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.

Welcome to neosoulmama.info, home of the My Successful Child newsletter. If you are unfamiliar to this site, let me introduce myself. I am a mother of three, run my own natural bath/body business and have had over 10 years of experience in urban education. I also hold a Master’s degree in education. My specialty is K-8 mathematics, however, given my experience and extensive research and training in the field of education, as well as my on the job training as a mom (smile), I am a tremendous resource in the field of education.

How do you create a successful child? Is it Kumon, Sylvan or other tutoring type programs? Certainly these programs can assist a child who is struggling academically, but in order to truly create a child who enjoys school and who understands that you appreciate their hard work and effort, communication and involvement is a must.

A successful child:
• Asks questions – A child who asks questions shows a curiosity about the world around him/her. Granted, with three children, I get a lot of questions during the day and to be honest, I don’t answer all of them all the time. However, I do make the effort to answer most of them. Answering your child’s questions is a way to open communication between the two of you and an informal way of learning.

• Is in an atmosphere of informal learning – A lot can be learned from a simple trip to the grocery store. It’s where my children learned that those pigs and chickens that they saw on the television could be turned into tasty morsels of pork chops and grilled chicken. They also learned the mechanics of grocery shopping (i.e. pay the money, pack the bags) and that there are people who work at the grocery store. Of course, the counting and simple mathematics were at work here too.

• Has role models – Are you willing to learn along with your child? I think one of my successes as a teacher came from admitting that I didn’t know everything. If your child asks you a question that you don’t know, then explore the answer together. This shows your child that everyone is a lifelong learner.

• Has rules – A child, well, everyone in fact, needs boundaries. A child should not be left to his/her own devices and allowed to do anything s/he wants. Children need boundaries and feel more comfortable when limits are set by parents and guardians.

• Follows a family routine – A child feels useful and a part of the family when s/he is encouraged to participate in family chores. Teach them young and form good habits that will last.

Although a few of these tips do not directly deal with school, these habits will engrain self-respect and discipline that will have an influence on how they perform in school and in life.

Please add your comments/ reactions to these tips. And remember to sign up for my mailing list and receive weekly tips!