions, adult education programs etc could be a real eye-opener for your child. These lessons can be invaluable.

o If physical activity is your major concern, enroll your child for dance or gymnastic classes. This is also a great way to find friends his/her own age.

Your child does not necessarily have to be a part of a coordinated group to
benefit from after-school activities. Engaging 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 and make them feel like they are actually contributing to the household. Plus, such activities build skills for later life.