Today’s society demands that children have experience in many different things. Just learning from textbooks at school is often not enough for the developement of your child. After school programs offer chances for children to learn something new that they may not have a chance to learn in school. I feel that parents should enroll their children in an after school program so they can experience new things.
Most after school programs are designed so a child can develop a new skill or talent that regular schools may not offer. These after school programs can be recreational or educational. Regardless of the type, the programs aim is usually to keep the child interested and active. When I was a child I participated in a variety of after school programs, ranging from martial arts to cartoon drawing.
The biggest advantage of an after school program is that it widens a young persons area of interests. A child will be introduced to new experiences, sometimes challenging, sometimes interesting. Mastering a new skill or art form should also help build a child’s self esteem. The after school program may also introduce your child to a new career option. A young person enrolled in an after school music program may decide to choose a career in music.
After school programs are a good option to keep your teenager busy. Some people feel that after school programs can keep you children away from drugs and alcohol because they will be busy participating in the after school program instead of hanging around with bad influences. After school programs can also boost your child’s school achievements because they will have more confidence they gain from the after school programs.
Socialization is another wonderful advantage of after school programs. Your child will have an opportunity to meet others who have the same interests and they will be able to form new friendships. When I was a child I took part in a acting after school program. I believe that the acting after school program helped me gain confidence in speaking in front of large groups of people.
An after school program can also help to keep your child healthy. Many children today are living un-healthy lifestyles so a good after school program can make them exercise more. If it’s a program such as martial arts, they will be physically active. A child who is taking part in a physically active after school program has much better chances of staying healthy than a child who goes home and plays video games everyday after school.
After school programs have many benefits. They will keep a child busy, entertained, and possibly out of trouble. After school programs also allow children to learn and experience new things. By giving a child new ways to use energy and explore their creativity, after school programs will help shape their overall personality.
