Whatever age your children are, there is likely a plethora of afterschool activities for them to get involved in. Sports, clubs and other groups offer plenty of benefits, teaching your kids how to be athletes or chess champions. Not sure what your children should try? Here are a few options:
Sports
Most schools or communities have various sports for students starting as young as kindergarten. If your children are often running around and full of energy, they may love soccer, basketball, swimming or volleyball. Players learn skills specific to the sport like kicking, shooting or the butterfly stroke, as well as coordination skills and even how to cooperate and collaborate with other students. Plus, good sportsmanship is a very important lesson to learn at a young age. Ask your children what sport they want to try and give it a shot. If it's not what they hoped, there is likely another sport they can try. If your school doesn't offer the sport your children are interested in, you can look to another nearby school that does have that activity. Otherwise, check for intramural leagues to join.
STEM clubs
If your school uses the Common Core State Standards testing, your children might have access to a STEM club. These academic groups hold meetings where they work on science, technology, engineering and mathematics. Your kids can work with new technology and get a feel for whether a STEM career may be right for them. Club members gain leadership skills as well as practical knowledge and insight into teamwork. Plus, taking part in STEM club may provide your children with advanced Common Core information that can help them on the test and place them at the top of the class. Both students with above-average STEM intellect and those who may need a little help can benefit from joining a STEM club.
Art groups
With the funding issues facing many schools today, some areas are cutting back on arts during the school day. Instead, they may offer art classes or groups after school where students can get their creativity fixes. Teachers or leaders may show kids how to do pottery, make colorful paintings, create stunning jewelry or even dabble in papermaking. Children can nurture their imaginations in art class, as well as learn about the color wheel, art history and how to work with their hands. Before you know it, you'll need your own family art gallery to showcase your children's work!
No comments yet.