Just like parents, children can live a pretty busy life with all the learning and activities in school. It may be excessive to enroll them for more activities after school. As busy as both parents and children are, after school programs are increasing in large numbers and most of them are fully booked. Truth is, there is a real need for these programs and activities judging from the trend.
So why are we keeping our kids so busy? This is mainly due to parents not being available. Most parents have work obligations and cannot look after their kids right when they get out of school. This is the leading cause for the growth in the after school programs.
Statistically, children spend anywhere between 15-30 hours a week without anyone watching them. There is an old saying, “An idle mind is a devil’s playground”. Children who are left alone without something constructive to do will eventually fall in with the wrong crowd. Without parental supervision, getting into smoking, drugs, alcohol, and crime is very easy to do. This is especially true when they are being influenced by the wrong kind of people. This would explain why so many parents enroll their children into the various programs that are available after school. It is to keep their kids occupied in a productive manner with the addition of having adult supervision.
Studies have also shown that the crime rate is most high during the after school hours, between 2:30- 4:30 p.m. This means either your kids are out committing the crimes due to lack of supervision or they need to be protected from those who are committing them. A safer environment for children to be in is some sort of after school program instead of roaming around without adult supervision. Programs with a group type of setting, with coaches or counselors can encourage your children to participate in more structured activities. This is good way to protect them and keep them out of trouble. This also keeps them from being bored.
One of the biggest concerns in today’s society is obesity, especially among children. Many children do not stay active enough. Instead of playing sports or other forms of physical activity after school, they become couch potatoes. They are lounging on the sofa soda in one hand and junk food in the other. They end up staring at the T.V. or computer for hours on end. Statistics say around 25-30% of our children between the ages of 19 and younger are overweight, and a good 15% of them are technically obese. Joining after school programs that involves physical activities will help your child shake off their laziness and keep them active. This will also take away their time of being hypnotized by the T.V. or computer games.
If your kids are not into sports, there are some after school program that helps them to promote social awareness and develop social responsibility. Research has shown that these kinds of after school programs not only keep kids out of trouble, but make them become more responsible as citizens. These positive after school programs help parents to define some core values and serve as building blocks to their child’s personality.
We are constantly evolving and parents want their children to exceed in all areas like academics, sports and the arts. Perhaps parents are living out their unfulfilled dreams through their child. Whatever the reason may be, parents are encouraging their children to be involved in these various programs and most kids don’t seem to mind it. Children need activities; it keeps them from being bored.
After school programs are a great source of positive activities. They help develop core values and keep your child well rounded. These after school programs are not only needed but also serve as a safe haven. They provide parents with some peace of mind knowing their children are in a safe place with adult supervision.
