After School Programs That Define Core Values

Like parents, children can live quite busy lives with all the learning and activities at school. Enrolling them in more after-school activities can be excessive. As busy as parents and children are, after-school programs are increasing in numbers and most of them are full. The truth is, there is a real need for these programs and activities judging from the trend.

So why do we keep our kids so busy? This is mainly because the parents are not available. Most parents have work obligations and cannot take care of their children when they leave school. This is the main cause of the growth of after-school programs.

Statistically, children spend between 15 and 30 hours a week without being observed. There is an old saying, "An idle mind is the devil's playground." Children left alone with nothing constructive to do will eventually join the wrong group. Without parental supervision, it is very easy to get into the habit of smoking, drugs, alcohol, and crime. This is especially true when they are being influenced by the wrong kinds of people. This would explain why so many parents enroll their children in the various programs that are available after school. It's keeping your kids busy in a productive way as well as having adult supervision.

Studies have also shown that the crime rate is highest during after-school hours, between 2:30 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. This means that your children are committing crimes due to lack of supervision or they need to be protected from those who are committing them. A safer environment for children is some kind of after-school program rather than wandering around without adult supervision. Programs with a group-like setting, with coaches or counselors can encourage your children to participate in more structured activities. This is a good way to protect them and prevent them from getting into trouble. This also prevents them from getting bored.

One of the biggest concerns in today's society is obesity, especially among children. Many children are not active enough. Instead of playing sports or other forms of physical activity after school, they become addicted to television. They are lounging on the couch with soda in one hand and junk food in the other. They end up watching television or the computer for hours on end. Statistics say that around 25-30% of our children ages 19 and under are overweight, and a good 15% of them are technically obese. Joining extracurricular after school programs that involve physical activities will help your child get rid of laziness and keep him active. This will also take time away from being mesmerized by television or computer games.

If your kids don't like sports, there are some after-school programs that help them promote social awareness and develop social responsibility. Research has shown that these types of after-school programs not only keep kids from getting in trouble, but it also makes them more responsible as citizens. These positive after-school programs help parents define some core values and serve as building blocks for their children's personalities.

We are constantly evolving and parents want their children to excel in all areas such as academics, sports, and the arts. Perhaps parents are living their unfulfilled dreams through their child. Whatever the reason, parents are encouraging their children to participate in these various programs and most children don't seem to mind. Children need activities; prevents them from getting bored.