Potentials Of After School Programs

With children becoming the primary focus of society, ways and means to
ensure their safety and development are being researched. The Government
too has pooled in to make a success of such programs. Here are some of the
reasons why after school programs have become so popular:

1) Preventing Juvenile Delinquency, crime and violent victimization:
About 10% of juvenile crimes happen between 3 P.M. - 4 P.M. Children need
to be kept safe and out of trouble at such times
2) Preventing alcohol, drug and tobacco use.
Risk-taking behavior that seeks to establish superiority in a clan is
mostly seen in 'latchkey' children. Children in their pre-teens, if they
have a meaningful relationship with a mentor, are less likely to indulge
in these kinds of destructive behavior
3) Decreases appetite for Television:
An average child watches about 23 hours of TV per week. When enrolled for
some activity, the child utilizes his mental and physical skills to meet
challenges.
4) Improving academic achievements
5) Improving school attendance:
More confidence in self and increased interest in school leads to greater
attendance in school. A program that helps children with their homework
also gives the child a much-needed feeling of self-achievement.
6) Improved behavior and inter-personal skills
Children who attend after school activities handle conflict better and
cooperate more with authority figures.
7) Closer family and community ties.

Other Articles:

A Home-based After School Program
After School Activities And Burnout
After School Activities And Relationship Building
After School Activities For The Overweight
After School Activity For The Hyperactive Child
After School Program - Recreational Vs. Educational
After School Programs And Discipline
After School Safety - Tips And Reminders
Art-based Activities
Benefits Of A Good After School Program
Boring After School Activities
Developmental After School Programs
Effective After School Activities
How Much Is Too Much?
How To Find After School Activities
Keeping Children Motivated
Need For After School Activities
Over-scheduling Kids
Potentials Of After School Programs
Quirky After School Programs
Reading Activities
Recreational After School Programs
School Based After-school Programs
Successful After School Programs
The Learning Environment
Too Much Of School