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How After School Programs Contribute to A Child's Development 

Today’s society expects a lot more from children than ever before. As a parent, you really cannot rely on books to be enough to ensure your child's overall development. Many learning opportunities are available for children today, and as a parent, you should consider these opportunities as they can provide a huge, positive impact on your child's development.

After school programs or extracurricular activities are aimed to nurture and develop talents that may be being missed by the regular school system. After school programs may vary in nature, but they are typically recreational or educational in nature. After school programs are designed to keep children engaged in activities.
 
Perhaps the most beneficial aspect of these after school programs is that it opens your child’s mind to many areas of interest. By getting first hand experience, children begin to get life experience in a safe environment and it may even introduce them to new career options. For instance, if your child is interested in music, getting your child in an after school program that focuses on your child's musical interest may prove to be challenging, as well as rewarding, for your child.
 
When children are enrolled in after school programs, they get the opportunity to socialize with other children and learn about teamwork. Special bonds are made when children work together to solve a problem or to accomplish something like performing on a play or winning the peewee league championship. Extracurricular activities are a great way for children to build lasting relationships.
 
After school programs are also a great for helping to focus teens' energy on positive activities and keep them away from destructive habits such as drugs and alcohol. Surveys show that children who participate in extracurricular activities have better sense of self, higher self esteem, and are less susceptible to stress, anxiety and burnout. There is also a correlation between after school programs and reduced dropout rates and higher school attendance.
 
When a child is enrolled in an after school program, he or she gets the opportunity to interact with alt least one more adult. This positive relationship may take the form of a role model or mentor. At the very least, it gives the child an additional adult to open up to.
 
Recent trends show that 15% of children under 16 years of age are obese. Parents who wish to help reduce their kid's weight may enroll them in recreational after school programs to burn fat and lose weight. Cases of juvenile diabetes are on the rise in the United States and so, logically, many extracurricular programs place an emphasized focus on weight loss.


After school programs have many benefits. By engaging children and keeping them occupied, after school programs create an outlet to burn some of that excess energy and keep them away from non-productive and potentially addictive activities. A good after school activity may be an essential part of your child’s development.


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