Five of the Best After-School Activities to Help Your Child Succeed
We'd do anything to set our children up for success. Our children can work hard and give their all in school activities, but they need an edge over others. What kids do after school sets them apart from their peers. Let's discuss the importance of after-school activities and five of the best after-school activities to help your child reach their true potential.
Importance of After-School Activities
We won't blame you if you think your kids do enough at school. However, after a while, school becomes boring and repetitive. Children need something that gives them some variety in their lives.
There is such a thing as too much aimless recreation. If your children are left unsupervised for all their free time, they can get into plenty of trouble. They could expose themselves to too much screen time or make the wrong kind of friends.
Boredom is a huge issue for kids as well. It makes them restless and unsatisfied. What if we told you there's a single solution for all these problems and more? After-school activities have many benefits your children can reap, including occupying their extra time, teaching them new skills, giving them opportunities to socialize, and improving their behavior.
After-School Activities We Recommend
When it comes to what after-school activities to sign your kids up for, we know there are many choices. However, we have a list of the five best activities to stimulate your child's mind and body. Let's go over these activities, giving you a chance to pick one or a couple suitable for your child.
Kids Coding Classes
You read that right! Not only can kids learn to code, but they can do so much earlier than anyone expected. Teaching your child how to code has many benefits, so let's expand on why kids should learn to code. Coding helps children think logically. That skill helps them in every aspect of their life beyond mere academia.
You have to be creative to use code in more and more efficient ways. Once you learn something new about a programming language, the urge to explore new possibilities and experiment is great.
Can elementary kids learn to code? Sure! Kids as young as seven or eight can immerse themselves in the creative process of completing age-appropriate coding assignments.
It doesn't end there. Coding improves your child's math, written language, focus, confidence, problem-solving abilities, and organization skills. It's a great activity to stimulate young minds and bring out their best selves.
It is also a practical career-building skill that will come in handy in our increasingly computer-dominated society. We can expect coding to be in high demand for positions other than just computer engineers.
Given how much progress humanity made in the past few decades and the increasing digitization of everyday activities after the pandemic, we are confident your children will be grateful they know how to code.
You may think that learning to code for kids is boring and that children won't pursue the activity with enthusiasm. However, coding classes for kids are different from classes for adults. They include fun activities involving animation, games, or storytelling. So rest assured, your child will have fun while learning.
Martial Arts
Discipline, self-defense, anger management, and physical prowess. All these things are heightened once your kids enroll in a martial arts class. While some parents fear that their children will start getting into fights at school, martial arts has been known to have the opposite effect. Children tend to avoid meaningless conflicts in anticipation of sparring in martial arts class.
It provides children a way to strengthen their minds alongside their bodies. Breaking a board with your fist or impressing your instructor with a powerful kick improves self-worth and confidence like nothing else. Not only does it help your children stay active, but it also allows them to release any bent-up tension or anger in a safe environment.
While growing up, many things slowly frustrate children leading to unpredictable outbursts of negative emotion. You can keep that in check through the discipline taught through learning martial arts.
Music Lessons
Learning an instrument does much more for your child than meets the eye. The obvious outcome is that your child finds a means to express their creativity and emotions through music whenever they want. That in itself is a huge advantage.
However, learning music allows children to improve their hand-eye-coordination, mathematic skills, and memory and increase their perseverance and dedication. Music lessons may be just as structured and challenging as other after-school activities, but the joy of music makes them much more fun.
Scouting
Do you want your children to taste the great outdoors under careful supervision, learn the importance of community service, and build character? Scouting is the activity of choice. Your children will learn practical camping skills, about local animals and flora, serving others in the community, and being more self-reliant.
Scouting fulfills the need of children to feel a part of something bigger than themselves. They get the opportunity to flourish socially within their scouting groups. The close mentoring they get from their group leader will last with them for the rest of their lives.
Language Classes
whether it's advanced English or a foreign language, language classes are an excellent opportunity for your kids to improve their communication skills. Once children learn a second language, learning a third or fourth one becomes much easier.
Children from families with mixed backgrounds or foreign roots benefit significantly from learning their mother tongue. Staying connected with their culture is a huge part of their identity.
If English is your child's first language, they should still learn another one. Learning another language opens your child to the literature and culture connected to it, enriching their lives.
Conclusion
While your child learns a lot in school, it doesn't have to end there. After-school activities enrich your children's lives and keep them from wasting their free time. Some time to play on their own or relax in front of a screen is alright. However, kids should spend most of their time in educational activities that benefit them in many ways.
At Skill Samurai, we offer Coding & STEM education in the following areas:
After-School Coding Classes for kids 6-16
Pre-K School Readiness Programs
School Holiday Programs & Camps
Industry Recognised Career Paths & Certifications (Launching 2023)
Learn Scratch, Python, Java, Lua, HTML etc at Skill Samurai Learning Centres
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Why After School Programs are Beneficial to Your Kids
How After School Programs Help Improve Child Development
Should I Enrol My Child in After School Learning? Pros and Cons