The Importance of After School Programs and Activities
After school programs are becoming more and more popular nowadays. After school programs are filling a need even though children today are literally deep in learning and sports in school.
One reason for the popularity of and growing demand for after school programs is that parental supervision are not available to children once they get home from school. Based on studies, children spend approximately 20 to 25 hours each week without supervision or being alone at home. Unsupervised children or children with too much free time are in danger of becoming involved with the wrong people, as well as vices. As a result, a huge number of children become addicted to drugs, alcohol and tobacco, and some commit crimes. According to studies, crime usually occurs after school, between three and four o'clock in the afternoon.
Working parents who are unable to supervise their children after school are realizing that enrolling their children in an after school program can help keep their children away from vices and falling into the wrong crowd. In an after school program, their children can be occupied, become more productive, learn something and be with children who share the same interests.
Another reason for the growing demand for after school programs has to do with another growing problem: child obesity. The number of overweight and obese children is more than it was a few decades ago. In the United States, approximately 30% of children under 19 are overweight, and approximately 15% of them are considered obese. With nothing else to do after school, many children end up on the sofa, watching TV or playing video games, while munching on bags of chips and drinking soda. After school programs and activities help children move around and shake off lethargy.
There are after school programs that help promote social awareness. These kinds of activities help children develop social responsibility. Thus, children learn to stay out of trouble and be responsible members of the community. So when it comes to shaping a child's personality, after school programs are valuable.
Still, after school programs are also a way for children to improve themselves academically, as well as individually. There are after school programs for children who are interested in music and dance, sports, language, science and the various arts. Other after school programs cater to interest and hobbies.
After school programs and activities can help shape children into well rounded, self-confident and responsible individuals.
Resources
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